I was also looking for Srinivasamurthy, who accompanies AR's concerts and conducting the strings orchestra in recordings as well.
- Bergin On Sun, Mar 15, 2009 at 8:28 PM, Thulasi Ram <karoke...@gmail.com> wrote: > 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 >> >> >> >> > > -- www.berginroy.com
