Roja was my benchmark, says A R Rahman

A meeting between two musical geniuses was in the making but fate cancelled it. Composer A R Rahman, two days before he won two Oscars forSlumdog Millionaire, had received an e-mail invitation from late pop singer Michael Jackson to discuss projects. Rahman talks about Jackson, spirituality and the film that set off his career with CNN-IBN’s Rajeev Masand on To Catch A Star.

Rajeev Masand: May I start by asking you, at an average, how much time do you get to sleep these days? I know that you are committed to doing a lot of work both in India and in America, do you have enough time to really rest?

A R Rahman: I need to sleep, otherwise I fall ill the next day, at least six to seven hours, but sometimes it's in installments.

Rajeev Masand:When you keep the Oscars at home, does everyone want to look at it, touch it?

A R Rahman: I have not seen it for ages. I don't know where it is. It's somewhere in the building I guess.

Rajeev Masand: You have always said that healthy arguments with your directors and lyricists often result in the creation of some very good music. I am guessing after the Oscars no one really wants to argue with you anymore, no one really disputes your suggestions anymore.

A R Rahman: I don't know if it works that way. Because in the interest of any big films, there's always an argument and a vision which is most the director's and if you are sensible you have to go through with that vision. You can't say, "I have written a beautiful song, fitted in the movie, I don't care."

Rajeev Masand: There is a popular perception even amongst your greatest fans that Jai Ho and the music of Slumdog Millionaire isn't necessarily your best music.

A R Rahman: They are not giving me the Oscar for my life, they are giving it for the film and that particular moment the film came in and how different the music and the whole theme was for the film. I am really proud about Slumdog Millionaire’s music andJai Ho

Rajeev Masand: You have always said that you wouldn't like your commitments here in India to be affected by the work that you want to do outside. And yet the first casualty of success turned out to be Rajiv Menon's film Dhun, he is an old friend of yours, but you are unable to do his film?

A R Rahman: It's a bullet which I have to take and had to give him also. His film is very musically demanding and it requires 24 x 7 attention. I can't give a tune through Internet for that film and I didn't want to stop his film in anyway by delaying. I think he is a great filmmaker. He is like a mini Raj Kumar for me. I am sure he is going to come up with really great film and music.

Rajeev Masand: Did you break his heart?

A R Rahman: I don't know. But I needed to take a stand somewhere, I needed to make a choice of not annoying people. But of course there is always a next time and better things are going to happen.

Rajeev Masand: I am sure that you had chance to look at your biography that was published recently?

A R Rahman: I didn't see much of it because but I have heard of different comments passed by people, good and bad about it.

Rajeev Masand: I think your fans are quite eager to know your reaction to the book especially it was fairly critical of you as well. It did speak about you having abandoned your family after you converted to Islam, it spoke about you having abandoned old band mates?

A R Rahman: I wouldn't say that is true because once I seriously started getting into music, I became spiritual, I wouldn't visit my own sister (laughs) and sometimes music needs that. You can't be everything. And a particular time in life comes in when you can compensate.

Like Gandhi, (I am not comparing myself with Gandhi), but for Gandhi the nation was important, for me the music is important.

Rajeev Masand: The book says you abandoned your band mates, the moment Mani Ratnam signed you for Roja There is a critical view of you. It even talks about references to black magic and voodoo. Did you fee betrayed by this book?

A R Rahman: No, I don't want to hide any of my past. There was an incidence in my family about my father. Lot of people believed that he was killed in black magic. So when you are a child you tend to believe everything. And then my overwhelming spiritual thirst made me vanish all the stuff and now I am clean. I am following the Sufi path and I don't care about anything. About the band, it was supposed to be a temporary band.

There was never a thing like I would have to leave my life to come and play in the band. It was a fun thing. We did one number for an album and I became busy in Roja and my band mates were impatient because they wanted to finish the album. So I said if you are impatient please go ahead because I had taken up something, which doesn't come to every individual. I had the best film director asking me for music. I wanted to give my hundred per cent to the film. However, all of them are living their successful lives today.

Rajeev Masand: The acclaimed playback singer S P Balasubramaniam has a complaint. He says that Rahman has very little regard for language and pronunciation. He is happy to use singers from the North to sing Tamil songs, as long as the tune is fine, he doesn't mind very much the words and language or the accent is mutilated often.

A R Rahman: Not every time. Sometimes it’s good to have something funky. Not for the shake of hurting anything but for entertainment sake but that shouldn't become a habit.

