Rahman is credited and praised for a lot of things.....sound, arrangements, rhythm, originality, variety, mood, craftsmanship, bending boundaries and being international, etc. etc. However, very rarely do I hear comments about the strength of his raw tunes, the pure melody behind the songs. When people praise Rahman, IMO, it's rare to hear, "Rahman's music is just so melodious!".
In fact, it is Rahman's most melodious songs that I am most attracted to. If asked to choose between pure sound and pure melody, pure melody would win for me, although what makes Rahman so special is his impeccable sound too! How does one define good melody? A tune that sticks to you, haunts your mind, is hummable and remembered for a long, long time. Recent songs like Jaage, Tere Bina, Piya Ho, Ay Hairathe, Tu Bin, Jashne Bahaar, Marudani, Sahara, Mumbai Vaa, Khwaja, Kahin To, Meherbaan, Zindagi, Muskura, Kaise Mujhe, Maula, Dafatan, etc. etc. and on and on.......... I honestly cannot find any contemporary Indian musician who can surpass the strength of Rahman's melodies listed above. There are lots of reasons to like the songs above, but for me, it's the pure melody, the raw tune that clinches it.
