Source - http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/20/PKAM15SOP0.DTL
In India, A.R. Rahman's film music is often anticipated more eagerly than the movies it is made for. Rahman took the Indian film industry by storm in the early '90s, alchemizing Sufi qawwalis, Indian music and symphonic orchestral themes. He's won more National Film Awards for best music director than anyone else. But he's remained relatively unknown abroad, despite productions such as the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Bombay Dreams." "Slumdog Millionaire" changed all that. If he takes home an Oscar tonight (he has three nominations), he'll be the first Indian to win one since Bhanu Athaiya won for costume design for "Gandhi" (1982). Rahman spoke by phone from Los Angeles. Q: Were you worried when you heard an English director who had never been to India was making a film set in Mumbai slums? A: Danny (Boyle) sent me a script, but I had no time to read it. (Director) Shekhar Kapur told me, "Danny is my friend. Don't make him wait." A couple of months later, Danny gave me a DVD, and I loved it. I did it in about three weeks. I loved the optimism and the hope it gives. It's universal. Q: Does it apply to your life? A: Certainly. It's not that dramatic a struggle. But coming from a middle-class family, a lot of things were out of reach. Now I am sitting here in Hollywood talking to you. Q: What did Boyle want in terms of the music? A: He said no sentiment. And no cello. He didn't want anything depressing. Some scenes are unbearable, and then the music comes in. It's like being pushed from a cliff and then having wings to fly. Q: What's the biggest difference in the role music plays in Western films and Bollywood films? A: Danny gave me specific cue points: 17, 18. In a film in India, there can be 130 cues. "Slumdog" was like going back to (my first film), "Roja." When all the awards came to "Roja," it was a shock. This is my first big English film where I have sole credit. It's new territory for me. Q: When did you first get paid for your music? A: I think it was for operating a record player in a studio. I got paid what is about a dollar now. But then I made money doing ad jingles. I think the first one was for a photo lab. The ad jingles led to films. Q: How many films are you scoring in a year? A: I sometimes do eight films in a year. Sometimes it's only two. Sometimes you do a film, and it never takes off. I don't know what the average in Bollywood is these days. A few years ago, people could do 30 films a year. Q: Which of your collaborations with Western artists has been the most interesting? A: I think "The Lord of the Rings" (theater) was both interesting and exhausting. I worked with a Finnish band. Then there was "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" with Craig Armstrong. That was a new genre of music. I'd never done it before. Now I am working on a Japanese collaboration. There could be some changes coming. I will know in the next two months. This article appeared on page R - 19 of the San Francisco Chronicle
