Give me an example of how and where I've sounded repetitive." The reporter of that magazine had lost the round to Rahman... terrific punch!
On Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 3:48 PM, Chord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=337737 > > 'I cannot fathom a life without music' > Abhilasha Ojha / New Delhi October 19, 2008, 0:22 IST > > Shy guy A R Rahman sheds some of his legendary reticence as he > prepares to promote a musical reality show on television. > > It's difficult to get A R Rahman out of your head. No, you needn't be > a die-hard fan, though it's impossible to imagine how anyone with an > iota of music sense and a fondness of music can ignore what this music > director creates. And if proof of popularity can be gauged by what > airs on music channels and radio frequencies, Rahman's body of work is > for everyone to hear and see. > > There's `Tuhi re,' that haunting melody from Mani Ratnam's Bombay that > will invariably figure on a late-night radio programme. The mornings, > by that yardstick, will have radio sets blaring with Rahman's latest > hit, `Pappu can't dance', from first-time director Abbas Tyrewalla's > film Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na. > > So, obviously, there's no ignoring Rahman, I suggest, while a > colleague shakes his head unconvincingly: "There's no longer that > magic in Rahman. He's sounding repetitive." My instant reaction to the > comment is to remember Rahman's own reaction to the same comment in a > music magazine, "Give me an example of how and where I've sounded > repetitive." > > The reporter of that magazine had lost the round to Rahman who > incidentally had also mentioned, in the same interview, that every > single melody that goes from the music director's studio is precious, > with hours of team effort and thought that go to create the songs. > > On a short trip to Delhi for endorsing a reality show on bands that > has been thought out by music and production company PhatPhish, Rahman > agrees to meet us, but not before extracting a promise out of us: "Not > the usual round of questions, and not too many questions, please." I > almost sense his unhappiness when he proceeds to take a look at my > list of long questions and, often, I find him peering suspiciously to > take a look at them. > > "How many more to go?" he wonders, when I joke about not even having > begun the real round of queries. The thing about Rahman, which he > admits too, is that he's not inherently comfortable meeting the media, > answering questions or facing the arc lights unnecessarily. So even as > I prod him, urging him to say something more, hoping to hear about his > music, about himself, he grins, bears it, but doesn't go beyond that. > > Dressed in a smart, brown jacket teamed with a pair of well-fitted > jeans, Rahman, however, does smile when we talk about how a completely > media-shy person like him has associated himself with reality shows, > television programmes and other PR exercises in recent times. The > latest role he's acquired is that of promoting The Big Band, an > initiative with PhatPhish that will be telecast on Doordarshan and > will include bands from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia, > Singapore and Sri Lanka. > > Why is he increasingly associating himself with television? "It stems > from all the negativity that is around us. The idea," he says, > "appealed to me almost a year ago but it took time to get formulated." > Rahman says that he loves being a part of this idea especially because > it will be presented as a travelogue through his eyes as he journeys > across 15 Indian cities to scout for new talent. "I find we are living > in such violent times that it becomes almost necessary to break the > clutter, to get associated with products that can offer hope, that can > offer a sense of melody...a harmony," he says. > > Maintaining harmony — that's precisely why, he says, he appeared on > another television show some months ago. "It was sponsored by the UN > and the idea was to bring four sets of musicians who could, with their > original compositions, reach out to the masses and connect and talk > about issues related to female infanticide, illiteracy, poverty and > hunger. > > But isn't it ironical that glamour is used to actually address such > issues? He laughs, "It is, but you see, music is all that I know. I do > believe that melody can reach out and make hardened criminals laugh or > cry. So in that sense," he shrugs, "why not use it as a medium?" > > Rahman feels that the new generation of aspiring musicians and singers > are only too lucky. "When I formed bands in my college," he says, > "when I was associated with music as a means to earn a living, there > were people who laughed at me, my own family (and I come from a > musical background) was so jittery about my future." > > Today, he feels that sounds are changing, music directors are willing > to push the creative envelope and listeners too are getting inspired. > He cites his own forthcoming film Yuuvraaj as an example. A film where > he's teamed up with Subhash Ghai, the sound, says Rahman, actually > brings in live orchestra and a local Austrian musical flavor. "It's > like painting a huge canvas with colours of my own choice," he grins. > > That he loves sitting in his studio in the dead silence of the night > is folklore in music circles. Is it true? "It is," he laughs, "but you > have to realise that music is meditation for me. I can't fathom a life > without it. It's all that I know." The violent times that we're living > in, he says, do concern him and, to an extent, his work. "Every time I > create a melody I wonder if there is a way this song will reach out > and prevent a bloodbath," he adds. Rahman does agree, however, that > it's during his recording sessions that he can't tolerate being > disturbed; "family, friends or the media, I don't like anyone > interrupting me at all," he adds. > > A master of perfection — as he's usually described — Rahman admits > that brickbats and criticism, even if they affect him, leave him > unfazed. "I see a lot of trash come out in the market, but you can't > help it beyond a point. I know my work and if I feel satisfied, if > album sales and if listeners are tuning in, I suppose I'm doing fine." > And recordings for films, he says, completely depend on the project > and his own bent of mind. "I've done projects which have taken me > three years to complete," he says. Predictably, he's excited about his > forthcoming projects too: Aamir Khan's Ghajini, Dilli 6 and Yuuvraaj, > to name just a few. > > Whether music defines Rahman, or Rahman defines music is a question > that many of his fans would love to answer. For now, the music maestro > continues to be — what else? — on a song. > > >
