Thanks for the transcript...missed the interview due to guests in my house fr ganpati...god bless you!!!
Regards, Ganesh On Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 8:42 PM, Siraj K <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Vithur, > > Thanks a TON man for this wonderful script. Indeed its very nice interview; > will be watching the video tonight. > > Thanks for your great contribution... > > Cheers, > Siraj > > > On 9/3/08, Vithur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> Dear All, ( A must watch video also... ) >> >> >> ARR Interview to Sun TV on Sakkarakatti ( Absolutely rocking one ) >> >> >> >> My heartfelt thanks to Sun TV for organizing this wonderful interview, and >> also for deputing a logical and a reasonable interviewer to interview the >> Meastro. He asked logical questions and it was a great treat. >> >> >> >> INTRODUCTION >> >> >> >> The Interviewer starts off by saying this >> >> >> >> " When some one went and asked Swami Vivekanada, as to who is the person >> who is always successful in life ?. for which he replied, " Whenever some >> one demeans you, be true to yourself. When some one praises you, don get >> swayed. That is the hall mark of a true successful man". I keep remembering >> one man 's name always, when I remember these words from Vivenakanda. A man >> with lot of awards, achievement, rising number of success figures, and >> surrounded by praises always, but still unchanged by the same smile, the >> same simple laugh, and sweet speech. The man whom I have been referring to, >> is not an alien born in some corner of the world. He is our own native, a >> person born on the soils of Tamil Nadu, a person who is bringing fame to >> each and every Tamilian across the globe, a wonderful brother and is none >> other than the Musical Storm " A.R. Rahman". >> >> >> >> Come , lets go and meet him. >> >> >> >> Q :- There are so many Film Directors waiting for you, to make films, >> only if you compose music for them. In your success endeavours so far, >> Sakkarakatti has also been listed now. What do you feel about the success of >> this film music ? How did you accept this project and accepted the film ? >> >> >> >> AR :- I have earlier worked with Kalaipuli Dhanu with Kizhakku Cheemayile. >> He was the person, who introduced the Director Krishna of Jillenu Oru >> Kaadhal to me. At that time, he was telling me that his son would be doing a >> film, and asked if I could do the music for the film. I was busy at that >> time. He told, he is ready to wait for any amount of time. Usually, people >> say like that, but after three months, they would come and ask for a tune >> saying that the heroine is leaving somewhere etc . >> >> >> >> But they waited for 1.5 years with patience. Whenever I used to get time, >> I used to give them a song. So, its not my success, but its their success >> that they waited patiently. It's a success to the trust that they had in me. >> Prabhu is also a very patient guy, and he has religuosly spent time for >> making the song good, with all graphics. >> >> >> >> ( A new version of Taxi Taxi was shown…. Just AWESOME ….) >> >> >> >> Q :- You were talking about working with Dhanu Sir. And this is your third >> film with him. What would you like to say about the human being Dhanu ? >> >> >> >> Ar :- Everyone has his own quality, and the quality in Dhanu Sir, is that >> he uses his talent to the utmost extent. Its only certain producers, who >> spend so much of energy in highlighting their films to such extent. >> >> >> >> Q :- Normally, when people remember the word ' Taxi", they think of a >> means of conveyance. But now, people are associating it with the song from >> Sakkarakatti. Has this been specially or purposefully laid for attracting >> the youngsters, or is it comes natural to you ? >> >> >> >> AR :- Every three years, there is a change in the trend. The trend has >> been changing since the 90s. 92 it was different; 95 was different and 98 >> was different….. Now the trend is towards reggae style, Spanish, etc …So, we >> thought of getting all those styles in the song. Actually, this was a last >> thought that we got. This song was composed in the fag end. Originally, the >> song was of a different tune , like a bhangra type. We had to modify the >> same, and in the last moment, a magic happened. We wanted a song like an >> engine. >> >> >> >> Na. Muthukumar speaks >> >> >> >> In Sakkarakatti, I have written three songs. Elay, Taxi taxi , I Miss U >> da. . Today, the CDs of Sakkarakatti have been a great hit amongst the >> public. Specifically, the song Taxi Taxi has got the rank No. 1 amongst