Music composer and singer Padmashri A R Rahman certainly needs no introduction; his vast body of compositions stand testament to his musical genius. Praise, adulation and appreciation have been heaped upon him galore. In a career spanning over a decade, Rahman has sold more than one hundred million records world-wide and sold over two hundred million cassettes. He is definitely the brightest star in the musical firmament, who will continue to regale his listeners in the years to come.
HISTORY
A R Rahman was born on January 6, 1966 as A S Dileep Kumar in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His father was Ravi Kumar Sekhar, a composer, arranger and conductor for Malayalam films. When he was just nine years old, his father passed away and his family used to rent out musical equipment to make ends meet. Under such difficult circumstances, his sister Reihana was afflicted with an unexplainable illness which was miraculously cured after a visit by a sufi saint. This single incident left such a deep impression on Rahman that he converted to Islam and became A R Rahman from A S Dileep Kumar.
Rahman was musically inclined right from the beginning. As a young boy, along with his friends he played the keyboard and was also an arranger for a few music bands. Not only the keyboard, Rahmn also played the piano, the synthesizer, the harmonium and the guitar. Of all these, it was the synthesizer that captured his interest as it was the ideal combination of music and technology.
At eleven, he joined the troupe of the famous south Indian music composer, Ilaiyaraaja as a keyboardist. He later played in the orchestra of M S Viswanathan and Ramesh Naidu and also accompanied Zakir Hussian and Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan on world tours. The experience proved valuable as it helped him obtain a scholarship to Trinity College at Oxford University, where he graduated with a degree in Western classical music.
CAREER
In 1991, this gifted musician started his own studio that was attached to his house called the Panchathan Record Inn. Initially, Rahman composed music mainly for use in advertisements, documentaries, title music of Indian television channels and for many other things as well. Songs were an inseparable part of films but they were never taken seriously and were added as mere fillers and hence Rahman was at first hesitant to compose music for films. His big moment came in 1992 when he was approached by director Mani Ratnam to compose music for his upcoming Tamil film Roja for a sum of Rs. 25,000. The music was a stupendous hit and 26-year-old Rahman won widespread fame with the unanimous verdict that he was an exciting musical discovery. In fact, Rahman won the Rajat Kamal award for best music director at the Indian National Film Awards, the first time ever by a debutant.
Rahman has since then gone on to win the award 3 more times for Minsaara Kanavu (Electric Dreams, Tamil) in 1997, Lagaan (Tax, Hindi) in 2002 and Kannathil Muthamittal (A Kiss on the Cheek, Tamil) in 2003, the most ever by any composer.
THE RAHMAN EFFECT
Rahman’s music was like no other with an amalgamation of all music styles from classical to jazz, from folk to reggae. He announced his arrival on the Indian music scene with the film Roja which caught the imagination and fancy of every music lover, worth his salt. Roja was a massive hit in its original and dubbed versions, being listed in TIME magazine as the Top 10 Movie Soundtracks of all time. It was followed with a number of other extremely popular films like Bombay, Kadhalan, Indira, Minsaara Kanavu, Muthu and Love Birds.
HINDI FILM DEBUT
The Hindi movie Rangeela did three very important things established RGV as a director of repute, brought to light the curvaceous beauty of Urmila Matondkar and marked the debut of Rahman in Hindi films. The songs of Rangeela were being hummed by almost everybody; almost getting accorded the status of our national anthem! This was followed with music for many Hindi films including Dil Se and Taal. The huge sale of these albums made movie producers appreciate the fact that film music meant serious money. Rahman’s playback singing in several of his albums was also widely admired.
DIRECTOR-COMPOSER COLLOBORATION
Rahman’s collaboration with film directors has resulted in hugely successful albums, notable among them being Mani Ratnam and Shankar. With Mani Ratnam, the person who gave him his big break, he has composed for ten of his films while with Shankar he has composed for films like Gentleman, Kadhalan, Indian, Jeans, Mudhalvan, Nayak, Boys and the recently released `Sivaji’ which is making waves for its scintillating music.
HIS LATEST WORKS
His recent compositions have been for films like Water, Rang de Basanti, Sillunu Oru Kaadhal, Guru, Varallaru and Provoked.
