http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/City_Supplements/Bombay_Times/Creating_music_a_challenge_for_me/articleshow/2077668.cms
Mixing soundtracks and getting audiences hooked on to a lyrical melody - that in some ways explains AR Rahman, a musical rage in the South and now, an all-time favourite of music-frenzy Indians spread all across the globe. As for the latest, the man with a musical mind a la Rahman is now bringing out a series of albums. This, of course, is in additon to the anthem song that he has sung and composed on saving Taj. The new range of work includes an album on Hindustani Classical music, ancient Tamil poems among other such unique experiments in the world of rhythm and sounds. Even for the maestro, creating music is never the proverbial icing on the cake. He recently was at an event that was aimed at saving the The Taj Mahal in Agra, but took time out to reminisces about a musician's constant struggle and passion to churn out chartbusting numbers. To put together some notes for the Taj Mahal project, for instance, all he had "was a piano by the side" and "used the instrument to its fullest despite the constraints of the musical prop." So what does he think about musical technology? He considers technology to be the greatest gift to every musician. "You can listen to all your favourite numbers and feel inspired on the array of portable music devices available today," he says. Rahman has definitely used high-technology to get grooving on some musical favourites that include some western numbers and several other compositions from the genre of classical music. But there is more to Rahman than just music. One of them being his closeness to Illayaraja, another timeless musical icon from beyond the Vindhyas, who, in some ways was instrumental in Rahman's success as a musician in the filmdom - be it Tollywood or across. "My connect with Illayaraja dates back to my father's time. I used to listen to him when my father was working with him. Today Illayaraja's kids listen to my piano," he adds. Apart from spinning such all-time musical charm, Rahman is also betting big on a new entrepreneurial venture that he has floated in the world of music. From designing music to deciphering concepts, a huge leap may we say?