Rajeev Masand: Your music for the film Blue is your first album right after the Oscars.

A R Rahman: It's probably the first time I am doing a film like this which is an entertainer and which is about underwater, so the music naturally became fast and beat oriented but we have tried maintain a balance between making sense of melody speed.

Rajeev Masand: You recorded a track with Kylie Minogue for this film.

A R Rahman: It was the wholesome effect of Kylie Minogue they wanted to have in the film. They wanted her to dance and feature in the film in a small part. And she also wanted that to happen for a long time. So she found it a great opportunity. And strangely, she gave me the BAFTA Awards, and next day we recorded the song.

Rajeev Masand: Are you a fan of her music?

A R Rahman: I do like stuff of hers, she is a really lovely person.

Rajeev Masand: It's popularly and very justifiably believed that some of your best work is with Mani Ratnam. You started with him with Roja and Raavan is your eleventh collaboration with him?

A R Rahman: I think so.

Rajeev Masand: What can we expect?

A R Rahman: I am looking forward to this movie because it is turning out to be a very interesting movie.

Rajeev Masand: Your son recently sang for the film Kapil's Retreat, the American film, which you have composed the score for. He has also sung before for Bose, The Forgotten Hero

A R Rahman: No not for Bose

Rajeev Masand: Which was then?

A R Rahman: It was an animation film, which is still a work in progress and the other song is also work in progress. He (son) is getting musical slowly. I just played him the track and he started singing something, which I recorded and happen to use it. In just a very small portion of the song.

Rajeev Masand: Your daughter has sung for Mangal Pandey as well. What's it like working with your kids?

A R Rahman: They have to be programmed in a way, they have to be told what to do and what not to do.

Rajeev Masand: Your music for Delhi 6 is probably your best since Rang De Basanti. What's your favourite song on that sound track?

A R Rahman: Most of them, Rahena Tu, Maula.

Rajeev Masand: Danny Boyle has bought the rights to Suketa Mehta's book Maximum City. Are you committed to scoring that?

A R Rahman: I spoke to Danny but I didn't hear anything about this. But definitely, it's going to be a very interesting film I guess.

Rajeev Masand: You met Michael Jackson shortly after the Oscars. Tell us about that meeting. He has been your influence in your growing years.

A R Rahman: I was supposed to meet Michael in 1999 but because of his mishap in a concert, I couldn't meet him. After nine years, when I went to Los Angeles, my agent said, “I am gonna meet Michael Jackson's manager”. So I just told him, "can I meet him." He said he would email and see if Michael wanted to meet me. So three or four days before the Oscars, we got an email saying Michael Jackson wanted to meet me. So I went to meet him after winning the Oscars. I thought the meeting would be five minutes but it lasted for two hours.

We talked about my music and how I had written them and that how India adored Michael Jackson. Then he called me saying why don't you do something like We Are The World and you conduct the whole thing. I was shocked. Before getting into that he started going to rehearsals for the This Is It concert and the next thing you hear that he is dead. It was a real shocker.

Rajeev Masand: In your first film album Roja was declared by Time magazine as one of the best film soundtracks of all time, how different is the experience of making music now. Has the process changed very much now?

A R Rahman: Roja was my benchmark. I told Mani Ratnam that this was what I wanted to achieve. He helped me do that in a way, patiently waiting and giving productive inputs. So that continues even now. Today, it's easier to put across my musical vision to musicians because they have heard my music. It was difficult to do that in the initial years. People are more thoughtful that ways. They are doing well.

Rajeev Masand: Thank you so much for doing us proud and speaking to us.

Courtesy: ibnlive.in.com

Chennai gears up for Rahman’s live concert

A R Rahman’s live concert, Jai Ho, is scheduled to be held on October 11, 2009 from 6.00 p.m. The concert will be held at the MARG Swarnabhoomi site on ECR after Mahabalipuram.
Organized by MARG, the concert is aimed at raising funds for ‘The Shakti Foundation’ and in support of the A R Rahman Foundation. Madras Transport Corporation has also announced free bus rides for fans to and from the venue that start from various locations and snake through the city touching various important pick points.
Transport will be available at the following points:
Parrys Corner
MGR Samathy
Central
Saidapet
Guindy
Anna Nagar
Vadapalani
CIT Nagar
Airport
Pallavaram
Tambaram
Medavakkam
Adyar - Gandhi Nagar
Adyar - Indra Nagar
Thiruvanmiyur
Velacherry & OMR
MARG Office, Sholinga
Guduvancheri
Chengalpattu /kancheepuram
Mathuranthagam
Melvaruvathur
Dindivanam
Pondi
Marakaman
Mamallapuram
Kalpakkam
Tirukalikundram
Ticket Details

