nice post by chord. Its a real challenge composing for period films in today's Bollywood. the music has to sound authentic and cater to the masses as well. It has to achieve that sort of a fine balance without sounding overtly contemporary. ARR is only MD who could have done justice to Jodhaa Akbar.
You have to look at how other MDs have done in similar genre of movies to really understand ARRs greatness. Remember what Anu Malik did to the songs of Asoka? ~RS On Jan 25, 2008 9:03 AM, Chord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > THanks for the compliment and for reading! > > > --- In [email protected] <arrahmanfans%40yahoogroups.com>, > Vithur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Chord > > > > U are the ultimate , when it come to analysing ARR 's Music... > excellent > > post. Thanks a lot > > > > > > On 1/24/08, Chord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > Before everyone is quick to judge the music of JA, for better > or for > > > worse, I think we need to understand how difficult it must have > been > > > for Rahman to compose for such a movie. > > > > > > This is a movie set in the 16th century. Now, Rahman could have > > > easily turned this score into an Indian classical raaga fest > using all > > > kinds of taranas, sargams, gamaks, taans, alaaps with acrobatic > > > instrumental playing by sitar, sarod, etc, most reminiscent of > that > > > time. It would have been mindblowing. Apart from the lovers of > > > classical music, who would really be interested in listening? > This is > > > a commercial film with lots of money at stake, hence not a good > > > commercial idea. This is such a big budget movie, I'm sure > Ashutosh > > > had a hand in influencing Rahman to infuse contemporary vibes in > the > > > music to help the film become more commercially viable. I think > > > Rahman even said in an interview once that they tried many > different > > > approaches to composing the music before settling on what we're > > > hearing today. If the movie was about classical music, like if he > > > scored for "Baiju aur Taansen", then a heavy classical score > would be > > > in order to fit with the movie's theme. > > > > > > On the flip side, Rahman could have sold out and turned this > > > soundtrack into something overly contemporary, using catchy song > and > > > dance sequences with flashy instruments. Sure it would have sold > > > commercially, but what a misfit it would have created with the > period > > > in mind and he would have been panned left and right by critics. > > > > > > Quite a difficult challenge to straddle both sides.....create a > > > soundtrack that's commercially and sonically appealing to today's > > > musical tastes, yet retaining the form and spirit of the music of > that > > > period and together being authentic and genuine. Only a genius and > > > legend like Rahman could have pulled this off with incredible > balance, > > > depth, authenticity, class, and appeal. Remember, we live in a > world > > > where hip hop, rap, and rhythm jhatkas rule the music airways. > > > > > > I honestly cannot name any other composer who can compose period > films > > > nearly half as good as Rahman. Nobody in today's times. And in > fact, > > > I argue that composing for commercial period films today is even > more > > > challenging that it would have been say 30-50 years ago, when > creating > > > a more heavy classical soundtrack would not have alienated the aam > > > junta as it would today. Naushad's Mughal E Azaam, with due credit > > > to his briliiance, don't think had to face as unique of the > challenge > > > as Rahman did with Jodha Akbar. Of course, I am sure he also had > to > > > consider the tastes of the masses at that time, but back then, > > > composing a heavy classical score was more in line with mainstream > > > music. > > > > > > Hats off to the genius once again. I wish more people could take > this > > > into consideration when judging the music. I don't think it's an > > > excuse for any lack of mass appeal, but I think the challenge and > > > effort to overcome that challenge should be recognized. > > > > > > Name one composer who can score a Man Mohanna, a Paathshaala, A > Yeh Jo > > > Desh Hai Tera, a Jaage Hain, and a jazzy Jillinu Oru Kaadhal all > > > within a few years. Nobody except Rahman. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > regards, > > Vithur > > > > A.R.RAHMAN - MY BREATH & LIFE FORCE > > > > >
