Rahman, Reshammiya to belt it out on New Year eve

By Subhash K. Jha

Mumbai: Singer Himesh Reshammiya has unexpected competition from really stiff quarters this New Year eve - A.R. Rahman, who will be performing live in Mumbai.

Interestingly, Reshammiya has his first concerts lined up for the same evening in the same city.

Rahman will belt out his anti-poverty song "Pray for me brother".

"The anti-poverty song is produced by Bala, who earlier did my 'Vande mataram'. We'll be introducing the number in Mumbai at a live performance for New Year's eve," Rahman told IANS.

The number is very special for Rahman not only because of its social message "but also because it's my first song in English". He said: "You can call it my gift to myself on my 40th birthday."

Ask Rahman about Reshammiya and he replies: "He fills a lacuna in Hindi film music, just like Nadeem (of Nadeem Shravan). He's trying to mix a lot of genres. People like his music. It's good. There're audiences for large genres of films. And he's doing a good job."

Reshammiya, who claims to be a huge Rahman fan, has gone on record to say Rahman is the only composer he would sing for if asked to.