'CWG theme song has fallen short of expectations'

A R Rahman's Commonwealth Games theme song has failed to impress the CWG Organising Committee's executive board member V K Malhotra, who feels the composition has "fallen short of expectations".

Oh yaaro, yeh India bula liya, which was launched amid much fanfare by the Oscar-winning composer on Saturday has been given a thumbs down by Malhotra, who has suggested that the song be reworked.

"This song has fallen short of expectations. We had expected a better anthem for the Games from a composer of Rahman's status," Malhotra, also the vice-president of the Indian Olympic Association, said.

"He has given some very good songs like Maa Tujhe Salaam but this song is not that impressive. We hope that the song is made better because there is still some time for the Games," he added.

Rahman sang it in front of a gathering which included Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, her Haryana counterpart Bhupinder Singh Hooda and CWG Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi on Saturday.

"I feel honoured to get the opportunity to compose the theme song for the mega-event. It was not an easy task. I had started composing it six months ago and finished just last night," Rahman said after the launch.

The launch of the theme song had been delayed after the Group of Ministers overseeing the quadrennial sporting extravaganza asked Rahman to change it a little bit.