His music for the movie Sivaji - The Boss has again been widely appreciated and is on everybody’s lips. Rahman is busy working on his next venture Chamki Chameli as well as Jodhaa Akbar.
OTHER WORKS
In 1996, A. R. Rahman came up with an album called Vande Mataram, an ode to India’s most patriotic song in which he sang the title number. This he followed with an album called Jana gana mana, a conglomeration of performances by all the leading exponents/artists of Indian classical music.
In 2002, Andrew Lloyd Webber, a well-known composer of musicals, hired Rahman to compose his maiden stage production, Bombay Dreams, which was well received in England. Furthermore, Rahman, along with the Finnish folk music band Värttinä, composed the music for The Lord of the Rings theatre production, which first opened in Toronto on March 23, 2006, and a new production of which begins previewing in London at The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane from May 9, 2007.
In addition to influencing western audiences, Rahman also impressed eastern audiences with his music so much that he was tapped by Chinese director He Ping to compose the score and soundtrack for the Chinese film Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003. The music of this film was very much appreciated in Asia.
On May 23 2006, a two-disc album soundtrack, titled Introducing A. R. Rahman, was released by Times Square Records, featuring 25 songs he composed from Tamil film soundtracks spanning 1993-2001.
Rahman has performed in concerts and tours worldwide. He performed at the Hollywood Bowl amphitheatre in July 2006, with Indian singers Sukhwinder Singh, Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam, as well as American performing groups Raagapella and Global Rhythms, to a sold-out crowd.
WHAT HIS MUSIC IS ALL ABOUT
As a teenager, Rahman acquainted himself with the works of classicists, Carnatic composers and early film composers like K V Mahadevan and Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy. He further explored and trained in Carnatic music, Western classical, Hindustani music and the Qawalli style of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, in addition to numerous other styles.
Rahman loves experimenting with music and thinks nothing of using unconventionally-grouped instruments supported by different vocal styles that have led to what is known as the Rahman sound. In fact, no two compositions of his will every match, like a magician he is able to conjure up vastly different tunes to suit the moment.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
His work has brought him many awards and nominations.
National Film Awards (India)
1993 - National Film Award for Best Music Direction - Roja
1997 - National Film Award for Best Music Direction - Minsaara Kanavu
2002 - National Film Award for Best Music Direction - Lagaan
2003 - National Film Award for Best Music Direction - Kannathil Muthamittal Filmfare Awards (India)
1995 - Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Rangeela
1998 - Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Dil Se
1999 - Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Taal
2001 - Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Lagaan
2002 - Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Saathiya
2002 - Filmfare Best Background Score - The Legend of Bhagat Singh
2004 - Filmfare Best Background Score - Swades
2006 - Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Rang de Basanti
He also won a "Filmfare R D Burman Music Debutant Award" for Roja's dubbed Hindi version.
South Indian Filmfare Awards
1993 - Best Music - Roja
1994 - Best Music - Gentleman
1995 - Best Music - Kadhalan
1996 - Best Music - Bombay
1997 - Best Music - Kadhal Desam
1998 - Best Music - Minsaara Kanavu
1999 - Best Music - Jeans
2000 - Best Music - Mudhalvan
2001 - Best Music - Alaipayuthey
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
1993 - Best Music - Roja
1994 - Best Music - Gentleman
1995 - Best Music - Kadhalan
1996 - Best Music - Bombay
1997 - Best Music - Minsaara Kanavu
2000 - Best Music - Sangamam
Zee Cine Awards (India)
2000 - Zee Cine Award Best Music Director - Lagaan
2006 - Zee Cine Award Best Music Director - Rang De Basanti GIFA Awards (Malasia)
2006 - GIFA Award for Best Music - Rang De Basanti
