Hi all,
Here's the translation of this week's article. I'll post the scans shortly.
Week 8
“I was suffering from inferiority
complex when I was Dileep. After I became Rahman, I felt as if I was born
again!” said Rahman once. But, after the conversion, he had to endure lot more
difficulties due to the fame he attained. One of those was the allegation that
he financed terrorists. Rahman had to give long explanations to quash the
rumours.
Post the conversion, if there was
one thing that interested Rahman apart from music, that was Islam philosophies.
He totally believed that his talent and all his successes were attributed only
to God. Wherever he traveled, he always carried the prayer mat along with him.
He never fails to complete his five prayers each day. He even has a small
prayer room in his recording studio. He has done the Haj pilgrimage twise.
On one hand, Rahman is a person
with deep faith in religion. On the other hand, he is very modern person with
respect to his musical thoughts. In his childhood days, he was attracted by
Michael Jackson’s music, dance and hairstyle. While he was playing for bands
like Nemesis and Roots, his attire, coolers and hairstyle were like that of a
pop-singer.
Roja released on 15 Aug, 1992. ‘Chinna
Chinna Aasai’ (Chhoti si aasha in Hindi) became the anthem in musical
circles. ‘Pudhu Vellai Mazhai’ (Yeh Haseen Vaadiyaan), ‘Thamizha
Thamizha’(Bharath hum ko), ‘Kadhal Rojaave’ (Roja Jaaneman) gave a new
musical experience to the music-buffs because of the superior recording quality
and digital sound. Soon after the audio launch, Rahman became famous throughout
the country.
In those days, composers normally
posed with a harmonium for press photos. Ilayaraja had posed with a guitar many
times. The small ‘kid’ who gave ‘Chinna Chinna Aasai’ smiled for the
cameras with a keyboard, and it was totally new!
There were many who said he was a
‘one film wonder’. But he followed it up with Yodhaa and Pudhiya
Mugam which had so much variety and freshness and also became huge hits.
(Many of his hardcore fans say Yodha was the first movie album composed by
Rahman, not Roja.) Gentleman, Gangmaster (Telugu) and SuperPolice (Telugu) which
followed, were also hits! Rahman showed the world that he was not a
one-film-wonder, but a trendsetter. A young fan following started forming, for
Rahman.
He stunned everyone suddenly,
wearing modern attire, sporting long
locks of hair, carrying a national flag, and running on the desert sands
singing in ‘Maa Tujhe Salaam’ in high pitch! People were amazed that
Vande Mataram could also be made as a rock/pop music video. Sufi Maestro Ustad
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan rendered a song in the album. Rahman, who was a great fan
of Ustad ji, went to Pakistan and recorded the song with him. Apart from that
the other 7 songs were sung by Rahman himself, which was a sweet surprise for
his fans.
But on the other side, a case was
filed in the court claiming that Rahman had insulted the sacred Vande Mataram
with his techno music. Noted critic Subbudu mentioned that it is not ‘Vande
Mataram’, but ‘Vandhu Emaatharom’, which in tamil means “we come and
cheat”. Though the case was dismissed, these criticisms did affect Rahman.
Though Rahman had so many
successes in his young age itself, he was shaken by criticism coming from
unexpected quarters. Hindu Fundamentalist orgainsations claimed that Rahman was
insulting the hindu song Vande Mataram. A few Muslim fundamentalists criticized
him that, being a Hindu, he has elevated and popularized a Hindu song!
That was when government provided
security for Rahman, fearing threat to his life. All these totally ruffled
Rahman.
Then, he opened his heart out - “
God and religion are something personal to each one. Be it mosque, or temple or
church – it’s all within the heart. But, it has now been politicized. I’m
uncomfortable to have security guards around me all the time. It shows the lack
of trust on fellow human beings.
It is funny that there are rumours that I’m funding
terrorists, when government itself is providing me security as my life is
under threat from terrorists.
I help many social service organizations,
without discriminating them as Hindu, Muslim or Christian organizations. Those
are
very small amounts. Weapons can’t be bought with that amount!”
Then, another rumour sprang out that
he was forcing people close to him, to convert to Islam. Rahman brushed away
this
one too, with a smile.
“Look at people close to me – Noel,
Sridhar, Sivamani, Sivakumar! I’ve never spoken to them about religion. My
religion
is mine; their religion is theirs. That’s all”
Finally, all those ridiculous criticisms
and rumours which were started by some due to jealousy stopped. Rahman’s
thundering
successes silenced those who spread such rumours.
(To be continued)
Aravind
My Blog: http://arrahmaniac.blogspot.com
Rahmania show interviews: http://rahmania.4shared.com
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