[arr] Another Video with Bombay Theme background music
Nature's creation and Man's creation at its best http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIsSva4WXYc
Re: [arr] songs database
My suggestion. Decide on the best Hosting Platform before starting to design the whole applicationFor example, if the application is going to be deployed on a cloud hosting platform like the Google App Engine, the typical DB ER design becomes irrelevant. Also bear in mind the hosting providers restrictions, like DB restritions based on the package/solutions offered.
[arr] Re: Rahman albums list in chronological order
You can also Google. http://www.google.com/squared/search?q=a+r+rahman+song+list http://www.google.com/squared/search?q=a+r+rahman+song+list Not the accurate of lists, BTW. --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, Rivjot riv...@... wrote: Group members here are in the process of making such list. Meanwhile you can check : wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._R._Rahman_discography Gopal's tripod - http://gopalhome.tripod.com/arrdisc.html --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, Anu anuradhabe@ wrote: Dear all, Is there a list of all Rahman albums with the movie name and year? I remember seeing such a list in the groups but couldn't locate it. if any of you maintains a list, could you please share? thanks Anu
[arr] ARR's Long Beach Press conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJdVAbsdbi4
[arr] Re: semi arr - what is your favorite quote by a musician (including AR)
Pick the one related to music and ARR http://news.google.com/news/quote?pz=1cf=qned=ushl=enas_miny=2003qsid=Rr05NU-aceNB8Mas_maxm=12as_drrb=bas_mind=1as_minm=1cf=qas_maxd=31as_maxy=2010start=0 --- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, Roshan c.pix...@... wrote: I am trying to collect good thoughts by musicians on music or creativity (not on other things like politics or religion). any one would like to contribute ? here are a few of my favorite quotes. Music is something that takes you to a world which is very different from the world of hatred, jealousy, and all those negative emotions - AR Rahman Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. - Scott R. Adams Music should go right through you, leave some of itself inside you, and take some of you with it when it leaves. Henry Threadgill -- --- http://roshanravi.com http://ramblingsoul.com http://cssheaven.org
[arr] ARR photos on Life.com
http://www.life.com/search/?type=imagesq0=a.r+rahmanpage=1
Re: [arr] Request to Telugu speaking fans...
I would also agree to most of the comments posted in this thread and also believe that a good pronunciation adds an extra something to the song which actually 'elevates and liberates' the listeners.Would beg ARR to concentrate on pronunciation's for ALL of his songs, MOST of his do have good pronunciation's. BTW, a good 'Lyrical Pronunciation' is also a SOUND.
[arr] KM Musiq Studios, Los Angeles...?
From Puli's Album CreditsRECORDED AT PANCHATHAN RECORD-INN AND AM STUDIOS, CHENNAI AND KM MUSIQ STUDIOS, LOS ANGELES Is this ARR's LA studio?
[arr] Working with Usher, Dido, but not for my album: A.R. Rahman
Published: July 5, 2010 08:47 IST | Updated: July 5, 2010 08:49 ISTWorking with Usher, Dido, but not for my album: A.R. RahmanIANS [A.R. Rahman poses for a portrait during a rehearsal in California. File photo] AP A.R. Rahman poses for a portrait during a rehearsal in California. File photo Oscar-winning Indian composer A.R. Rahman says contrary to reports, he will not be collaborating with UB star Usher and pop singer Dido for his next album, but for a different project. I will be collaborating with Usher and Dido, but it is not for my next album as everyone is saying. It is for some other project, the details of which I can't reveal yet, Rahman told IANS in a telephonic interview from London. I'm concentrating on my world tour right now, and my work on the collaboration will start after it is over, added the composer who is rehearsing for his European performances in London. Rahman, who has worked with music giants like Andrew Lloyd Webber, Kylie Minogue, Nicole Scherzinger of Pussycat Dolls, and over 60 international musicians including Quincy Jones and Lionel Ritchie in a charity single, is touring the US and Europe as part of his Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour concert. The 44-year-old has already covered many places in the United States, including New York, New Jersey, Washington DC and Chicago among others. The next leg of the tour will be in Britain and different European countries. Rahman, who shone on the global arena with his work in Slumdog Millionaire that fetched him double Oscars, says he has put his Hollywood ventures on hold for the time being. I did get offers from a number of directors in Hollywood, but right now I'm not taking anything because I don't have the time due to my world tour. So I have postponed that for some time. Rahman, who cancelled the North American leg of his Jai Ho concert after a lighting rig collapsed in Detroit before the show, is rehearsing for his next tour, which includes concerts in Zurich, Paris, Amsterdam and then London. One of the most downloaded composers in Britain, Rahman will perform July 23 at LG Arena in Birmingham, to be followed by shows in the two biggest arenas in London O2 and Wembley on July 24 and July 25 respectively. Victory Entertainments is promoting his concerts in Britain. Apart from the Oscars, the ace composer, also known as the Mozart of Madras, has won a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe and two Grammy Awards. Asked what makes him a global celebrity, Rahman said: Well it's tough for me to tell you what it is. I think it's just about the timing. First, `Slumdog