Yeah agreed to your words chord, fans can learn so much from A.R. cheers biju
Chord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Mathew,
I am very impressed, touched, and grateful for your post in providing
us insight into Rahman's mind and heart. He is THE modern day
rennaisaance man as far as I'm concerned and I so much appreciate his
mindfulness and peaceful attitude towards the world....it allows him
to make music so untainted and so pure. He has the ability to
channel all his sadness and frustration and transform into something
to pure and beneficial to society. We all can learn so much from
him. His relative innocence (not naivete because I think he's aware
of the world and practicalities) and pureness of heart touch me each
time I listen to a haunting piece from him. He communicates so
much.
Thanks for the "message in the bottle". His views combine the best
of Karmic Hinduism (love others and be kind) with Buddhist
mindfulness (be here now), while retaining his true devotion to
Islam. It's just awesome.
--- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, "Matthew Islam"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> To respond to the part where you feel its too depressing an issue
to talk
> about parting with AR as a person...........I'll tell you
> what the boss generally tells me and now that I understand it, may
be I can
> share it more properly............"the hereafter is important, not
what you
> have here.......live so that the journey you are a part of now is
filled
> with love and kindness"......
>
> Bhaiya believes in everything that is positive, calm, peaceful,
> white.......he seldom watches news because he feels its too
> negative.......he personally scolded me for swearing (as in not
swear words
> but saying stuff like I swear!), he told me once when I was
discussing war
> and the civil unrest in Pakistan, my country and Iraq that he would
much
> rather not hear more since it affects him and he becomes uneasy. He
is a
> fervent believer of Love. Any kind of love. He abhors politics. He
doesn't
> quite appreciate distractions to making music because he truly
believes that
> its his way of dealing with the world and the process of creating
music is
> like meditation to him, I also have a sneaking suspicion that he
feels it
> heals his heart of all the sadness of the world he may have hidden
within
> him. You have to be with him to really understand to what extent he
believes
> in the idea of destiny and therefore is not someone who pushes
anything in
> life to the detriment of losing patience.......he takes his time
with
> everything but thats only because that allows him to live every
moment to
> the fullest, I think. I don't think (and this is my personal
opinion) that
> he is very career minded. He feels he has been lucky. That he works
hard.
> That the music he creates makes people happy, that its a way to
make a
> living and that it keeps him sane. That good things happened to
him. And for
> which today he is a firm believer in the motto of "it will happen,
when it
> happens"! Everything he is doing now is with the intention to give
back to
> the world what he has got from it. With every interaction I have
with him, I
> see that.
>
> And BTW, just because he doesn't want to make popcorn music unless
a product
> demands so doesn't mean he's lost the edge on that front or isn't
up to date
> about the changes in the music world. He knows it like the back of
his hand.
> He's updated. There are some really cool stuff coming to us soon, I
suspect-
> but nothing at the price of cheapness anymore. Melody is paramount
and so is
> experimentation. Oh and the boss likes Gasolina......he didn't tell
me, I
> saw an old walk the talk episode where he says so.........which
confirms the
> fact that he listens to a lot of stuff out there. I have given him
so many
> different CD's of different composers. While I think he hardly has
the time
> to listen to a lot of other people's stuff, he does though from
time to time
> get the opportunity to do just that, especially I suspect while
traveling or
> something on the radio or if there is time, if a CD at hand. I
don't know
> for sure what he really likes as music because he tells everyone
that he
> likes many genres of music but I have a hunch, whenever I have
given him
> English Classical Music to listen to, his eyes lit up.....he really
likes it
> I think.......he even jokes a lot about the fact that so many
people have
> given him classical compositions from the greats recently, that its
kind of
> like we all want him to do symphony compositions and am pushing him
towards
> it. I for one hope he does everything.
>
> Anyway, I am ranting now......what I wanted to say was that he
deals with
> the negative in life by loving, being kind, charitable, ignoring
whats
> depressing and working hard.......I suggest whoever finds that a
likable
> solution does the same.
