Excellent analysis and Writeup Ram !! Kalyan K.
On Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 5:16 AM, Ram Motipally <[email protected]>wrote: > > > Friends, > > Spurred on by this article, I have put down some of my thoughts on why I > think ARR is the great man and musician that he is. This is a thought > process which has developed over the last 18 years that I have been > listening to his music and following him in the media. A few disclaimers > upfront, I have no music background and unlike some people in this group > have not met ARR or worked with him etc. So my perspective is purely from > the outside. > > 1) Natural ability: He is a musical genius and this is the first > ingredient. This is a god-given gift and there is no other explanation for > the same. > > 2) Intelligence and Emotional intelligence: ARR is a very intelligent man, > he comes across as someone very thoughtful and measured. This is then > accentuated by his emotional intelligence. Why is this critical ? - ARR > composes music primarily for movies, this means his music sense has to > combine with a Director's vision of the movie and the two must match. Only > then will the music truly capture the essence and emotion of the movie. Even > the great Ennio Morricone talks about this as the bedrock of his success. > ARR' ability to feel the emotion and convert it to music is exceptional, > whatever be the emotion - love, compassion, anger, happiness, etc. > > 3) Ability and Passion to be world-class: This again comes from his natural > intelligence. He Ping (director of warriors of heaven and earth) described > ARR's music to this effect - "ARR blends western instruments/music with > eastern (indian) melody and creates a sound that is unique only to him". To > do this in itself is being a world-class thought leader in music. But even > more unique is to do it in the early 90s meant ARR was being world-class > even before the world knew what it meant. He was defining a new sense of > "great" in music no past definition of greatness. This is belief in one's > self. > > 4) Constant urge and Passion for learning and innovation: ARR never rests > with what he knows. He constantly seems to want to do more and better. > Infact from the interviews, what I could glean was that Danny Boyle > approached him only for a background score on Slumdog millionaire. ARR > convinced him to listen to some of the songs for the movie. Danny again > tells him "no cellos". Which meant he did not want any emotional or > melodious songs. Now ARR's strength is this kind of music. But he takes it > on as a challenge and gives Danny the edgy/rough kind of score that he > wanted at the same time retaining the ARR essence. And then he wins all > these awards. Even ARR will say, he did not foresee all this, but his unique > ability to push the edge of his ability and comfort zone has brought this > glory. Same thing with RDB - the song lukka chuppi was purely ARR's idea and > he naughtily admits that he did it to fulfill a long dream to sing with > Lataji. But when the music was done and the movie is watched, that song > captures the essence of the movie in a way that is very unique. It is very > rare to see anyone push the possibilities so consistently and so well. > Numerous such examples be found on this topic. > > 5) Childlike enthusiasm: Hear ARR speak and you can always see a child > somewhere. He wants to learn, he wants to do new stuff, he is never content > with his achievements. no arrogance for what he has done. Imagine he goes > and learns a new instrument like the continuum and then produces amazing > music with it. That innocence and constant energy will always give him ideas > and open newer frontiers. It is also the same with technology. ARR till date > and since he started has always adopted and mastered new technology. That is > a sign of learning and growing rather than stagnating. > > 6) Ability to overcome hardships at a young age: Particularly in one of his > interviews with Simi Garewal, ARR talks about the hardships he had to endure > while as a kid his family was struggling and they could not afford him to go > to school but work and support the family. This itself is stupendous. But, > what I find even more impressive is that he is not and has never been bitter > about it. He does not have any self-pity. He talks like a child, but there > is a very old and wise man inside when he says, thats what I had to do and > that is what I did. For people of his genius and intelligence when you add > the quality of taking and overcoming hardships at a youn age, that becomes a > very potent combination. Everything else in life looks easy. See his > interview with simi garewal on youtube if you want to see this aspect of his > character. > > 7) Finally, but most importantly he is a genuine human being: His integrity > is beyond question. His concern for well-being of even the smallest of > artists who work for him is genuine. His concern for worldly problems like > poverty is again very genuine. His love for his mother, sisters and family > is very genuine. With such a great human being, all people will want to love > him and support him. There is no other way. This also helps him collaborate > and work with many people. > > These 7 factors in my opinion make ARR an exceptional human being and a > genius of a musician. The combination is something out of this world and > both aspects feed into each other. May God bless ARR ! > > Rgds, > Ram > > > > On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 11:44 AM, Kalyan K <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> >> Wow!! Beautiful Article Vithur!! Thanks for sharing. >> >> Kalyan K. >> >> On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 2:47 PM, Vithur <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> >>> >>> Success thro’ Excellence >>> An inspiring story of A R Rahman >>> >>> >>> http://shamimrafeek.blogspot.com/2009/03/ar-rahman-inspiring-story-of-success.html >>> >>> Few weeks back I wrote an article on M.S Dhoni and the lessons from his >>> unique leadership style. We have another role model who has mastered >>> excellence in his profession and brought the whole world under his feet - >>> The Music Legend - A.R Rahman. >>> >>> Is there any thing common in these two youth icons of our country ? >>> Yes,commitment to excellence is their DNA. Winning is their habit and they >>> always perform at ' WOW '! Aiming for perfection and winning the competitive >>> edge are the things for what they crave constantly and add them to their >>> attitude. The next thing is performance. During any moment of the day, their >>> performance is EXCELLENCE. Performance is their language and they understand >>> the language of result only. >>> >>> If you pick up any newspaper or see the web or watch the news these days, >>> chances are that you will find an interview of A.R.Rahman. He is all over >>> the place after his OSCAR achievement and he really deserves it! All of us >>> have been seeing videos of his arrival back to India and his press >>> conferences with excitement. >>> >>> Today, A.R. Rahman is one of the world's most successful musicians. With >>> a brand name like Rahman, movies rake in millions. But it isn't just >>> Rahman's exceptional enthusiasm that's so contagious, but also the quality >>> and success of the work he's churning out. The man has redefined >>> contemporary Indian music and has become an icon for millions all over the >>> world. >>> >>> Like everyone, I have known him and his music right from the time 'Roja' >>> was released in 1992.. that's a good 17 years! Everyone speaks of his music, >>> and what he eats, sleeps, drinks and what he does when he is free and so on >>> so forth. But really, there are things much beyond that one needs to know >>> and learn from the legend that A.R.Rahman is. With so many people who speak >>> so high of him at all times, there are some things that are unsaid and >>> certain things that we so easily ignore about Rahman, that makes him stand >>> apart from the clutter. >>> >>> The musical genius that Rahman is, most of that comes from his being and >>> principles. Rahman's success presents some valuable tips to us which can be >>> applied to our professional lives and achieve our goals. And on that note, >>> with the little that I know of him, let me share some of the learnings from >>> A.R.Rahman. >>> >>> 1. Family - Respect your Parents >>> >>> It might be very easy to brush this fact aside, but the truth is Rahman >>> has always loved, respected and adored his parents. With his father >>> R.K.Shekar leaving for heavenly abode when Rahman was nine years old, >>> Rahman's mother Kareema Begum, gave Rahman a new ray of hope and fresh lease >>> of life. She painfully raised the family, and is one of the driving factors >>> of why Rahman is a legend today. >>> >>> Remember what he said when he received his first OSCAR award, " Mere paas >>> ma hai, which means I have nothing but I have a mother, so mother's here, >>> her blessings are there with me. I'm grateful for her to have come all the >>> way ". Which other music composer or for that matter which other >>> media/entertainment/corporate personality do we know who follows this >>> principle. How many of us will openly show our love and respect to our >>> parents like him. That makes him truly unique. >>> >>> 2. Belief - Be Spiritually inclined >>> >>> A.R.Rahman believes in god and spiritualism. Its not about the fact that >>> he follows Islam, and offers prayers 5 times a day…its much more than that. >>> I believe there is a huge difference between being religious and being >>> spiritual, of which the latter is what Rahman is made of. In a recent >>> interview Rahman revealed that, "Religion sounds vulgar these days, I am >>> more of a spiritual person. And I believe in being consistent with my >>> spirituality. As one grows in life, one realizes the magnitude of >>> spirituality. It is the most beautiful passion. It raises you above all the >>> negativities. For me and my music, spirituality is the most important >>> element and I don't think I can create the kind of music I do, if I don't >>> practice spirituality." >>> >>> Spirituality has not only made him connect to his music, but has also >>> made him connect to humanity. When he received his second OSCAR, he said " >>> all my life I had a choice of hate and love and I chose love and I am here, >>> god bless " . That's the powerful message of his spirituality! >>> >>> 3. Country First - Be Patriotic >>> >>> Though Rahman acknowledges his accomplishment, after receiving OSCARS he >>> quickly points out that this is a COLLECTIVE INDIAN VICTORY. He says, he is >>> more happy because this is the first OSCAR for an Indian work and the whole >>> country was waiting for this with bated breath and hence he wanted to get >>> it. He says, now all Indian artists will be looked upon with more respect as >>> we have shown what we are capable of. His patriotism is evident in all his >>> patriotic songs including the latest " Jai Ho ". The way he sings ' vande >>> mataram ' injects some kind of positive energy into our blood stream ! >>> >>> 4. Roots - Don't leave your Soul >>> >>> Mumbai the mecca of Indian films and the entertainment industry, a place >>> where any and every musician will find a way out to survive and earn enough >>> to feed him for the day. It would have been so easy for a musician like >>> Rahman to go and settle in Mumbai and work for acclaimed filmmakers post " >>> Roja and Bombay ". But the man preferred not leaving his home, his roots to >>> a place where instant fame, recognition and money was assured. Of the many >>> ignored facts, Rahman's major success lies in working from his home. Home is >>> where your heart, mind, body and soul is. >>> >>> With no distraction whatsoever, he has all his energies focused on doing >>> quality work from the comfort of his home. It means a lot to be based out of >>> the place where your family is, where your soul is..your home, your >>> hometown. >>> >>> 5. Focus - Let your work speak for itself >>> >>> Yes, let your work speak for itself. Many a times, there are instances >>> where one will be criticized for the way he is, his dressing, his >>> upbringing, his economic background. One will be made fun off, and will be >>> called names. One will not get the support he expects to receive from his >>> seniors and so on….But at the end of all this, if you have a strong will >>> power you can overcome all these, and prove yourself with your work. >>> >>> There was a time when Rahman was being humiliated by some critics, >>> directors and producers over the kind of music he had scored, and all this >>> when he was at the peak of his career. He could do nothing about it, and >>> preferred to remain calm and unmoved. And when ever his work was released, >>> it got an outstanding response and was embraced by the masses. This >>> overwhelming response and success was a slap on the face of those critics, >>> producers and directors. This tell us, all we need to do is to focus on what >>> we are good at, not on the success it can bring. Success will follow us, our >>> work will speak of itself. >>> >>> 6. Service - Consideration for others >>> >>> Not many may have noticed that Rahman has introduced maybe a hundred new >>> young singers to the Tamil and Hindi screens – his faith in the youth of >>> India is evident in his statement that he would like youngsters to take a >>> different view of music after his winning the OSCARS. Rahman has done what >>> no other music director has done for the cause of music-starting a music >>> school, the KM MUSIC CONSERVATORY. His objective for starting this school is >>> to make Indian musicians have a global orchestra of their own. This is such >>> an innovative idea and Rahman is spending a lot of time, money and energy >>> towards realizing this noble musical mission! >>> >>> Rahman is the UN ambassador for the campaign fighting against poverty and >>> he has associated himself with many social causes. When he was in a state of >>> probably disillusionment - one of the things his mother said to him was "why >>> don't you live for others and then you will find a meaning to life". Rahman >>> stuck to that and he does music to make people happy and to enrich their >>> lives. >>> >>> On the night he returned to India after receiving the OSCARS, his request >>> that his fans ought not to disturb his neighbors in the dead of night >>> attracts attention to a long forgotten quality in India—consideration for >>> others. >>> >>> 7. Humility - Be Humble. Be Honest. Be Simple >>> >>> With all the above in place, being humble, simple and honest is all that >>> one needs to do to ensure a great life. With so much of stardom and >>> attention after the Golden Globe and OSCARS, Rahman could have got carried >>> away with the success, however he always chose work over publicity. >>> >>> After winning the OSCARS, he was asked by the press, " what's left for >>> you to achieve? " He replied in a polite way, " Well, I have not achieved >>> anything. I have not ended poverty level. I have not stopped wars >>> happening.For me these are achievements. And in my opinion, I am just a >>> small musician who has got an award that is it " ! >>> >>> He carries no weight around him, and that makes him completely >>> approachable and genuine. His childlike smile can pacify ones fear and >>> anxiety of meeting him in person. Its like his smile speaks a thousand >>> words. It depicts the purity of his heart and soul. Each and every success >>> makes him more humble, honest and simple. What more we can learn from this >>> winner! >>> >>> Regardless of season he march towards rock climbing success. Even in >>> tough time his eyes do not move away from excellence. Commitment, giving 100 >>> percent, focusing on performance is the key ingredients to his success. >>> Meeting challenges and riding over obstacles are in his blood cells. >>> Transferring stumbling stones into opportunities with conviction and leading >>> towards 'WOW' level is the essence of his success. >>> >>> Through his eternal value and simple living A.R Rahman presents us with >>> opportunities for professional success provided we learn from them, adapt >>> them to our own situations and implement them appropriately. >>> >>> He convey a message to all of us silently especially to the youth - " >>> humble origins need not prevent us from aspiring for and achieving great >>> success ". How does he convey this message ? Dil Se ! >>> >>> Shamim >>> >>> -- >>> regards, >>> Vithur >>> >>> >>> >>> >> > >
