VEry nice interview....felt very nice reading it. For a change there were some really interesting and not-so-often asked questions from our musical trio which made the interview even better!!!
BTW wat were Krish and Naresh doin at 4 a.m in the morning chattting.... [:)] On Sat, Mar 29, 2008 at 6:24 AM, Kalimuthu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > TRANSCRIPT > > ===================================================================== > > Thamarai: When I heard that the interview would take place early > morning, I was very doubtful. I thought to myself, interview with > Rahman sir in the morning? Impossible. If it was at night, one would > have believed it. > > ARR (laughs): Well sometimes I also work early morning at around 5 am or > so. > > Thamarai: I know that you used to be an introvert and shy kind of > person. However, of late you have become more outgoing.. > > ARR (laughs): Nalla Pesarena (am I speaking well)?. Initially I was > hesitant, but after sometime, you tend to open up. > > Krish: I would like to know about your music school. Can anybody - > rich or poor, aspiring to learn music come here? How will its reach > be? > > ARR: If you know a little about music, there is a course here. And if > you don't know anything about music. you have a course for that as > well. If you know everything about it and still want to know more, you > could come here. There are three different courses. We plan on > training 15-20 kids from difference communities from the road and see > what level they take it to. We want to bring together different > people, keeping music as a common thread. > > Joshua Sridhar: During you initial years of playing the keyboard, did > you ever think that you would make it this big? > > ARR: Hmmm... No. In fact when I was doing my film, I was still not > ready,. But later on, I understood that teamwork gets everybody's > energy levels pumping. That's where you get the drive and positive > vibes. The final product is just not yours, but a result of the > efforts of many. It's like a bouquet of good things. > > JS: Did you have any role model? > > ARR: I cannot zero it down to a single person. I listen to Queen. > Vangelis and they're all unique. When I started composing, these > influences came together as one. I like Michael Jackson, but I could > never be a performer (laughs). But somewhere, in me, those energy > levels are there. Like when I did Chandralekha, it has a very Jacksons > feel, but not Jackson. It just comes out in your music in a different > way. > > JS: Have you ever taken up a project that you later regretted having > signed? > > ARR: Well, I always think about the other side; that I was lucky to > get the good projects. Because if you harbor negativity and keep > complaining about it, you will never stop. Think positive and keep > going. What's the worst that could have happened? > > JS: As an upcoming composer I find it difficult to deal with the > business side of music. Why don't you start a talent management > company? > > ARR: Think in terms of the big picture - when I get wrong films, I > still do my best. I know people note that. Instead of cribbing, give > it your best shot. Sometimes, I know from day one that the movie won't > do well. But I want my contribution to mean something to the film. I > do not think India is ready for a management company. Because music is > something that you handle with your heart and your brain. Sometimes > you have a beautiful project where they can't pay you money. Sometimes > they will pay you, but the work won't be exciting. It's like you can't > lose out on either. > > Thamarai: Every 15 years or so, old tunes make a comeback and everyone > starts following it. > > ARR (interrupts): Do you want me to go back to Roja again? > > T: No. but what did you think is the style now? > > ARR: If one thing works, everyone wants to follow it and it becomes > more of a trend. Rather than following something blindly, come up with > new stuff. For example, if trance is the 'in-thing', everyone follows > similar compositions and in a year, it will become old and boring. > > T: You do few Tamil movies, these days. We are feeling bad and wish you do > more. > > ARR: Even I want to work in more Tamil films. But, I am happy with > what I am doing. Loads of young talents have joined the industry. > (Points at Joshua) He is going well. We have to make way for them too. > > JS: Composers like me look up to you. I grew up listening to your > music and wanted to be as great as you. There's also this expectation. > We wonder why couldn't he do in this way or that way? Youngsters find > it tough managing their work. > > ARR: (Laughs) Why couldn't I do what? > > JS: No, like streamlining and standardization of sorts. > > ARR: I am a composer. Maybe when I quit composing, I will do that. > > JS: No you wouldn't have to be doing. But with a vision like yours, > something on those lines. > > ARR: As of now, I think we are not getting the right education. All of > us are lucky to be self taught. But how many people can do so and go > in the right direction. I am trying to get the best of the west and > give back the best of the east. > > K: There are umpteen samples available online for any given > instrument. Do you think musicians are becoming obsolete due to this? > > ARR: I think there is always a demand for great musicians. If you are > a good composer, they're ready to pay you well. When maestros play, > they do make a lot of money. But it's not all monetary, it's for the > respect that they earn as a musician. If you have a performance of any > of these artistes, it will be houseful, right? It's because they are > extraordinary. > > K: You did Bombay Dreams. When an actor performs in Broadway, he also > sings and everything is live. I have been hearing your songs, and you > have been singing a lot as well. Will you be acting in Broadway > musicals? > > ARR: Me and acting (Laughs). I can't act. > > K: I have been listening to your music for a long time and for every > movie you keep experimenting. Until, Duet your sounding was different > and personally, I think it has changed now. I wanted to know if there > is any reason behind that? > > ARR: The filmmakers demand for what they want and also their > expectations are changing. So you