A R Rahman: Slumdog millionaire in his own right
23 Jan 2009, 2141 hrs IST, Chandra Ranganathan, ET Bureau
CHENNAI: "Chinna Chinna Aasai", a mellifluous Tamil song from the 1992 movie
"Roja", set in the backdrop of a village in Tamil Nadu, is apparently
Best of A R Rahman
Slumdog sweeps Critics' Awards
Slumdog Millionaire
Oscar nominationsabout small desires. The soothing instrumentals coupled with a
gentle rendition made the song an instant hit, in the original Tamil version
and the dubbed Hindi version "Dil Hain Chota Sa." In the last decade and a
half, thousands of fans, as they hummed this song into the silence of nights,
have come to realise that the desires the song lists out are anything but
small. They are about reaching out to moon, and kissing it. They are about the
world coming around oneself.
The song, which announced the arrival of AR Rahman on the Indian music scene,
was prophetic. Almost like the song he first composed, Rahman's compositions,
which first found a place in Tamil cinema, have in a span of 17 years,
transcended regional, national and international borders.
Even before the news of his winning the Golden Globe sunk in, there was news
about his getting three Oscar nominations for the music he composed for The
Slumdog Millionaire, a historic feat and a proud moment for every Indian.
The Slumdog Millionaire, a rag to riches story of a boy who grows up in the
slums of Mumbai, will probably strike a personal chord with the film's music
director. The tireless perseverance and struggle to reach the top, in a way,
reflects Rahman's own meteoric rise over the decades, after battling many a
personal and financial hardship.
His father, a music composer himself, died when he was nine and his family had
to rent out musical equipment to make ends meet. But, his mother, a pillar of
strength and source of inspiration, ensured that financial strife did not come
in the way of her son's aspirations.
"You have to go through many a hardship before you see the kind of success that
Rahman has seen today," well-known percussionist A Sivamani told ET on Friday.
"His strongest influence during his early years was his mother, who saw it to
it that whatever Rahman wanted, was there for him," he added. Sivamani has
known Rahman since he was 12 years old.
About the changes that he has seen in Rahman over the last 21 years, Sivamani
said, "the only change is that he is very comfortable in front of the camera
now. But, in terms of Rahman the person, he is still the same down-to-earth,
simple person, who is in love with his art." On his long-time friend's Oscar
nomination, he said, "it's a big thing for the country. If Rahman doesn't jump
with joy, I will."
We can't be sure of Rahman winning an Oscar this time. But we are sure of this:
if he wins, he will quietly walk up to the stage, listening perhaps to a beat
that most others miss in the flamboyance of the event, recieve the coveted
award with a shy smile, and give a very brief acceptance speech. As if he would
rather have his music speak for him.
Whether in receiving the Golden Globe recently, or in receiving umpteen awards
in India over the years, he has remained supremely composed, as if
Best of A R Rahman
Slumdog sweeps Critics' Awards
Slumdog Millionaire
Oscar nominations
to say he sways only to music.
Industry compatriots, friends and film critics, who have interacted with Rahman
for long believe music, rather than awards, is his stimulant. There is a
certain sense of even-temperedness and reticence that strikes you when you meet
the music director. This, of course is completely in contrast to the persona he
has among singers who have worked with him.
"He is really fun-loving and rarely gets angry. You feel really bad when you
leave his studio after the recording," says singer Naresh Iyer, who made his
debut in Rahman's Rang De Basanti and went on to win a National Award for the
same. Carnatic singer Bombay Jayashree adds, "he is fun and forthcoming and
knows exactly what he wants from a singer. You will sing 15-20 versions in his
studio but the final cut will be completely different."
But, outside of the studio, Rahman prefers his music to do the talking. Ask him
questions about what makes him successful and his standard reply is, "nothing.
I believe that whatever comes at a particular time is a blessing from God."
Even if Rahman were to win an Oscar, it is highly unlikely that he will shift
base abroad lured by new projects. His other international projects such as
London Dreams and Lord of the Rings required him to spend two-thirds of his
year in London a few years ago, not his idea of home or hearth. About his
international sojourn, Rahman had told ET in an earlier interview, "I missed
Chennai. London is a wonderful city, but it's not Chennai, not home."
The other commitment, which will keep him in India are his plans of opening a
music school that will train people in orchestral music. "Today the idea of
music is composing for films, which is exciting and good for the film industry
but not good for art," he had told ET. "So, my music school will be to start an
orchestra and raise awareness about orchestral music. And in India, every state
is different so I thought we'd have one orchestra that says it all. It is also
a bridge for our culture, to export our culture," said modern India's best
known ambassador.
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