yes gops, i forgot to paste the link ;-)
--- Gopal Srinivasan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/04/12/talkasia.rahman.script/index.html > > --- In [email protected], "Roshan" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > another great quote from ARR > > > > AR: What I understand of music is -- it doesn't > need a language. When > > I listen to western classical, or when I listen to > African zulu music > > or I listen to Islamic music -- or anything. It's > not the words which > > matter, it's the words combining with music and > getting another > > dimension to it, another kind of spirit which > comes out of it. That's > > more important I think. > > > > > > > > > > > > AR Rahman Full Transcript > > > > > > > > Wednesday, April 12, 2006 Posted: 0820 GMT (1620 > HKT) > > > > LH: Lorraine Hahn > > AR: AR Rahman > > > > LH: Hello and welcome to Talk Asia, I'm Lorraine > Hahn. My guest today > > has been described as the greatest Indian composer > of his generation- > > A.R. Rahman. > > > > Born in India in 1966, Rahman was heavily > influenced as a child by his > > father, a musical arranger. By the age of 4 he > could play tunes on the > > harmonium, and by 11 he was working as a > professional musician, > > financially supporting his family after his > fathers death. In 1991 a > > chance meeting with director Mani Ratnam led to an > opportunity to > > write the score for the film Roja. Both the movie > and the soundtrack > > were such hits that it catapulted Rahman to > stardom overnight. > > > > Since then he has scored more than 50 movies and > released a series of > > successful albums. So revered is he in India, that > he was bestowed the > > Padma Shri title in 2002, India 's highest > civilian award. > > > > Block A > > > > LH: Mr. Rahman thank you very much for spending > some time with us. I > > wanted to ask you about yr new musical -- The Lord > of the rings, > > adaptation of the J.R. Tolkien famous book: How > did you get involved > > with this? > > > > AR: Well, you know about my Bombay Dreams venture > with Andrew Lloyd > > Webber, it happened in 2002, and it had this whole > team -- like Chris > > Webber Nightingale was the music supervisor on > that and Kevin Wallace > > was with Andrew Lloyd Webber, who's the producer > for Lord of the > > Rings. I think suddenly they realized that, they > had signed Värttinä > > the Finnish band to write the score, and then they > said it would be > > nice to have AR for the score too. And then I got > a call and I said > > 'Ok lets join them' and that's how I came into > that. > > > > LH: Is it going to be another huge production, > like Bombay Dreams -- > > or what can we expect? > > > > AR: It's probably 10 times more than Bombay > Dreams! (LH: Oh my God!) > > You have like 18 hydraulics moving on stage, you > have a three and a > > half hour...amazing stuff! > > > > LH: Right. Again, you are no stranger to > international musicals -- you > > mentioned Bombay dreams. Did that, Bombay -- did > that play, that > > musical take your career to the one step further > internationally? > > > > AR: I think so! I think it's a big step for me -- > it's a big step > > because, of course lot of Asians around the world > love my music -- and > > they've introduced my music to other people but a > normal European or > > American who don't know my music, this is one of > the biggest step, and > > I think now after doing it's 2 years in London and > 8 months in New > > York, in Broadway, I think its going to tour now > -- I'm looking > > forward to that. (LH: Yeah that's so exciting) It > is. > > > > LH: What is it like to work with someone like > Andrew Lloyd Webber? > > > > AR: Well, it's two different cultures totally -- I > used to have a room > > in his apartment, in one of the apartments he > gave, and he used to > > come, and he used to take off his shoes before > coming in, that's the > > type of respect he gave for my culture, which is > amazing, yeah. > > > > LH: I mean, is he a tough person to please? > > > > AR: No, he is a very sweet person, and he was very > encouraging to me, > > and he's done quite a lot of stuff for me > actually. > > > > LH: And you've learnt a lot from him, I presume? > > > > AR: Yes, I was a big fan -- I am a fan too. And > from that, I think he > > was the one who picked most of the numbers which I > had already done -- > > like Chaya Chaya and Taal . I said 'these were my > favorites, and this > > has to be your musical', and that's the reason all > my old stuff came > > into the thing. Apart from "The Journey Home", and > all the other > > numbers which are new were written with Don Black. > > > > LH: How different an experience was it for you to > compare, lets say, > > working on Bombay Dreams, with any other project > you have done in the > > past? > > > > AR: The biggest thing to break ice, in Bombay > Dreams, was to do > > something in English. Because I've never done an > English song, I mean > > a proper English song in any film. And for me, I > said 'is it going to > > work in English, is it going to sound too corny > with Asian influence > > and stuff?'. But everything became -- I started > getting acquainted > > with Don Black -- he was the writer for that, and > then he made it very > > easy for me and gave me all these titles for me > like 'Journey Home' > > and stuff, and then it all fell into it naturally. > > > > LH: Right. Bombay Dreams obviously popularized > your name international > > into western household, but it also popularized > Indian culture, Indian > > music. How important was that for you? > > > > AR: It's something which was never intended! > Exactly, when I used to > > meet Asians in the flight they used to say 'Oh, > now we can just lift > > our collars and go man, you made us do that!' And > that is very moving > > for me, you know? Being a musician and the sort of > hatred around the > > world, and me coming from Islam -- a Muslim, I > think it was a big > > thing for me. I got very touched by all the > statements which came from > > Americans, Europeans and Asians and all those > people. > > > > LH - You've scored a number of wonderful movies, > Indian films -- like > > Lagaan. Do you have a favorite? > > > > AR: Yes of course -- I think that Lagaan was a > very complete movie. > > Representing Indian culture, Indian songs with > pride -- not being > > apologetic about it and all that stuff. And the > recent Rang de > > Basanti, which is again a very different kind of > direction for me, > > going counterpoint from the film, not going with > the film (LH: Why, > > why was it?) we were just doing the opposites in > the film, in the film > > -- something very serious happens but we were just > going with a guitar > > singing a very jolly song! So that's a step > forwards for Indian films, > > I think. > > > > LH: Right, Roja as well -- is one of your early > films? > > > > AR: Yeah, that's like a good news which I got from > Time magazine -- > > ten top soundtracks of the world, or something > like that. > > > > LH: I mean that changed the face of the Indian > film industry -- right? > > > > AR: That's what they say! (LH: Do you think so?) > Yes in a way. (LH: > > How?) There was a shell for the sound- generally > it used to be 'this > > is the sound, this is the Indian sound' -- and > Roja was breaking all > > those. Not taking any traditional singers, not > taking any traditional > > instruments, and recording in a small room -- my > home studio, and then > > becoming big -- it was a big statement! > > > > LH: It's very important, that. > > > > AR: It is important. > > > > LH: Bollywood, where do you think it's heading > these days? > > > > AR: I see two kinds of things happening. One is a > step forward, and > > one is a step backwards also. Because people are > seeing loads of > > things on satellite TV and stuff. They know that > nobody can bullshit > > them now -- nobody can copy anything or rip > anything off because now > > they know it bang on that this is something. So > that's all good. And I > > think there are two things, one kind of filmmakers > are avoiding songs > > -- saying that its going to break, and another > filmmaker is going full > > fledged with songs: 'this is the music I'm really > proud of' -- that > > sort of thing. I'm getting associated with both of > them. > > > > LH: You find that Bollywood then, is heading...? > > > > AR: And they are also very ambitious, I think now. > They want to > > virimusker???, (TC -- 00:31:58) I don't know for > what reason. Which is > > good to be ambitious, and going forward. > > > > LH: That's good > > > > AR: That's good > > > > LH: What about new talent? Evolving talent? Is > that where Bollywood is > > also pursuing? > > > > AR: Yeah, things which was impossible probably 3-4 > years back, and > > people would just put you off -- are now saying > 'yeah maybe'. They are > > more open to things which are new, which is > amazing. > > > > LH: Is Hollywood then the next step for you? > > > > AR: I'm in and out of it actually. Actually, some > of my scores have > > been used for Lord of War, and Spike Lee's new > film -- a kind of song > > which is used. And so I am in and out of it > actually, the full fledged > > Hollywood film -- I would rather work with a > person who understand me, > > or who likes my music, who is friendly to me. (LH: > Any idea who?) I > > don't want to just jump in and go 'Oh, Hollywood > here -- and then fall > > flat!.' > > > > LH: Any ideas who would be that person? > > > > AR: Well, I've been- Baz Lurhmann came for my > concert in Australia, > > and then we just had a talk and he's a very -- > he's a big fan of > > Bollywood and stuff like that. I wouldn't say > Bollywood, I would say > > Hindi film industry. But he's a master musical > maker I think and I'm a > > big fan of his. We might...I don't know, never > know. > > > > LH: Wow, that'll be quite a pairing! Mr. Rahman, > we are going to take > > a very, very short break. Don't go away, Talk Asia > will be right back > > with Indian composer AR Rahman. Stay with us. > > > > Block B > > > > LH: Welcome back, I'm talking with Indian > composer, AR Rahman. Mr. > > Rahman, you showed a lot of musical promise at a > very, very young age, > > I read that 4 years old you could already play the > harmonium. I mean, > > how did you manage that? > > > > AR: I think it's the blood! Having a composer > father, I think it's > > quite natural. > > > > LH: So it's what, almost like watching your > father..? > > > > AR: Yes, I use to go with my father to all the > places he used to work, > > and I still have those memories with me. > > > > LH: Right, that's amazing, I know you rarely speak > about your father > > and I hope you don't mind me asking you a little > bit about him? > > > > AR: Well, I think (LH: he was very influential > right?) Yeah he was a > > very hardworking person, he used to work in 3-4 > places at the same > > time. And all the studios was just next to him. > And I've seen him > > work, he's a really hard worker. And I think this > is one of the > > reasons he died so early, he died when I was just > 9 years. And only > > good will was there with everyone -- all the > fellow musicians about > > him, and good things to say. And so, it's a good > thing for me because > > when you have such a father you always want to > take it further > > than...you know? And my journey has been like > that, so... > > > > LH: I mean he was a musical arranger, a very > well-respected one at > > that! Right? (AR: Yes) What do you remember most > about your father? > > > > AR: Well, all I know is his first film was > released the day he died. > > The same day -- I think it's, I don't know -- > destiny. Maybe all that > > suffering which he went through, is now god is > giving it back to me -- > > in a nice way. Easy fame, and stuff all that. (LH: > No it's not, its > > not easy) It's not easy, of course, but I'm just > saying... > > > > LH: You are carrying on his legacy, so to speak > then? > > > > AR: Yeah. > > > > LH: When he passed away, you mentioned you were > very young -- 9 years > > old. I read that a lot of burden was put on your > shoulders, to provide > > for your mother and your siblings. Is that true? > > > > AR: Yeah, in a way actually. At the age of 13 or > 14, I had to go to > > school as well as work. I used to be a roady kind > of thing, set up > > instruments for people. And at the age of 18 I > started composing > > commercials and stuff like that, which was -- then > life became > > interesting. > > > > LH: Right, so before then it was really a matter > of making money? > > > > AR: Yeah > > > > LH: And when did it suddenly change when it became > a career? A love? > > When was it, when was the turning point? > > > > AR: The turning point I think was when I was 18 -- > 23 when I met Mani > > Ratnam -- when I got the opportunity to do Roja. > So I had one of the > > leading producers, and a legendry filmmaker called > Balachander, he > > produced a film and this legendary director whom I > was a very big fan > > of -- Mani Ratnam -- all these things came > together, unusual things. > > And I felt that something is happening! > > > > LH: Almost like fate. (AR: Yeah it is) I read also > that you are quite > > interested in technology. > > > > AR: Yeah I was a big fan of electronics, in my > teens, and things that- > > later on in my life, both of them came together. > When computer music, > > and computers and all this stuff came -- yeah it > was fun > > > > LH: You dropped out of school, you worked, you > even -- but after that > > you even came back to win a scholarship. > > > > AR: For me what happened was, I was working and > then I suddenly met my > > master who was Jacob John. He said 'I know your > father, and you should > > not be doing this you should be working and > learning more!' And then > > he wanted me to come to his thing, and then he > made me write the exam > > of Trinity College in Chennai -- which I got > scholarship and all this > > stuff. > > > > It was the understanding of the Western classical > music which is very > > important -- and now it's helped me a great deal > actually. > > > > LH: How do you see this sort of Western and > Eastern classical music > > complimenting each other? > > > > AR: My biggest dream now is to start a classical > conservatory in > > India, or Chennai. And a lot of friends have come > forward and helped > > me out. I think the discipline of classical music > is very important -- > > and then we can ring in the eastern element in it. > And make it > > something that is wild and exciting for classical > music, which it > > needs now to pull a young audience back into, you > know? (LH: That's > > right) All those opera houses! > > > > LH: Nowadays as well, a lot of people listen to > music, to songs in > > different languages. > > > > AR: What I understand of music is -- it doesn't > need a language. When > > I listen to western classical, or when I listen to > African zulu music > > or I listen to Islamic music -- or anything. It's > not the words which > > matter, it's the words combining with music and > getting another > > dimension to it, another kind of spirit which > comes out of it. That's > > more important I think. > > > > LH: Mr. Rahman we are going to take another very, > very short break. > > Stick around, Talk Asia will be right back with AR > Rahman. > > > > Block C > > > > LH: Welcome back to Talk Asia, my guest is Indian > composer Mr. AR > > Rahman. Mr. Rahman, religion seems to be very > important to you. How > > important? > > > > AR: For me, being influenced by Sufism is very > important. The base, my > > whole breath is the spirit, and divinity and stuff > like that. And > > before music it's again that, cleansing my mind > and all that stuff. > > And success and failure, everything is from god - > that's my kind of > > vision for myself. And what I believe is there's > divinity in every > > human being, evening in an atheist and whatever > religion. I need to > > respect every person, I need to love every person > because he or she is > > the co creation. So that's my theory of life! > > > > LH: You weren't born a Muslim though, right? You > converted in your 20s > > -- what was the turning point? > > > > AR: well, when my father died we had a spiritual > healer which met us. > > He kind of foresaw my whole future, and all this > stuff he said 'you > > will come to me after 10 years and this is going > to happen to you' I > > said -- what is he saying? And then it all > happened, and then my > > studio was built and then I started getting > intrigued by Islam and > > Sufism. So what I did was, with my first movie > Roja, I changed my name > > to AR Rahman, which is Allah Rakha Rahman. And > it's been- I've been > > opening doors of spirituality one by one. > > > > LH: Now your name, AR Rahman, was chosen for you > by an astrologer -- > > correct? > > > > AR: In a way, and not in a way -- because he had a > choice of 7 names > > or something, different religious names and I > loved this name. (LH: So > > you effectively chose your own name?) Yeah! > > > > LH: Being a devout Muslim now, how has that > affected you > > professionally -- and personally? > > > > AR: In Tamil Nadu usually any Muslim who comes > into the film industry > > would change his name into a non-Muslim name, and > he will survive like > > that. For me, I did the opposite. Me coming from a > Hindu religion > > before, and then going into the film industry I > wanted AR Rahman as my > > name. And people are laughing at me 'what are you > doing?' and I say, > > this is it -- this is my way of life from now > onwards. And that's what > > happened, and then Roja became a big hit and then > I had so much > > encouragement from Mani Ratnam, whose the > director. And it got me all > > the awards ever thought of, like national awards, > state awards, and > > all the stuff. It gave me respect, and then it > gave me opportunity to > > do better stuff and get out of mediocrity. > > > > LH: And all through your development stage, your > family has always > > been behind you, always supported you (AR: Yeah) > -- even through your > > change of religion? (AR: Yeah) And everything? > That is amazing. That > > is important isn't it, (AR: Yeah) for somebody. > Because you don't see > > to be the type of person that would listen to too > many people -- you > > are pretty strong minded am I correct? > > > > AR: Yeah. (LH: How do you-) I would listen to > everyone and then do > > what I wanna do I guess! > > > > LH: There's another word for that -- stubborn! How > do you feel, on a > > more serious note, when you turn on the TV and you > watch what's > > happening around the world. Muslims fighting, > Muslims fighting against > > Christians, vice-versa, and how the world views > Islam today? > > > > AR: I think it's ignorance, first of all, lack of > understanding. As a > > musician I feel, and that too coming from Islam, I > feel that it's a > > very important role of mine to do to do things > which politicians can't > > do. (LH: How?) By doing music, music doesn't -- > you are not going to > > turn off something which says, oh it's an Islamic > composer, its a > > Christian composer. I love Mozart, I love Bartok, > I love Verdi and all > > that stuff but nobody is going to question that -- > a piece of music is > > a piece of music. And then me doing Lord of the > Rings, about music in > > the middle earth. So I think here, art can play a > more important role, > > an artist should be like that -- creating bridges > with people. And I > > think the government should be doing more to > understand other > > cultures, not being arrogant and thinking 'that is > bad, these people > > are bad, these people should be killed'. That word > shouldn't come in > > -- it's explicit. I think that's the future, not > just going killing > > and bombing people, just to understand them and > loving them -- and > > that's the way to heal things. > > > > LH: So as a musician, when you travel you try to > make it a point to > > educate people? > > > > AR: In a very sublime way, not direct. It happens > automatically (LH: > > Right, right). When I do concerts I get people > from all the > > communities, whether you take Bande Mataram, which > is a very Hindu > > slogan -- it used to be that, and now me doing it > joining along with > > Maa, Tujhe Salaam -- it's gone to a new level. And > most Muslims, and > > Hindus accept it at the same time. That's a big > step for me. > > > > LH: Do you believe in destiny and karma? > > > > AR: Yes, I do, I believe in prayers. I believe > prayers from spiritual > > people and prayers for my mother -- and I think > that's more important > > than -- I mean that can change destiny also. When > you wish well for > > people. And I pray for the world- and world peace. > > > > LH: Well Mr. Rahman we wish you all the very, very > best. Thank you > > very much for spending time with us. And that is > Talk Asia this week, > > my guest has been Indian composer extraordinaire > AR Rahman. I'm > > Lorraine Hahn, let's talk again next week. > > > > > > > > > > > Explore, Experience, Enjoy A.R.Rahman - The Man, The > Music, The Magic. > Only at arrahmanfans.com - The definitive A.R.Rahman > e-community. > > Homepage: http://www.arrahmanfans.com > Admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To Unsubscribe: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > __________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner now. Go to http://yahoo.shaadi.com __________________________________________________________ Yahoo! India Matrimony: Find your partner now. Go to http://yahoo.shaadi.com Explore, Experience, Enjoy A.R.Rahman - The Man, The Music, The Magic. Only at arrahmanfans.com - The definitive A.R.Rahman e-community. Homepage: http://www.arrahmanfans.com Admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! 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