Millionaire' happened, then all the awards followed and then one thing led to another. Before making it big in the global arena, Rahman infused freshness in Indian film music with his amazingly good compositions in Roja, Bombay, Rangeela, Lagaan and Jodhaa Akbar and his work was appreciated with four National Film Awards. Back home he has two projects to look forward to Pawan Kalyanstarrer Telugu film Puli and director Shankar's forthcoming Tamil science-fiction Endhiran that has Rajnikant and Aishwarya Rai in lead roles. When asked how he manages everything from Hindi to regional to international projects, the maestro said: It is not such a problem managing everything. It goes on simultaneously. Also, I have a very hardworking team, which is always there to help me. It's not just Rahman who has a musical mind in his family; son Amin is also showing signs of his father's talent. The sixyearold sang a song in the Hollywood film, Couples Retreat. So will Rahman encourage his son to get into the industry? Right now, we can't say anything. He is too young. It all depends, when he grows up, said the ace composer. Link : http://www.thehindu.com/arts/music/article501175.ece?css=print http://www.thehindu.com/arts/music/article501175.ece?css=print
[arr] When Rahman danced to her steps
Choreographer Rujuta Vaidya tells Arthur J Pais she's lucky to be working on Rahman's concert. Rujuta Vaidya, who has worked on the television hit filmCheetah Girls 3 -- One World and whose Bollywood-inspired dance steps energized Britney Spears on her international Circus Tour, is collaborating with A R Rahman once again. She has choreographed several dance items for Rahman's Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour, which kicked off its multi-city tour in New York on June 11. Last year she teamed up with Hollywood choreographer Fatima Robinson (who has worked with Michael Jackson, Prince, Fergie and Rihanna) in designing the dance movements for Rahman's Oscar-winning songs at the Academy Award ceremony. We interviewed her between rehearsals for the Rahman concert: How excited are you about this show? Tears come to my eyes when I think about how blessed I am. The one and only A R Rahman is on stage rehearsing his piece, just after Hariharan left the stage with eight amazing singers. Twelve dancers continue to trudge through all the choreography they have to perfect in the next 10 days, with dance styles [that alternate between] modern, jazz, hip-hop, bhangra, Bharata Natyam, and Kathak, amongst many others. I am lucky to be one of the fortunate few who got an opportunity to be a part of this amazing journey. I have had an opportunity to work alongside the extremely talented Amy Tinkham. Rehearsals are quite intense, because there is so much to be done in so little time. Each day flies by and seems to be too short for every department involved in the tour. We all only wish we had a few more hours in the day to complete what we need to get done. But we all know how amazing the end product is going to be. This show is a pleasure to work on because I am surrounded by immensely talented people. Choreographing such professional dancers is actually quite exhilarating! At times it seems as if the possibilities are endless with the lot of dancers that I have been given to work with. I mean, if you tell some of them to stand on their head and do a couple of dance moves and then flip over and do a few more, shockingly enough, they CAN! Hopefully, all the choreographers on this tour, including myself, will be able to bring some very entertaining pieces to South Asians and anyone who loves Indian music and dance, all across the US. What was it like working with Rahman for the first time? [The Academy Awards] was the first time I had worked with such a humble artist. He was so easy-going and calm. There is a certain peaceful aura that surrounds him that he also brings to the working environment, which had made the whole Oscar experience that much more enjoyable. There was also a sort of camaraderie that was happening during that time, because that performance was a first for almost all of us involved. It was amazing to be able to share that experience first hand with A R Rahman. The promoters of the show and Rahman feel theJai Ho concert 2010 is going to be unique. This event is going to be an experience of a lifetime for some. Most Bollywood tours that come to the US haven't had American-based production companies. This tour is formatted like a mainstream pop concert. Many South Asians in this country, who are of my parents' generation or older, have never been exposed to these types of concerts. I am almost certain most of the people going to this concert have no idea of what's in store for them. With that said, I don't want to reveal too much. The audiences will just have to come and see for themselves, history in the making. Link : http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/jun/25/slide-show-1-interview-w\ ith-rujuta-vaidya.htm http://movies.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/jun/25/slide-show-1-interview-\ with-rujuta-vaidya.htm
[arr] Multiple injuries reported in Silverdome stage collapse
By DAVE PHILLIPS Of The Oakland Press Multiple injuries were reported this afternoon in a stage collapse at the Silverdome. Chris Haney, assistant chief of the Pontiac Fire Department, said the incident is not as bad as it initially appeared to be, but some injuries were reported. The incident occurred around 4:45 p.m. Haney said there was not an event taking place at the Silverdome, but crews were apparently setting up for a future event. Link : http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/06/19/news/local_news/doc4c1d46926f61b990888627.txt
[arr] Re: JAI HO tour!! Major Accident as Stage Collapses in Detroit!