2006 - GIFA Award for Best Background Music - Rang De Basanti IIFA Awards (UK/ South Africa/ Malasia/ Yorkshire)
2007 - IIFA Best Music Direction - Rang De Basanti
2002 - IIFA Best Music Direction - Lagaan
2003 - IIFA Best Music Direction - Saathiya
2000 - IIFA Best Music Direction - Taal
Star Screen Awards
2002 - Best Background Music
Swaralaya Yesudas Award (India)
2006 - Swaralaya-Kairali-Yesudas Award for outstanding performance in music field
2000 - Padma Shri (India)
He has also been nominated for the following awards: Laurence Olivier Awards (UK)
2003 - Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best New Musical - Bombay Dreams
Dora Mavor Moore Awards (Canada)
2006 - General Theatre Division - Outstanding Musical Direction - The Lord of the Rings musical
The following table lists the names of the movies for which he composed music for in varied languages. YEAR 1992
Tamil : Roja
Telugu : Roja
Hindi : Roja
Malayalam : Roja
Marathi : Roja
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Ashokan(1993)
Telugu : Yodha(1995)
Hindi : Dharam Yodha(1993)
Malayalam : Yodha(1992)
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
YEAR 1993
Tamil : Uzhavan
Telugu : -
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Thiruda Thiruda
Telugu : Donga Donga
Hindi : Chor Chor (1996)
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Pudhiya Mugam
Telugu : Padmavyuham
Hindi : Vishwa Vidhatha (1997)
Malayalam :
Marathi :
English :
Mandarin :
Kannada :
Tamil : Gentleman
Telugu : Gentleman
Hindi : The Gentleman
Malayalam :
Marathi :
English :
Mandarin :
Kannada :
YEAR 1994
Tamil : Vandicholai Chinnaraasu
Telugu : Bobili Paparayudu
Hindi :
Malayalam :
Marathi :
English :
Mandarin :
Kannada :
Tamil : Super Police
Telugu : Super Police
Hindi : Khel Khiladi Ka (1996)
Malayalam :
Marathi :
English :
Mandarin :
Kannada :
Tamil : Pudhiya Mannargal
Telugu :
Hindi :
Malayalam :
Marathi :
English :
Mandarin :
Kannada :
Tamil : Pavithra
Telugu :
Hindi :
Malayalam :
Marathi :
English :
Mandarin :
Kannada :
Tamil : May Madham
Telugu : Hridayaanjali (1999)
Hindi :
Malayalam :
Marathi :
English :
Mandarin :
Kannada :
Tamil : Kizhakku Cheemayile
Telugu : Palnati Pourusham
Hindi :
Malayalam :
Marathi :
English :
Mandarin :
Kannada :
Tamil : Karuththamma
Telugu : Vanitha/Osey Krishnamma
Hindi :
Malayalam :
Marathi :
English :
Mandarin :
Kannada :
Tamil : Kadhalan
Telugu : Premikudu (1995)
Hindi : Humse Hai Muqabla (1995)
Malayalam :
Marathi :
English :
Mandarin :
Kannada :
Tamil : Duet
Telugu : Duet
Hindi : Tu Hi Mera Dil
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Manitha Manitha
Telugu : Gang Master
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
YEAR 1995
Tamil : Indira
Telugu : Indira
Hindi : Priyanka
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Bombay
Telugu : Bombay (1995)
Hindi : Bombay (1995)
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Rangeela
Telugu : Rangeli
Hindi : Rangeela
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Muthu
Telugu : Muthu (1995)
Hindi : Muthu Maharaja (2001)
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
YEAR 1996
Tamil : Indian
Telugu : Bharateeyudu
Hindi : Hindustani
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Kadhal Desam
Telugu : Prema Desam
Hindi : Duniya Dilwalon Kiii
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Fire
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : Fire
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Mr Romeo
Telugu : Mr Romeo
Hindi : Mr Romeo (1997)
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Anthimantharai
Telugu : -
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
YEAR 1997
Tamil : Minsaara Kanavu
Telugu : Merupu Kalalu
Hindi : Sapnay
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Iruvar
Telugu : Iddaru
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Ottam
Telugu : 50-50
Hindi : Daud: Fun On The Run
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Ratchagan
Telugu : Rakshakudu
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Mona Lisa
Telugu : -
Hindi : Kabhi Na Kabhi
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Vishwa Vidhaata
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
YEAR 1998
Tamil : Jeans
Telugu : Jeans
Hindi : Jeans
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Uyire
Telugu : Prematho
Hindi : Dil se...
