Brilliant.............. --- In [email protected], "Roshan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Great!! and so touching! > > --- In [email protected], "Ajit" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Hello fellow ARR Fans, > > > > Back on Nov 25th, my dream came true when I met and spent some time > > with ARR. I wrote about it briefly to you all shortly afterwards > > informally. However, I have written a formal writeup on my experience > > with him that night as well as my own deep feelings about him. My > > family has encouraged me to submit this writeup to some local Indian > > newspapers here in the US, such as India Abroad. I may do this, but I > > would like your feedback first. There is some intimate information > > about ARR's life which I learned, which I am not sure if some of you > > already know about. Please forgive the lengthy nature of this writeup > > and I'm sorry to take so much bandwidth. The point of this writeup is > > not only to express my deep feelings about ARR, but to also hopefully > > someday educate the public about him and his music. In fact, many of > > my close friends were pleasantly surprised to know about some facts of > > ARR that they didn't know before and regarded him with more respect > > after reading my writeup. But, I am humble about it and I want to > > share this with you. Thanks for reading. > > > _________________________________________________________________________ > > A.R. Rahman......... > > > > > >Yes, we've all heard of him and most of us have heard his music. > > He's been > > >called "The Mozart of Madras". He's the long wavy haired Tamilian music > > >director genius from Chennai who is associated with movie soundtracks > > like > > >Taal, Rangeela, Lagaan, Iruvar, Thiruda Thiruda, Dil Se, Roja.... > > Yup, you > > >know him.....the shy and quiet one. Yes, he is the one who prefers to > > >compose music at night, requiring singers and other artists to adjust > > their > > >routines to accomodate his recording schedule, and the one who is > > notorious > > >for taking his own time composing, much to the impatience of the "film > > >wallahs" of Mumbai and Chennai. He is the most expensive music > director. > > >He has been labeled repetitive by his critics, focusing too much on > > rhythm > > >and "fusion". Some accuse him of tainting the traditional North Indian > > >style of film music with his brand of fusion experimentation, imbuing > > >Western and South Indian musical blends. Oh, and let's not forget the > > >other > > >outdated and absurd criticism of.... "Woh synthesizer aur computer se > > >gaane > > >karte hain na?" > > > > > >What else is known about A.R. Rahman? > > > > > >He has been awarded with the Padmashree, one of the most distinguished > > >awards the Indian government gives to deserving and outstanding > citizens. > > >Winning countless number of filmfare, national, technical, and other > > >regional awards and accolades, he has been showered with praise by Lata > > >Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Amitabh Bacchan, > > President > > >Abdul Kalam (for whose poem he has composed music) and many other top > > >artists and performers. He has single handedly revolutionized the > > face of > > >Indian film music from the 1990s to today, begining with his debut > > >soundtrack for "Roja" in 1992 (first in Tamil). He somehow was able to > > >bring the top most classical and film artists of the country with all > > their > > >egos and generate a beautiful patriotic album consisting of various > vocal > > >and instrumental renditions of the Indian National Anthem...."Jana Gana > > >Mana" in the year 2000. Oh yes, his patriotism.......remember his > > very own > > >creation celebrating India's 50th year of independence in 1997 with the > > >album "Vande Mataram"? He is the number one selling artist in India, > > >commercially selling more than Britney Spears and Madonna combined. > His > > >music has been recognized internationally, gathering the attention and > > >applause of Andrew Loyd Webber who is known for directing many famous > > >Western musicals. Their showbiz marriage gave birth to "Bombay > > Dreams", an > > >amalgamation of his own Hindi film songs and original Western musical > > >pieces > > >which showcased in London and Broadway. He has collaborated with > > violinist > > >virtuoso Vanessa Mae, superstar Michael Jackson, and recently > scored the > > >background music for a Chinese film "Between Heaven and Earth", > utilizing > > >Turkish and Chinese instruments and musical styles. And let's not > forget > > >his latest international venture in co-composing music for Kevin > > Wallace's > > >"The Lord of the Rings" stage musical, projected to be the biggest > > musical > > >of all times. > > > > > >Yes, that's the A.R. Rahman known publically. > > > > > >I have been a fan of his music now for several years, following his > work > > >closely and anticipating new music from him constantly. As a > > keyboard and > > >piano player like him, I spend a lot of time listening to his music, > > >learning, getting inspired, and just being moved. His music to me > is not > > >time pass, it's a cherished experience each time that never gets old. > > >That's the beauty of his music.........you let it grow on you, and > like > > >good > > >wine, it ages gracefully with more appeal. Of course, I don't expect > > >everyone to buy into his work and his music is of course subject to > > >different opinions. > > > > > >But, people often wonder why I like him so much? They say I am > "paagal" > > >about hs music and that I like anything he composes. Yes, I am "crazy" > > >about his music, but it's not true that I love everything he > creates. I > > >give his music a chance, but there are many songs of his that go > nowhere > > >wth > > >me even after letting them grow. He's a human being afterall. > > > > > >What is it about this man and his music that drives me to the peak of > > >passionate reverance and devotional admiration? I don't speak for his > > >other > > >fans and admirers, but based on my observations, my reasons below are > > >shared > > >by others. Beyond a certain popular appeal about his music that most > > >people > > >can identify with, I can answer this question based on what close > > people to > > >me know about me. I consider myself to be open minded and tolerant > > when it > > >comes to human diversity in all forms. Actually, I celebrate > > diversity and > > >a lot of that impetus comes from my own life experience of having a > > >cultural > > >blend of Indian and Western values and world views and choosing the > > best of > > >both worlds. For me, Rahman's music celebrates diversity in all its > > >vibrant > > >and beautiful colors. Like a coherent mozaic, his music breaks across > > >artificial barriers and speaks about the threads that bind us. And > the > > >word > > >"fusion" is really not appropriate to describe his approach and > > style. He > > >somehow manages to blend various musical styles from around the > world and > > >yet retain a sound and feel that is totally and completely Indian in > > most > > >of > > >his Indian film compositions. I honestly don't know any other musical > > >artist with a bigger musical range and repertoir than him; > incorporating > > >Western classical, symphony, Hindustani and Carnatic classical, > jazz and > > >smooth jazz, thumris, bhajans, Qawalis, ghazals, sufi, new age, dance, > > >techno, Latin, Chinese, Turkish, Arabic, Ska, Rock, etc. etc. His > > music is > > >simply all emcompassing. As a person devoted to Sufi Islam and > > coming from > > >Tamil Nadu, his ability and willingness to compose North Indian style > > music > > >and world music catering and appealing to different languages, > cultures, > > >and > > >religions is simply astounding. To that effect, he is not just a music > > >director of Indian film music. He is a true cross over artist and a > > world > > >music composer. > > > > > >The other aspect about his music that resonates so intimately with > me is > > >the > > >underlying spiritualness and emotional depth of many of his > compositions, > > >which I will elaborate further when speaking about him as a person. > As a > > >psychologist, a musician, and a deeply spiritual and emotional person > > >myself, his ability to communicate complex emotions through his music > > on a > > >spiritual platform of innovative soundscapes has impacted me in > profound > > >ways that I just cannot describe in words. Indeed, I find a strong > > >connection between sound, spirituality, and emotional expression in his > > >music that for me personally, has been very therapeutic and uplifting. > > >Despite my lack of understanding of Hindi and Tamil lyrics, his music > > >speaks > > >volumes to me more than words could ever dare. His compositions have > > gone > > >way beyond the typical romantic love ballads of Indian film music, > while > > >also catering to those who appreciate those types of songs as well > > when the > > >film or situation requires it. > > > > > >From all his awards, accomplishments, accolades, distinctions, and > from > > >what > > >I described above, one can gain a firm understanding about this man's > > vast > > >musical aptitude and sheer genius. That in and of itself deserves > > >recognition, which has been granted. But, what is less obvious and > > sadly, > > >often neglected in the public's eye is what his music and the > > >expressiveness > > >and dedication behind it says about him as a pesron, which I only > > inferred > > >and observed before actually meeting him in person. > > > > > >Before meeting him in Toronto on November 25, 2005, thanks to my new > > friend > > >and A.R. Rahman fan who arranged the meeting, I had an impression of > > him as > > >a shy and socially anxious person who communicated more through his > music > > >than words. Through his stated interviews, press statements, and > > >involvements with various charitable causes, including being the UN > > global > > >ambassador for the fight against TB, I also understood him to be > down to > > >earth, humble, and generous. His latest involvement in a musical > project > > >addressing issues related to poverty and human rights, for which he > > >composed > > >an anti-poverty anthem, was another indicator of this man's > > compassion and > > >sensitivity. As we entered his studio, we were directed to a door > > which we > > >thought was a waiting room, when it was in fact the studio in which > > Rahman > > >was busily composing the background score of his latest Hindi film > > >soundtrack for "Rang De Basanti". We opened the door, and much to our > > >astonishment, there he was, in person, just as surprised as we were > > to see > > >us as we were to see him! He of course knew we were coming to the > > studio > > >to > > >meet him, but I don't think he expected us to just walk into his > > recording > > >room! After we apologized profusely, he smiled, came out and told > us to > > >please sit in the actual waiting room. No frown, no sign of > irritation, > > >but > > >just pure hospitality. > > > > > >Half an hour later, he gave us his break time and sat down with us. > > >Unassuming, gentle, shy, but yet showing interest in us and asking us > > >questions, my wife and I were very excited to be meeting him, but I in > > >particular, felt quite overwhelemed being in the actual presence of > a man > > >who I have admired and practically worshipped for all these years. A > > total > > >dream come true. He made us feel so