A comment posted in response to a article on The Oakland Press a day before the concert their opened for a concert is that place even safe to go in i drove by and the weeds were taller than a 30 year old oak tree,this place is a dump and unsafe please tear it down if this is the way your going to keep it up this is a sad day for such a beatful city. Link - http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/06/18/entertainment/doc4c1a9d5a72591816300717.txt
[arr] The Hindu : Raavanan - Masterstroke yet again
Published: June 19, 2010 16:54 IST | Updated: June 19, 2010 17:54 IST Generally a Mani Ratnam film isn't about good vs. evil. It's more about good taking on good and evil, evil. Because his protagonists are a blend of black and white! Plaudits to him for scouting for, and zeroing in on some of the country's awesome virgin locations! Generally a Mani Ratnam film isn't about good vs. evil. It's more about good taking on good and evil, evil. Because his protagonists are a blend of black and white! The pattern that was evident even in Ratnam's Tamil debut, Pagal Nilavu, keeps coming to the fore often. It was strong in Nayakan and Thalapathi, and is equally forceful in his latest offering, Raavanan (U). A solid story (so what if it is inspired?), a fairly taut screenplay, well-rounded characters and able direction set Raavanan apart. A dynamic hero who has honed his skills to perfection and a ravishing heroine who comes up with a riveting show are its other pluses. With every venture Vikram seems to raise the bar higher. Myriad emotions of love, animus, anguish and joy dance on his face in quick succession! At times, he seems to go overboard in his howls, but when the character is multi-layered it has to be so. Aptly conveying the dichotomy between the leanings of the mind and heart and the angst of the screaming `heads' inside him, Vikram lifts the role to an admirable level. This is easily Aishwarya Rai's most genuine performance till date. Agony, relief or confusion, her eyes speak volumes. The actor has slogged it out through rough terrains, slippery rocks and gaping craters, all in the rain. Kudos to her grit! Another commendable feature is that she has dubbed for some of her scenes. Though most of it has been handled by Rohini, the difference isn't noticeable. And either way, her lip sync is perfect. Prithviraj plays top cop Dev with élan, though the character's turnabout midway through the crisis snatches away the regard it had earned earlier. The character takes a beating when Dev mindlessly aims his gun at the truce-maker from the enemy camp. His lack of tact is disappointing. That's when heroism and villainy merge, and Veera emerges as the positive hero in the viewer's mind. Vikram's dominating screen presence has a lot to do with the shift in favour of Veera. It's refreshing to see Mani Ratnam, Prabhu and Karthik come together after Agni Nakshatram. Priya Mani as Vennila emerges with a short but impact-making enactment, while Prabhu, acting as a shield for his brother Veera, is another interesting cameo. As the astute, fun-loving boozer, Karthik is a joy to watch. And Munna, who is initially a mere supernumerary, scores in the vital sequence where he encounters Dev. Parallels between the epic and the film are easy to draw. Forest guard Gnanaprakasam (Karthik) meeting Ragini in the forests a la Hanuman is one of the many such. The best part of the screenplay is that Ratnam gets down to business straightway with the kidnap drama taking off even as the film opens. His acumen is also evident in the interspersions of crisp romantic interludes between Ragini (Aishwarya) and Dev, and in the incidents that lead to her plight. And beneath the game of cat and mouse runs the smoothly textured love of Veera. Yet narration dithers towards the end when two song sequences follow each other in a matter of minutes. Otherwise, editor Sreekar Prasad is an asset to Raavanan. Plaudits to Ratnam for scouting for, and zeroing in on some of the country's awesome virgin locations! Sameer Chanda's art adds to the impact and these have been captured in breathtaking fashion by lens men Santosh Sivan and V. Manikandan. The `Kodu Potta ' number stands out as a showcase of the protagonist's mindset that comes out clearly in Brinda's choreography. Aishwarya's graceful movements for the `Kalvarae' song exemplify the expertise of dancer Shobana, who has designed the footwork. Raavanan's stunts are stunning. A remarkable job by action choreographers Shyam Kaushal and Peter Hein! Among A. R. Rahman's numbers, `Usirae Pogudhae ' is a treat and re-recording scales great heights, with backing vocals doing a splendid job. The lyric component (Vairamuthu) that weaves in references to the Ramayana is sheer wizardry! In the early years, pithy exchanges between the characters were Ratnam's trademark. So just when you feel that the voice modulation and responses of the characters are predictably Ratnam, dialogue writer Suhasini changes tack to make the exercise spontaneous and, at times, thought-provoking. Living up to the hype and hoopla of a product isn't easy. Raavanan has done it. And why only the Ramayana? What about Ratnam's own Roja where instead of the heroine, the hero was kidnapped? Or the evergreen tale of do-gooder and outlaw Robin Hood? Eventually it's the treatment that makes the end product a bane or boon for the viewer. Raavanan is a boon! Raavanan Genre: Drama Director: Mani Ratnam Cast: Vikram, Aishwarya
[arr] The Hindu : Raavan opens to rave reviews in the US
Published: June 19, 2010 09:14 IST | Updated: June 19, 2010 15:56 IST Mani Ratnam's Raavan is getting rave reviews in the American media with the New York Times making it a Critics' Pick, a distinction rarely if ever earned by an Indian film. The Los Angeles Times as also entertainment trade papers Variety and Hollywood Reporter too have praised the film that opened Friday on over 2200 screens around the world in 35 countries including US and Canada. Raavan has Bollywood glamour aplenty, with the lovely if occasionally dramatically challenged Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, [Abhishek] Bachchan's wife, playing the Sita stand-in, said the New York Times. The real star, though, is Ratnam, a talented visual storyteller who directs action crisply and fills the screen with striking images. Artful but not arty, Ratnam, whose films include `Dil Se' and `Guru,' delivers the goods, said the influential mainstream daily praising A.R. Rahman's excellent score and an eye-popping climactic battle... on a teetering suspension bridge. And that, folks, is entertainment, was the Times' verdict. The Hollywood Reporter looks at Raavan as a Pan-Indian saga with epic sweep, intense emotion and gorgeous images. Filled with rich colours and lively action, Mani Ratnam's classically themed epic brings together the mythology of Indian culture and the flair and fun of Bollywood with tremendous flourish, it says. Praising cinematographers Manikandan and Santosh Sivan, production designer Samir Chanda and editor A. Sreekar Prasad for serving Ratnam superbly with images, settings and vitality that take one's breath away, the publication thinks success is inevitable throughout India and with expat audiences. Such is the flare of the filmmaking that international audiences also can be expected to respond positively. Consistently one of India's most versatile and exciting directors, Ratnam angles for one of his bigger commercial vehicles by mixing knockout action sequences, primal dramatic elements and superstar Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who stays ravishing even as she's sent through the physical wringer opposite husband and co-star Abhishek Bachchan, says Variety. Stellar cast and good word of mouth look to draw strong B.O. worldwide, it forecasts. In the Los Angeles Times' view Bollywood superstar Abishek Bachchan has the title role of the romantic adventure epic, but the movie belongs to his exquisite real-life wife Aishwarya Rai. Ratnam and his colleagues give Bollywood fans full value. Ratnam's pace is steadfastly brisk, and his film is replete with dizzying camerawork, myriad complications, violent mayhem, broad humour, usual musical interludes, a cliffhanging climactic confrontation and a finish that strikes a note of poignancy.
