Srinivas element was surpising. i din know that.
> > On Sun, Mar 15, 2009 at 9:10 AM, Gopal Srinivasan <catchg...@yahoo.com>wrote: > >> >> THE INSIDERS >> Font Size >> Dipti Nagpaul D’Souza >> Posted: Mar 15, 2009 at 1113 hrs IST >> >> http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-insiders/434152/0 >> >> Meet the reclusive managers, technicians and singers who make up Team >> Rahman >> T. SELVAKUMAR, 45, >> MANAGING DIRECTOR OF >> RAHMAN’S MUSIC SCHOOL >> In the early 1990s, when Bollywood was just beginning to rave about a >> phenomenon, A.R. Rahman >> met music programmer T. Selvakumar in Chennai. Both were musicians trained >> in the alchemy of >> sound, both shared their hopes of setting up their own studios one day. As >> Rahman’s stock rose >> in filmdom, Selvakumar notched up a reputation in the Indian music >> industry as a master >> technician. Soon, he got into the business of supplying high-end music >> technology equipment. >> “That’s when our acquaintance changed to friendship,” says the man who has >> helped Rahman set up >> his many state-of-the-art studios. To him also goes the credit of setting >> up the first and only >> Apple-certified music, special effects and film editing technology >> training institute in the >> country. >> >> Selvakumar was one of the few people who knew about Rahman’s dream of >> setting up a music >> school. “He wanted to start a school of music technology but I insisted he >> couple it with >> teaching.” One day in 2007, Rahman decided that the time had come. “And >> when AR wants >> something, he wants it right away. He asked me if I would manage it for >> him and I didn’t see >> why I should refuse him,” he says. >> A regular day at the school sees Selvakumar taking classes in audio and >> video technology and >> ironing out numerous administrative hassles. He also continues to deal in >> Apple equipment. >> Whenever the company launches something new, Rahman is his first client. >> “AR’s one of the two >> most tech-savvy musicians in India,” he states, proudly. Who’s the other? >> “You wouldn’t expect >> this: Ilaiyaraaja.” >> >> CyberTech International >> The most reliable solutions for >> www.cybertech-int.com >> Musicians Institute >> Finest contemporary music school at >> www.mi.edu >> A R Rahman Songs free >> Only on Guruji.com Music Search. >> www.guruji.com >> Ads By Google >> NOEL JAMES, 48, MANAGER >> Over two decades ago, Noel James was playing the piano as a lounge >> musician at a hotel in >> Chennai when a certain jingles composer walked in. “Rahman heard me play >> and asked if I was >> interested in working with him.” James agreed. That was the beginning of a >> partnership that has >> lasted to this day. James has since grown to become Rahman’s manager and >> chief public relations >> officer. He occasionally assists the composer in stage shows and handles >> much of his >> coordination — with musicians, clients, talent and even the media. The >> road to Rahman, it could >> be said, goes through James. >> Born and brought up in Mumbai, James got hooked to music at an early age. >> After graduating from >> Loyola College, Chennai, he got a degree in violin from the prestigious >> Trinity College of >> Music, London. “I played in a band called Jumping Jewels, handling the >> vocals and guitar. That >> was before I went solo,” he says. He worked part-time with Rahman >> initially but became a >> permanent member of the team, singing the jingles and helping him with >> production. >> >> Being Rahman’s manager has meant that James does not get much time for his >> own music—except >> when he plays at church. He has no regrets though. “God sends messiahs to >> earth, whether it is >> Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed. It has been quite a while since He sent >> someone. I believe >> A.R. Rahman is such a messiah who works through his music,” says James, >> for whom familiarity >> has only brought more appreciation towards Rahman, the musician and the >> man. >> >> DEEPAK GATTANIi, 46, CONCERT MANAGER >> Behind every power-packed Rahman concert is Deepak Gattani and his team at >> Rapport Global >> Events. “We manage his live entertainment business but the relationship >> isn’t a client-service >> provider one,” he says. Gattani first met Rahman through singer Hariharan, >> another client. >> Since that meeting, he has handled all of Rahman’s tours and performances, >> and more recently, >> has been managing Rahman’s endorsement portfolio as well. >> Whenever Rahman is in Mumbai, Gattani finds himself seated next to him. >> “But being with him >> doesn’t mean that he’ll talk anymore than he usually does,” he says with a >> laugh. “His concerts >> have to be technically high-end, with something different each time. >> Working for him means >> making no mistakes and planning in advance.” Gattani is dogged by >> international clients’ >> proposals for Rahman concerts after his Oscar win. But, as of now, his >> priorities lie with >> organising Rahman’s first-ever live concert in Kerala, scheduled for May. >> >> S. SIVAKUMAR, 41, CHIEF SOUND ENGINEER >> A novice who had just finished a diploma in sound engineering in 1992, S. >> Sivakumar got his >> first break when he was appointed assistant audio engineer at a reputed >> studio in Chennai. The >> designation was deceptive. The actual work assigned to the young man was >> to stand and wait in >> the machine room and change tapes once each roll was over. Then Rahman >> happened. “I had been >> working for about six months or so when A.R. Rahman came to the studio to >> do the mixing for >> Puthiya Mugam. He wanted an assistant and asked my seniors if I was >> interested. That was 15 >> years ago and I have been with him since,” he says. A native of Thanjavur, >> the rice bowl of >> Tamil Nadu, Sivakumar is now one of the noted names in sound engineering >> in India, the main man >> behind Rahman’s AM Studio and his chief sound engineer. He has worked in >> all Rahman films since >> Gentleman in 1993 and was a part of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Bombay >> Dreams. >> According to Sivakumar, Rahman’s contribution goes beyond just >> transforming film music in >> India. He was also the first composer to include the