*Rahman-Gulzar – Jodi No 1* - Arpi Shah [image: Rahman-Gulzar – Jodi No 1] Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan in `Raavan` Bollywood’s departmental working style necessitates the formation of partnerships. Unlike songwriting in the west, where lyrics, music and singing, is provided by the same person, Bollywood employs lyricists, musicians and singers.
Since the arts adheres to ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ rather than ‘many hands make light work’, this can prohibit the creation of a focused work – unless you find people who can work in unison, of course. This applies to the jodi of A R Rahman and Gulzar, who, though three decades apart in age, are able to channel all their powers in the same direction. The last time music director A R Rahman and lyricist Gulzar came together, they won an Oscar and a Grammy for the global sensation ‘Jai Ho’ (*Slumdog Millionaire*). The magical duo, which is yet to see failure, is back with yet another winner, Mani Ratnam’s* Raavan*. You may argue that Mani Ratnam has also been influential in bringing the best out of Rahman, but that’s another feature. For now, *Raavan*’s music is ferociously climbing up the charts, within days of its release. Take the pounding ‘Thok De Khilli’, brilliantly sung by Sukhwinder Singh, as an example. While Rahman pumps some intense drama into the equation, Gulzar provides reflective lines such as ‘Kisme Dum Hai Ki Suraj Bhujaiye?' Rahman and Gulzar came together for the first time in 1998 for Ratnam’s *Dil Se*. The duo struck gold in their first outing as Rahman won Filmfare’s Best Music Director Award and the song ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ was ranked 9th in BBC World Service top 10 songs of all time. Perhaps ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’s beats propel it in lists, but other tracks like ‘Ae Ajnabi’, ‘Satrangi Re’ and ‘Dil Se’ highlight Rahman’s penchant for innovation and Gulzar’s ability to play with words. ‘Dil Se’ is a classic example of the duo’s genius. As Gulzar sets up a deeply contemplative verse, Rahman plunders the most pensive beats on his palette to create a truly great composition. There are very few albums with music that reaches out to a wide variety of cultures, traditions and people. Dil Se, which still strongly sticks to Indian music, is one such album. The reason for their success – and evidence of their genius – is their ability for innovation. Gulzar says, “Our association started with *Dil Se*. His (Rahman’s) music has always touched my heart, but even after all these years he manages to surprise me. Many a times when we are composing, we get into discussions and he comes up with something completely different, a unique song independent of genres, and that is what keeps him right there, at the top. I have emphasised often that Rahman has broken the fixed format of mukdha-antara-mukhda. A song with him runs like a poem and I feel like I am writing poetry with him, always.” Rahman’s overpowering rhythm and Gulzar’s excellent poetry was on full display again in 2002 when they put their heads together for Yash Raj Films’ *Saathiya*. The album has one of the most commendable compositions by Rahman, enriched further by Gulzar’s meaningful lyrics. The title track is something which one can attribute to Rahman on first hearing. It is a melodious number with the rich flute solos and guitar accompaniment in the backdrop. From western genre to a romantic number to Punjabi folk, the album showcases the musical and poetic genius of the Rahman-Gulzar duo. *Guru* marked the third pairing of the two in Bollywood, and was one of those most anticipated soundtracks of the year 2006. Beautiful words, lively beats and powerful vocals make the album a complete treat for your ears that you just can’t afford to miss. ‘Tere Bina’, the captivating number sung by Rahman, had a desi feel to it and is a mix of Indian classical and Sufi. Unlike numerous Rahman numbers that take their own time to catch up with a listener, this one gets you hooked on right away. The other tracks like ‘Ek Lo Ek Muft’ and ‘Baazi Laga’ are both interesting and unconventional. ‘Mayaa Mayya’ has a strong Middle-East flavour to it and is brilliantly fused with Gujarati folk music. Great partnerships are rarely found, not just in Bollywood, but in any creative field. Now that we have found one, let’s just hope they’ve got enough to keep us satisfied. But will we ever be? http://www.planetradiocity.com/musicreporter/celebrity-features-story.php?featureid=19&title=Rahman-Gulzar%20–%20Jodi%20No%201 -- - Regards ~ ~ A.R.Rajib ~ ~
