The highly anticipated concert by renowned music maestro AR Rahman in Chennai took a tumultuous turn on Sunday as fans found themselves in a chaotic and overcrowded situation. Reports of stampede-like incidents and severe mismanagement have prompted the Tamil Nadu Police to launch an investigation into the events surrounding the concert.
Tambaram Police Commissioner Dr. Amalraj has confirmed that authorities will thoroughly investigate various aspects, including the causes of traffic congestion, parking arrangements, medical provisions, and overall event organization. The goal is to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
The concert, titled ‘Marakuma Nenjam,’ was supposed to be a momentous occasion for Rahman’s fans but turned into a harrowing experience for many. Numerous concertgoers took to social media to express their frustration, sharing videos of their bizarre encounters and voicing their complaints about being denied entry despite holding valid tickets.
In response to these posts, AR Rahman himself extended a helping hand to those who missed the concert, stating on social media, “Let me be the sacrificial goat this time for all of us to wake up.” His empathetic gesture has resonated with disappointed fans.
Allegations of overcrowding and stampede-like situations abound, with reports of women being harassed and children being separated and injured. Thousands of fans have accused the organizers of overselling tickets and are demanding answers from ACTC Events, the event management company responsible for the concert.
One attendee who left the venue without experiencing the concert lamented, “It’s overcrowded, a stampede-like situation. No regulation at all.” Another frustrated fan added, “We had paid five thousand for a ticket. But it was free for all, anybody could sit anywhere. They are answerable.” A disgruntled family claimed, “There is no parking space as they had claimed. We parked our cars and walked 2 KM.”
One concertgoer shared their experience, stating, “The most bizarre experience ever! It was the worst concert that I have attended. VIP zone tickets were priced at 25000 and 50000, and there was no security; every zone was one. The organizers over-sold the tickets. The seats were all off-center. Even in the VIP area, there was no stage view. No bouncers to man the areas!!! The entry demarcations were missing! Everyone was entering from everywhere. It was like a stampede and no one to manage! What a disgrace.”
Insufficient parking facilities were another major concern raised by attendees who traveled long distances to attend the event. Some complained about the low volume, making the performance barely audible for those away from the stage, and demanded refunds.
Some concertgoers mentioned feeling stressed due to fights and poor sound quality, leading to panic attacks and anxiety due to overcrowding. A few attendees even described it as “the worst concert ever” and tore up their tickets in frustration.
AR Rahman has reached out to fans who couldn’t enter the venue on Sunday, encouraging them to mail their tickets and grievances to his team for a response. This response comes after the organizers, ACTC Events, apologized for the “overcrowding.”
Taking to Instagram, Rahman wrote, “Some people call me G.O.A.T………let me be the sacrificial goat this time for all of us to wake up…let Chennai’s live art flourish with a world-class infrastructure, increase in tourism, efficient crowd management, traffic management, refining audiences to follow rules…creating a safe and surreal experience for children and women…Triggering a cultural renaissance in Chennai celebrating our deserving, illuminated local and international talent.”
AR Rahman, an Oscar-winning music composer, is renowned for his work in numerous films, including ‘Ponniyin Selvan,’ ‘Rangeela,’ ‘Bombay,’ ‘Taal,’ ‘Rockstar,’ and ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’ His upcoming projects continue to generate excitement among fans.
As the investigation unfolds and fans await answers, this incident has raised important questions about event management and crowd safety at large-scale concerts.
Sources By Agencies
