Nice work Aravind.. God Bless :-) On Fri, May 8, 2009 at 8:48 AM, Aravind AM <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > Hi everyone, > > here are this week's scans... pls scroll down for translation... > > Week 05 Part 01 > http://www.flickr.com/photos/aravind_am/3511326791/ > Week 05 Part 02 > http://www.flickr.com/photos/aravind_am/3512141268/ > > > Week 5 > > Dileep used to take musical instruments to recording studios and rent them > out. Among those instruments was a keyboard, his dad got from Singapore, > which attracted him. The digital sound produced by it was so fresh. > Dileep would anxiously discuss with friends on why such reproduce that sharp > sound couldn’t be reproduced in recordings here. That was the time when a > revolution was happening in “sound” in the west. > > > > In those days, Bangalore was the place for music shops. Whenever they could > find time, Rahman and his friends went to Bangalore to get their favourite > western songs recorded on cassettes. > > > > That was when 12year old Dileep got interested in digital music and > audiography. Actually, he never had an intention of becoming a composer. His > ambition was to become a good sound engineer. > > > > “For me, in those days, music was just a profession and way to earn money > the family. I was not crazy about music. I was interested only in > technology. I couldn’t remove my eyes from the keyboard. That looked like a > magical toy for me”, says Rahman. > > > > Dileep didn’t just stop with *playing* the keyboard. He opened it up and > understood how each sound was produced – all on his own. “Do you know who is > India’s prime minister? Go out of music a bit, and learn other things too”, > Guitarist John Anotny once told Rahman with love. And Rahman’s reply for > that – just a smile! > > > > In those days, Dileep considered keyboard as something which brought > together music and modern technology. This magical toy was what took him to > incredible heights! > > > > A musician named Raghavan, used to be someone who could answer any question > and clarify any doubt regarding the keyboard. He was also a hardware > engineer. If Dileep couldn’t sort out any issue with his keyboard, it was > Raghavan he would rush to, late at night, because Raghavan worked only in > the nights. (Rahman’s style of working at nights could have been because of > Raghavan’s influence too!) Rahman was fascinated with a new instrument > called the Rhythm box, which Raghavan had. He was stunned by the fresh new > sounds that the Rhythm box produces. > > > > Apart from Guitar, Dileep was trained in Guitar too. “When I come back home > from school, loud sounds of electric guitar and keyboard could be heard from > our house. Dileep would be playing beautifully. I wouldn’t even change from > my uniform, and would stand there listening to him. He would put headphones > on to my ears and say ‘Listen to it now. It would be even better’. He would > play hit songs like the funky *Popcorn* and songs from > Lakshmikant-Pyarelal’s movie *Hero*”, says Raihanah. > > > > The family slowly came out of the deep sorrow of Shekar’s death. As Dileep > gradually became proficient with the keyboard, he was invited to play for > the band named *Aristocrat*. That was a band started by children. Dileep > started to play for that band, in several programs. Raihanah, too, was there > in the band. Rahman’s keyboard program was a part of school annual day > functions and weddings. “Our mom would quip ‘You can’t earn much in these > shows. There would hardly be anything left, if you consider the expenses’, > and we would just smile it off!”, adds Raihanah. > > > > After that, Dileep got a chance to perform on TV. Many of you could > recollect young Dileep with dense curly hair, playing keyboard on the 80’s > hit show *Wonder Balloon* on Doordarshan. After that, Dileep joined a band > called *Roots*. That was the next stage of his musical journey. > > > > His childhood friend from those days, is none other than the drummer who > goes on world tours and rocks the entire world, Sivamani. > > > > Sivamani who is now rocking the stadiums in South Africa, as the official > drummer of Chennai Super Kings IPL team, remembers those beautiful days. > “When we were kids, I and my friends Dileep, John Antony, Jojo and Raja, > formed a band called *Roots.* We would experiment with anything from > western classical to the music of our land. > > > > Melody is normally referred to as *laya, *and beats as *Taala. *Rahman was > a master in both, even from those days. Sorry, he was Dileep then! I’m now > renowned world over only because of the opening that he gave me. I’ve played > for many songs for many famous composers like MS Viswanathan and Ilayaraja. > But the movie titles and cassette covers never had my name. Rahman was the > first to do it. He is very generous with honouring and crediting fellow > musicians”, says Sivamani. > > > > Working with musicians like Sivamani, was a new experience for Rahman too. > Gradually, his interest in composing began to grow. Through friends in *Roots, > *he became exposed to genres like Rock, Pop, Jazz and RAP. Slowly, the > popularity of *Roots* started spreading in music circles. One day, Dileep > got a call from world-renowned violinist, L. Shankar - “Can you play backup > for my band, *Epidemics*?” Dileep was elated that such a luminary was > inviting him, and immediately accepted the offer. > > > > Dileep played keyboards for L.Shankar in stage-shows in Chennai and > Bangalore. All these, proved to be great new experiences for him. The shows > were a big success. Later, L.Shankar told Dileep, “I know you from when you > were a small kid. Your house was next to mine, in Mylapore. All this was > incredible for Dileep, everything was like a dream! > > > > Though *Roots* experimented and tried out new things, they could not > sustain financially, and the band was dissolved. In this scenario, Dileep > had to still earn to sustain his family. Since, Dileep’s keyboard prowess > was well known in the film music industry, he started getting offers > immediately from film composer. He grabbed those opportunities and drowned > himself into his new job. For the next nine years, Dileep spent all his time > playing for film music recordings and concerts. > > > > “We didn’t have advanced technology in those days. All of us in the > orchestra would play together. Even if one person makes a mistake, all of us > have to play everything right from the start. I’m a fan of legends like MS > Viswanathan and KV Mahadevan. They often say, ‘Old wine is always better’. > So, we will wait until the new wine (of today) too matures and becomes old > wine”, says Rahman with a chuckle. > > > > An idea struck Rahman that he should independently set up a hi-tech > recording studio on par with those in the west. This required loads of > money. And to earn that, required non-stop effort. > > > > In those days, drugs ruled most of the musicians worldwide. Several > wonderful musicians like John Cash, Freddy Mercury and the band Beatles were > caught in the clasp of drugs and lost it out. > > > > “Does music get created only in an intoxicated mindset? I used to wonder if > good music can’t be created without getting ‘high’. But, right before my > eyes, was a composer. He gave great music, but didn’t have any drug habits. > Instead, he was deeply rooted to spirituality. I decided then, that I should > follow his footsteps”, says Rahman. > > > > Who’s that composer? > > Who else? Maestro Ilayaraja. > > > > (to be continued) > > Cheers, > Aravind > > ------------------------------ > My Blog: http://arrahmaniac.blogspot.com > Rahmania show interviews: http://rahmania.4shared.com > ------------------------------ > > > ------------------------------ > Cricket on your mind? Visit the ultimate cricket website. Enter > now!<http://in.rd.yahoo.com/tagline_cricket_1/*http://beta.cricket.yahoo.com> > > > -- regards, Vithur