[arr] Silverdome Show Cancelled After Stage Collapse
Pontiac (WWJ) -- The Jai Ho Ar Rahman show, scheduled for Saturday night at the Pontiac Silverdome has been cancelled after a stage collapse. Three minor injuries were reported. Pontiac police were not releasing any information about the incident. A spokesman for the Silverdome says ticketholders can get refunds. Rahman won an Academy Award for his work on Slumdog Millionaire. Jai Ho: The World Tour 2010 began June 11 in New York and concludes July 25 in London, England. Link - http://www.wwj.com/Silverdome-Show-Cancelled-After-Stage-Collapse/7505862
[arr] FB :Technical issues with the stage have caused the cancellation of the concert.
Technical issues with the stage have caused the cancellation of the A.R. Rahman concert this evening. All tickets will be refunded in full, we'll post more information as it becomes available Link : http://www.facebook.com/Silverdome
[arr] 8-10 injured, none seriously
From 'The Oakland Press' staff writer Dave Phillips twitter account... 8-10 injured, none seriously. Link : http://twitter.com/dave_phillips1
[arr] ARR working on a nonfilm album
Rahman says he's been approached about collaborations by most of the artists he joined for the We Are the World: 25 for Haiti single earlier this year. But, he adds, I'm taking it easy. I want to finish my album first. That project is a nonfilm album of original songs that will target the North American markets he conquered with Slumdog Millionaire. It's a work in progress, Rahman reports. I've had three or four sessions already. The music is probably an extension of what `Jai Ho' did but going more friendly in terms of English audiences. It's retaining the same kind of magic, hopefully. Link : http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2010/06/18/entertainment/doc4c1a9d5a72591816300717.txt
[arr] AR Rahman and Michael Jackson: Whats the Real Story?
http://blog.mtviggy.com/2010/06/15/ar-rahman-and-michael-jackson-whats-the-real-story/
[arr] Google Realtime Search Results for ARR
Bookmark this and use it to search for ARR related info using Google's Realtime Search http://www.google.com/search?esrch=RTSearchtbs=rltm%3A1q=a+r+rahman
[arr] (Non ARR) - Oscars toughen up best song rules
Link - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8123883.stm Oscars toughen up best song rules No Oscar will be awarded for best song at next year's ceremony if none of the tunes are deemed to be good enough, organisers have announced. New rules mean that every song entered must get a minimum score of 8.25 on a scale of six to 10 when voted for by Academy music members. We're trying to improve the quality, said composer Bruce Broughton, head of the Academy's music branch. He added the move would make entries as good as possible. Honorary Oscar There's been a lot of talk about the songs in films, the lack of memorability compared to songs in the past, the almost forgettability of some of them said Mr Broughton. The music branch of the Academy has about 230 members, who rate each song entry. In another move, the Academy is moving its honorary Oscars out of the main ceremony and will instead present them at a separate event. Academy president, Sid Ganis, said creating a separate ceremony will ensure that each honouree will be given his or full due. The first honorary Oscars event will take place in November. The change will also mean the main awards ceremony next year will be shorter. The show has often attracted criticism for its long running time.
[arr] Photos - AR Rahman : Global Ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership
Some of the photos may have been already viewed... http://www.stoptb.org/news/archives/rahman/slideshow/
[arr] Mettu Podu - Alltime favorites by Rehman
Source - http://thenitknumbskulls.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/mettu-podu-alltime-favorites-by-rehman/ You are warned. Long Post Ahead. I'm pretty sure every urban South Indian has one of these. Quite obviously Rahman would score music for all those feel-good flicks that would be megahits. And even if they were not, the music would be a superhit for sure which meant you'd hear of them. And hear them over and over again. Either on the radio or in the interval at the movies, or in weddings, or in someone's car, or on TV . basically there was no escape. And no one wanted one either the music was different, and good. So you end up having a lot of memories tangled with quite a few of these songs. Some of these songs manage to stick with you through the ages and enter the hallowed portals of what you consider `alltime great' songs. Here are mine: * Mettu Podu from Duet: A very nice fusion-ish song. I suspect the lead character was made a saxophonist just so that ARR could use nice sax melodies for the songs in the movie. It's a nice idea to have a wedding musician who plays the sax (in the movie) it just sounds like the nadaswaram with a more fusion-ish feel. The same movie had some really soulful songs like En Kaadhalae and Anjali, all rendered awesomely by SPB. But Mettu Podu is the feel-good song in the album, and no matter how many times I listen to it, it only seems to get better. * Margazhi Poove from May Madham: Sonali Kulkarni's debut. Movie's about a young girl yearning to be free from her overbearing father and a stuttering fiance. And this song is where she talks about all the things she'd love to do, while on a morning walk. This song had the suprabhatam as its opening . gives the song a really good feel. The whole zest for life and freshness Sonali Kulkarni is supposed to have in the movie is reflected in this one song. * Signore Signore from Kannathil Muthamittaal: People might like Vellai Pookal for its social message about peace and all, or adore Jayachandran's soulful rendition of the title track. I however can't get this song out of my head. The baila tunes and Sinhalese words demand to run through my head atleast once a day. It's stock baila, just like Surangani, and possibly many other songs in the genre, but the cheerful mood of the song stands out against the serious mood of the rest of the movie. It's the current song stuck in my head. * Pettai Rap from Kaadhalan: This song needs no introduction, does it? I like the lyrics too deep philosophical ponderings about life and death appropriate for a song to be sung at a funeral procession. And I have fond memories of this song from school :) when our seniors choreographed it awesomely for the annual day, transvestite and all. * Allay Allay from One Two Ka Four: Sad movie, sad SRK, boring Juhi Chawla, irritating kids, silly villain. And this cute song comes along. I've never watched the video ever. Just as well, I guess I've had it upto here being disappointed by insipid videos for great songs. * Paarkaathey Paarkaathey from Gentleman: Yet another let's-live-life-and-have-fun song sung by a funloving girl. And this singer was called Minmini - with such a cool singer with such a cool name, which teenaged girl wouldn't love this one? Turns out my bathroom-singing-neighbor-akka definitely did. I hadn't met this much-older girl ever she stayed in the next street, her house was behind mine, and I could hear her sing in the bathroom. I used to hate this girl because she sang classical songs in the bathroom very well, prompting mom to begin comparisons and then one day she begins to sing this song and thus became my first pop idol. I don't think I've seen her, ever. But her 8 am voice singing Mangta Hai and Maragathavalli manasasmarami with the same zest continues to be an inspiration, more than a decade since I heard it last. * Nila Kagirathu from Indira: Suhasini Mani Ratnam's directorial debut. It had some extremely Suhasini-ish lines in the screenplay. And no, that is not a compliment. The tagline was very Suhasini too: Idhu peNNin kadhaialla, idhu maNNin kadhai - This isn't the story of a girl, it is the story of the land. I didn't much understand the movie, but the music was godawesome. Back then, Arvind Swamy was still goodlooking, if a bit chubby, and his intro song was good enough to keep humming every now and then. And then there was one patriotic one picturized on Anu Haasan and a bunch of schoolchildren. But Nila Kagirathu was the one that made the most impact. The more famous version was a little girl singing it.. on her own, and not because a band of aunts and grannies tempted her with promises of chocolates, unlike me. I dreaded being in the room when the song/video played - some or the other adult would invariably compare the girl singing with me and say `You should also sing like her'. My biggest doubt back then was how could this little
[arr] Jai Ho is by far the biggest chart beneficiary of an Oscar Best Song win
Source - http://idolator.com/5169688/the-reverse-swift-cyrus-scales-charts-with-l\ ess-funky-more-honky-tonk Snippets from the post... While I was on hiatus last week, the biggest mover on the Hot 100 was Jai Ho, A.R. Rahman's energizing theme from Slumdog Millionaire. The song exploded from No. 100 up to No. 15 in the week just after the song and the movie won their respective Oscars. (This week, it's back down to No. 36.) Digital sales of the song were the primary catalyst for last week's big move, catapulting from about 22,000 in the week leading up to Oscar Sunday, to 130,000 the week after, a nearly sixfold increase. But Top 40 radio jumped on the song also; it ranked 47th among all songs at pop radio last week. The bad news: most of that airplay is coming from the remix featuring vocals from lead Pussycat Doll (and Idolator punchline) Nicole Scherzinger. Hence, on the Hot 100, the song's full credits read, Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny), by A.R. Rahman The Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger. (Smells like the solo-career-stoking credit Wham! featuring George Michael used for Careless Whisper back in the day.) The good news: digital-song buyers have better taste than radio programmers - Rahman's original recording is handily outselling the PCD remix. In the week just after the Oscars, the ratio was nearly four-to-one in favor of Rahman by himself (103,000 downloads, versus 27,000 for the PCD version). This week, the ratio's down to about two-to-one, but Rahman still outsells La Scherz (36,000 to 18,000). One last, fun tidbit: Best as I can tell-going just by Hot 100 data over the last 50 years - Jai Ho is by far the biggest chart beneficiary of an Oscar Best Song win in history. No song has ever risen dozens of spaces up the chart just one week after the ceremony. Mostly, that has to do with timing. Jai Ho is an emerging hit right now, whereas most years, the ultimate award-winner either wasn't a chart hit at all, or it had already topped the charts weeks or even months before the Oscar ceremony (e.g., 1971's Theme from Shaft, 1978's Last Dance, 1986's Take My Breath Away, 1997's My Heart Will Go On, 2002's Lose Yourself, among many others). Among the few songs that needed the Oscar boost to fly up the charts, to varying degrees, were such '70s winners as Barbra Streisand's The Way We Were and Evergreen; the Carpenters' cover of For All We Know; Maureen McGovern's The Morning After; and Keith Carradine's I'm Easy. And before Jai Ho, the Oscar winner with the most visible improvement in the week right after the ceremony was Bruce Springsteen's 1993 winner Streets of Philadelphia, which crept up a couple of spaces to enter the Top 10 in April 1994, right after the Boss collected his statue.
