A.R.Rahman received two Grammys for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For
Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media and Best Song Written For
Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media. What is little known, is that
among the people who were also awarded for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album
were three sound engineers – the late H. Sridhar, a very close colleague of
A.R.Rahman for over two decades, and P.A.Deepak and Vivianne Chaix. The
Recording Academy recently acknowledged their contribution and delivered their
Grammy statuettes.A.R. Rahman noted that “Sridhar’s professional goal was to
get a Grammy. I am happy that God has answered his wish but sad that it came
after his demise.”On this occasion, arrahman.com spoke to Varun and Vinay
Hariharan, sons of the late H. SridharQ. ARR’s music had always been symbolised
by H. Shridhar’s sound. How are you now coping with the fact that he is not
around anymore?A Well…, it is
difficult, but giving up would be the last thing he would’ve wanted us to do.
So, we are living on with a lot of great memories and I think that’s the best
way one can handle such a situation.Q. His dream had been to win a Grammy award
and now sadly though he is no more with us, that dream has indeed got
fulfilled. Your reaction?
A. When we heard about this we were blown away. This is absolutely amazing news
as we really know what esteem musicians and technicians in the music industry
hold the Grammys in. The day ARR won the Grammy we were, and we still are so
thrilled to know a Grammy winner by person and after knowing about Dad’s win
are just speechless. He always said he wanted to get a gramophone to play the
older vinyl records at home but little did we know that it would be this
miniature but most precious Grammy that’s coming home! Q. How did you react to
Slumdog the first time you heard it?A. The first time we heard it, we listened
to it not as an ARR album but as a Hollywood movie soundtrack, and for that we
liked the whole Indian theme to the music as we aren’t used to hearing
something like that in a Hollywood movie and that obviously gave us cheap
thrills.Q. Any particular incident or two, which he had narrated that you would
like to share?A. He has always said
it was his biggest ambition and goal to put his hands on a Grammy statuette,
leave alone taking one home. Even after a long day at work, getting home at
probably 3 AM in the morning, he still had the energy to discuss work, who he
was working with, etc. He has said many a time that ARR and his music would go
places. All this is finally happening and we couldn’t be happier.Q. Is anyone
else in the family continuing to carry on the legacy musically?A. Oh, Yes!!
Both of us, Varun and Vinay are into music, follow a lot of genres in music
listening to both Indian as well as international musicians and make it a point
to keep up with what is happening in the world with music. It is however a
little early to say whether music will become our profession. We’ll just have
to wait to see.
Q. Any favourite genres or tracks that you have and any special reason?A. We
could never say, there are so many! According to me, it depends a lot on what
mood one listens to a song in. We may suddenly find something magical in a song
or a soundtrack that we have been listening to for months and had never noticed.
Regards, Ram.. ~ Rαнмαη αddicт™ ~
