Some of the so called quotes are suspect. Have a hard time believing that Rahman would say, "Today's new singers are of no use". Or say, "Rubbish!" in response to a question. Take this interview with a grain of salt. Also notice how 9/10 of Rahman's "favorites" are Hindi films.
--- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, "Shivakumar V A" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Thats a wonderfull post Gops.. with Good Pics.. > > So we got ARR's top 10.. > > Shivu.. > > On Nov 20, 2007 2:12 PM, Gopal Srinivasan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > In a new interview to Hindustan Times published in today's Mumbai > > edition > > > > Read interview here > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/arrahmanfans/2049191814/ > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/arrahmanfans/2048404561/ > > > > The text below has the formatting messed up: > > > > 'I HAVEN\'T COME ACROSS ANY NEW SINGER WHO IS ABOVE AVERAGE\' > > > > If I say I like my music, I'll be blowing my own trumpet. And if I say I > > don't like my music, I'll sound disgruntled > > > > > > > > > > > > Whatever happened to your unruly locks? When I went for Haj, I shaved off > > my long hair. Fortunately or unfortunately, my wife liked my new look.. she > > insisted that I should keep it. (Laughs) I had no other alternative but to > > listen to my wife. Does your style of composing music change when you do an > > international project like Elizabeth: The Golden Age? The music for > > Elizabeth.. has been co-composed by me. When Shekhar started the project, he > > wanted to make it very artistic and dark. But then, he decided to make the > > film more entertaining.. and the music more pulsating. > > > > As a composer, I'd say music stems from one's emotions. So, there's > > absolutely no difference in my approach, whether I'm composing for Jodhaa > > Akbar or Elizabeth. When you look back, how do you assess your music? Roja > > set the standard for me as a composer. And frankly, I can't guage where to > > go after Elizabeth. Let's see.. at this very point of time, I'm very excited > > about my next international album - The Lord of The Rings which will be > > released on December 10. It has many as 15 tracks. As much as 20000 pounds > > would be spent a day on the orchestration. I believe you have started your > > own music company. Yes. It's called K M Musiq. I'm really kicked about it. > > All these years, I was being commissioned by others.. now I can commission > > others. But it seems you now insist on royalty > > foreverymusicscore..whichiswhyyou couldn't compose for Om Shanti Om. In > > life, you can't have your cake and eat it too. You have to take certain > > risks to reach your goal. Which have > > been your most vital steps ahead? Undoubtedly Vande Mataram and , the > > score for the stage musical Bombay Dreams. What do you find wrong with the > > Indian film music industry? There are several problems. The saddest thing is > > that no one takes acoustic instruments seriously. Most musicians just prefer > > to work on keyboards. But I've stopped getting angry One should . > > > > be true to one's own self.. because one candle can light a million. Do you > > still work like an owl all night and sleep by day? That's rubbish! If that > > was true, I wouldn't be sitting here with you doing an inteview in the > > afternoon. I work at night, occasionally , whenever I'm dealing with a jet > > lag situation, not otherwise. How busy are you as a music director right > > now? I'm into a somewhat more relaxed pace now. There was a time when I'd be > > doing six Tamil and two to three Hindi films a year. How many Tamil films > > are you working on at this point of time? (Laughs) Ha! That's a good > > question. I wish I knew the answer. I'm doing two Tamil films Sultan, the > > animation film being made by Rajnikant's daughter Soundarya and Prabhu's > > Sakkarakkatti. And Hindi films? Well, let me see. Gajini, Ada, Jaane Tu Naa > > Jaane Naa, Delhi 6, the Hindi dubbed version of the Rajnikant movie Sivaji, > > Subhash Ghai's Main Hoon Yuvraj and Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodhaa Akbar. You > > were against the idea of composing for dubbed films. So, how did you make > > an exception for Sivaji? You're right there.I don't encourage the dubbing > > of my songs in other languages. Yes, so Sivaji is an exception. It has beaty > > foot-tap , ping music which should connect on an all-India level. You are > > often accused of working for big production banners at the cost of small > > films. Sorry, that isn't true at all. Otherwise, I wouldn't be doing > > Sakkarakkatti which is a small film. Are you composing the music for an > > animation film called Cockroach being planned by Shekhar Kapur? Yes. I'm > > excited about that. Animation films allow your imagination to take flight. > > What do you like about your music? That's a tricky question. If I say I like > > my music, I'll be blowing my own trumpet. And if I say I don't like my > > music, I'll sound disgruntled. Some film producers in the South have accused > > you of recruiting Hindi singers to do the playback for your Tamil films at > > their > > cost. I will gladly plead guilty of that. Because I don't believe in > > parochialism. On the other hand, if I feel that a Tamil singer suits the > > need of a Hindi film song, I'll take that route without thinking twice. Why > > have you cut down on giving breaks to new singers of late? Let me make this > > very clear -today, new singers aren't of much use. We need great new > > singers. I haven't come across any new singer who's above average. How do > > you prevent yourself from becoming complacent about your music? (Pause.. > > looks away) I was clear right from the moment when I started out, some 16-17 > > years ago, as a beginner called Dilip Shankar. I was clear that I'm just an > > instrument in the hands of God. I believe that God up there controls me in > > whatever I am doing. If don't work in accordance to what God ordains, then > > I'll be washed out. After composing major hit songs for Aamir Khan in > > Rangeela, Lagaan and Rang De Basanti, how come you haven't done his Taare > > Zameen > > Par? Have you fallen out with him? Who says so? I am composing for his > > film Gajini. Some people have unfairly jumped to the conclusion that Aamir > > and I've had a fight because I haven't done Taare Zameen Par. The fact is > > that I was committed to several other films when Aamir asked me to be a part > > of the project. Finally, top of the head, can you pick your 10 best movie > > music scores? It's very difficult to play favourites. Still.. I wouldn't > > hesitate to pick my top 10: Roja, Rangeela, Bombay, Dil Se, Taal, > > Kandukonden Kandukonden, Zubeidaa, Lagaan, Rang De Basanti and Guru. > > > > > > >
