thanx a ton for sharing, Vithur On Sat, Mar 15, 2008 at 6:59 AM, Vithur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Dear Rahmaniacs, > > Director Pravinkanth is a very simple director. We met him on ARR 's Bday > , and he told us that he gained a name in Film Industry because of ARR. He > directed films like Ratchagan, Star and Jodi. His talk with Raihanaji on > Rahmania Show is as follows :- > ** > *Director Pravinkanth on A.R.Rahman * > > 1. How did you come to meet Rahman and how you became a Director? > > > > It was a great accident. Rahman Sir's range has been so high. A very big > level. All directors use to dream of having him as their Music Director, > similar to now directors having a dream of fixing Aishwarya Rai as heroine > for their films. But for me, it was God's Grace, that I got Rahman sir for > my movie Ratchagan. I got committed to Producer K.T. Kunjumohan, and > Rahman sir had done 2 films with Shankar Sir in their production. At the > same time, Kadhir was also doing a film. So, I felt like the gates were > likely to open, even though Rahman Sir was not that comfortable working with > new directors, because of wave length etc. Kunjumohan Sir told me not to > imagine too much, and if there is luck, we will try. > > > > If I have to thank somebody, then it would be sushmitha sen, whom shall be > thanked first. Because it was from her, that this project became a big > project. Sushmitha Sen gave an interview after she won Miss Universe. She > said that she loved Tamil Industry, and was willing to work with Tamil Cine > Industry people. So we approached her, and she told us to bring the script. > She accepted it. But, she was 5' 11". So, I decided on a hero who would > match her height, and I imagined and wanted Nagarjuna Sir. > > > > It was Kunjumohan Sir, who wanted to request Rahman sir for the film. That > time, Rahman sir was very busy. He was not able to do the project. > Kunjumohan Sir was opening a new office in Kerala, and he had invited > everyone. So the full crew was there in Kerala, and Rahman Sir was also > present. Sushmitha Sen was a great fan of Rahman Sir, and had wished him in > Kerala. (It seems Sushmitha Sen always wanted to meet Rahman sir, whenever > she visited Chennai). Even Aishwarya Rai also was a very big fan of Rahman > Sir. So Sushmitha went and directly approached Rahman Sir and said "I am > going to act in a Tamil Film. You have to do the music for the film". Rahman > sir was surprised and said " Ok. I will listen to the subject, and if I like > it, will do it". > > > > Then I went to Rahman Sir and gave him the script. He couldn't get time to > read the entire script. There in Madurai, we had composing. Myself, Rahman > Sir and Vairamuthu Sir were present. After listening to my situation, *Rahman > Sir told me "Whats this!! Everything seems to be abnormal".* The situation > that I told him was "Hero & Heroine are having honeymoon in Moon. So we > wanted to create a song sequence in the moon." Then it was not considered > feasible, and something else was finalized. He gave wonderful tunes. > > > > The first tune given for the film was "Nenje Nenje". I would never suggest > anything to Rahman Sir, because I know for sure, that whatever suggestion I > may give, it would surely be less than his knowledge levels, and he knows > best. So I never advise or suggest to him about the singer I wanted etc. SO, > I told him the situation and the mood and he listened to it and went away. > That time, the film Kadhal Desam also got released. Then he called me & > Vairamuthu Sir, and gave me the tune of Nenje Nenje. > > > > > > 1. How were you able to control big stars like Nagarjuna, Sushmitha > Sen and A.R.Rahman? Were they listening and obeying you? > > > > I think I am a lucky fellow in all aspects. Nagarjuna is a very sweet > person, loveable person. He never used to ask questions. Sushmitha Sen was > doing her first film. She was very child like and it was she who was so > adamant in wanting Rahman Sir for the film. *I learnt one very important > quality from Rahman Sir. Whosoever, doesn't take success to his pride and > remains as normal, will surely reach more and more heights*. > > > > 1. What is the bond between you and Rahman ? > > > > My first film got me a good name technically. Even now in Loyola College, > Ratchagan is a subject matter for Visual Communication students. The reason > was a lot of money was invested in graphics in Tamil Industry. Rs 1.35crores > was invested in graphics alone. Ratchagan was a Rs 15 crores movie. > Jeans and other movies followed. Seeing the preview, Vairamuthu Sir told > Bharathiraaja to watch the movie. Bharathiraaja was very happy seeing the > movie, and told that "Maniratnam did a great movie, followed by Shankar and > now Ratchagan is following that trend". He gave an open interview like that. > Then whenever he met Rahman sir, he used to tell good word about me. > Vairamuthu sir used to daily meet Rahman Sir, and used to pass some good > word about me. That developed a confidence in Rahman Sir and he would have > felt that he didn't work with a wrong person. > > > > So, after Ratchagan, I relied only on Rahman Sir for my next project, as > he was my only faith. I used to follow him everyday. He used to tell me "Ok > Praveeen. I will tell you; I will tell you". It was through Rahman Sir, that > I got my next chance with Dr. Murali Manohar (producer). He was doing Jeans > at that time. After Jeans, he