*Rahman, the golden boy of Indian music * I am feeling tense not for myself but for the fear of letting down the large number of music lovers of my country, said Rahman while waiting for the announcement of the recent Golden Globe awards. This was the response of Rahman who eventually went on to become the First Indian to win this prestigious award. He still treasures the National award that he got for ROJA. That triggered him to try for getting the Golden Globe. The chance came with SLUMDOG and he succeeded in putting Indian cinema music in the global plane. He dedicated the award to billion Indians for making them proud.
Music lovers in the West commented that Rahman's music has re-energised Hollywood music. It gave them such a relief for hearing a different type of soundtrack than the usual fare they are used to in the action-murder movies that are common these days. Roja's music had also created at that time a similar impression on the Bollywood music lovers. Rahman is a simple person thanking God for being kind to him all the time. God is always kind to the deserving. The Golden globe award, until he got it, was a load on his head. Once he got it he simply moved to the next venture DELHI 6, in which he is giving music. India classical instrumental music has been appreciated in the West for many years now through the effort of Pt Ravi Shanker, Ali Akbar, All Rakhkha, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Jakir Husain to name a few. But this is the first time that Indian Cinema music has been internationally noticed. So far the current typical Indian cinema music that is popular here is loud western dance based and is hardly melodious. So much so that an occasional melody, like that in Parinita was so much appreciated for its soft simplicity. Rahman's music has been recognized as something different from the usual fare that one hears these days in India. Probably it is because of his training in western music while doing the degree course at Trinity. The effort he puts in makes his creation unique. Just think of VANDEMATARAM. Ma Tujhe Salam that you have given our country a musician like Rahman who is the first Golden Boy of India in the world of popular music. *AB Mehta, Bhopal* http://www.centralchronicle.com/20090122/2201322.htm -- regards, Vithur