Watch: AR Rahman's welcome anthem for Chess Olympiad is upbeat

Oscar winning composer AR Rahman can be seen swinging to the beats of his welcome anthem for the upcoming International Chess Olympiad, 2022.

Rahman dressed in white kurta, jacket and veshti can be singing and moving along the landmark Napier Bridge in Chennai - thematically painted in black and white squares in honour of the prestigious event. He weaves his way through a group of men and women dressed either in black or white, the colours of chess pieces.

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin makes an appearance in the video, either walking among giant pieces or a group of Bharatanatyam dancers in the picturesque setting of Mahabalipuram. Famous Indian chess players from past master Manuel Aaron to former world champion Viswanathan Anand to young grandmasters like Vidit Gujrathi, R Praggnanandhaa, Divya Deshmukh among others make a fleeting appearance.


The video is conceptualised and directed by film director Vignesh Shivan. While there were many fans for the video, it was criticised for giving Stalin and Rahman a lot of screen space in a promotional video for a world chess event.

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The three minute video is titled 'Vanakkam Chennai Chess'. The words 'Varuga Varuga Tamizh nattukuu Varuga' (Come, Come to Tamil Nadu)' form part of the chorus. Also can be heard is the well-known phrase, Yaadhum oorey Yaavarum kelir ( All places are our hometown, all people are our kin) written by Tamil philosopher Kaniyan Pungundranar 2500 years ago.