[arr] AR Rahman and multiple order thinking
Source - http://tickledbylife.com/index.php/ar-rahman-and-multiple-order-thinking/ I practice a kind of thinking called multiple order thinking. This means that I try to go beyond the obvious and the apparent. At first I try and get into the second order thinking where one can grasp what lies beneath. In the third order I try to get at the underlying concepts of deeper significance to others at community, nation or universal level. Take AR Rehman's statement at the Oscar ceremony and at Chennai on his arrival. I reproduce here what he said at Chennai: It's a starting point in my career and will indeed make a difference in fans' approach towards good music. My award's message was said clearly in my acceptance speech. In my life, I always had a choice between love and hate and I chose love. That is my philosophy in life and in music. I chose to live a life overriding differences between people, states, language and religion. My fans should do the same. As fans congregated outside his home in the south western suburb of Kodambakkam, Rahman was keen to ensure that neighbours were not disturbed in the dead of night. It is clear that Rehman thinks deeply and has a message for all of us. His message carries authenticity because he is known to practice what he preaches. Thus his modesty is touching when he said It's a starting point in my career. This is all the more surprising in the context of Bollywood where giant size egos are the norm. His decision to choose love over hate is directed at all those who choose the opposite these people are too well known to bear enumeration here. Rehman show us all the way to managing multiple identities - Tamilian, bollywood/tollywood star, muslim, Indian, international - all wrapped in one seamless fashion. His music can switch from Carnatic to Sufi to Lebanese to Salsa all in one song! He himself can switch from talking about Allah to speaking about Iraiavanthe Tamil Hindu word for God. In the face of some consternation among orthodox muslims, Rehman sang with added gusto I thought Vande Matram. Not many may have noticed that he has introduced maybe a hundred new young singers to the Tamil and Hindi screens his faith in the youth of India is evident in his statement that he would like youngsters to take a different view of music after his winning the Oscar. His request that his fans ought not to disturb his neighbours in the dead of night attracts attention to a long forgotten quality in Indiaconsideration for others. As for Resool Pookutty what he said has gone less noticed maybe because sound mixing is too esoteric for the layman. He said that he considered his Oscar award as God's gift on the occasion of Shivratri. He made another profound statement there was one `sound' before which there was no sound and after which also there will be no sound. He was referring to the Hindu concept of the cosmic sound OM. The significance of these statements lies in what to me is a rare instance of a Hindu not being shy of his Hindu identity in public. In our perverted understanding of secularism it had become unfashionable for a Hindu to be so in public. I am an atheist by the way. Both these achievers together convey anther message to all of us especially the younghumble origins need not prevent you from aspiring for and achieving great success. How do these guys covey their message? Dil se. K.R. Ravi is South Asia's first Dr.Edward De Bono certified public trainer in lateral thinking, and a pioneer in spreading lateral thinking in the Indian corporate sector. For more details, visit http://www.krravi.com or contact him at creater...@hotmail.com.
[arr] Jai Ho is no longer an Indian desire! - From the co-founder of MindTree
Source - http://blog.nasscom.in/emerge/2009/02/27/%E2%80%98jai-ho%E2%80%99-is-no-longer-an-indian-desire/ Last night, I was meeting the chief technology officer of a company in Chicago over dinner in an Italian restaurant. An elderly waiter came to our table, smothered the signature roasted garlic with olive oil and before announcing the specials of the evening with the usual pomposity of restaurants that serve good food, looked at me and asked if I have seen the movie? Not yet, I replied. He proudly said he had and that he did so three weeks before it walked away with 8 Oscars. And yes, I saw the Oscar ceremony as well and you know what made me feel good? - He asked me with his heavy Italian accent. Without waiting for my reply, he intoned, The movie is about people of an Indian city, but the characters - so many of them - are Moslems and the Music Director - Rah-Man - is a Moslem!. The future belongs to India After the dinner, on my drive back to my hotel, I was seeing a replay of the Oscar ceremony in my mind. The effortlessness with which Rahman was walking in and out of the stage, when he was crooning, making his acceptance speech in English laced with unrehearsed Hindi and Tamil, it all looked as if the 8 Oscars were no stretch - they were just a logical, expected act of flow. Jai Ho is no longer an Indian desire; it is part of a universal stimulus package!
[arr] Interest In Slumdog Content Peaks Post Oscars; Caller Tune Subscriptions Jump
Source - http://www.contentsutra.com/entry/419-interest-in-slumdog-millionaire-content-peaks-post-oscars/ Interest In Slumdog Content Peaks Post Oscars; Caller Tune Subscriptions Jump By Sruthijith KK - Tue 24 Feb 2009 04:50 AM PST Slumdog Millionaire`s superb showing at the Academy Awards yesterday image and the fever-pitch hype preceding it meant that interest over the film and its content peaked among mobile and Internet users. Following are the findings of digital content consumption relating to Slumdog Millionaire as measured by the film's digital media rights owners Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt Ltd. -The search volume for Slumdog Millionaire content has doubled in India and tripled worldwide over the last 48 hours. -More that half a million mobile subscribers in India have set Jai Ho as their caller ring back tone. -There are approximately quarter of a million searches per day for film content in India; the maximum searches over this weekend were related to Slumdog Millionaire. -More that 80% of the Slumdog Millionaire content searched is for Jai Ho. Note that the search volumes include mobile and online searches. The rise in interest on Slumdog is unprecedented. This will also mean higher interest worldwide in everything Rahman, said Saleem Mobhani, COO, Hungama. On iTunes, Slumdog Millionaire is the top album and Jai Ho is the 7th most downloaded track. On radio, the focus on Jai Ho and A.R. Rahman peaked yesterday. We played Jai Ho many times yesterday, as also the other tracks from Slumdog Millionaire. Yesterday was the celebration for the award and today also the number of repeats have stayed higher, said Indira Rangarajan, who heads programming at Radio Mirchi in Mumbai.
[arr] Get a chance to talk to AR Rehman (only for USA?)
Airtel Callhome now bring you a chance to speak to Oscar award winner AR Rehman. All you need to do is leave a message for Rehman congratulating him on his Oscar win. If your's is the most interesting and unique message you will get a chance to speak to the maestro himself! All shortlisted entries will win personally autographed music CDs by A R Rehman How to Call Dial US tollfree/ local access number Enter your Account ID and Password Dial 54321 and follow the voice prompts to record your message for Rehman
[arr] Boyle's father lauds Rahman's music
Source - http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200902241560.htm Boyle's father lauds Rahman's music London (PTI): Slumdog Millionaire's Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle's father has praised AR Rahman's music in the movie, but is not too enthused about the film and dismissed it as just reasonable. Based in Radcliffe in Greater Manchester, 88-year-old Frank Boyle stayed up all night with family and friends watching his son's glory at the Oscars, but did not go over the top in his praise for the film. Slumdog Millionaire won eight Oscars awards with two going to AR Rahman. He said: I think it's reasonable. He is not making films for me. He is making them for younger filmgoers so I won't say anything more about it. I really liked the music I thought it was wonderful. I always knew that Danny would be successful but I never thought he would be the number one director in the world. He has always been interested in films. He got into it when he was a boy. But Boyle's twin sister, Maria, is delighted by her brother's success. She told The Daily Telegraph: It was a tremendous night at the Oscars, we've not spoken to him yet although we sent a text. We did speak to him on Monday afternoon and the kids were in a limo on the way to the ceremony. It was fantastic to see him up there and great that he spoke about us because he had a lot of people to thank. I can't believe he referred to Radcliffe.