Donor Pass Rs 5,000
Donor Pass Rs 2000
Donor Pass Rs 3,000
Donor Pass Rs 1000
Donor Pass Rs 500
General Seating Rs 300
Student Pass Rs 200

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Rahman takes Tamil to Hollywood

For the first time in the history of Hollywood, a full-length Tamil song would feature in 'Couples Retreat', thanks to 'Mozart of Madras' A R Rahman.

The number 'Kurukuru Kan....' has been sung by Afro Nisha, whose voice has a striking resemblence to that of Rahman.

The Oscar award winning music composer said a few days back that his music for 'Couples Retreat' would be completely Western but with a touch of Indianess.

"There's no point in doing something I've already done. I've reached a stage where I've to do new things. There're so many avenues to be explored. So Couples Retreat will be their kind of music with my touch, done in my way," Rahman said.

Directed by Peter Billingsley, the comedy revolves around four couples who settle into a tropical island resort for a vacation. While one of the couples is there to work on the marriage, the others fail to realise that participation in the resort's therapy sessions is not optional. It stars actors like Jason Bateman, Vince Vaughn, Malin Akerman and Kristen Bell.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Rahman in Bala's film?

A latest buzz in Tamil cinema is that filmmaker Bala may opt for A R Rahman for his forthcoming film, which would have Arya and Vishal in it.

Rumours were doing rounds that Bala's next venture would feature Jithan Ramesh and Jeeva in lea roles. However the director was tight-lipped. Sources close to Bala now say, "After intense discussion, Bala chose to repeat Arya (who acted in 'Naan Kadavul') along with Vishal for the movie'.

Impressed with the story narrated by Bala, both Arya and Vishal agreed immediately to do the film, it is said. Shooting for the movie might begin this year-end.

Unlike his other films, Bala has planned to completed this film in a short period.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Rahman to give fresh touch-up to ‘Roja’

The music maestro is coming back to his first movie. AR Rahman might be having his hands full with Indian and international projects. But that doesn’t make him neglect this project.

It is said that Rahman will be re-recording the music of the well-acclaimed movie, ‘Roja’. The music composer started his musical journey with this movie and it was the same movie which rocketed him to success skies. ‘Roja’ has been planned to go abroad. Meaning, it is going to be released overseas and so it will be dubbed in English.

This Mani Ratnam’s movie had received several prestigious awards and its songs are considered as the most memorable ones till date.

An honourable opportunity to see this movie touching the English shores!

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Rajini hails Vairamuthu

Kaviyarasu Vairamuthu is truly a magician of lyrics. His abundant literary works and countless musical compositions are priceless treasures of Tamil cinema.

Recently the great poet and lyricist had impressed our Superstar Rajinikanth. Vairamuthu has penned the lyrics for few songs in Rajni’s ‘Endhiran’. Endhiran, meaning Robot, tells the story of a man who invents a robot. To suit the situation, Vairamuthu had written that as the robot is invented by a man, it has ‘father tongue’ and not ‘mother tongue’. Rajnikanth was bowled over this and wondered at Vairamuthu’s intelligence. A humble Vairamuthu said that even the director Shankar and Superstar were to share the appreciation for this line.

Well, we all are highly impressed with you sir, for all the memorable songs you have given so far.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

AR Rahman is lonely in LA

This Chennai-based music composer who has been dividing his time between Chennai, Mumbai, London and Los Angeles, has now begun to miss the time he used to spend at home with his wife and children. So Rahman took a totally unscheduled break from his assignments in LA and was back in Chennai on Friday for two weeks.

Confirming the news, Rahman said, “The kids were always there with me when I worked regularly from home in Chennai. Now I get to spend less time with them. Even now when I’m here in Chennai, work for my pending Hindi films like Blue has to be taken care of. I’ve come at a time when I cannot afford to take a break. My first Hollywood soundtrack for Couples Retreat has to be ready because the film is releasing on October 6.”

