Rahman becomes Oscar juror

Seven months after winning two Oscar titles, A R Rahman will take on a new role as a voting member for the Academy Awards — from next year. The music composer is one of the 134 artistes to have received an invitation to join the Oscar roster of voting members for 2009.

Rahman has received an invite from the Board of Governors, considering his contribution to music — in recognition of his score in the films Slumdog Millionaire and Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

The 43-year-old ‘Mozart of Madras’ was unavailable for comment, but sources close to him confirmed that Rahman would join the 6000-plus voters of the elite list for the Oscars from next year. With this, Rahman will be in the company of Will Smith, Quentin Tarantino, Jack Nicholson and Mira Nair to choose the winners of the most famous international awards.

Membership for the academy voters roster is limited, and open only by invitation. Those who have been nominated for the Oscars are eligible to be on the voters list. Joining Rahman this year are Casey Affleck, Hugh Jackson, apart from Peter Gabriel, who was Rahman’s contender in the Best Original Song category.

Rahman, who won an Oscar each for Best Musical Score and Best Song this year for Slumdog Millionaire, has now signed on a complete Hollywood project, Couples Retreat, apart from working on an international short film with Shekar Kapur, A Night of Passage. He is said to be eyeing more Hollywood projects.

Courtesy:expressbuzz.com

Listening 'Passage'

Shekhar Kapur’s “Passage” (an A.R.Rahman musical in a way, the only moment there is no music behind is when a character says “the music has stopped”) opens with most unlikely sound for a film set in Venice - A Saarangi. Also in Shekhar Kapur’s “Elizabeth: The Golden Age”, Rahman used the same instrument for the track “Divinity theme”. So, we don’t know whether it really is Rahman’s choice or Shekhar Kapur’s. The melody that is played on Saarangi could have been easily replaced by a cello, while Saarangi is pitched higher, a cello if pitched lower playing the same melody would have yielded the same effect. With a Cello, it would have easily sounded European grounded in the soil where the story takes place.

We may also need to completely understand the intensity of emotions that are on display here – loss, separation, reconciliation - to understand why the loudness is. How big the loss is? How long they have been separated? What this reunion means to them? Only if all these questions are clearly answered and understood, one can understand the loudness of the emotion put on display with the Saarangi. Only a non-Indian who has never heard the sound of ‘Saarangi’ before can say what it did to him while listening to it with the visuals. So, while I am sure that it is great music as a stand-alone track, I am not sure if it is a great score. But I must admit that this piece is such an important narrative tool for Shekhar Kapur without which it wouldn’t have been possible for him to convey what he wanted to in a short time. With just the sound of Saarangi you get that there was something devastating that “happened in the future” of those 3 little girls merrily playing there on the streets.

The very sound of Saarangi has a feel of longingness in it which is much louder and instantly striking than that of a Cello. But adding a universal touch

ARR does Passage for Shekhar Kapur

After ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’, AR Rahman has teamed up with the noted filmmaker Shekhar Kapur. Our Music Maestro has thrown in his musical magic on ‘Passage’, the first short film directed by Shekhar Kapur. The film is produced by Swarovski Entertainment and is shot entirely in Argentina.

It is said that in this one, Rahman’s tuneful compositions have blended fabulously with the director’s visuals. ‘Passage’ is based on three women and the story carries enhancing visuals and sounds, which portrays an emotional passage through despair and loss to reconciliation. The film stars Julia stiles, Lily Cole and Haley Bennett. Indian singer has also lent her voice for a track in this film.

‘Passage’ was first screened in ‘Sankalpa’ - an installation by Shekhar Kapur and David Adjaye that is on display until summer 2010 in Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens, Austria. Recently a grand screen on the film was held on the island of La Giudecca.

Well, with ‘Passage’, here’s is another impressive jewel added to Rahman’s career crown.

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Aamir Khan’s arrival, Danny’s pleasure

Aamir Khan made it to the premiere of Slumdog Millionaire at the J W Marriott much to the astonishment of his fans and critics. When Danny Boyle, the film’s director, called Aamir he could not refuse and arrived at the venue. Those who joined the celebrations soon after the show were Aamir,

Danny, Anil Kapoor, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Kapur, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and wife Anupama, Sudhir Mishra and Baba and Tanvi Azmi.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Aamir takes on Shahrukh

With actor Shahrukh Khan being in the limelight for a spree of endorsements and the much hyped Kolkota Knights, Aamir Khan too doesn’t take the backseat. With Aamir Khan’s birthday being just a few days away, the team at Samsung unveiled their new brand ambassador for their series of mobile phones. A cordial Aamir Khan appeared to the media and had a line or two for King Khan-Shahrukh who apparently is the ambassador for a competitive mobile brand.


“Shahrukh always loves being second”, is what Aamir had on being asked about Nokia and its representative. “I do take great interest in cricket but buying cricket teams doesn’t interest me”, says Aamir denying rumours of any association with the Indian Cricket League.

Aamir also had a line or two for Shekar Kapur and Ranbir Kapoor. Aamir denied being a part of Shekar’s Time Machine and at the same time expressed how keen he is on signing Ranbir for his next film.

For those wondering, what’s next for Aamir. Well it’s Aamir going bald within a few days for his next flick “Ghajini”.
Courtesy: Indiaglitz.com

Bombay Dreams at Broadway is breakthrough for South Asians'

As he sat on a street-side table at an eatery here one evening, few passers-by spared Manu Narayan more than a cursory glance - despite his extraordinarily sparkling eyes and his cap slung low to hide his wild, curly locks of black hair.

But the days are not far when Narayan, 25, will not fail to be noticed wherever he happens to be, especially not in the environs of Times Square.

For he is the lead in Andrew Lloyd Weber's spectacular production of A.R. Rahman's "Bombay Dreams", London's smash hit musical that is scheduled to open on Broadway April 29.

"I think that in many ways this show is a breakthrough for South Asians as well as for the US," Narayan told IANS in an interview.

"For Americans this musical is a high profile way of getting the stories, images and music of Indian culture into the greater mainstream American consciousness.

"In so doing, many doors of possibilities open up for South Asian immigrants and South Asian Americans in both the professional and non- professional worlds.

"I believe the more we can expose the world to our talent, ability and cultures, the more the world can view us not as stereotypes but as individuals with our own unique stories."

Narayan also spoke to IANS on how humbled and elated he was on landing the prize role of Akaash.

"I am aware that it is the role of the decade; surely there is nothing higher going in the theatre world for a young South Asian male actor to dream of," he said, the exultation in his voice tamed by a touch of awe.

"Bombay Dreams" had its world premiere at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre June 19, 2002. The musical quickly became the biggest hit currently playing in London's West End.

Based on an idea by filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, "Bombay Dreams" tells the story of a handsome young slum-dweller, Akaash, and his dreams of becoming a Bollywood movie star. It weaves together glamour, romance and epic spectacle.

A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Narayan's theatre credits include the national tour of "Miss Saigon" (Thuy), Tom Stoppard's "Indian Ink" (Nirad Das) at the Wilma Theatre in Philadelphia, and David Henry Hwang's "Largo" (starring Cyndi Lauper and Fisher Stevens) at New York Stage and Film, as well as TV appearances on "Law and Order SVU" and "As the World Turns".

The part didn't just drop from the sky though - Narayan had been working all his life towards it. He has been acting, singing and dancing since he can remember.

"My parents are very supportive. My dad, J.B. Narayan, came to the US in the 1960s to study engineering. He went back to Chennai, where he met my mother, Vatsala, who is from Karnataka. They came back and settled in Pittsburgh.

"I am an only child and my parents enveloped me in love and support. They are very happy with my choice of acting as a career."

Of the rehearsals for 'Bombay Dreams', which began early this month, Narayan says: "Although it is play, and the best work possible for me, it is also taxing. It is the kind of work I love to do, but there are limits to the human body, and both your muscles and your mind are tested by the simultaneous singing, dancing and acting.

"We rehearse from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Three days a week I go to the gym for a one-hour workout. And it will be eight shows a week, with one rest day, after 'Bombay Dreams' opens at the Broadway Theatre."

Narayan had the privilege of singing for the queen of England, the president of the US, and various other dignitaries at the behest of Andrew Lloyd Webber in London at the US ambassador's residence in London.

"There were about 40 people in all, and we got to shake hands with the queen and the president. It was a big moment. But the biggest is coming... when the curtain rises at the Broadway on April 29."

Courtesy: Hindustantimes.com

RAHMAN IS GO-GO IN NEW AVATAR

Even though A.R. Rahman may look different with the new hairstyle that he sports, yet he is the same music director who is always lost in the world of his tunes. When asked about his new look he says that he went to Haj and had to shave off his head. Besides, his wife liked it and he didn't have any album to release, so he has let it be as it is. Regarding his two movies this year - Shekhar Kapoor's Elizabeth and Ashutosh Gowarikar's Jodhaa Akbar - Rahman says that though both are period films, yet they are all about human beings. Summing it up he says, "Music has to reveal the basic human emotions. At the end of the day, it is the human feelings that matter."


