ByIANSlife Features

November 22, 2019 (IANSlife) U2 fans are in for a treat, not only will they get to hear the band live in Mumbai, but to mark their first-ever visit to India, Island Records announced the release of a new track with the nation's favorite A.R. Rahman. Titled ‘Ahimsa’ celebrates the spiritual diversity of India and connects the ethos of U2 with the mastery of A.R. Rahman. 

Award-winning composer Rahman states, “Ahimsa requires courage and strength. A quality that is impervious to weapons or power. It’s a mission which is most needed to heal the modern world and it is incredible timing to collaborate with U2, with their amazing legacy, to revive this movement.” The collaboration sees two of the biggest artists in the world, come together thanks to JioSaavn.

“The fight against injustice has always been so important to us. We were somewhat shaped and formed by Martin Luther King who was a student of Mahatma Gandhi. Martin Luther King said ‘The moral arc of the universe is long but it bends towards justice….’. I don’t believe that any more… It doesn’t bend towards justice, it has to be bent towards justice. We have to be actively involved in our democracy to preserve it and show people how we feel and what we care about… We come as students to the source of inspiration… That is ahimsa… non-violence... India gave this to us… the greatest gift to the world… It is more powerful than nuclear energy, the armies, the navies, the British Empire. It is power itself. And it’s never been more important,” adds Bono of U2. While guitarist The Edge adds, “It has been an absolute joy to work with A.R. on this track. A superstar and a talent both towering and generous, we are especially excited to visit his homeland in just a few weeks. India has been on our bucket list for a very long time, the principles of ahimsa or non-violence have served as an important pillar of what our band stands for since we first came together to play music. We can’t wait to experience the culture of India first hand, a place that brings together the modern and the ancient all at once.”

The collaboration is ahead od U2’s first-ever show in India with the arrival of The Joshua Tree Tour in Mumbai on 15 December 2019. The track is available to stream now on JioSaavn and all streaming platforms. U2 manager Guy Oseary said, “Collaborating with the JioSaavn team on the very special U2 and A.R. Rahman track ‘Ahimsa’ ahead of the band’s coming to India for the first show in Mumbai, has been an exceptional experience. I’ve been a believer in JioSaavn since first meeting Rishi nearly 5 years ago. I’ve always loved their unique vision for artists who want to reach their next hundred million listeners.”

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Editing by N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe