I also read the same, what Amith wrote. On Thu, May 21, 2009 at 7:31 PM, Amith Chandhran <[email protected]>wrote:
> > > There is a correction. The Tabla maestro (and father of the Tabla maestro > Zakir Hussain) was called Ustad Allah Rakha Qureshi, and not Allah Rakha > Khan as mentioned by Vikatan. Ustad sahab had directed music for some Hindi > films, and was credited as A. R. Qureshi. I remember reading somewhere that > Naushad Ali and Ustad Allah Rakha Qureshi were friends and great admirers of > each other. > > Also, I remember reading a little different version of the whole story. > Dileep's mother took him to a famous astrologer called Ulaganathan to get > his horoscope done. She asked him to suggest an Islamic name for Dileep. He > suggested to name him as Abdul Rahman and further suggested that it be > shortened to A. R. Rahman. Upon asking why the other initial 'R', the > astrologer replied "Give him a name with those two initials and he will grow > up to be a great man. Mark my words". His mother did accordingly, but on the > suggestion of music director Naushad Ali, AR changed the letters A and R to > Allah Rakha. > > Thanks, > > - > > > On Wed, May 20, 2009 at 10:22 PM, Aravind AM <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> >> Hi, >> >> Here are the links to this week's scans. Scroll down for translation. >> >> Week 07 Part 01 >> http://www.flickr.com/photos/aravind_am/3549892425/ >> >> Week 07 Part 02 >> http://www.flickr.com/photos/aravind_am/3549893281/ >> >> Week 7 >> >> >> Year 1998. >> >> Dileep was 21 years old then, and was extremely busy in film music >> industry and jingles industry. That was the time when his career was moving >> in top gear, with many international tours accompanying famous bands. It was >> then that his sister started suffering from severe stomach ache. An unknown >> fear engulfed them, for they had witnessed RK Shekar’s suffering and death >> because of such stomach aches! >> >> >> >> They consulted several doctors, but to no avail! (Some claim that they >> would have missed out on consulting the right doctors/hospitals in all their >> anxiety!) >> >> Her condition was worsening each day. >> >> >> >> Rahman recollects those moments. “The visions of my dad’s suffering kept >> torturing me! We had shifted nine different hospitals, from Vellore CMC to >> Vijaya Hospital, Chennai. Many Christian Fathers would come and visit him >> and pray for him. Several Hindu priests would also visit him and bless him. >> Those didn’t help. Towards the end, some Islam pirs also came… But, dad left >> us forever” >> >> >> >> Dileep, who had witnessed the cruel last days of his dad, had turned into >> an atheist for sometime! If there’s really some God, would my dad have >> passed away at such a young age – this was the question that kept haunting >> him. When a similar disease attacked his sister, his mind had different >> questions, had more confusions. Is this all coincidental or is this a >> screenplay written by God or an unknown power, he used to wonder! >> >> >> >> Rahman continues, “Some days during my teenage, I believed that there was >> no God. I had been affected so much. Though I denied that God existed, I >> felt that there was a vacuum. At one stage, I realized that the world can’t >> function with out a power controlling us. That was when that disease >> attacked my sister. I was shocked. But, someone cured my sister. It was like >> a miracle” >> >> >> >> What happened? Who was that person? >> >> >> >> Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani Sahib also known as Pir Qadri. According to >> Rahman’s family, Pir Qadri came to see Rahman’s sister when she was ill, and >> she was miraculously cured due to his prayers. This sudden turn of events >> amazed Dileep. He couldn’t believe it. Dileep considered it as a boon that >> was granted by God because of Pir Qadri’s prayers! After this, Pir Qadri >> became a family friend, well-wisher and guide. >> >> >> >> Fe more things have to be stated at this point. It was the time when >> Dileep was putting in all his hard work into music. Dileep was learning >> everything from