Tumultuous! That sums up the welcome that Oscar-winning music director, composer and singer AR Rahman received on touching Indian soil at Chennai's Anna International Airport early on Thursday morning.

Led by his friend and drummer Sivamani, Rahman was welcomed by family members at the airport. The moment the aircraft landed, fans began beating drums and chanting Jai Ho. Sivamani set the tempo by beating the drums to a crescendo as Rahman walked out of the arrival lounge. 

Sivamani had organised an all-night music concert outside Rahman's house. A dais had been erected so that he could address his fans. But when Rahman arrived, he could not get out of the car as the crowd lunged towards him.

Despite the frenzy, Rahman remained composed in his brief interaction with the media. "It is great to be back. This is a small step. There is more to come and I'm sure we can achieve greater heights," he said.

D Ram Raj/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication