hey ajit thats a great work ..........
u have said about chinese film " between heaven and earth " ...well ajit the film is " warriors of heaven and earth "
between heaven and earth is a non film instrumental album derived from warriora of heaven and earth.
On 1/15/06, Praveen.S.R <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hi,
Ajit, ur write up reveals the true emotions of a fan meeting with
ARR. IMHO, u shud publish this in some newspaper or magazine. That
would provide the public more insight into the true life of the
genius.....good work......xpecting more writeups from u....
with love,
Rahmaniac Praveen
http://www.crusadertvm.blogspot.com/
--- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, "Ajit" < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Hello fellow ARR Fans,
>
> Back on Nov 25th, my dream came true when I met and spent some time
> with ARR. I wrote about it briefly to you all shortly afterwards
> informally. However, I have written a formal writeup on my
experience
> with him that night as well as my own deep feelings about him. My
> family has encouraged me to submit this writeup to some local Indian
> newspapers here in the US, such as India Abroad. I may do this,
but I
> would like your feedback first. There is some intimate information
> about ARR's life which I learned, which I am not sure if some of you
> already know about. Please forgive the lengthy nature of this
writeup
> and I'm sorry to take so much bandwidth. The point of this writeup
is
> not only to express my deep feelings about ARR, but to also
hopefully
> someday educate the public about him and his music. In fact, many
of
> my close friends were pleasantly surprised to know about some facts
of
> ARR that they didn't know before and regarded him with more respect
> after reading my writeup. But, I am humble about it and I want to
> share this with you. Thanks for reading.
>
______________________________________________________________________
___
> A.R. Rahman.........
> >
> >Yes, we've all heard of him and most of us have heard his music.
> He's been
> >called "The Mozart of Madras". He's the long wavy haired Tamilian
music
> >director genius from Chennai who is associated with movie
soundtracks
> like
> >Taal, Rangeela, Lagaan, Iruvar, Thiruda Thiruda, Dil Se, Roja....
> Yup, you
> >know him.....the shy and quiet one. Yes, he is the one who
prefers to
> >compose music at night, requiring singers and other artists to
adjust
> their
> >routines to accomodate his recording schedule, and the one who is
> notorious
> >for taking his own time composing, much to the impatience of
the "film
> >wallahs" of Mumbai and Chennai. He is the most expensive music
director.
> >He has been labeled repetitive by his critics, focusing too much on
> rhythm
> >and "fusion". Some accuse him of tainting the traditional North
Indian
> >style of film music with his brand of fusion experimentation,
imbuing
> >Western and South Indian musical blends. Oh, and let's not forget
the
> >other
> >outdated and absurd criticism of.... "Woh synthesizer aur
computer se
> >gaane
> >karte hain na?"
> >
> >What else is known about A.R. Rahman?
> >
> >He has been awarded with the Padmashree, one of the most
distinguished
> >awards the Indian government gives to deserving and outstanding
citizens.
> >Winning countless number of filmfare, national, technical, and
other
> >regional awards and accolades, he has been showered with praise by
Lata
> >Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Amitabh Bacchan,
> President
> >Abdul Kalam (for whose poem he has composed music) and many other
top
> >artists and performers. He has single handedly revolutionized the
> face of
> >Indian film music from the 1990s to today, begining with his debut
> >soundtrack for "Roja" in 1992 (first in Tamil). He somehow was
able to
> >bring the top most classical and film artists of the country with
all
> their
> >egos and generate a beautiful patriotic album consisting of
various vocal
> >and instrumental renditions of the Indian National Anthem...."Jana
Gana
> >Mana" in the year 2000. Oh yes, his patriotism.......remember his
> very own
> >creation celebrating India's 50th year of independence in 1997
with the
> >album "Vande Mataram"? He is the number one selling artist in
India,
> >commercially selling more than Britney Spears and Madonna
combined. His
> >music has been recognized internationally, gathering the attention
and
> >applause of Andrew Loyd Webber who is known for directing many
famous
> >Western musicals. Their showbiz marriage gave birth to "Bombay
> Dreams", an
> >amalgamation of his own Hindi film songs and original Western
musical
> >pieces
> >which showcased in London and Broadway. He has collaborated with
> violinist
> >virtuoso Vanessa Mae, superstar Michael Jackson, and recently
scored the
> >background music for a Chinese film "Between Heaven and Earth",
utilizing
> >Turkish and Chinese instruments and musical styles. And let's not
forget
> >his latest international venture in co-composing music for Kevin
> Wallace's
> >"The Lord of the Rings" stage musical, projected to be the biggest
> musical
> >of all times.
> >
> >Yes, that's the A.R. Rahman known publically.
> >
> >I have been a fan of his music now for several years, following
his work
> >closely and anticipating new music from him constantly. As a
> keyboard and
> >piano player like him, I spend a lot of time listening to his
music,
> >learning, getting inspired, and just being moved. His music to me
is not
> >time pass, it's a cherished experience each time that never gets
old.
> >That's the beauty of his music.........you let it grow on you, and
like
> >good
> >wine, it ages gracefully with more appeal. Of course, I don't
expect
> >everyone to buy into his work and his music is of course subject to
> >different opinions.
> >
> >But, people often wonder why I like him so much? They say I
am "paagal"
> >about hs music and that I like anything he composes. Yes, I
am "crazy"
> >about his music, but it's not true that I love everything he
creates. I
> >give his music a chance, but there are many songs of his that go
nowhere
> >wth
> >me even after letting them grow. He's a human being afterall.
> >
> >What is it about this man and his music that drives me to the peak
of
> >passionate reverance and devotional admiration? I don't speak for
his
> >other
> >fans and admirers, but based on my observations, my reasons below
are
> >shared
> >by others. Beyond a certain popular appeal about his music that
most
> >people
> >can identify with, I can answer this question based on what close
> people to
> >me know about me. I consider myself to be open minded and tolerant
> when it
> >comes to human diversity in all forms. Actually, I celebrate
> diversity and
> >a lot of that impetus comes from my own life experience of having
a
> >cultural
> >blend of Indian and Western values and world views and choosing the
> best of
> >both worlds. For me, Rahman's music celebrates diversity in all
its
> >vibrant
> >and beautiful colors. Like a coherent mozaic, his music breaks
across
> >artificial barriers and speaks about the threads that bind us.
And the
> >word
> >"fusion" is really not appropriate to describe his approach and
> style. He
> >somehow manages to blend various musical styles from around the
world and
> >yet retain a sound and feel that is totally and completely Indian
in
> most
> >of
> >his Indian film compositions. I honestly don't know any other
musical
> >artist with a bigger musical range and repertoir than him;
incorporating
> >Western classical, symphony, Hindustani and Carnatic classical,
jazz and
> >smooth jazz, thumris, bhajans, Qawalis, ghazals, sufi, new age,
dance,
> >techno, Latin, Chinese, Turkish, Arabic, Ska, Rock, etc. etc. His
> music is
> >simply all emcompassing. As a person devoted to Sufi Islam and
> coming from
> >Tamil Nadu, his ability and willingness to compose North Indian
style
> music
> >and world music catering and appealing to different languages,
cultures,
> >and
> >religions is simply astounding. To that effect, he is not just a
music
> >director of Indian film music. He is a true cross over artist and
a
> world
> >music composer.
> >
> >The other aspect about his music that resonates so intimately with
me is
> >the
> >underlying spiritualness and emotional depth of many of his
compositions,
> >which I will elaborate further when speaking about him as a
person. As a
> >psychologist, a musician, and a deeply spiritual and emotional
person
> >myself, his ability to communicate complex emotions through his
music
> on a
> >spiritual platform of innovative soundscapes has impacted me in
profound
> >ways that I just cannot describe in words. Indeed, I find a strong
> >connection between sound, spirituality, and emotional _expression_
in his
> >music that for me personally, has been very therapeutic and
uplifting.
> >Despite my lack of understanding of Hindi and Tamil lyrics, his
music
> >speaks
> >volumes to me more than words could ever dare. His compositions
have
> gone
> >way beyond the typical romantic love ballads of Indian film music,
while
> >also catering to those who appreciate those types of songs as well
> when the
> >film or situation requires it.
> >
> >From all his awards, accomplishments, accolades, distinctions, and
from
> >what
> >I described above, one can gain a firm understanding about this
man's
> vast
> >musical aptitude and sheer genius. That in and of itself deserves
> >recognition, which has been granted. But, what is less obvious and
> sadly,
> >often neglected in the public's eye is what his music and the
> >expressiveness
> >and dedication behind it says about him as a pesron, which I only
> inferred
> >and observed before actually meeting him in person.
> >
> >Before meeting him in Toronto on November 25, 2005, thanks to my
new
> friend
> >and A.R. Rahman fan who arranged the meeting, I had an impression
of
> him as
> >a shy and socially anxious person who communicated more through
his music
> >than words. Through his stated interviews, press statements, and
> >involvements with various charitable causes, including being the UN
> global
> >ambassador for the fight against TB, I also understood him to be
down to
> >earth, humble, and generous. His latest involvement in a musical
project
> >addressing issues related to poverty and human rights, for which
he
> >composed
> >an anti-poverty anthem, was another indicator of this man's
> compassion and
> >sensitivity. As we entered his studio, we were directed to a door
> which we
> >thought was a waiting room, when it was in fact the studio in which
> Rahman
> >was busily composing the background score of his latest Hindi film
> >soundtrack for "Rang De Basanti". We opened the door, and much to
our
> >astonishment, there he was, in person, just as surprised as we were
> to see
> >us as we were to see him! He of course knew we were coming to the
> studio
> >to
> >meet him, but I don't think he expected us to just walk into his
> recording
> >room! After we apologized profusely, he smiled, came out and told
us to
> >please sit in the actual waiting room. No frown, no sign of
irritation,
> >but
> >just pure hospitality.
> >
> >Half an hour later, he gave us his break time and sat down with us.