Hindustani, Carnatic to Western Classical! He completed >> graduation in western classical from Trinity College, London. His musical >> skills were getting sharpened more and more. He didn’t have time to even >> think about religion as he was immersed in music. But, he listened to Pir >> Qadri’s spiritual discourses from time to time. His most important advice >> was “There’s only one God. All prayers to him, cleanses your soul!” >> >> >> >> Dileep felt that such thought brought him peace. As days rolled by, Pir >> Qadri’s words brought about a quantum change in Dileep’s thoughts about >> religion and faith. But, he had not yet thought about the big change – >> conversion to Islam. He didn’t have the time for that! >> >> >> >> There was another incident, which guided him towards that. Rahman narrates >> that incident – “I was in Malaysia for a recording. One day, an old man >> appeared in my dream. He asked me to convert to Islam. I didn’t understand >> that, and I just left it as just a dream. But, I kept getting the same dream >> again and again. I felt it was a divine message. I told my mom about the >> dream. She was of the view that a message from God shouldn’t be ignored. >> >> >> >> From then on, I went to Mosques along with my mom, and met many Imams. I >> got enlightened about religion. Within a few days, all of us in our family >> converted to Islam.” >> >> Pir Qadri was Rahman’s first Islamic Guru. It was Pir Qadri who chose the >> spot for construction of Panchathan Studio at Rahman’s house. “Panchathan is >> an Islamic term depicting the five individual tasks of each of the five >> fingers”, explains Rahman’s mother Kareema Begum. >> >> >> >> After the demise of Pir Qadri, Mehboob Alam, Muhammad Yusuf Bhai were >> Rahman’s spiritual Gurus. Now, it is Cuddappa Malik. >> >> >> >> It was a time when Muslims in the film industry generally used a Hindu or >> Christian name as their screen name. But, totally opposite to the general >> trend, Rahman shifted from his Hindu name to a Muslim one. Even in the >> covers of Roja album, his was supposed to be written as Dileep, but his mom >> met Mani Ratnam at the last minute and requested him to change it to a >> Muslim name. >> >> >> >> That was when Dileep became A.R.Rahman. But, how did that name come about? >> >> >> >> After their conversion, when a search for a name was on, an astrologer >> suggested the name *Abdul Rahman*. Dileep’s mom who was a staunch >> believer of astrology, accepted it and Dileep’s name was changed to Abdul >> Rahman. Dileep remained with that name for a few days. Veteran composer >> Naushad asked him to change his name slightly to ‘Alla Rakha Rahman.’ >> >> >> >> Alla Rakha Rahman means one who has got the blessings of Allah. Before >> Rahman, there was another famous musician with the same name – Tabla >> exponent Ustad Allah Rakha Khan – father of Tabla exponent Ustad Zakhir >> Hussain. >> >> >> >> Dileep’s family converting to Islam raised a few eyebrows in the industry. >> The mega success of *Roja *silenced everyone. The name A.R.Rahman reached >> through out the country at lightning speed! Dileep who became Allah Rakha >> Rahman, became a very devout Muslim, with a deep respect for the religion. >> >> >> >> “Each of the prayers is like death. I feel as if I pass away during the >> prayer, and am born fresh again. My mindy and body becomes totally fresh” , >> says Rahman. >> >> >> >> Rahman who kept openly saying that God’s blessings and Islam are the main >> reasons for his success, was faced with a problem very soon. That was the >> accusation that he offered financial help to Islamic terrorists! >> >> >> >> (to be continued) >> >> >> >> >> >> Aravind >> >> ------------------------------ >> My Blog: http://arrahmaniac.blogspot.com >> Rahmania show interviews: http://rahmania.4shared.com >> ------------------------------ >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> From Chandigarh to Chennai - find friends all over India. Click >> here.<http://in.rd.yahoo.com/tagline_groups_10/*http://in.promos.yahoo.com/groups/citygroups/> >> > > > -- Farzad Khaleel Webmaster www.rahmaniac.com