see, sometimes it goes against what > you want to do, It all depends upon the director's vision and what > they want. They select those tunes, so it is their way. > > K: Today there are so many singers in the industry. About 500 singers > are recording every day. I mean thanks to you, as you are the one who > brought in the change. Do you think every singer is getting an > opportunity to sing? > > ARR: I think they are getting an opportunity, but I don't know if they > are getting their personality out in the open. I don't even know if > they are getting an identity. It should always be about passion. > > K: What do you tell singers who are left out in their endeavors? > > ARR: I find two categories of singers. One category is, they just > sing, they do not move out of the box. The other kind comprises those > who have gone three or four steps ahead. They should not complain that > nobody asked them to perform better, etc. They just have to go to the > next level and start performing. > > K: Just to remind yourself of old memories, do you visit old places > where probably you used to eat out at? Is there any place like that? > > ARR: My favorite restaurant is Woodlands drive in. I think it is a > gift to Chennai. > > K: DO you still go there? > > ARR: Of course, I still go there. > > K: A few days ago, I and Naresh (Iyer) were standing outside his house > and talking. At about 4 am or so, we saw you shuttling between your > > > studios in a two wheeler. > > ARR (smiles) 4 am? Yeah, that was me. > > K: Why do you think there are so many remixes these days? They take > old songs and add some new beats. > > ARR: They are probably unable to come up with something new. It may be > for nostalgic value. The song I will always love you by Dolly Parton > was later sung by Whitney Houston. But when she sang it, she took it > to an altogether different level. > > K: Isn't that a new trend? > > ARR: Well, some people take it personally. Of course, I wouldn't like > Roja to be remixed now. But if they ask my permission, it's okay. For > example, a producer from Hollywood wanted to remix Chaiyaa Chaiyaa for > the film Inside Man. So they approached me for the same. I just had > one one condition - that they don't put any explicit lyrics on in and > that they don't change the feel of it. So they considered that and > worked on it. Later, they sent me an mp3 and asked if I was okay with > it. I said it was alright and then they produced the song. That's the > way to do it. But now mostly producers have the rights. They just ask > the producer and remix the songs and do not consider the composer. > They must take permission from the composer. If they say no, then > just leave it. They wanted to remix Maa tujhe salaam. I didn't like > the idea at all and asked them not to do it and they didn't. > > K: Is it necessary for a singer relate to the lyrics? > > ARR: If you don't know the language, it is okay. But if not, then you > should go about learning it. I always tell Madhusree, make sure you do > not come out of the studio without getting every word correct. It is > not necessary for me that the singer should know the language. For > example Madhusree sang for me three times Vaaji Vaaji, she has a > beautiful voice but does not know a word in Tamil. But yeah it is > always good to know what you are singing. So may be getting a > translator would help. > > T: How about your children's music education? > > ARR: They are learning slowly. They are enjoying their life. > > T: You are introducing so many new voices. Why not bring them too? > > ARR: Let them learn first. > > K: Who is your favorite artiste? > > ARR: Among male singers, I would say Yesudas, but they SPB will get > angry at me (laughs). I would only end up in trouble. But when talking > about voices, I would vote for Yesudas. It's that kind of a voice that > Yesudas and in the north Rafi sir had, that kind of voice. If you > listen to their songs, it is not the music or the lyrics that matters, > but it is the voice that counts, that special character of healing > you. It is one rare quality you can't find that easy. May be it also > has to do something with the personality. Even Cat Stevens had that > voice. > > JS: I think you've got that kind of a healing voice. > > ARR: I am not sure If I even have a voice! Mine is not that kind of > voice. I can't go deeper than a particular limit. > > JS: I feel that your voice is mesmerizing. > > K: I think John Denver's voice is soothing. > > ARR: That's the kind of voice I am looking for. Anyone has it here? > It's not that other voices are not special, but I am just missing that > one special quality. There are other extraordinary singers like him > (Points at Krish) here. His next film Chakravarthy will be coming > soon. > > T: When is that movie coming up? > > ARR: (Laughs) Only today, did the last song get complete. > > T: They have been making the film for a long. All the excitement just > dries off if it takes forever to release. > > ARR: Probably because they are using too many animated sequences in > the movie. But if the film is good, the wait does not matter. > > T: Are you going to work for the film, Chennaiyil Oru Mazhai Kaalam? > > ARR: I am not sure about the title but discussions are on with Gautham. > > ===================================================================== > > On Fri, Mar 28, 2008 at 2:10 PM, Sunder <[EMAIL > PROTECTED]<scubem2004%40yahoo.co.in>> > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > can anyone download and attach the images and send it across to me as > the > > site is blocked in UAE. > > > > Regards > > > > S.Sunder > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > > From: Gopal Srinivasan <[EMAIL PROTECTED] <catchgops%40yahoo.com>> > > To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com <arrahmanfans%40yahoogroups.com> > > Sent: Friday, 28 March, 2008 9:57:17 AM > > Subject: [arr] Excellent Deccan Chronicle interview with ARR > > > > > > > > > > http://www.flickr. com/photos/ arrahmanfans/ 2368363002/ > > http://www.flickr. com/photos/ arrahmanfans/ 2367529951/ > > > > Thanks to Thulasi Ram for spotting this. > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > Now you can chat without downloading messenger. 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