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Earth
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Doli Saja Ke Rakhna
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
YEAR 1999
Tamil : En Swasa Kaatre
Telugu : Premante Pranamistha
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Jodi
Telugu : Jodi
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : Sajni (2007)
Tamil : Padayappa
Telugu : Narasimha
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Taalam
Telugu : -
Hindi : Taal
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Thakshak
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Kadhalar Dhinam
Telugu : Premikula Roju
Hindi : Dil Hi Dil Mein
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Pukar
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Sangamam
Telugu : -
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Taj Mahal
Telugu : -
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Mudhalvan
Telugu : Oke Okkadu
Hindi : Nayak(2001)
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
YEAR 2000
Tamil : Alaipayuthey
Telugu : Sakhi
Hindi : Saathiya (2002)
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Fiza (1 out of 8 tracks)
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Kandukondain Kandukondain
Telugu : Priyuralu Pilichindi
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Rhythm
Telugu : Rhythm
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Thenali
Telugu : Thenali
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Zubeidaa
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
YEAR 2001
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : One 2 Ka 4
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Love You Hamesha
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Star
Telugu : -
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Lagaan
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Parthale Paravasam
Telugu : -
Hindi : Paravasam
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Alli Arjuna
Telugu : -
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
YEAR 2002
Tamil : Kannathil Muthamittal
Telugu : Amrutha
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : The Legend of Bhagat Singh
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Baba
Telugu : Baba
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Kadhal Virus
Telugu : -
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
YEAR 2003
Tamil : Udhaya
Telugu : -
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Parasuram
Telugu : Police Kartavyam
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Boys
Telugu : Boys
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Enakku 20 Unakku 18
Telugu : Nee Manasu Naaku Telusu
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Kangalal Kaithu Sei
Telugu : -
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Tehzeeb
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
YEAR 2004
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Lakeer
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Aayitha Ezhuthu
Telugu : Yuva
Hindi : Yuva
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : New
Telugu : Naani
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa (3 out of 8 Tracks)
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Desam
Telugu : -
Hindi : Swades
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Kisna - The Warrior Poet (6 out of 16 tracks)
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
YEAR 2005
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : The Rising - Ballad of Mangal Pandey
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Anbe Aaruyire
Telugu : -
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Water
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
YEAR 2006
Tamil : -
Telugu : -
Hindi : Rang De Basanti
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Sillunu Oru Kaadhal
Telugu : Nuvvu Nenu Prema
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Varalaru - The History of the Godfather
Telugu : -
Hindi : -
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
YEAR 2007
Tamil : Guru
Telugu : Gurukanth
Hindi : Guru
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Provoked
Telugu : Provoked
Hindi : Provoked
Malayalam : -
Marathi : -
English : Provoked
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
Tamil : Sivaji
Telugu : Sivaji
Hindi : -
Malayalam : Sivaji
Marathi : -
English : -
Mandarin : -
Kannada : -
The A R RAHMAN FOUNDATION The vision of the A R Rahman Foundation is to eradicate poverty globally. As a first step towards achieving this vision, the Foundation will set up and partner with educational institutions across India. These institutions will provide education to children who do not have the means to access and fund their education.
PHILANTROPIC PURSUIT
Rahman has also worked with Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam for his song "Indian Ocean". The song featured A-ha keyboard player, Magne Furuholmen and Travis drummer, Neil Primrose. The proceeds of the song went to help orphans in Banda Aceh, one of the areas worst affected by the Tsunami.
Mission Taj Mahal
These days, Rahman is on a mission- to save the monument that edified love - the Taj Mahal. Rahman has composed an 'anthem' to help gather support for the voting campaign to nominate the Taj Mahal as one of the seven wonders of the world.
"The Taj has always been a source of inspiration for me, and it is not just about the love between Mumtaz Mahal and Shahjahan but about everybody's love. I think this monument deserves to be on the list of seven wonders of the world and we should all strive towards making it so," Rahman said.
The music director was commissioned to compose the album by IMCL, who are the official facilitators in India for the New Seven Wonders List that will be announced on July 7 this year in Lisbon, Portugal.
PERSONAL LIFE
Rahman (born Dileep Kumar) is the second of four children born to R.K. Shekhar and Kareema Begum (Kasthuri). He has three sisters, Rehana (Kanchana), Fatima Talat (Bala) and Israth. He has three children - Khatija, Rahima and Amin. Rahman is an alumni of PSBB Lake Area School, Nungambakkam, Chennai.