[arr] Slumdog brings smile on Vajpayee's face
Source - http://movies.ndtv.com/newstory.asp?section=MoviesSlug=Slumdog+brings+smile+on+Vajpayee%27s+faceId=ENTEN20090084676keywords=bollywood Slumdog brings smile on Vajpayee's face Press Trust of India Tuesday, February 24, 2009 (New Delhi) The golden run of Slumdog Millionaire at the Oscars and A R Rahman's double win brought smiles on the face of ailing former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who watched the awards at the AIIMS' ICU and even gestured to the staff to have a look at the television. He pointed towards the television when Rahman went on stage to receive the award and there was a broad smile on his cherubic face, said an attending doctor requesting anonymity. The doctor said 84-year-old Vajpayee's eyes were glued to the television when Rahman crooned Jai ho and O saya on the Kodak Theater stage. He could not speak because of tracheotomy but his excitement was visible when he signalled me to come and look at the screen as the award was given to Rahman. He even gestured to all the staff present in the ICU to have a look at the television, he added further. The veteran leader has shown immense improvement since he was admitted at AIIMS following complaints of chest infection which was later diagnosed to be pneumonia. He underwent tracheotomy on February 13 to ease the respiration process and avoid any infection. Vajpayee continues to remain stable but doctors have advised to keep him in ICU till he starts taking solid food. He has been fed through pipes as the tracheotomy tube does not allow him to take food orally. It is medical rule that the tracheotomy tube is kept for three weeks. He is now able to sit and somebody reads out the newspapers to him. He also listens to old film music and watches television as well, added the doctor further. We have kept TV, music system in the ICU and made all the permissible arrangements which suit his interest. He is recovering well. The chest infection has also been resolved, said Sampath Kumar, head of CTVS centre and one of the treating doctors.
[arr] AR Rahman's Roja still audience favourite
Source - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4179899.cms?prtpage=1 AR Rahman's Roja still audience favourite 24 Feb 2009, 0126 hrs IST, Amit Sharma, ET Bureau NEW DELHI: Two Oscars for his work in Slumdog Millionaire may have taken AR Rahman's popularity to new heights, but the songs he composed for his 1992 debut film Roja remain the hot favourites with his Indian fans. A majority of respondents covered by a poll commissioned by ET rate Roja as Rahman's best film album, with Slumdog coming a close second. Dil Se (1997), Taal (1998) and Bombay (1994) complete the list of the maestro's top five albums. Conducted by market research agency Synovate, the five-city survey that covered 257 music lovers among SEC A and A Plus consumers reveal that while a majority of the respondents (86%) across metropolitan India (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmedabad) agree that Rahman's work in Slumdog is his best, the composer's work in Roja emerged their favourite when they were asked to name his top three films. A sizeable chunk of the respondents in Kolkata (86%), Chennai (48%) and Ahmedabad (44%) rated Roja as Rahman's top album while it was the favourite with 30% of those surveyed in Mumbai. The films Dil Se, Taal and Bombay figured prominently among the favourites in Delhi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. Some leading industry figures also feel Slumdog may not be Rahman's best work to date. The legacy of Rahman's music makes it amply clear that he's capable of much better work than Slumdog Millionaire, said lyricist Prasoon Joshi. Composer Aadesh Srivastav agrees. Slumdog Millionaire is not a complete reflection of Rahman's true genius. It's mainly fusion music in a foreign director's film. There are other films where he has done better, he said. Besides his two Oscars at the 81st Academy Awards, Rahman also has won four national awards (the only music composer to have done so) and one British Academy Award (also for Slumdog Millionaire). Apart from scoring music of over100 Indian films, Rahman has also composed music for several international projects such as Bombay Dreams (2002), a stage show; The Lord of The Rings (theatre produc-tion in 2004) and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007).
[arr] Ustad was all praise for Rahman
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4179662,prtpage-1.cms Ustad was all praise for Rahman 24 Feb 2009, 0512 hrs IST, TNN CHENNAI: Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan collaborated with a lot of musicians around the world, but one association was very dear to him - the one with our own composer AR Rahman. The musicians had collaborated on a song Gurus of peace' for Rahman's album Vande mataram'. The album, released in 1997 in commemoration of the 50 years of Indian Independence, was a cry for peace in the subcontinent. This was among the Pakistan qawwal's last recordings. Nusrat considered Rahman to be immensely talented and a good musician. When asked about the then upcoming composer after his last concert in India in Bangalore in July 1997 Nusrat had very encouraging words about Rahman. Acha bachcha hai (He is a good boy), he said. Nusrat was very upset over Indian film composers vandalising his religious qawwalis and remixing them into lewd love songs. He was particularly incensed over the song Allah hu' being changed into I love you' for the movie Auzaar'. Bahut naalayak log hain, he said of such music composers who had no qualms about twisting spiritual songs to suit their own purposes. He reserved all his praise for Rahman, saying he had a lot of tehzeeb (courtesy) and respect for fellow musicians and that he looked forward to working together again. That was not to be; Nusrat died shortly afterwards of cardiac arrest in London on August 16, 1997.
