Hockey World Cup 2018 Opening Ceremony Highlights: AR Rahman caps off incredible night with soulful performance

A performance that will give you goosebumps

📽️ | @arrahman's rendition of #MaaTujheSalam has moved every soul in the stadium.#HWC2018 #Odisha2018 #OdishaHockeyWCInauguration pic.twitter.com/aS7YLwE6Q3

— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) November 27, 2018

From Dil To Pagal Hai to the Hockey World Cup 2018, Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit have been entertaining people for years!

📸 | Superstars @MadhuriDixit and @iamsrk have entertained us for years now. At the Kalinga Stadium, they gave us what are going to be some of the most memorable acts for a hockey event.#HWC2018 #Odisha2018 #OdishaHockeyWCInauguration pic.twitter.com/xsX3i5q9fR

— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) November 27, 2018

What a performance from AR Rahman!

The Master is here. @arrahman performs at #HWCOpeningCeremony
Follow LIVE on @FirstpostSports pic.twitter.com/ptjlXjkrXR

— shantanu srivastava (@journoshantanu) November 27, 2018

AR Rahman plays songs from Roja!

Rahman brings out a special guitarist from Odisha to play famous songs from the film Roja, in which he debuted as a music composer! The guitarist in question played in the first ever recording of the music from the film.

Every single performance at the Hockey World Cup 2018 Opening Ceremony is punctuated with beautiful a fireworks display

📽️ | More brilliance on the skies above Kalinga Stadium. All this...because our hearts have, will and will keep, beating for hockey.#HWC2018 #Odisha2018 #OdishaHockeyWCInauguration pic.twitter.com/htCKuytwC1

— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) November 27, 2018

Next up, we have a performance from AR Rahman!

The global icon and musical maestro AR Rahman takes to the stage to perform the official song of the Hockey World Cup 2018 and a selection of hits!

Yet another amazing image of the brilliantly lit Kalinga Stadium

📸 | Take a moment and let it sink in.

THIS 🏟️ IS KALINGA STADIUM 😱#HWC2018 #Odisha2018 #OdishaHockeyWCInauguration pic.twitter.com/5ij8eHYBKE

— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) November 27, 2018

Madhuri Dixit Nene speaks of an ideal world where love transcends race, gender and language

It's a great privilege to see you performing live maam @MadhuriDixit #MyHeartBeatsForHockey #odisha #KalingaStadium #HockeyWorldCup2018 pic.twitter.com/htZtkC4jPu

— Soumya Ray Somu (@iamsomul) November 27, 2018

Madhuri Dixit Nene takes the stage as part of the Earth Song

‘The world is one big family. The opening ceremony celebrates the oneness of humanity,’ says host Gaurav Kapoor, whilst inviting actor Madhuri Dixit on to the beautiful stage.

Dixit will be joined by 1,100 artists as part of a show that will unfold over five acts. It is choreographed by Shiamak Davar, and it will attempt to highlight the importance of equality and love for all.

Naveen Patnaik takes the stage

Shah Rukh Khan has brought the house down with his eloquence. Odisha CM joins him on the stage and proceeds to greet the captains. Some quiet moments after a pulsating rallying call by SRK!

Shah Rukh Khan gives a word of warning to the foreign captains

“We are all extremely hospitable in India, but we’ll play very hard and I hope you will too. Best of luck to everyone. All the greatest players in the world are collected here,” said Shah Rukh Khan.

Shah Rukh Khan is the house, and the crowd has gone bonkers!

Shah Rukh Khan say, “This is an important moment for this country. This is our sport. Thank you to Odisha, they have been a great pool of talent when it comes to hockey. I truly don’t know of a corner in the world where hockey is more revered than it is here. I am honored to be here.”

A short video about the pervasiveness of hockey in India follows the captains!

People from several different walks of life and numerous states in India come together to say ‘Mera Dil Hockey Ke Liye Dhadakta Hai’ as the screen shows how many people posted on social media with the tag #HeartBeatsForHockey

Here’s the order in which they come out: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Spain, and hosts India

As expected, Indian captain Manpreet Singh elicits and incredible cheer from the crowd at the Kalinga Stadium

The sixteen captains of the participating nations walk out onto the stage!

Here’s a picture of them all standing side by side prior to the ceremony as they met with Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.

The drone show saw hundreds of drones form a hockey stick and a heart!

