Sing and smile with me:  A.R.Rehman with some underprivileged children Pic: Shashikant Bajpai

Music director A R Rahman will spend Republic Day doing a concert. He will perform at a show presented by the Tata Group and Save The Children for India’s children at the Cricket Club of India.

The highlight of the show will be the presentation of a song penned by President A P J Abdul Kalam. Rahman says: “He called me about a year ago, and asked me whether I would like to set his words to music. The song talks about how a better world is possible if one has self-belief, and I was very keen to do it. This would be the perfect occasion.”

The show will also feature singers Hariharan and Mahalaxmi Iyer, percussionist Taufiq Qureshi and dancer Tanushree Shankar. The other songs would include Gurus Of Peace, Chhoti Si Asha and Maa Tujhe Salaam.

Vipula Kadri, national director of Save The Children, also said that she was thrilled to have Rahman as ambassador for Save The Children.

Rahman added: “Some five years ago, while I was on a flight, I saw an envelope of Save The Children. I was touched by the motive of this organisation, and I kept contributing. When I met Mrs Kadri, I said I would like to help in this cause in my own way.”