AR Rahman – AAPI Victory Fund Boost Support For Harris Campaign

India-West Staff Reporter

LOS ANGELES, CA – Oscar and Grammy-winning composer A.R. Rahman lent his voice and music to support Vice President Kamala Harris‘ presidential campaign ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections. Rahman, the first international artist from South Asia to endorse Harris, recorded a 30-minute performance video featuring some of his most popular songs, including “Jai Ho,” to inspire Indian American voters and express his support for her vision of an equitable world.

“It’s such an inspiring thing to see one of us going and leading. And it’ll be nice to have a first female president with a lot of energy, coming from and love support coming from all of us,” Rahman said while talking to M R Rangaswami during the recording in LA. He also dedicated a special song, “Yeru yeru yeru ninjil palmi kundu yeru,” to Harris and women worldwide. “This song is dedicated to all the women in the world, especially for Kamalaji. It is for you, and you know what it means. Wishing you the very best,” he added.

Rahman’s performance aired on October 13 on the AAPI Victory Fund’s YouTube channel, boosting Harris’ visibility. In his remarks before the performance, Rahman praised Harris’ commitment to unity and equality: “Kamala Harris’s vision for a more equitable world is an inspiration for us all. Her interest in focusing on what unites us instead of what divides us is a message that is very important, not just for the United States, but for the world.”

Shekar Narasimhan, chairman of the AAPI Victory Fund, the Political Action Committee focused on mobilizing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander voters, highlighted the significance of Rahman’s support: “With this performance, A.R. Rahman added his voice to a chorus of leaders and artists who are standing up for progress and representation in America.”

Narasimhan also emphasized that the performance was not just a musical event, but a “call to action for our communities to engage and vote for the future we want to see.” The AAPI Victory Fund noted that Rahman’s endorsement underscored the growing importance of AANHPI voters in this election cycle, which would go a long way for the Harris-Walz ticket.