News Tamil Nadu

Marakkuma Nenjam Nightmare: No Real “Apology” From Rahman, ACTC Head Gives Unsatisfactory Response With Vague Promise Of Refund

September 13, 2023
The Commune

In the wake of the distressing events at AR Rahman’s Marakkuma Nenjam concert, where calls for apologies and refunds resound across social media, Hemanth Raja, the CEO of the event organising company, ACTC Events, made a TV appearance. In an interview to Thanthi TV, Raja, who claimed to have orchestrated 300-400 events in the past, found himself unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the overcrowding debacle.

Despite vehemently denying allegations of overselling tickets, Raja shifted the blame onto attendees, accusing them of duplicating tickets from the previously canceled event in August 2023. He revealed his ambition to set a record for the number of attendees at the AR Rahman event, seeking to surpass the large crowds witnessed at Rahman’s concerts in northern India. His target was an impressive 40,000 attendees, although permission had only been sought for 25,000. Raja claimed that 36,000 tickets were sold, with an additional 4,000 given away as complimentary passes.

However, he contended that it was these 4,000 complimentary tickets that had been duplicated, resulting in a sudden influx of attendees that overwhelmed the venue. In response, he had to deploy staff initially stationed inside to manage the crowds outside. Consequently, some attendees seized the opportunity to move closer to the stage when security personnel were momentarily absent.

Critics argue that Raja’s responses during the interview fell far short of expectations, as QR code checks were not effectively enforced, and he seemingly placed the blame squarely on the attendees. Despite having anticipated the numbers and making arrangements for seating and other logistics, he failed to notify the police about the change in attendance figures until the situation had escalated. When asked about the Coimbatore event, he simply denied any wrongdoing, citing ticket refunds as evidence.

Raja’s interview did little to acknowledge the trauma and emotional distress experienced by those unable to attend the event or who faced harrowing situations within the venue. Toward the end of the interview, he offered a statement of apology to all those who endured the traumatic evening and admitted that choosing the Adityaram Palace as the venue had been a mistake. However, for many, this apology came too late and failed to fully address the concerns and grievances stemming from the disastrous event.

While stars and Kollywood celebrities rally behind Rahman as if he’s the one deeply affected by the event’s outcome, it’s the attendees who truly suffered. Concerning this, pertinent questions have been raised by YouTuber Maridhas in his latest video, primarily directed at the event organisers and Rahman himself.

 

What Went Wrong?

The Event Venue & The Availability Of Space

The organisers chose the venue, Adityaram Palace in Panaiyur near Chennai and they were able to make use of only 5-6 acres, an insufficient area for even 25,000 concertgoers. To comfortably accommodate this number, a minimum of 8-10 acres is necessary for standing audiences, and even more, around 15-18 acres, for seated arrangements. The existing setup could accommodate only 7,000-8,000 attendees, leaving unanswered questions about how permission was granted for 25,000, and why the CEO of ACTC Events claimed that 46,000-50,000 people attended, suggesting the need for 50-55 acres of space.

Parking Chaos

While attendees were issued parking tokens after payment for cars and two-wheelers, the lack of proper direction and parking space near the venue created chaos. Many attendees had to park their cars 2-3 kilometers away and navigate through the roads, searching for parking spots. The absence of clear entry and exit indications compounded the problem. Adequate parking facilities for an estimated 5,000 cars require 10-12 acres, which was absolutely lacking. Maridhas alleged that this token system appeared more focused on revenue collection than efficient parking management.

Location Choice

In comparison to venues like the YMCA, Island Grounds, and Nehru Stadium, which can comfortably host crowds of 45,000-50,000, the ECR location chosen for the event lacked easy accessibility and public transport options. Maridhas argued that the choice of this remote venue reflects a profit-centric approach, prioritizing cost-cutting over attendee convenience.

Lack/Absence Of Toilet Facilities

With an expected attendance of over 40,000, adequate toilet facilities should have been in place, a minimum of 150 toilets, especially considering the diverse audience, including kids, adults, and elders. Yet, there was a glaring absence of even proper water and food dispensation.

Low Number Of Event Volunteers

The number of event volunteers remains undisclosed, but Maridhas estimates a maximum of 500 were hired. Troublingly, in this video, we can see that they are verbally abusing the attendees. There are allegations of physical assaults against attendees who questioned the organizers.

First Aid & Ambulance Services

In a large-scale event involving attendees of all ages, the absence of ambulances, first aid kits, and information on nearby hospitals is extremely concerning. Immediate action in case of mishaps should have been a priority, but there was no sign of such provisions.

Government Permissions And Police Response

The event’s organisation seemingly bypassed standard rules and regulations, raising questions about how government permissions were granted. Additionally, it is alleged that there could be a possible political connection, citing AR Rahman’s purported closeness to the DMK.

He was chosen to do the ‘Vanakkam Chennai’ (Welcome Anthem) for the International Chess Olympiad, 2022, a song that looked more like a propaganda video for MK Stalin than a song for the event.

MK Stalin during his Dubai tour in March 2022 paid a visit to Rahman’s studio.

Attendee Suffering & Audio Issues

The event witnessed attendees who had paid substantial sums per ticket, including families who invested up to ₹1 lakh, being denied entry due to overcrowding. Police redirected these victims aimlessly, failing to provide a resolution. Furthermore, audio issues persisted during the event, with speakers being repaired as late as 9 PM, causing confusion and disappointment among attendees at the event.

An Apology Too Little That Came Too Late From ACTC Events & AR Rahman

After multiple calls for apology, attendees claim to have received a mass email from AR Rahman which states, 

“Dear <name>

My Sincere apologies to you and to your family for what you had to go through at the concert. It was purely unintentional and we were driven by ambition to deliver an exceptional concert to Chennai that they have never experienced before.

We are actively working towards making amends for the unfavourable experience that you have had. Our team is in the process of reimbursing the amount you spent and has also prepared a surprise for you, which you can expect to receive very shortly. Expressing my gratitude for your unwavering support, prayers, affection, and well wishes throughout these years. I pray that you and your family lead a wonderful life filled with good health.

Please share the bank details on this email, along with the payment receipt & ticket copy.

A.R. Rahman”

Many netizens demanded a video apology instead of sending a mass copy-paste email which seems to be most likely done by the organising team. It is worth noting that AR Rahman had gone live on Instagram after the Chennai concert which was supposed to be held in August got cancelled due to rains. He has however not done the same after the fiasco. 

Many netizens also compared how music composer Ilayaraaja handled a similar situation at his concert.

If AR Rahman and the event organiser had promptly issued a sincere apology the day following the event, it could have mitigated the subsequent outrage. Instead, they opted for superficial gestures in response to the backlash.

It is only after massive public outrage for the past two days that the CEO of ACTC Hemanth put out a video message saying that the audience will be refunded regardless of how much they paid for the tickets.

“A lot of inconveniences have happened in this concert. I humbly apologize for many of you not being able to enter despite purchasing tickets. We organized this program so that people can enjoy listening to Rahman sir’s music. Our company ACTC is fully responsible for any inconvenience caused during this event. AR Rahman’s role in this was only to perform on stage. He did it very well. He had nothing to do with the inconveniences that happened in the event. Don’t criticize him on social media. It’s all about us. I’ve already spoke about this in a few news channels. Refunds will be made to those who paid for the ticket ‘in a proper manner’ but couldn’t enter the concert.“, Hemanth said in his video message.

“I’ve already apologized 2-3 times but still I have no problem in apologizing once again“, Hemanth adds in the video.

He claimed that the fiasco happened due to “overcrowding”, “ticket duplications” and not due to “oversales” of the ticket and trivialized the traumatic experiences as “inconvenience”.

Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.