comfortable and related to us > > like we > > >were his friends, never airing his status as a superstar, and never > > talking > > >about himself or his music. He was so relaxed with us, making witty > > >remarks, giggling, and being at ease, we almost felt like we've > > known him > > >personally for a while. He defied our expectations of him being > very shy > > >and > > >reserved, which perhaps would have been the case in a crowd or if our > > >common > > >friend wasn't there. Regardless, he gave us his break time despite not > > >having slept the night before and dealing with the work pressure of > > >handling > > >so many huge Hindi and Tamil film soundtracks and The Lord of the Rings > > >musical. Despite being in a foreign country, he welcomed us with > as much > > >hospitality as if that studio were his home. This was exemplified > > the most > > >when he wished us a good journey home and asked us caringly by saying, > > >"Khana?" while motioning his hand towards his mouth. He and his > group of > > >musicians were looking for food in the fridge and despite appearing > > to not > > >have many options, he still offered us dinner. > > > > > >His simple and humble personality combined with his strong spiritual > > nature > > >left a big impact on us, despite being with him for only 15-20 > > minutes. Of > > >course for me, being it a dream come true, I was quite overwhelemed > > by the > > >experience. However, beyond that, we felt touched by this man's > > >compassionate and gentle humanity. A true philanthropist, we learned > > from > > >that despite all the fame and success he has earned, he does not use > > money > > >for self indulgence. He uses only what he needs and generously > gives to > > >the > > >less fortunate in India. As we sat and chatted, a basketball game was > > >happening on TV in front of us. Rahman remarked that he doesn't > > understand > > >what's going on when he sees these games. After a pause, he stated, "I > > >don't > > >even know cricket". Only later we came to understand the > significance of > > >this remark and how personal it is for Rahman. > > > > > >At a tender age of 9, his father, a well known musician himself in > Tamil > > >Nadu, succumbed to illness and passed on. Known then as Dileep > Kumar, he > > >bore the burden of having to support his family and deal with the > > grief of > > >his father's sudden absence. As a result, he dropped out of school and > > >eventually took up his first job carrying musical instruments for other > > >musicians. He sacrified his childhood to support his family and > > eventually > > >became more involved with music as time went on. He suffered > tremendous > > >hardship during those years. One of his regrets and a source of great > > >sadness for him is never getting an opportunity to understand and > > develop > > >an > > >interest in the game of cricket due to being so bogged down during his > > >childhood. As we know, the sport of cricket is India's pride and joy, > > >loved > > >and watched and played by so many. Thus, a painful void in his life, so > > >apparent and real, but unknown except to those very close to him. > He also > > >compares himself unfavorably with others with regards to dropping > out of > > >school early and not having achieved a desired level of education, > > despite > > >his status and success in life thus far. > > > > > >These painful emotional wounds from his past along with tremendous > > love and > > >support from his family served to drive his strong sense of values, > > >simplicity, faith, spirituality, compassion, humility, sense of > duty, and > > >love for diversity. A true modern day rennaissance man and > > philanthropist, > > >his creative work is a broad but powerful reflection of his life > > experience > > >and has served time and time again to deepen his faith and > committment to > > >hard work and helping others. I often sensed that in many of his > > >compositions, there is a touch of sorrow interwoven like a thread, a > > quiet > > >but profound commentary on the pangs of humanity. But, yet, there is > > also > > >celebration, joy, folk festivity, and just plain rocking > > entertainment when > > >the mood demands it. His popularity and commercial success prove > that he > > >can entertain like no other when he wants to. His ability to > communicate > > >such a rich emotional and spiritual landscape through his music most > > >certainly reflects a true investment of his heart and soul and his > > dreams, > > >as well as the wounds that have been inflicted on them by life. This > > >emotional depth and spiritual dimension that I sense through his > creative > > >expressions are what resonate within me so intensely. He expresses his > > >spirituality through the beautiful use of Indian raagas, which appeal > > to me > > >on a classical sense. His music is so enriched with emotional > depth and > > >dimension, which sadly, has often gone unappreciated by the masses > > who are > > >more interested in entertainment than art. After meeting him and > > catching > > >a > > >glimpse of his personality for real, my esteem, devotion, and love > > for this > > >man is even higher. I am and forever will be his student and fan. > > > > > >The pureness of A.R. Rahman and his music will be with me forever. > I feel > > >very fortunate and grateful to have met him and I hope that I can > > meet him > > >again some day. I expressed many of my thoughts written above to him > > in a > > >letter that my friend gave to him before meeting me. For a man whose > > only > > >dream was to compose for one film during his jingle ad composing > > days, who > > >he is today and what he has accomplished is much more than a dream come > > >true. > > > > > >
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