names of all those >> who worked on the >> project on the audiotape/CD jackets — an acknowledgement of many backroom >> operators like >> Sivakumar, who would otherwise be invisible to the world outside studio >> walls. >> >> K.J. SINGH, 47, SOUND ENGINEER >> He doesn’t sound his age and Rahman thinks the sound engineer’s voice >> bears a hint of a >> European accent. “He keeps teasing me that he’ll soon find me a voice-over >> project overseas,” >> says Singh with a laugh. But the camaraderie between the two took time to >> develop. Singh says >> when he first met Rahman five years ago during a concert, the composer >> would just stand next to >> him without saying a word. “He’s shy and doesn’t waste words. There have >> been times when I >> would turn to find him standing behind me for 10 minutes! It felt strange, >> but later realised >> that’s how he is,” says Singh. “But once he gets to know you better, there >> are no reservations. >> You’re family and he’s open to sharing all his knowledge.” >> >> The technician has done numerous Rahman concerts and films, starting with >> Rang De Basanti and >> recently Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na and Delhi-6. The two were first >> introduced by the latter’s >> chief sound engineer, the late H. Sridhar. Rahman noticed the two friends >> shared a good >> wavelength and often brought them together for his projects. “I think AR >> noticed how seamlessly >> we both worked. If both Sridhar and I had handled a project, one could not >> make out whether a >> track was managed by him or me. Rahman made good use of that.” Based in >> Mumbai for a decade >> now, the sound engineer likes to explore new talent and, at the same time, >> work with the old. >> His clientele boasts of names like Hariharan, Indian Ocean, Rabbi Shergill >> and G.V. Prakash, >> Rahman’s nephew. Singh is most looking forward to his trip to Chennai next >> week. He is >> determined to make the maestro throw a party for each award he has won for >> Slumdog Millionaire. >> “He can space out the parties but he can’t escape them,” he says with a >> wink. >> >> SRINIVAS, 49, SINGER >> In 1988, a chemical engineer travelled to Chennai from Coimbatore for a >> day so that he could >> sing for Ilaiyaraaja. It broke Srinivas’s heart that he had to lost the >> opportunity to a throat >> infection. But another southern genius’s success gave him hope and he >> approached Rahman soon >> after the success of Roja. Rahman took a liking to Srinivas and asked him >> to move to Chennai. >> In 1994, Srinivas shifted base and started lending his voice to >> advertisement jingles and >> devotional albums. It was only in 1996, that he gained recognition with >> the song Manna Madurai >> from Rahman’s Minsaara Kanavu. Then came En uyire in Mani Ratnam’s Uyire >> (the Tamil version of >> Dil Se), which was his first big hit. >> >> Now a big name down south, Srinivas has since worked closely with the >> composer. “I never knew I >> could compose, but watching A.R. inspired me. He’s in a different world >> altogether when he >> works. And to him, work on a song only begins once he’s composed it. From >> there, it evolves >> with his many editions and improvisations,” he says. Of late, due to his >> busy schedules, Rahman >> has entrusted Srinivas with the responsibility of supervising the vocals >> during recordings. >> “Many would find it strange and menial but it’s an honour to help him >> out,” says the singer who >> has to take out time from his packed schedule of recordings and reality >> shows. “But AR is >> always a priority over others.” >> >> RAQEEB ALAM, 38, SINGER AND LYRICIST >> His story is straight out of a Bollywood flick: playback singer and >> lyricist Raqeeb Alam was >> born into a family of teachers in Bihar but books held no charm for him. >> Instead, he spent all >> his waking hours listening to music or singing. While in college in >> Chennai, he became a >> part-time singer. It was during a show that he met lyricist P K Mishra, >> who liked him and >> introduced him to AR in 2002. But when he met the musician, he got so >> nervous, he “couldn’t >> sing beyond a line.” The two, however, kept in touch. >> >> Once, Rahman was scheduled to meet Deepa Mehta for a session for Water. >> Sukhwinder Singh, who >> was supposed to write and sing a song for the film, had left for Varanasi >> because of an >> emergency. Desperate for a replacement, Rahman called Alam. “I wrote 10 >> mukhdas of which they >> selected one and then I wrote the whole song,” he says. After its >> recording, political >> controversy delayed Water by four years. “But the patience paid off. The >> song got good reviews >> when the film released and was later nominated for an Oscar. I didn’t win >> the award but had won >> AR’s confidence.” Alam has since written and sung many songs for Rahman, >> primarily the Hindi >> translations of his Tamil albums. His most memorable is Ek mohabbat, which >> Rahman sang for the >> campaign to include Taj Mahal in the Seven Wonders Of The World project. >> The latest feather in >> his cap is Ringa Ringa, which he wrote for Slumdog Millionaire. >> >> VIJAY MOHAN IYER, 32, LABEL MANAGER >> It requires some amount of prodding to get him talking. Vijay Mohan Iyer, >> who manages Rahman’s >> K M Musiq label, prefers to remain behind his idol’s shadow. “I’m sure you >> can skip writing >> about me. Why not write about AR?” he repeats after every question. But >> here’s the story: The >> Mumbai boy first met Rahman on his 18th birthday in Chennai. “But nothing >> worked out in terms >> of music. I returned, got back to studies and took up a job. One day, >> eight years ago, I found >> myself seated next to my idol on an eight-hour flight to London,” he says. >> They got chatting >> and struck up a friendship. “The desire, of course, was to work with him >> in some way or the >> other. I guess persistence pays. One day, he just asked me to meet up and >> briefed me about a >> project he had in mind; and that was the K M Musiq label.” Iyer has held >> his dream job for >> three years and he didn’t mind uprooting his life from Mumbai to a >> laidback Chennai. “I missed >> the city but AR’s is a different world.” >> > > > > -- > regards, > Vithur > > > > >
