Writer proud Malaysian Ananda Krishnan behind Live Aid concert

PETALING JAYA: The 1985 Live Aid concert, which featured famous bands and artistes like Queen, Dire Straits, U2, David Bowie, Elton John, Sade and Paul Young, was co-founded by Malaysian businessman Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan.

Local writer and festival director Bernice Chauly screencapped and shared a Newsweek article dated July 29, 1985, titled Live Aid's Shy Tycoon, after watching the biopic of Queen's frontman Freddie Mercury, Bohemian Rhapsody.

"Just watched Bohemian Rhapsody and was blown away by Rami Malek's performance of Freddie Mercury at Live Aid in 1985 - the brains and money of Ananda Krishnan aka AK.

"... and I'd wager that many (younger) Malaysians don't know this fact," she wrote in a Facebook post.

Chauly added that the scale, cinematic rendition and intent of Live Aid made her very proud that a Malaysian was behind what was "probably the biggest and most significant concert of our times".

Her post received over 200 likes and shared over 40 times. Many commented that they were not aware that Ananda was the co-founder of the Live Aid concert.

According to the Newsweek article, the high-tech fund teleconcert's money and brainpower was "a shy oil baron" named Tataparanandam Ananda Krishnan.

It reported that Ananda, who seems a little bored with the oil business, dreamt "some big dreams".

"He wants to broadcast sports and entertainment around the world, turning the earth into a 'global village' once heralded by the late futurist Marshall McLuhan," the article wrote.

It said that Ananda was intrigued after reading about organiser Bob Geldof's effort in gathering other artistes to record Do They Know It's Christmas/Feed the World to collect funds for famine relief.

"Instead of simply giving money to a charity, I wanted to invest it in someone who could raise large amounts of money," Ananda told Newsweek, and later called Geldof to offer his help.

Ananda offered to pick up the costs after The Band Aid Trust - the organisation set up to disburse the record's proceeds - was barred under British charity regulations from using the funds it raised to pay for overhead expenses.

"Ananda and Geldof then formed Worldwide Sports and Entertainment, and put up a US$750,000 in seed money and a US$1mil letter of credit to get the massive concert rolling," the article said.