> >Unassuming, gentle, shy, but yet showing interest in us and asking
us
> >questions, my wife and I were very excited to be meeting him, but
I in
> >particular, felt quite overwhelemed being in the actual presence
of a man
> >who I have admired and practically worshipped for all these
years. A
> total
> >dream come true. He made us feel so comfortable and related to us
> like we
> >were his friends, never airing his status as a superstar, and never
> talking
> >about himself or his music. He was so relaxed with us, making
witty
> >remarks, giggling, and being at ease, we almost felt like we've
> known him
> >personally for a while. He defied our expectations of him being
very shy
> >and
> >reserved, which perhaps would have been the case in a crowd or if
our
> >common
> >friend wasn't there. Regardless, he gave us his break time
despite not
> >having slept the night before and dealing with the work pressure
of
> >handling
> >so many huge Hindi and Tamil film soundtracks and The Lord of the
Rings
> >musical. Despite being in a foreign country, he welcomed us with
as much
> >hospitality as if that studio were his home. This was exemplified
> the most
> >when he wished us a good journey home and asked us caringly by
saying,
> >"Khana?" while motioning his hand towards his mouth. He and his
group of
> >musicians were looking for food in the fridge and despite appearing
> to not
> >have many options, he still offered us dinner.
> >
> >His simple and humble personality combined with his strong
spiritual
> nature
> >left a big impact on us, despite being with him for only 15-20
> minutes. Of
> >course for me, being it a dream come true, I was quite overwhelemed
> by the
> >experience. However, beyond that, we felt touched by this man's
> >compassionate and gentle humanity. A true philanthropist, we
learned
> from
> >that despite all the fame and success he has earned, he does not
use
> money
> >for self indulgence. He uses only what he needs and generously
gives to
> >the
> >less fortunate in India. As we sat and chatted, a basketball game
was
> >happening on TV in front of us. Rahman remarked that he doesn't
> understand
> >what's going on when he sees these games. After a pause, he
stated, "I
> >don't
> >even know cricket". Only later we came to understand the
significance of
> >this remark and how personal it is for Rahman.
> >
> >At a tender age of 9, his father, a well known musician himself in
Tamil
> >Nadu, succumbed to illness and passed on. Known then as Dileep
Kumar, he
> >bore the burden of having to support his family and deal with the
> grief of
> >his father's sudden absence. As a result, he dropped out of school
and
> >eventually took up his first job carrying musical instruments for
other
> >musicians. He sacrified his childhood to support his family and
> eventually
> >became more involved with music as time went on. He suffered
tremendous
> >hardship during those years. One of his regrets and a source of
great
> >sadness for him is never getting an opportunity to understand and
> develop
> >an
> >interest in the game of cricket due to being so bogged down during
his
> >childhood. As we know, the sport of cricket is India's pride and
joy,
> >loved
> >and watched and played by so many. Thus, a painful void in his
life, so
> >apparent and real, but unknown except to those very close to him.
He also
> >compares himself unfavorably with others with regards to dropping
out of
> >school early and not having achieved a desired level of education,
> despite
> >his status and success in life thus far.
> >
> >These painful emotional wounds from his past along with tremendous
> love and
> >support from his family served to drive his strong sense of values,
> >simplicity, faith, spirituality, compassion, humility, sense of
duty, and
> >love for diversity. A true modern day rennaissance man and
> philanthropist,
> >his creative work is a broad but powerful reflection of his life
> experience
> >and has served time and time again to deepen his faith and
committment to
> >hard work and helping others. I often sensed that in many of his
> >compositions, there is a touch of sorrow interwoven like a thread,
a
> quiet
> >but profound commentary on the pangs of humanity. But, yet, there
is
> also
> >celebration, joy, folk festivity, and just plain rocking
> entertainment when
> >the mood demands it. His popularity and commercial success prove
that he
> >can entertain like no other when he wants to. His ability to
communicate
> >such a rich emotional and spiritual landscape through his music
most
> >certainly reflects a true investment of his heart and soul and his
> dreams,
> >as well as the wounds that have been inflicted on them by life.
This
> >emotional depth and spiritual dimension that I sense through his
creative
> >expressions are what resonate within me so intensely. He
expresses his
> >spirituality through the beautiful use of Indian raagas, which
appeal
> to me
> >on a classical sense. His music is so enriched with emotional
depth and
> >dimension, which sadly, has often gone unappreciated by the masses
> who are
> >more interested in entertainment than art. After meeting him and
> catching
> >a
> >glimpse of his personality for real, my esteem, devotion, and love
> for this
> >man is even higher. I am and forever will be his student and fan.
> >
> >The pureness of A.R. Rahman and his music will be with me forever.
I feel
> >very fortunate and grateful to have met him and I hope that I can
> meet him
> >again some day. I expressed many of my thoughts written above to
him
> in a
> >letter that my friend gave to him before meeting me. For a man
whose
> only
> >dream was to compose for one film during his jingle ad composing
> days, who
> >he is today and what he has accomplished is much more than a dream
come
> >true.
> >
>
Explore, Experience, Enjoy A.R.Rahman - The Man, The Music, The Magic.
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yours sincerely
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Explore, Experience, Enjoy A.R.Rahman - The Man, The Music, The Magic.
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