wanted to do another movie with Rahman sir, > and Rahman sir suggested my name to him. I narrated the subject of "Jodi" to > MUrali Manohar, and he also liked it. So, the process continued… > > > > 1. Film Jodi – > > > > Murali Manohar was impressed by my script. So, I wanted to fix Miss World > (Aishwarya Rai) for the movie, as I had already done with Miss Universe > (Sushmitha Sen). Murali Manohar had a good rapport with Aishwarya Rai. So, > he got appointment with Aishwarya Rai. Murali Manohar got the approval of > Rahman Sir. She was very impressed by the subject and agreed to do it. > Meanwhile, Rajeev menon was asking the dates of Aishwarya Rai for > Kandukondein kandukondein. He is a very sweet person. So, I didn't get > the dates of Aishwarya Rai. > > > > At that time, there was an Hindi Film " Doli Saja ke Rakhna" done by Priya > Darshan. Murali Manohar liked the songs very much in that film, and wanted > them to be used in Tamil too. So Rahman sir was suggesting that an album > could be made. Rahman Sir suggested my name to him for shooting the album. > But, my mind changed after I started hearing the song repetitively. ( Bol > sajni ; Velli Malare ) Its very difficult to get a song from Rahman Sir, due > to his busy schedule. So I thought, why should we make we waste this good > song, as an album. I had five golden songs from Rahman Sir with me. So, I > decided to keep " Kai Thatti Thatti " as Introductory song . > > > > Kadhal Kaditham Theetave – Very catchy song. So I wanted Vairamuthu Sir to > add some words for this song, as narration. > > > > Velli Malare – first time water bed picturisation was introduced. There > was one more family song, which was not used in the film. ( Unreleased song > ) . > > > > Oru Poiyavadhu Soll Kanne – in the first half, the song used to come in > happy mode, and in the second half, it used to come in a melancholy style. > This turned the film into a musical film, and it became one of the best > albums of Rahman Sir. > > > > 1. *About the Film "Star"* > > > > During these processes, I became a very good friend of Rahman Sir. So, I > started developing this habit of using his Hindi songs for my Tamil Films. > So Rahman Sir slowly developed confidence in me, and believed that I would > not make mistakes, if relied upon. That came fine after the film Jodi. > > > > *I have never seen Rahman Sir interested or showing any interest on the > commercial aspects of the movie. He will never even desire to talk abt > money. I have also heard from sources, that he doesn't even touch currency > notes. Even when , I went and gave him huge amounts, he never used to care > about that. He always used to ask me " Why talk abt money always ?".* His > way of bringing up is entirely different, when compared to me. > > > > I listened to a good rhythm beat composed by Rahman Sir for Govind > Nihalani 's film Thakshaak . It was not a tune. It was just a beat > composed. I liked it very much and requested Rahman sir to make this beat > into a full song. Then, we brough Shankar Mahadevan and made it into a > climax song. We wanted the lyrics to be in a very ferocious manner, and > Vairamuthu sir took time to write it. Everyone started liking that song " > Thom Karuvil irundhom". I am very particular about rhythm. Rahman Sir 's > popularity can be highlighted in his rhythms. He always uses different > rhythms. He started using different sounds in the rhythms. Rahman Sir is > always conscious on the first few lines of the song. > > > > For eg :- Oru Poiyavadhu Soll Kanne – All the remaining lyrics have been > written, and the recording is going on. Singers are singing the Charanam > part of it, and th first half of the pallavi. The first few lyrics was not > satisfying at all, and Rahman Sir wanted , still better still better. > *Finally, > Rahman Sir himself gave the lyrics " Oru Poiyavadhu Soll Kanne". The > lyrics has the life . * > > > > > > 1. Future Projects > > > > I have been over speedy in my projects etc . But in reality, its always > better to be cautios, go steady, and I learnt even this from Rahman Sir. At > a time, there were five directors waiting in Rahman Sir Studio. > > > > 1. Subhash Ghai > 2. Govind Nihalani > 3. Ram Gopal Verma > 4. Shekhar Kapur > 5. Shankar > 6. Maniratnam > > > > Everyone is waiting for their movies. I got tensed seeing all of them, and > Rahman Sir was sitting very cool inside his office. I asked him ' Sir. So > many people are waiting". *Then he replied " So what… I am doing my work. > They have come for their work. Concentrate on the work". * > > > > You will find that apart from Rahman Sir 's compound, everywhere else, you > can observe people giving dancing to the tunes of big shots. But with Rahman > Sir, you can find the maturity, which may be the blessing of God; his > prayers etc . > > > > I have been having discussions with Rahman Sir for my next film, and he > has agreed for it. I am planning for Ratchagan – Part II. It would be a > different film altogether in history of Indian Cinema. The script work is > getting readied with very high tech technology. > > > > I am also doing a film for Pyramid Saimira " Anandhatin ellai". > > > > 1. Fav Songs of Rahman Sir – Aalala kanda from Sangamam > > You will get the feel of the song, even by listening to the tune of the > song. The sound, and the tune will stimulate you for a great objective. > > > > > > > > > > > -- > regards, > Vithur > > A.R.Rahman - The Adorable Human Being > >
