Director Rajeev Menon ( FM RAINBOW )
We are very close. Myself and Rahman have been close for the last 20 years. In the film " Uyire", there was just a tune. ( Dum Dum Dum Dum…. Just the tune ) There was no background score there . We started shooting with the same. There we got the thought that the hero and heroine must not dance on the green meadows, but join in the end. So both are separated and search each other, and in between we show the sky, the sea etc etc . we built up the waiting between the both. We have been building the song in the manner, where the hero walks on the wall with a suicidal attempt sort of a situation etc There were a lot of moving shots and also singing shots in it. After seeing all that, and after the editing, Rahman scored the Background score for the same. Sometimes, the visuals inspire him to do the tune, and sometimes, we would get the full tune by itself. Vennilave was done after the full tune was made. For eg :- " Vidai vandhuvudan Nila Vandhadhu……….. ( Yenge Enadhu Kavithai from KK )" . That song had a pain in it. It would be a plus to have pain in a melody type of a song. That pain can be expressed in words. The same can be expressed by means of visuals also. Those visuals would at times trigger some sounds. With Rahman, it is a collaborative process. There is no one who sees World Cinema like that. If you want to be a successful Music Director, you must be able to bring out the latent subtle feelings which would be present in the story. He excels in all that. His Background score would speak for him. Take for eg in the movie " Bombay", there is a scene where there are riots everywhere, like the city is burning, people are wounded and they are running, everyone is latchi charged etc . He could have composed a heavy BGM like ( Dha Dha Dha …… ) .. But the theme song for the movie is a gentle one ( he hums it…. He has a wonderful voice J ). The theme is such that of a pain of a mother losing her son , and the emotions between the mother and the son is portrayed amidst such a chaotic situation. There is a great success in his career, starting with a Tamil movie, and then going to the Hindi Cinema Industry and then with Slumdog and Bombay Dreams. I think each and every Chennai resident and Tamlian must feel proud seeing his victory. It's a very proud moment for close friends like us. The most important aspect is that although AR may be reaching new heights, the simplicity, the humility and modesty which is present within him, the devotion, the spirituality is the same as he was before. The Dileep Shekhar, the A.R.Rahman, the AR whom I know is one and the same as he has been all through. I just have only one question to ask him. Q :- You have been so creative. All these creativity comes to you during the nights. Is it because you always are in American Standard Time, or is it because you are on a permanent jetlag. I don't know whether you get good tunes, when you are getting sleep But, I am concerned about your health and exercise for your body, and have a desire as to why you shouldn't compose in Indian Standard Time ? Why shouldn't you keep your recording during the morning hours ? ( He asks all these smilingly ) ARR :- ( he replies smilingly, and the chemistry between the both is very friendly ) This looks very selfish. You are doing a movie now. You are going to come to studio. You are slowly laying the foundation for this…… ( He laughs ) I have been sleeping properly in the nights now, after having come from LA. The kids want me to be with them, and they would want me to narrate stories etc . So, they take me with them by 12 AM itself. Sometimes, in art, you cant say " Stop!!". It cannot be done like a Banking Job. When an extra ordinary idea comes up, and when we interrupt it, it doesn't come back again. Everyday is a challenge. What to do !!! We are all creative people, and this is not a 9 to 5 job. It is a gift and a curse. -- regards, Vithur