the >> previous 20 years of Tamil Cinema. Rahman Sir wanted friendship to be >> described not in a negative manner, but still highlighting the negativity in >> a positive manner, and gave us the initial lyrics as " Taxi taxi, nanbaa Nee >> oru Ilavasa taxi". If you write like this, it would be of great fun also. >> >> >> >> Kalaprabu speaks >> >> >> >> The Hero of the film SK is Shantanu Bhagyaraj. Vedika and Ishitha are the >> two heroines. As I had told before in many interviews, " Rahman Sir has >> given us six boons and not merely six songs…". >> >> >> >> Blazeee speaks >> >> >> >> It was really a blessing to be part of this song, when Mr. Rahman gave the >> idea about this song. Everyone would feel like dancing when you listen the >> groove. That itself is a magic, in the way, the song was started and all. >> When I wrote the English lyrics for this, Kalaprabhu the Director was with >> me, and guided me at every step. The Tamil lyrics were written by Mr. >> Kalaprabhu like " Ingum Ingum Pengal…." The combination worked well and >> of course Mr. Muthukumar also did his job fine. >> >> >> >> Q :- You create so many new songs, new lyricists and at the same time, you >> have also been associated with old and veterans like Vaali sir in your >> songs. Have you ever felt How could he write like this in your songs ? >> >> >> >> AR :- Actually, it's the understanding which is important. We shouldn't >> distinguish between old and new lyricists. There exists good in old as well >> as new, and when we think like this, we can definitely cross all borders. He >> has such a wonderful quality in him. He was telling me with confidence while >> writing Marudhaani saying that it would become a great hit, and was saying >> this till he finished the song. >> >> >> >> Hero Shantanu speaks >> >> >> >> " Sakkarakatti is a completely youthful movie, and the backbone of the >> movie is A.R. Rahman Sir. He has composed the music for the movie. I am a >> very big fan of him. It is a very great privilege for me that he had >> composed music for my first film." >> >> >> >> Q :- Did Chinmayi strain herself for singing the song " I Miss U Da " ? >> >> >> >> >> Ar :- Actually, if we don't create any sort of a preconceived mindset , >> while singing the song, it would come out fine. While starting to sing , we >> shouldn't have an notion that we should be singing lke P. Susheela, or S. >> Janaki. >> >> >> >> Chinmayi Speaks :- >> >> >> >> " I have sung two songs in Sakkarakatti. All singers would be having a big >> dream of singing with Rahman Sir. Even a single line sung with him would be >> a long cherished dream of many a singer. For " I Miss U da' he wanted me to >> sound innocent ( I guess ) . That is what I could remember very much in that >> session. And he gave a special name for that emineee emineee part in that >> song . I asked him as to who this Indai Haza was, for which he replied, " >> Its you". So, I have a new name, and I guess I will use it somewhere some >> time. >> >> >> >> Q :- In 1992, because of roja, you became introduced to the Tamil >> Industry. You have brought a great revolution to Tamil Cinema. ( AR laughs >> here saying that he is also nodding to what all has been said by the >> Interviewer). What is the difference between the 1992 A.R. Rahman and the >> Rahman of 2008, and how does this rahman feel about it ? >> >> >> >> Ar :- First and foremost, if we think and believe that we are zero, then >> everything falls on line properly. When we do something thinking that we >> know it well, we tend to do the same thing again. When we admit, we don't >> know, God Blesses, and that makes it special. Now also, while trying to do >> something now, if we think, that we know how to do, based on the belief that >> we had done this before, then we get burdened. The formulae is to believe >> that we never knew it that time, and will continue to do it with the same >> style this time also…. >> >> >> >> Dhanu Speaks >> >> >> >> This is the third film composed by Rahman for me. It's a hattrick after we >> did Kizhakku Cheemayile and Kandukondein Kandukondein. All the two films >> before were also great successful films. This companionship of myself with >> Rahman has given hits so far. He always tells, " if you are patient, you >> will get everything fine and right". My son kalaprabhu observed patience to >> a large extent. He waited and now he is able to rule the world because of >> this film, and mainly possible because of A.R. Rahman. After seeing the >> picturisation of the songs, Rahman spoke to me his heart, congratulating me >> for all the way the songs has been picturised.. when