'Slumdog effect' boosts mela crowd

A record crowd of 83,000 turned out for the London Mela - one of the largest Asian festivals in Europe.

Bright sunshine helped to swell yesterday's audience at Gunnersbury Park in Acton to the highest figure in the event's seven-year history.

Organisers said the size of the crowd also reflected a growing interest among all Londoners for Asian music and culture following the success of the film Slumdog Millionaire and its Oscar- winning soundtrack by AR Rahman.

An estimated 40 per cent of those attending were from non-Asian backgrounds as revellers from across the capital soaked up the atmosphere. Mela artistic director Ajay Chhabra said he was "delighted" with the turnout and added: "We have always tried to make it a kind of Asian Glastonbury, friendly and experimental in its programme.

"Usually we also have Glastonbury's mud, as it pours with rain, but this year we had a bit of the great British summer we've all been waiting for, which brings out the feelgood factor.

"People came from all over, with 40 per cent non-Asians - which is incredible for an event that's inspired by South Asian art forms. But there has been an explosion in interest since Slumdog Millionaire and long may it continue." Performances were split across several zones: urban, classical and experimental music, DJs, circus, dance, visual arts, archive film, comedy and a children's play area.

Musical highlights included classical-electronica artist Swati Natekar and performances by B21, Outlandish, Amar, featuring Jim Beans and Rebel, and Des-c.

Choregrapher Jay Kumar got the audience on their feet during a mass- participation I Love Bollywood dance show.

The crowd was treated to a surprise appearance on stage by Peter Andre, who was greeted with a huge roar before singing tracks from his forthcoming album.