> Therefore, Chord, you're right in not letting those thoughts of the
imminent
> parting we all are going to have to deal with someday or the other
cloud
> your mind...........
>
> Sorry for the long mail.
> Take Care and God Bless.
> Matthew Islam
>
>
> On Feb 13, 2008 9:52 PM, Chord <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > "he is moving away from music that won't matter after he is
gone but
> > moving into the sphere where he would like to contribute to music
like
> > the greats did..."
> >
> > It's a feeling that I've had for a long time too. ARR has been
more
> > selective of assignments and providing music for movies with great
> > meaning and impact. I really respect that about him. Although a
part
> > of me still wishes he could drum out commercial massala hits one
after
> > another, I also feel that he has gained enough stature, success,
> > wisdom, and experience to move beyond the ordinary and cement his
> > special place in the music world. ARR is already legendary among
his
> > fans, but to create legacy of sorts that will survive the rest of
eons
> > is something I too wish he can accomplish. No doubt, he already
has,
> > but I think that him being more conscious about it is good. I just
> > hope he sticks to his own guns, relies on his own instincts, and
> > remains true to his own strengths.
> >
> > I also felt a deep sadness envelop me thinking about ARR being
gone
> > someday with only memories of his music to cherish. It's just too
> > depressing for me to discuss further.
> >
> > --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com <arrahmanfans%
40yahoogroups.com>,
> > "Matthew Islam"
> > <matthewislam@> wrote:
> > >
> > > WHAT, GOOD THINGS ABOUT JA FROM INDIAFM!? REALLY!!!! OOPS! GOOD
> > THINGS ABOUT
> > > AR.......REALLY!!!!?? GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE ALREADY LAMBASTED
> > > SOUNDTRACK!!!!! This will help the dull promotion for the movie
to be
> > > mitigated to an extent. The movie must be good when all guns
were
> > out to pan
> > > it as indicated earlier and now..............well read on!!!!
> > >
> > > You know, a couple of months ago I was telling the boss that
many people
> > > will complain that JA is slow and not just people but the so
called
> > > critics........his answer was......the critics would get used
to it.
> > He said
> > > it with great confidence. I guess, I was wrong and he was
right. I
> > have a
> > > feeling that he knows that he doesn't want to do cheap stuff
anymore
> > because
> > > everyone is doing it......he is moving away from music that
won't matter
> > > after he is gone but moving into the sphere where he would like
to
> > > contribute to music like the greats did..........not because he
> > thinks he is
> > > great but because he believes that no other composer may be has
this
> > good an
> > > opportunity in India now at present in terms of resources to do
what
> > he is
> > > doing, so why not tread the risky path and do the best he
> > > can................anyways..........read on...............
> > >
> > > By Taran Adarsh, February 13, 2008 - 11:24 IST
> > >
> > >
> > > Let's get one thing straight: You haven't watched anything so
> > opulent, so
> > > magnificent like this in a long, long time on the Hindi screen.
It's not
> > > just body beautiful, but there's soul as well.
> > >
> > > It requires courage, prowess, patience, aptitude, knowledge,
passion
> > and of
> > > course, loads of currency to attempt a movie like JODHAA AKBAR.
But more
> > > than anything else, it requires your firm belief in the
subject, the
> > belief
> > > to attempt a historical when historicals are considered an
absolute
> > no-no in
> > > the industry, the belief to spend almost Rs. 40 crores in a film
> > that could
> > > go either ways.
> > >
> > > Write your own movie review of Jodhaa Akbar Only when you're
convinced
> > > yourself can you convince millions of moviegoers. And convinced
you are
> > > after watching JODHAA AKBAR, a film of epic proportions.
> > >
> > > Now let's clear a few misconceptions pertaining to the film
> > > It's blasphemous to compare MUGHAL-E-AZAM and JODHAA AKBAR.