Not that Rahman is complaining. He is used to being rushed. “I always liked to work at my own pace and that hasn’t changed. But now the volume and profile of the workload is so eclectic that I need to find more time to focus on the individual assignments more carefully. Yeah, it’s a tough balancing act. But I’m enjoying myself. After I finish the soundtrack of Couples Retreat, which is 80 per cent complete, I’ve an artistes’ album coming up. It is one of my biggest international challenges. It’s too early to talk about it. But yes, it will involve musicians from all over the world and I’ll be composing the music. Recently, I also got to work with the John Williams Orchestra and that was a dream-come-true. I guess my dreams are coming true,” gushed Rahman.

Rahman wants all his children to be adept at music. In fact, Rahman’s son, Ameen, who has sung in Couples Retreat, attends Rahman’s music academy in Chennai. Commenting on Ameen’s early start, Rahman said, “It’s just a small part of a song in Couples Retreat. We found his voice to be suitable for it. And that’s it. My son is certainly not embarking on a singing career at that age. He’s just a child. He has so many things to do and achieve before he decides on a career. I think he should be allowed to do what he likes. The final call will be his. No peer pressure.”

Rahman returns to LA in the second week of August. Tease him about being Dr Rahman and he says, “You will have to say the ‘Doctor’ thrice,” referring to the three doctorates that he has received since the Oscar triumph.


Courtesy: indiatimes.com

Rahman’s son turns singer

He is, his dad was, and his nephew now is, all his sisters are. So, what’s the big surprise in AR Rahman’s son Alim turning singer now? But yes, the Academy Award winning musician’s son has sung for a complete song in Rahman’s Hollywood flick, 'Couples Retreat'.

The film, touted to be a romantic comedy, is Rahman’s first complete Hollywood venture, as all his previous works have been for crossover movies. And last week, Rahman’s son Alim had recorded a song in the film.

It has been said earlier that Rahman’s children lent their voice for the chorus sections of a few songs, most notably “Dhinam Dhinam Deepavali” in 'Varalaaru'. But the composer is known to be highly protective of his children, not exposing them to the public eye.

But with this song and his son, he surely has signaled the arrival of gen next.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Jackson was reading Tagore, planned work with Rahman

Pop legend Michael Jackson was reading poetry by Indian Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore during the last days of his life, and had commissioned Oscar-winning music maestro A R Rahman to create a unity anthem for his new album.

Rahman got the job after his Academy Award success courtesy Danny Boyle's multiple Oscar winning underdog dramaSlumdog Millionaire early this year.

Jackson's last brushes with Tagore suggest he was developing a special bond with India, reports contactmusic.com.
"A R Rahman met Michael Jackson after the Oscars in Los Angeles and Michael asked him to compose a unity anthem for him... Michael's planned new album would have had a huge Indian feel to it... Michael was reportedly working with Adnan Sami, which was to include Indian musical instruments like the sarangi, tabla, and dholak," said an insider close to Rahman.
The unity anthem wasn't the first time the pair would have worked together, as they collaborated earlier on a track titled Ekam satyam.

A source suggested Jackson's brother Jermaine encouraged the King of Pop to explore Indian music, as "Jermaine's wife Halima reportedly lived in Chandigarh in India for some time".
Jackson was secretly also studying Hinduism in the last years.
"Michael reportedly learned how to meditate and he was a vegetarian. When he was presented statues of Hindu deities Ganesha and Nataraja, Michael knew who they were. He was also very anxious to meet Mother Teresa before her death. He had a great interest in all things India for some time," said Rajan Zed, the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism.





Courtesy: sify.com

Aish fights Rajini

On the sets, of course! The girl who has stolen hearts is all set to kick. And she’s not dueling with any actor, but the biggest of ’em all: the superstar. This is for the film ‘Endhiran’ in which she plays his love interest.

It is now confirmed that Aishwarya Rai has an action sequence in the Rajini starrer, and she is currently undergoing coaching from the Japan Shido Riyuv institute in Chennai for Karate. This school is being run by Ramesh, who has been a martial arts coach for 30 years now. 

Remember Aish as the brave and beautiful Rajput princess of ‘Jodha Akbar’? With a bit of luck she is ready for a tough fight with our own superstar this time. Her nimble fingers and slender hands are now being taught to learn the deadly self defense art.

But that’s not all for the Mangalore beauty, who has also been learning carnatic music and bharathanatyam to play her role in Mani Ratnam’s ‘Raavana’. These south Indian projects are definitely a demanding, yet rewarding work out for the World Beauty.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

What’s brewing between Gautham Menon and Rahman?

Gautham Menon and AR Rahman are very unhappy over rumors that the latter refuses to compose the background score for Vinnaithaandi Varuvaya. A few days earlier, there were reports that Rahman is not satisfied with the pay packet and refused to score the BGM.

Clarifying on this issue, Gautham said that Rahman called him up when such reports surfaced to find out the reason for the rumors. Rahman was also very disturbed that the media persons did not verify their claim before writing.

Gautham said that Rahman had already composed five songs for the VTV of which three have already been filmed. Rahman will work on the BGM once the shooting is done.


Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Aishwarya Rai’s fight with Rajinikanth

Ash’s ability to do stunts was evident in her films like Dhoom II and Jodhaa Akbar. The actress is now learning Karate from noted Karate master Ramesh to do some daredevil stunts in the Shankar-directed Endhiran.

From what we heard, the sources close to the team say, Ash will have a fight sequence in the film, where she will test her fighting skills on Rajinikanth. Sources say that Endhiran has a scene where Rajini teaches martial arts to Ash and an interesting fight sequence has been canned.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Rahman's new doctorate

AR Rahman was conferred with an honorary doctorate by the Middlesex University in London on July 8th. Rahman, the founder principal of the KM Music Conservatory in Chennai was honored at a function that was held in Middlesex University. The Midddlesex University and KM Music Conservatory will jointly work on developing the syllabus for Bachelor of Arts Honours Programmed for Music Composition and Music Performance. The joint venture is exploring the possibilty of offering the program to students who will take up the course in KM Music Conservatory during the first two years and the final year in Middlesex University.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

AR Rahman @ Middlesex University - Images

Courtesy:

Rahman, Danny Boyle invited to become Oscar voters

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited India's music maestro A.R. Rahman and four other Oscar winners associated with the Academy award sweeper "Slumdog Millionaire" to join its roster of voting members.

Rahman has been invited for his music in "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Elizabeth: The Golden Age", while the film's British Director Danny Boyle is also cited for "Sunshine".

Besides "Slumdog Millionaire", producer Christian Colson has been cited for "The Descent", cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle for "The Last King of Scotland" and film editor Chris Dickens chosen for "Shaun of the Dead".

They are among 134 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2009 to the Academy's roster of voting members.

"These filmmakers have, over the course of their careers, captured the imagination of audiences around the world," said Academy President Sid Ganis in an announcement from Beverly Hills, California.

"It's this kind of talent and creativity that make up the Academy, and I welcome each of them to our ranks."

The Academy's membership would have allowed a maximum of 166 new members in 2009, but as in the previous years, the several branch committees endorsed fewer candidates than were proposed to them.

Voting membership in the organisation has now held steady at just under 6,000 members since 2003.

New members will be welcomed into the Academy at an invitation-only reception at the Academy's Fairbanks Centre for Motion Picture Study in Beverly Hills in September.

Courtesy: hindu.com

Gautham eases pace: bearded Silambarasan uneasy

Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya, which started with a bang and was reportedly going on at a great pace, has seen a sudden slackening in proceedings. The reason reportedly is that director Gautham Menon doesn’t seem too keen on getting on with it at the same pace as the initial stages.
Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya is not being made in Tamil alone, it is also being reportedly planned in Telugu with Mahesh Babu in the lead. However, Mahesh Babu’s dates are not available for at least a couple of months and there is no way that the Telugu version can begin until his dates are confirmed.
With the same story, Gautham wants the two films to be completed and released simultaneously. He seems to think that any one of them releasing earlier would affect the chances of the latter, especially if the box office results were not favorable. Added to this is the fact that he also plans to use Rahman’s tunes for the Telugu version too. With the kind of reach that Rahman’s music has, any one album releasing ahead of the other will rob all the novelty off the one following it. So, weighing his options, Gautham seems to have decided that Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya need not sprint to completion as earlier planned.
This seems fine with everyone except Silambarasan. He has acted in two get ups in VTV, one of which has a full grown beard. With film’s shooting not moving as expected, he has been left with his beard in place, unable to take part in any other shooting.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Rahman uses novel concept for Endhiran

If you have listened to Rehna Tu in Delhi 6, you cannot miss the final piece in the song, a peculiar type of instrumentation. Are you still wondering about the instrument that was used? It is in fact the Continuum fingerboard. This is a touch screen keyboard and is being used only by the rarest of rare music composers.
AR Rahman has tried the usage of this novel instrument in Delhi 6 and happy with the results he is now using this Continuum fingerboard for Endhiran. But the news here is that it not for a single song but for the whole movie.
With this novel concept there is no doubt the songs will top the charts.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com