PRAISE FROM DIFFERENT QUARTERS
Mani Ratnam, Film Director
"I admire the way he understands the director's requirement," says Mani Ratnam, who gave the composer and singer a break in Roja about 15 years ago. Together, they have worked for over half-a-dozen films like Dil Se and Guru.
Aishwarya Rai, Film Actress
Aishwarya Rai, who got to sing some of Rahman's compositions on the screen very early in her career in the Tamil film `Iruvar' and then recently in `Guru', says that the best thing about Rahman's compositions is that they don't seduce you immediately.
"You must give you the permission for them to let you grow on you," she says. "And then see if you can get them out of your mind."
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Producer/composer of musicals
Composer and producer of such record smashing musicals as The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber who gave Rahman a break in his Bombay Dreams over five years ago, remains a great admirer.
"I think he has an incredible tone of voice," says Lloyd Webber. "I have seen many Bollywood films, but what he manages to do is quite unique -- he keeps it very much Indian. For me, as a Westerner, I can always recognise his music because it has a
tone of voice of its own. It's very definitely Indian, yet it has an appeal which will go right across the world".
Vairamuthu, writer and lyricist For writer and lyricist
Vairamuthu who has worked with Rahman in several Tamil films, the 41-year-old composer's passion is unbeatable. He said in an interview recently, 'The total submission of his life for the cause of music; his thirst for creating not any chaff but only grains appeals to me the most!'
Subhash Ghai, Director/Filmmaker
The filmmaker Subhash Ghai who got an amazing number of fresh melodies from Rahman in the film Taal says the composer can never stop surprising a producer or a director -- and, of course, the listener.
"We have had arguments, long discussions and big differences while we produced the music of Taal," says Ghai. "But who could have come out with that unique score?"
In another interview, Ghai said: 'Rahman has a strange kind of spirituality within which he lives. He knows technique, has a rare sense of sound and a great ear. He has a sharp intellect and understands not just the sound of music and quality of voice but also the market forces and how to move from post to post. That is the need of the hour. I love him both as a composer and as a friend. He is very sweet to talk to. The only thing is you talk and he listens!'
Kunal Ganjawala, singer
Many singers, including Kunal Ganjawala, have said that Rahman has them rehearse without raising a fuss, and the song is okayed within hours. He inspires singers but never overwhelms them, Ganjawala said.
"Sometimes, I wondered whether he is too nice a person to tell a singer that he did not like the way the number was sung," Ganjawala said. "You secretly fear that he is not going to use the song!"
Harini, singer
Singer Harini said a few years ago: 'The best part about singing for Rahman is the freedom he gives the singer. Even for my first song he let me sing the way I was comfortable, even though I was a nobody then.'
Gulzar, Lyricist
Lyricist Gulzar, who has worked with composers such as S D Burman, Salil Chowdhury and Rahul Dev Burman, says working with Rahman in such films as Dil Se and Guru has meant a lot to his writing career.
'He is a milestone in Hindi film music,' says Gulzar who is older than Rahman by about three decades. 'He has single-handedly changed the sound of music in the movies. He has broken the mukhda-antara-mukhda scheme of composition and replaced the traditional patterns of tuning. He can set tune to a near-identical rhythm in two different songs. But these songs will still catch the listener off-guard even when played immediately after each other. Instead of having the fixed format, the song can also run like free verse with his kind of music.'
Anandan, Publicist
'Filmnews' Anandan, a well-known publicist, remembered in an interview some years ago how Rahman was initiated into the world of films while he was still a toddler and was called Dilip Kumar. Anandan remembered Rahman going to the film studios with his father Sekhar who was an assistant music director in Malayalam films.
'Once a music director overheard the four-year-old trying out a tune on a harmonium,' Anandan said. 'He quickly spread a cloth over the keys. Undaunted, the child repeated the tune, this time running his fingers confidently over the cloth. Who would have thought then that the boy would scale such heights?'
This "Mozart from Madras" has a simple explanation for his success. "I believe that every individual, even an atom, can move only with the will of God," he offers. "I don't take credit for doing all this. If I did, then I would fall flat."
