*My dream is to connect people with music: Rahman * CHENNAI: Every passenger who came out of the Chennai airport in the wee hours of Thursday would have been surprised to see a wide awake crowd greeting them with drumbeats and screams.
It was a rehearsal to welcome the man whose luggage included two identical statuettes – 13.5 inches tall weighing 8.5 pounds. When the display screen flashed the arrival of Emirates flight EK-542, the entrance of the arrival hall was besieged. The excitement was just beginning. Around 50 persons, who had bought passes to enter the airport, managed to reach the entrance of the aerobridge. They were the first to catch a glimpse of Kodambakkam’s pride, who summed up his life’s journey on the world stage as: “All my life I had a choice between hate and love. I chose love and I am here.” At a press conference later in the evening, A.R. Rahman explained that this choice was the governing philosophy of his life. “Every decision in my life has been like that.” Especially, in a world divided by religious, caste and regional identities, the message of love seemed appropriate. “My dream is to connect people with music.” He had not expected ‘Jai Ho’ to win; rather, he had no expectations. The approach of not thinking about awards, money and fortune while making music seemed to work for him, he said. Replying to the grouse of some Indian audiences that ‘Jai Ho’ was nowhere near his best work, he said, “Your sensibility found other tracks good,” and Western sensibilities loved Slumdog’s tunes. He said that Slumdog was his “career best” when it came to music for a Hollywood audience. And the lyrics ‘Jai Ho’ had a phonetic appeal that transcended any language barriers. “The song is a release of extraordinary energy.” After an exhausting journey through ups and downs, the movie ends with a “burst of joy” in this song. As to why some Indian audiences did not think highly of the movie, he said that though he disagreed, people were entitled to their views. Starting point He hoped that the future would see more Indians lifting the Oscar. “I think this is a starting point.” Indian movies could make it with “a motivation to do something extraordinary and some planning,” he said, adding that where a film came from did not matter on the world arena as long as it was good. Responding to a question as to why he chose not to highlight the Sri Lankan issue at the award ceremony, he said that it was not the appropriate place to do so. He said that he supported the cause of peace and his song “Vellai Pookkal” from *Kannathil Mutthamittal *echoed those sentiments. His next projects include offers for two to three Hollywood films, details of which he could not reveal because of confidentiality agreements. Back home, his family was busy sending back bottles of congratulatory champagne flooding his house. He said that Maestro Illayaraja had wished him through an email sent by his son Yuvan Shankar Raja. And in case you are wondering where he is keeping those prized Golden statuettes, peek into his studio. http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/27/stories/2009022753850400.htm -- regards, Vithur
