NR Talent and Event Management organized “HAAZRI,” a tribute concert by A.R. Rahman on 17 January 2025, at Jio World Garden, Bandra Kurla Complex. The concert was dedicated to the memory of Padma Vibhushan Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, a Hindustani classical musician and Rahman’s mentor. Rahman performed a Sufi set as a heartfelt homage to his guru, creating a meaningful evening for those in attendance.
Namrata Gupta Khan, proprietor of NR Talent and Event Management, known for her thoughtful approach to organizing meaningful events, recently spearheaded the third edition of “HAAZRI”. With a focus on detail and collaboration, Namrata works to deliver events that resonate deeply with audiences while honoring the spirit of the occasion.
In an exclusive interview with EVENTFAQS Media, Namrata Gupta Khan shares insights on organizing “HAAZRI,” including the inspiration, challenges, and emotional significance behind the event, while also sharing details of upcoming projects for NR Talent and Event Management.
What inspired you to bring A.R. Rahman’s “HAAZRI” concert in Mumbai? How does “HAAZRI” stand out from other concerts or events you’ve managed?
We conceptualized Haazri three years ago when Papa left us and we decided that every year on January 17, we would musically celebrate his legacy. So far, we have had his students pay homage to him at Haazri. The first one saw Hariharan bhai perform alongside Ustad Zakir Hussian. The second Haazri had Sonu Nigam ji pay a tribute. So this year, we decided to have AR Rahman bhai, a dear student of papa who is like family to us. Haazri is unique because it’s not any regular concert. It’s for papa. So, there’s a lot of thought, emotion, and spirituality that drives it. We do a lot of shows, but when it comes to Haazri, we go the extra mile.
How long did it take to plan and bring this concert to life? What were the biggest challenges in organizing an event of this scale with a global icon like A.R. Rahman?
We ideated the third edition of Haazri almost a year ago, but the last six months were spent in charting out a plan, and making sure everything was taken care of to a tee… in fact, we have barely slept in the last week, because pulling off an event of this stature, with 10000 people in the audience, is no mean feat. Thankfully, we have a very efficient team, so there were no hiccups. A good thing was that both Rabbani and I were closely involved in every nitty-gritty because this event was for Papa and by Rahman bhai, both of our family.
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Can you share insights about working with a global icon like A.R. Rahman and his team to deliver a world-class experience?
AR Rahman bhai is a dream to work with. While people usually take family and close ones for granted regarding work, Rahman bhai surprised us with his professionalism. He has zero tantrums, which makes an organizer’s life so much easier. He’s quiet, always soaked in his music. This event gave us an opportunity to experience first-hand what makes Rahman bhai the greatest musician in the world.
What next for NR Talent and Event Management? Any upcoming events or live concerts to look forward to?
We have quite a few shows coming up, especially with Sonu Ji. We have a concert with him in Mumbai next week, followed by two international concerts — February 14 and 15—in Singapore and Jakarta, respectively. We also have a concert in Bengaluru on February 23.