When we sought his views on the loud music of Elizabeth, the music director admits it and explains: It is co-composed by me. When we started the film it was arty. When I saw the film, I felt it was dragging. We wanted the music to be pulsating and throbbing to make the film better." Isn't the music like that of Roja? Rahman quips, "Yes, and from there on I decided that I should not go below that benchmark. It was complementary because Roja also got several international awards. Haven't Tamil films taken a back seat since he got busy with international ventures? The music director admits it, too. "There was a time when I used to do six films a year. Now, I do one or two Tamil and three to four Hindi films a year." Rahman believes in God and asserts that He controls his life otherwise he wonders if he would have been able to continue working from midnight till morning.

Courtesy: Smashits.com

Rahman: the golden age

Last Saturday, he rocked New Delhi, absolutely ‘live' at an HT concert.. even as he maintains his position of the No 1 music whiz of the nation. What keeps him bettering himself? What are the pleasures and the pains encountered on his beat route? So, here's AR Rahman in a freespinning interview with V Ananth
Whatever happened to your unruly locks?
When I went for Haj, I shaved off my long hair. Fortunately or unfortunately, my wife liked my new look.. she insisted that I should keep it. (Laughs) I had no other alternative but to listen to my wife.

Does your style of composing music change when you do an international project like Elizabeth: The Golden Age?
The music for Elizabeth.. has been co-composed by me. When Shekhar started the project, he wanted to make it very artistic and dark. But then, he decided to make the film more entertaining.. and the music more pulsating.
As a composer, I'd say music stems from one's emotions. So, there's absolutely no difference in my approach, whether I'm composing for Jodhaa Akbar or Elizabeth.

When you look back, how do you assess your music?
"As a composer, I'd say music stems from one's emotions. So, there's absolutely no difference in my approach, whether I'm composing for Jodhaa Akbar or Elizabeth"Roja set the standard for me as a composer. And frankly, I can't guage where to go after Elizabeth. Let's see.. at this very point of time, I'm very excited about my next international album - The Lord of The Rings which will be released on December 10. It has many as 15 tracks. As much as 20,000 pounds would be spent a day on the orchestration.
I believe you have started your own music company.
Yes. It's called K M Musiq. I'm really kicked about it. All these years, I was being commissioned by others.. now I can commission others.
But it seems you now insist on royalty for every music score..which is why you couldn't compose for Om Shanti Om.
In life, you can't have your cake and eat it too. You have to take certain risks to reach your goal.
Which have been your most vital steps ahead?
Undoubtedly Vande Mataram and the score for the stage musical Bombay Dreams.
What do you find wrong with the Indian film music industry?
There are several problems. The saddest thing is that no one takes acoustic instruments seriously. Most musicians just prefer to work on keyboards. But I've stopped getting angry. One should be true to one's own self.. because one candle can light a million.
"I work at night, occasionally , whenever I'm dealing with a jet lag situation, not otherwise."Do you still work like an owl all night and sleep by day?
That's rubbish! If that was true, I wouldn't be sitting here with you doing an inteview in the afternoon. I work at night, occasionally , whenever I'm dealing with a jet lag situation, not otherwise.
How busy are you as a music director right now?
I'm into a somewhat more relaxed pace now. There was a time when I'd be doing six Tamil and two to three Hindi films a year.
How many Tamil films are you working on at this point of time?
(Laughs) Ha! That's a good question. I wish I knew the answer. I'm doing two Tamil films – Sultan, the animation film being made by Rajnikant's daughter Soundarya and Prabhu's Sakkarakkatti.
And Hindi films?
Well, let me see. Gajini, Ada, Jaane Tu Naa Jaane Naa, Delhi 6, the Hindi dubbed version of the Rajnikant movie Sivaji, Subhash Ghai's Main Hoon Yuvraj and Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodhaa Akbar.
You were against the idea of composing for dubbed films. So, how did you make an exception for Sivaji?
You're right there.I don't encourage the dubbing of my songs in other languages.
Yes, so Sivaji is an exception.
It has beaty foot-tapping music which should connect on an all-India level.
You are often accused of working for big production banners at the cost of small films.
Sorry, that isn't true at all. Otherwise, I wouldn't be doing Sakkarakkatti which is a small film.
Are you composing the music for an animation film called Cockroach being planned by Shekhar Kapur?
Yes. I'm excited about that. Animation films allow your imagination to take flight.
What do you like about your music?
That's a tricky question. If I say I like my music, I'll be blowing my own trumpet. And if I say I don't like my music, I'll sound disgruntled.
"Some people have unfairly jumped to the conclusion that Aamir and I've had a fight because I haven't done Taare Zameen Par. The fact is that I was committed to several films when Aamir asked me."
Some film producers in the South have accused you of recruiting Hindi singers to do the playback for your Tamil films at their cost.
I will gladly plead guilty of that because I don't believe in parochialism. On the other hand, if I feel that a Tamil singer suits the need of a Hindi film song, I'll take that route without thinking twice.
Why have you cut down on giving breaks to new singers of late?
Let me make this very clear -today, new singers aren't of much use. We need great new singers. I haven't come across any new singer who's above average.
How do you prevent yourself from becoming complacent about your music?
(Pause.. looks away) I was clear right from the moment when I started out, some 16-17 years ago, as a beginner called Dilip Shankar. I was clear that I'm just an instrument in the hands of God. I believe that God up there controls me in whatever I am doing. If don't work in accordance to what God ordains, then I'll be washed out.
"I wouldn't hesitate to pick my top 10: Roja, Rangeela, Bombay, Dil Se, Taal, Kandukonden Kandukonden, Zubeidaa, Lagaan, Rang De Basanti and Guru." After composing major hit songs for Aamir Khan in Rangeela, Lagaan and Rang De Basanti, how come you haven't done his Taare Zameen Par? Have you fallen out with him?
Who says so? I am composing for his film Gajini. Some people have unfairly jumped to the conclusion that Aamir and I've had a fight because I haven't done Taare Zameen Par. The fact is that I was committed to several other films when Aamir asked me to be a part of the project.
Finally, top of the head, can you pick your 10 best movie music scores?
It's very difficult to play favourites. Still.. I wouldn't hesitate to pick my top 10: Roja, Rangeela, Bombay, Dil Se, Taal, Kandukonden Kandukonden, Zubeidaa, Lagaan, Rang De Basanti and Guru.