Rahman spoke thus, I >> felt so elated and blessed to be having a son like Kalaprabhu. That >> speciality and happiness, I derived it that day, when Rahman praised my son. >> >> >> >> >> Q :- Now also, when I speak to you, and see you I get amazed seeing you. A >> Man who has 22 Filmfare awards, 6 Tamil araasu Awards, National Awards, >> Padmashree . But you appear like a student who has just finished his UG >> after college , and who is like applying for a job. How are you so humble >> and how does it come to you ? >> >> >> >> AR :- For some people , it is a plus and for some it is a minus. When I >> take every music that I do, as a blessing from God, I don't take it to >> my shoulders. I try to follow the same philosophy always, and it has been >> doing so far so good. Actually, there is one common aspect between Music and >> God, which is Love. All religions preach " Love each other". And similarly, >> while listening to music, you should feel compassionate, and start >> developing love towards everyone. You should start developing a goodwill to >> do good, and that sort of a music is Divine.. Melody can transform a person, >> who would want to kill someone into a love showering one. >> >> >> >> Each film is different, and it all depends on the Director's choice. And >> for that matter, we cant bend ourselves too much. A mixture of fast paced >> and melody songs is a good combination. >> >> >> >> Q :- When we asked The Director about the Re- recording, he was telling >> that Sir has done a very wonderful job, by taking the film to new heights in >> the same. He was telling this wih joyful tears. >> >> >> >> Ar :- hmm… Actually, its not only that. Its just an experimentation. If >> you happened to see Jaane tu, the film has got a same old story, which has >> been said before. But, the treatment, the dialogues, and the scenes were >> different, which gave it a complete new colour. >> >> >> >> Q :- Amidst your busy schedules, you give an opportunity to give chance to >> a new singer. How do you get the confidence that the new voice would be >> acceptable to the people of tamil Nadu. ( when there are a lot of singers >> who keep giving you their demo CDs etc ) ? >> >> >> >> Ar :- Amongst the singers and their voices, people who make me turn back >> and listen to their voice would be a choice, as even people would be feeling >> somewhat in those lines. Their taste would be better taste than ours anyday. >> When a singer's voice clicks, we have a discussion with our team consisting >> of H. Sridar, srinivasa Murty, Noel James, and when they say that a voice is >> good, then I agree with theirs usually. >> >> >> >> Fav Raags of yours >> >> >> >> That cant be said in particular. Everything depends on our mood.. Once >> upon a time, I was loving desh raga. Sindhu Bhairavi. Now that the school >> has started, we are thinking more in western classical side, to bring an >> orchestra out of the same. We are doing research in those lines. >> >> >> >> Q :- How do you overcome criticism or face it ? >> >> >> >> Ar :- we should see to what extent there is truth in it. If there exists >> truth in it, we should change it. If an error or a mistake is done, we >> should get transformed, and life doesn't end up there . Instead of >> rectifying ourselves, if we keep doing the same mistake again and again, >> then it becomes bigger. Sometimes, the criticism becomes unwanted . So, we >> should decide within ourselves. >> >> >> >> Sometimes, when we read the letters in a language, like A B C or even >> tamil Letters, it becomes a part of our system. And then , we see as to what >> could be derived out of these letters, to see if a poetry or a novel comes >> out of the same. Basically, we are all in the basics, and not progressing >> after the same. There is nit much importance given to the art aspect in >> Films, and people just think that they are filmy people. >> >> >> >> Our Km Music company, is going to come out with Thirukural. ( The >> questioner says, that this would be a great dedicatory effort to the >> Language Tamil itself, for which AR says " Pls don't add burden like that ( >> Smilingly )". It will be an enjoyable album. Maniratnam and Vairamuthu have >> also liked it. They have heard it >> >> >> >> My first and foremost aim and aspiration got accomplished in my first >> movie itself. All that is happening now, is just an added bonus. The first >> film itself got me so many awards like " Time 's 10 best Soundtracks; It >> went off to Bollywood also: National Award". >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> regards, >> Vithur >> >> ARR -- The Sweet Cube always >> >> >> > >
