Oscar winning music composer AR Rahman [Images] is planning a free concert Down Under in a bid to relieve the ongoing tension between India and Australia [Images] following racist attacks.

The composer, who won two Academy Awards for his work on the Slumdog Millionaire [Images] soundtrack, was devastated to hear of a series of violent incidents involving Indian students studying in Sydney [Images] and Melbourne [Images] over the past two months.

He's hoping to improve international relations with music and is set to organise a free concert in Sydney in January (10) as part of the region's cultural festival.

'Considering the ecent hassles that have created a bad vibe, I thought this concert would be a statement of peace. I hope it will do what ever it can to reunite culturally and spiritually,' the Daily Express quoted Rahman as saying.

'This show is very important to me. I hope it creates a bridge of understanding and love,' he added.

Image: A R Rahman [Images] (centre) poses for a picture with cancer affected children at a cancer institute in Chennai. (Photograph: Babu/Reuters)