Courtesy: Hindustantimes.com

Rahman’s dream comes true

Last Sunday, Delhi witnessed a concert by none other than the Mozart of Madras, A R Rahman. About 25,000 strong audiences thronged the open-air venue at Rajouri Garden to listen to their favorite composer churn out one hit after the other. Rahman, dressed in a white sherwani, dominated the grand stage, which had LCD screens flanking both wings, scores of steps leading up to a tiny balcony on one side, which was lit up by multi-colored lights.

Rahman, after the concert, addressed the press where he said it was his long time dream to perform in the national capital. When some reporters quizzed him on the use of north Indian singers for his Tamil numbers, he said that he chose singers whose voices he felt would be most appropriate for the song and had no regional biases as such. Reporters asked him if he overlooked small budget films, to which Rahman replied: “I am presently working on a Tamil film titled Sakkarakatti, which is a low budget film.” Apparently what interest him are the story and the passion of the filmmaker and not the budget of the film. He also expressed his satisfaction over the response he received for his composition in Shekar Kapur’s Elizabeth 2: The Golden Age, which is releasing across the country tomorrow. Rahman’s fans in Delhi seemed all excited as he rolled out hit after hit from his Hindi and Tamil films and even enthralled them with songs from the yet-to-be released Jodha Akbar. Definitely a concert to remember for Delhiites!

Courtesy: Behindwoods.com

A cockroach in Shekhar’s next

Before he went about donning a film director’s hat, Shekhar Kapur was an accountant, a model, an actor, a chat-show host and even a scuba diving instructor! “Diving has always been a passion. I was an instructor ages ago. Whenever I get a chance, I go for a swim in the sea or go scuba diving,” says the director enthusiastically.

Shekhar jokes about how he’s hoping that adman Prahlad Kakkar would ‘someday’ invite him to his scuba diving school at Lakshadweep. He assures us that he’s not going to take up his old job.

“I discovered that life was not just about a career when I was 24,” says the critically-acclaimed direcor currently in town to promote his film ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’. “My life has been a journey from then on for discovering new things and learning more about myself,” he adds.

Apart from the last part of the Elizabeth trilogy, the director is also planning to take up an animation film where the central character will be a cockroach!

He has somehow managed to convince AR Rahman to be on board for this project. “The cockroach will be the only living character left in a world when there are no humans left,” he says.

Coming back to his controversial movie, we ask if he obsessed with Elizabeth? “It’s a character that I can manipulate as most things related to her and that era is almost mythical,” he shoots back, admitting that he is besotted by Cate Blanchett as “she’s one of the most talented actors in the world”.

But the one girl who has wrested all his attention right now is his seven-year-old daughter Kaveri. “I am planning a vacation with her in Goa. There are times when at the end of the day she falls asleep on my shoulder. I stay awake all night because I am scared that she might wake up if I moved,” he signs off.

Courtesy: DnaIndia.com