While
> > > MUGHAL-E-AZAM was primarily about the legendary romance between
> > Salim and
> > > Anarkali, a subject that has been attempted quite a few times
on the
> > Hindi
> > > screen before, JODHAA AKBAR is about the relationship that the
young
> > Akbar
> > > shared with Jodhaa.
> > >
> > >
> > > A lot has been said and written about its length [3.20 hours].
Does the
> > > viewer of today have the patience to watch a really lengthy
film in
> > today's
> > > times? But once into JODHAA AKBAR, the sequence of events, the
> > drama, the
> > > romance, the war
every aspect keeps you mesmerized. Oh yes, the
> > length does
> > > pinch you at one crucial point [second hour, which is relatively
> > shorter],
> > > when a song breaks out. Otherwise, the 3 + hours are very well
spent.
> > >
> > >
> > > When you watch historicals like MUGHAL-E-AZAM and RAZIA SULTAN,
the
> > usage of
> > > chaste Urdu is difficult to comprehend at times. Not here! The
> > language is
> > > simplified - Akbar speaks in Urdu, Jodhaa in Hindi - and it's
easy to
> > > decipher.
> > > As a cinematic experience, it would be wrong to compare JODHAA
AKBAR
> > to any
> > > of Ashutosh Gowariker's previous endeavors. Why, it would be
> > erroneous to
> > > compare the film with any film ever made before in this genre.
This one
> > > stands out and stands out the tallest.
> > >
> > > To sum up, JODHAA AKBAR leaves you spellbound, enthralled,
entranced and
> > > awestruck. Ashutosh Gowariker makes the legendary characters
come
> > alive on
> > > screen. Take a bow, Ashu!
> > >
> > > Set in the sixteenth century, JODHAA AKBAR is a love story
about a
> > marriage
> > > of alliance that gave birth to true love between a great Mughal
emperor,
> > > Akbar, and a Rajput princess, Jodhaa. Little did Akbar [Hrithik
> > Roshan] know
> > > that when he married Jodhaa [Aishwarya Rai Bachchan], he would
be
> > embarking
> > > upon a new journey -- the journey of true love.
> > >
> > > The daughter of King Bharmal of Amer [Kulbhushan Kharbanda],
Jodhaa
> > resented
> > > being reduced to a mere political pawn in this marriage of
alliance, and
> > > Akbar's biggest challenge now did not merely lie in winning
battles,
> > but in
> > > winning the love of this defiant princess.
> > >
> > > One of the prime reasons why JODHAA AKBAR works is because the
> > present-day
> > > viewer is unaware of the romance between Akbar and Jodhaa.
Sure, we
> > all know
> > > of Akbar as a great emperor, but the love story makes for a
refreshing
> > > subject. And the execution of a number of sequences makes
JODHAA AKBAR
> > > extremely special.
> > >
> > > Some instances:
> > > * The war sequence at the very outset. You realize the scale and
> > magnitude
> > > of the film at the very beginning.
> > > * Hrithik taming an out-of-control elephant. It's hair-raising.
> > > * The two pre-conditions set by Jodhaa, before her marriage to
> > Akbar. Very
> > > interesting.
> > > * The confrontation between Ila Arun and Ash at the kitchen,
when Ash
> > > decides to make the meal herself.
> > > * The immediate sequence, when Ash is asked to taste the food
> > herself by Ila
> > > before she's about to serve the food to the Emperor and his
> > associates. Once
> > > done, Hrithik demanding that he be served the meal from the
same platter
> > > that Jodhaa had used.
> > > * The intermission point, which sows the seeds of a
misunderstanding
> > between
> > > Hrithik and Ash.
> > > * Post-interval, Hrithik returning to Amer to get Ash back to
Agra
> > and the
> > > welcome ceremony by his mother-in-law [Suhasini Mulay].
> > > * The sword fight the very next morning, between Hrithik and
Ash.
