Oscar winner musician A. R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire) will deliver a free concert in Sydney (Australia) to make a "statement of peace" in view of recent racial attacks on Indian students in Australia.

He reportedly said that this concert, to be held at Parramatta Park on January 16, was an attempt to "reunite culturally and spiritually" in view of the recent bad vibe. He hopes that it creates a "bridge of understanding and love" and breaks down "cultural misunderstandings". Premier Nathan Rees of New South Wales has congratulated Rahman for this offer.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan recently refused an honorary degree from the Queensland University of Technology of Australia in view of these racial attacks.

Rahman, who has reportedly recorded sales of over 300 million, was called "Mozart of Madras'' by Time magazine. Pop icon Michael Jackson reportedly approached him before his death to partner on a peace anthem on the lines of "We are the World". Rahman sees music as a "way to connect to spirituality and embrace it".