Hi all,
Here are the links for the scans:Week 04; Part 01
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aravind_am/3488181323/Week 04; Part
02http://www.flickr.com/photos/aravind_am/3488995372/
Week 04; Part 03http://www.flickr.com/photos/aravind_am/3488994962/
Those who dont know tamil, can also check these out for the pics! :D
It is because of his dad, that
Dileep got interested in music and music technology right from his childhood.
Dileep who grew up listening to music, was scared coming face to face with the
sudden bad-health of his dad, and the suffering which he had to go through for
3 years. When similar troubles kept affecting the family repeatedly, an unknown
fear engulfed all the kids in the family.
Rahman’s mom looks back at those
unforgettable days – “Kids were going to school, when he was bedridden. I felt
that my whole world had become dark. I had to manage my time between looking
after the kids and looking after my husband. I would keep shuttling between our
home and hospital. He suffered so many days at the hospital, and finally passed
away. We were shattered. Rahman, who was always with a harmonium, was affected
so much. He couldn’t even concentrate on his studies because of this. I was
forced to send the small kid on jobs, to the studios. But, I wholeheartedly
believed that, it will dawn for us one day!”
When the disease became more
severe and R.K Shekar was admitted at CMC Hospital, Vellore, Dileep and his
sisters visited him often. Even when the disease troubled him, Shekar would
hide all that and smile when he was with his kids. “Study well. Don’t bunk
school, Obey your mom”, he would advise them. When talking to Dileep, there
would be an extra affection, and he would embrace him. There was a reason for
that!
Rahman’s elder sister, composer
Raihanah says “When my parents got married, someone told my dad that he’d have
a son, and he would become very famous. My dad was also waiting for that to
happen. But, I was born first. Though he was very affectionate towards me, that
longing (for a son, who would become famous) was always there in his mind.
Next, when Dileep was born, he couldn’t control his joy!”
Wonders do happen in life, and
they happen through God - This is the belief that is there in everyone in
Rahman’s family. It is said that, in different stages of Rahman’s life, there
has been some one or the other, who has come up, foretold the future and
blessed them. An Islamic guru is said to have blessed them, and advised them to
build a set up studio at the place where Shekhar breathed his last. That was
where Panchathan Studio was built. That was where “Roja” blossomed.
“When born, Rahman was a
blue-baby. Survival of the baby was a big question mark. Our dad was tensed.
Somehow, the baby survived. There was a huge relief on dad’s face. As the baby
started growing up, dad noticed the huge musical talent in him, and was
excited. He would always show a special interest towards my brother. He
introduced Rahman to the music world, by taking him along to all recording
studios. But, without any partiality, he put us in Guitar and Piano classes
with Pilot Edwin and Dhanraj Master. He would enjoy listening to our singing
and playing musical instruments. During those days, our entire family used to
be such a happy one, filled with music and dance. All of us were so fond of our
dad. Everything was given to us by him.
What a wonderful life! But, we
were shocked when he died”, continues Raihanah.
What happened after that?
RK Shekar’s contemporary, Arjunan
Master, who is also a Malayalam film composer, now resides in Kottayam in
Kerala. Even at his current age of 73, he still is busy with film music work.
Though his voice stutters a bit, he has retained all those memories in his
heart.
“Honestly, I would say Rahman’s
mom is a visionary. Dileep was a kid, when Shekar passed away. She would
approach music-directors like me and say ‘He’s very talented. Please give him
opportunities’. ‘He’s our Shekar’s son, you don’t have to convince us. Ask
Dileep to come here’, we would say. He used to play keyboard, very well. He
would fix faulty musical instruments, very easily. I felt, we can make him play
keybords, but also thought he was too young. He totally rocked, when we gave
him an opportunity. Only then, we realized that he was a musical prodigy. The
fact that his mom could realized it before we could, is great! We paid him only
a meager amount as salary, then. He would accept it with a smile, without a
word! That composure and maturity have elevated Rahman to this level.
Rahman’s dad’s death was an
important turning point in his musical career. He was faced with the question –
Which one should he choose - School education or Music? Dileep who was just
average in studies, chose music over studies. He did not have an anxiety about
his future, due to this decision.
Though he studied in reputed
institutions like Padma Sheshadri and MCC, his mind wavered between music and
studies. He was not a natural at studies, but it was not so, when it came to
music. Music was flowing within in him like a deep river. The floodgates were
waiting to be opened. In the absence of his dad, the economic situation of the
family was in dire straits. There was desperation to do some thing!
There’s a Japanese Haiku which
goes
“a single flower
had blossomed
in a burnt, ruined
house”
Similar to this, Dileep started
afresh – he dropped his books, and embraced musical instruments. He embarked on
a whole new journey.
Musicians who had lots of respect
for R.K Shekar, welcomed the little boy, Dileep, with love. They embraced him.
A brisk kid entering the studios carrying musical instruments, was an unusual
and astonishing sight for everyone. They felt like they were staring at another
incarnation of RK Shekar.
Everyone liked Dileep’s calm
nature, his permanent smile, and his soft-spokenness. Before long, Dileep
became a pet of all composers.
“I feel excited witnessing that
kid, win the Oscars now. It feels as if Shekar is watching all this from
another world. Now and then, Rahman calls me up and speaks to me, without fail,
and it makes me happy! I feel, blessings of the almighty are always there with
this good-hearted boy”, says Arjunan Master with pride.
The story of rapid success of
Dileep, who entered studios when he was 11, is an exciting and youthful one.
(Dreams will continue…)
Aravind
My Blog: http://arrahmaniac.blogspot.com
Rahmania show interviews: http://rahmania.4shared.com
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