> > > * The 'Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah' track, when the entire kingdom
hails
> > > Hrithik.
> > > * The fight in the climax [reminds you of the fight between Brad
> > Pitt and
> > > Eric Bana in TROY].
> > > Amazing moments indeed
> > >
> > > Ashutosh Gowariker knows that historicals have to be simplified
while
> > > narrating on celluloid so that the moviegoer is able to grasp
and
> > comprehend
> > > the plotline and the sequence of events. Thankfully, JODHAA
AKBAR is
> > not in
> > > the least difficult to decipher. Gowariker's handling of the
subject
> > > deserves the highest praise, for it's not everyday that you come
> > across a
> > > film like JODHAA AKBAR.
> > >
> > > A.R. Rahman's music is not the type that you take to instantly,
but
> > yes, it
> > > gels beautifully with the mood of the film. 'Azeem-o-Shaan
> > Shahenshah' and
> > > 'Jashn-e-Bahara' are the best tracks in terms of tune. In terms
of
> > > choreography, 'Azeem-o-Shaan Shahenshah' is awe-inspiring,
while the
> > > execution of 'Khwaja Mere Khwaja' is outstanding. Rahman's
> > background score
> > > is simply extra-ordinary.
> > >
> > > There's no room for dullness in Haider Ali and Gowariker's
> > screenplay. The
> > > writing is tight, the drama keeps you hooked and the romantic
track is
> > > wonderful. The film also talks of secularism, an issue so vital
in
> > today's
> > > times. K.P. Saxena's dialogues are amazing. At places, soaked in
> > acid. The
> > > writer comes up with several gems, yet again. Kiran Deohans'
> > cinematography
> > > matches international standards. The movement of camera at
various
> > places,
> > > especially in the battlefield, is breath-taking. Also, the
D.O.P.
> > captures
> > > the grandeur to the fullest. The production design [Nitin
> > Chandrakant Desai]
> > > is, again, awesome. Recreating the bygone era requires not just
> > money, but
> > > also the vision and Desai proves his supremacy yet again.
> > >
> > > Be it the war sequences or the sword fights or general action,
Ravi
> > Dewan's
> > > contribution to the film is incredible. Especially noteworthy
is the
> > fight
> > > between Hrithik and Nikitin Dheer in the climax. It's simply
> > outstanding!
> > > Editing [Ballu Saluja] is perfect, although the romantic song
between
> > > Hrithik and Ash can be shortened in the second hour. The
costumes [Neeta
> > > Lulla] as also the jewelry also deserve special mention.
> > >
> > > JODHAA AKBAR also works because of the right casting. It's
difficult to
> > > imagine anyone else in the role of Emperor Akbar. Hrithik seems
born
> > to play
> > > this role and he enacts it with such precision, such flourish,
such
> > > confidence that it leaves you asking for more. A mind-boggling
> > performance
> > > without doubt!
> > >
> > > Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is superb. Oh yes, she looks ethereal --
a
> > compliment
> > > she has heard a trillion times before. What's new in that? But
watch her
> > > emote in this film. You realize the amazing talent that has
hitherto not
> > > been tapped by any movie maker. A flawless performance indeed!
> > >
> > > JODHAA AKBAR has a host of characters, but the ones whom you
carry home,
> > > besides Hrithik and Ash, are Sonu Sood [excellent], Nikitin
Dheer
> > > [fantastic], Ila Arun [electrifying; her finest work so far],
Punam
> > S. Sinha
> > > [graceful], Kulbhushan Kharbanda [perfect], Raza Murad
[effective] and
> > > Rajesh Vivek [good]. Amitabh Bachchan's rich barritone voice
adds
> > lustre to
> > > the magnum opus.
> > >
> > > On the whole, JODHAA AKBAR is, without a shred of doubt, a
brilliant
> > film in
> > > all respects. This historical has all it takes to prove the
first
> > > blockbuster of 2008. Very strongly recommended!
> > >
> > > * * * *
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
