Thanks for sharing this excellent interview. i cant remember him being so witty and funny in his early interviews. He has got a great sense of humour.
Durba --- In [email protected], "satish_srini" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Levity marks the exchange with Allah Rakha Rahman. Likewise brevity. > Punctuated with an abstruse smile or a friendly chuckle, the relaxed, > freewheeling discussion at his studio throws light on the mindset, > beliefs and work culture of the composer. > Rahman's `day' actually begins after the Sun goes to rest. Today young > music directors toe his line they work through the night like he > does. "Really? Their wives must be cursing me!" he laughs. "But > seriously, earlier, during the day I worked for others. And at night I > would do jingles and stuff. So that's my creative time," he explains. > Fame and Fortune sit lightly on Rahman's shoulders rather they > don't sit on him at all! You've come across creators who are visibly > impatient with those who don't understand their work ... "How can I feel > so? There are so many things others know and I don't," he says simply! > In mature terrain > > Has being religious got something to do with this humility? "Today the > term has too big a connotation. You could call me spiritual." He comes > slightly forward. "Your heart has place for only one dominant aspect > Ego or God. If God is in your heart, it would mean the death of > ego and you'd take things with equanimity. Also, it all depends on what > you think is ultimate." He ruminates and adds, "Of course, recognition > makes me happy and I'm thankful to God for all that has come my way." > Probably they've come his way too soon. "Yeah! My father (Sekar, a > composer, arranger and conductor for Malayalam films) never got anything > he wanted. I strongly believe his unfulfilled goals are being realised > through me. That he's blessing me from above," he pauses. "But you also > have the media hyping it all up and blowing things out of proportion. > Violence in cinema, for instance! It makes you feel the whole world is > in bloodshed. It's true up to a point, but there are nice things too." > Even as he fields a poser, his thought process is so quick that he keeps > moving from one topic to another. For all that he's a person who talks > little. "Yeah! That's why I can't speak any language properly," he > quips. > "After `Vande Mataram' [his album] I stopped singing duets ... only > spiritual and patriotic songs I decided. But again perceptions change, > so I've sung `Tere Bina' [`Guru'] and a duet for `Sivaji' [Rajinikant's > next]." You mention the range that was made discernibly tough for > Hariharan in the `Vennilavae' song (`Minsara Kananvu'), and he smilingly > nods. "When a tune gets approved such things happen. But it doesn't show > in the cassette as it does when he sings live." Rahman's penchant for > jazz chords comes out now and then. `Hey Goodbye Nanba' (`Aaidha > Ezhuthu' `Yuva' in Hindi) is an example. "True. I love jazz. But > very few understand it. So whenever it's suitable I use the > progression," he says. Hindustani is another choice genre. "I like > listening to Kishore Amonkar, Hasu Patel and others. And the melodies of > the 1960s fascinate me. At the same time the youngster in me digs rock > and jazz," he laughs. M.S.Viswanathan is an all time favourite of > Rahman. "A real master," he commends. > So how does he see himself 20 years from now? "I don't see myself," he > chuckles and noting your expression says, "Seriously! That's the problem > with me. A problem and a boon." > Rahman is now doing `Azhagiya Tamizh Magan' and `Chakkarakatti' in > Tamil. "Yeah. I also do Tamil films." He gives a cryptic look and > continues: "My roots are here. I gained fame from here. I don't want > people to say `He was in Tamil once, now he's gone away to Hindi and > English.' Again it's the confidence level of a director that makes me > accept or reject a film. Sometimes I'm wrong." He shrugs and continues: > "Today Tamil film music is mostly fast beats. `Chakachakachaka' it goes > on. That makes me hesitate doing more of Tamil." You begin to understand > the look! Yet his melodious `Munbe Vaa' [`Sillunu Oru Kadhal'] was a > major hit. "But I read a review that described it as being like 1950s' > music," he smiles wryly. "You need the conviction to do what you feel is > good. Not because you assume it would sell." Today's `cut and paste' > music, where composers unabashedly use loops available in the market and > pass it off as theirs, is appalling. "Yes. Piracy is rampant. One should > have a conscience, feel someone up there's watching." > The other composers in the family sister Rehaina and nephew > G.V.Prakash must be coming to him for guidance. "They don't," is > the crisp reply. > Probably they are afraid to approach him. "Come on! I won't chew them > up," he guffaws. "And frankly, they're doing fine." > Point well made > > `Are you searching for a reason to be kind, then pray for me brother!' > reads the huge Rahman Foundation poster in the room. > "It's the theme song we did for the U.N., for fighting poverty. I try to > do my bit. There's a lot to be done for children, in art. Sometimes I > feel we are in a shell. There are no in-betweens for kids here. It's > either classical or light music. No `Lion King,' no `Bombay Dreams,' no > jazz ... our cultural stuff is great. But we have to know what's > happening around us and cater for it," Rahman talks passionately on the > subject. > `Jodha Akbar' (Hrithik and Aishwarya) and `The Golden Age' with Cate > Blanchett and Clive Owen (Scottish composer Craig Armstrong joins Rahman > for the project) are among his forthcoming films. > "At one end of the spectrum I'm making 15th century Moghul music, at the > other it is regal British music, and there's a Vijay film in between! > Sometimes I suddenly wake up from sleep, frightened. `How are you going > to do it?' I ask myself," he laughs. That's again the modest music maker > for you! > > http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/03/09/stories/2007030900380100.htm > <http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/03/09/stories/2007030900380100.htm> >