📽️ | Drones lit up the sky to the tunes of maestro @arrahman's #JaiHindIndia. #HWC2018 #Odisha2018 #OdishaHockeyWCInauguration pic.twitter.com/Dc5WGVONWl

— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) November 27, 2018

FIH President Narinder Batra addresses the crowd!

Narinder Batra says, ‘It has been a long journey and the organisers have done their best. I would like to thank Hockey India and the Odisha government. They have left no stone unturned. This is the best ever opening ceremony of a World Cup. The Kalinga Stadium will undoubtedly come in the top 3 stadiums in the world."

The police are getting all the help possible from their canine companions as security is tightened for the Hockey World Cup 2018!

📸 | We got all the help we could for a fantastic hosting of the Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018.#HWC2018 #Odisha2018 #OdishaHockeyWCInauguration pic.twitter.com/S2FLzp1jiD

— Odisha Sports (@sports_odisha) November 27, 2018

And we’re underway with a drone show!

The announcer claims it’s the biggest drone show in India. The countdown begins to the Hockey World Cup as AR Rahman’s official song “Jai hind hind, jai India” plays in the background!

The great team of 1975 who brought the World Cup home is now on the stage. #HWCOpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/ScncZIbmE9

— HeartBeatsForHockey (@HeartBts4Hockey) November 27, 2018

“Our 1975 win was an achievement to cherish, and we still remember the win,” says Ajitpal Singh, who guided the team to its solitary World Cup win.

The legendary winning team from the 1975 Hockey World Cup make their way on to the stage!

...And here we go. The winning team of 1975 World Cup is on stage! Bhubaneswar welcomes them with a standing ovation. Follow #HWCOpeningCeremony at @FirstpostSports #HWC2018 #HockeyWorldCup2018 pic.twitter.com/faWwXtdr7U

— shantanu srivastava (@journoshantanu) November 27, 2018

The Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, looks absolutely gorgeous heading into the Opening Ceremony

Huge roar as Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik makes an appearance on the giant screen for a recorded AV message. And a louder cheer as local lad Birendra Lakra pops up on screen. This place does know it’s hockey!

Right, so we are underway here. Odisha's artists are holding fort, and the crowd seems to love it, especially the camera📽️ @FirstpostSports#HockeyWorldCup2018 #HWC2018 #HWCOpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/mH5AE4aKAH

— shantanu srivastava (@journoshantanu) November 27, 2018

AR Rahman is expected to perform the official song for the Hockey World Cup with Shah Rukh Khan.

Grammy and Oscar winning composer AR Rahman, along with celebrated lyricist-poet Gulzar, has created the official song for Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018. The Odisha government roped in Rahman for composing the song titled “Jai hind hind, jai India”, which is penned by Gulzar.

Right then, guys. The Athletics Stadium at Kalinga Stadium is in raptures. It’s a capacity crowd in tonight, and we are moments away from a star-studded opening ceremony. Belt up!

Hello and welcome to #HWCOpeningCeremony from #KalingaStadium. We are all set to roll here. Follow all the updates at @FirstpostSports pic.twitter.com/jCVPiV8g11

— shantanu srivastava (@journoshantanu) November 27, 2018

Actress Madhuri Dixit Nene will be performing at the opening ceremony of the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018.

The opening ceremony will highlight the message of the power of a united world.  To showcase the same, the ceremony will feature a theatrical production and dance ballet titled “The Earth Song”. The theme of “The Earth Song” is the oneness of humanity.  

Created, written and directed by Nupur Mahajan, the production will feature Madhuri as the central character — Mother Earth.  

She will be joined by 1,100 artists. The show will unfold over five acts during a 40 minute performance with Shiamak Davar choreographing. Ranjit Barot has created the original music score.

Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik mets the captains of the 16 teams participating in the Hockey World Cup 2018!

Enjoyed interacting with the captains of the 16 teams participating in the #Odisha #Hockey Men’s World Cup as they got to see the intricate carvings in the statuary of Mukteswar temple in #Bhubaneswar #HWC2018; welcomed them to Odisha and wished the very best pic.twitter.com/uKaxoBarEp

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) November 27, 2018

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s coverage of the Hockey World Cup 2018 Opening Ceremony.

Stay tuned for all the latest updates from the Opening Ceremony, which will see the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and AR Rahman performing at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha.