Jet set Rahman India’s most celebrated Bollywoodcomposer, A.R. Rahman, was at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Londonlast week. This was for the launch of the original cast album of thestage version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, for which he has partly composed the music. On a previous occasion his baggage had gone astray so I asked whether this time his suitcase had arrived safely. It had, he assured me. “I travelled Jet,” he grinned. His endorsement of Jet may not be entirely unconnected with the “15 million rupees” — that sounds a bigger number than £200,000 — that Jet Airways have invested in the album in an effort to gain a higher profile in the UK. “Making music for this very complicated show has been a great challenge,” said Rahman. “The best part has been making a record. Each song has 100 to 200 people participating. It’s a great experience — thanks to Jet. It wouldn’t have happened otherwise. They paid money for the album.” As a huge admirer of Jet’s domestic services, I am pleased the airline is now offering tough competition to Air India, British Airways and Virgin on UK-India flights. But maybe its fares need to come down — in fact, all return fares need to come down to no more than £300. “Air India is cheaper than Jet — and flies directly to Calcutta from Heathrow,” I pointed out to a Jet executive, in my usual attempt to be helpful. “Different product,” he sniffed. Two Jet Airways stewardesses, perhaps taking a cue from Lord Paul’s waistcoat, looked graceful in bright yellow jackets. Rahman looked happy, relaxed andconfident as he worked the room. Though he was always big in Bollywood,his international career blossomed after Andrew Lloyd Webbercommissioned him to compose the music for Bombay Dreams in 2002. “It completely put me on a differentroad,” he acknowledged. “I still remember the first room on the fourthfloor of The Palace Theatre — Andrew gave me that room — where Istarted composing The Journey Home. Bombay Dreams was a great idea at the right time.”
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