[arr] Grammy winner is proud of AR's double oscar
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4179685,prtpage-1.cms Grammy winner is proud of AR's double oscar 24 Feb 2009, 0533 hrs IST, Daniel P George, TNN For Vikku Vinayakram, who brought laurels to Tamil Nadu by winning music's highest award, the Grammy, in 1992, A R Rahman's double Oscar is a reason to celebrate his own achievement. Feeling proud about A R Rahman's achievement, Vikku Vinyakram says it is only now that the importance of his Grammy Award is slowly sinking in for him. Getting an Oscar is no simple achievement and I am proud of Rahman as he has got two, says Vinaygam. He has done one film, Iruvar,' and several live shows with Rahman in the United States. Rahman is a humble person and a great human being. It is his humility that has brought him this far,'' Vinayakram says. Vinayakram, who won the Grammy in 1992, says he didn't go to receive the award. The citation came home. But now, after Rahman's victory, I feel my award is also important and I am proud of it. I was playing the ghattam in some corner of the world and these guys wanted me and Zakir Hussain to play along with seven other musicians from South Africa, Nigeria and France to cut an album called Planet Drum with a famous musician called Micky Heart. That went on to win the Grammy.'' Vinayakram is floored by Rahman's acceptance speech. It's the real Rahman who said Ella pugazhum Iraivanukke (All glory to the almighty).' Those words will bring him more awards and success in the future. How much media attention did he receive after getting the Grammy? Nobody was bothered and neither was I. But today I feel proud that I too have won an international achievement like Rahman. In fact, I have just dusted the Grammy citation.
[arr] Telecom operators rake in on Slumdog success
Source - http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/telecom-operators-rake-inslumdog-success/00/03/350054/ Celebrations after India's Oscar moment refuse to die down. Now, it is the telecom services providers who are laughing their way to banks, thanks to the Slumdog Millionaire's Oscar sweep. The sudden spurt in demand for the movie's mobile content, especially the song `Jai Ho', has set the cash registers ringing for telecom operators. The song, which got music composer AR Rahman awards in the `Best Original Score' and `Best Song' categories, is now high on the top of popular tunes for mobile ringtones and caller tunes. For instance, the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group's Reliance Mobile has already recorded over a quarter million downloads of Slumdog Millionaire caller tunes and ringtones since the film's nominations and is expecting the download volumes to cross over a million milestone in the next few days. What's more in store. Fuelled by the sudden spurt in demand for Slumdog Millionaire's mobile content, Reliance Mobile is going live with the music of Slumdog Millionaire as well as A R Rahman's most memorable hits. The company is introducing two special sites loaded extensively with Slumdog Millionaire and A R Rahman content. These two special sites will be accessible through the Hot New application of R-World. The mobile content on both the sites, called Slumdog Millionaire Zone and A R Rahman Zone, will consist of special wallpapers, ringtones, caller tunes as well as exclusive videos. When contacted, a Reliance Mobile spokesperson confirmed the development. Similarly, Airtel has so far registered 50,000 downloads of the chartbuster as ringtones. Even as most service providers are opening up new avenues to cater to the latest demand related to the mobile content, subscribers are welcoming them with open arms by downloading, sharing and copying the song since the movie went to the Oscars. While a Vodafone spokesperson said that the company was still analysing data related to the popularity of the song from Slumdog Millionaire, he said, There is definitely a spurt in the number of subscribers downloading ringtones and availing caller tunes since the last 3-4 days. Airtel's Hello Tune service comes with a rental of Rs 30 per month. The service is also backed with content, including the latest Hindi and English songs priced at Rs 15 per download. Similarly, Vodafone charges a monthly subscription of Rs 30 for its caller tunes. According to a survey, value added services (VAS) constitutes 7 per cent of the total telecom revenue of Indian operators. On the other hand, digital music (including CRBT and ringtones) constitutes 35 per cent of the VAS revenue. The survey further states that operators still dominate the revenue sharing arrangement in VAS. Of the amount paid by end users, 60-70 per cent is kept by operator, aggregator gets 20-25 per cent and content owner gets 10-15 per cent.
[arr] Around 3.3 mn Indians watched Oscars on TV
Source - http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/around-33-mn-indians-watched-oscarstv/00/03/350048/ This is nearly 3 per cent of India's cable and satellite TV viewers. About 3.3 million cable television viewers in India watched music composer AR Rahman receive his two Oscar awards (during both live and repeat telecasts) at the 81st Annual Academy Awards on Star Movies on Monday, the best-ever viewership figures for the channel in the past 10 years. This is nearly 3 per cent of the total number of cable and satellite TV viewers an extremely good number, considering past coverage data say media planners. In previous years, less than 1 per cent of viewers watched the live telecast of the Oscars. This year, it's almost three times that number, taking into account viewers for both live and repeat telecasts, says a senior executive in a leading Gurgaon-based media agency. According to the latest viewership ratings data provided by the Mumbai-based overnight ratings agency, Audience Measurement and Analytics (aMap), nearly 1.4 million viewers watched the live telecast on Star Movies from 6:30 am to 10 am on Monday morning. Another 1.9 million tuned in to the repeat telecast on the channel later in the evening. Amit Varma, CEO, aMap, says: Clearly, the nation was celebrating, as the viewership of the live telecast of the Academy Awards more than doubled this year to 1.3 million plus, almost a 128 per cent jump over last year's numbers. The spell lasted till the repeat telecast on prime time, where the audiences neared 2 million an increase of over 50 per cent over last year. Star Movies, according to sources, made nearly Rs 1.7 crore from the sponsors and spot-bookings. About 5,500 seconds of advertising time was sold at a premium to the advertisers. Plus, there were 11 sponsors for our special 'Oscar Fever' telecast, said a senior executive of Star Movies. The magic of Slumdog Millionaire, which bagged eight Oscars, also resulted in an over 13 per cent jump in viewership in the US market. According to the preliminary Nielsen estimates, 36.3 million viewers watched the Academy Awards telecast compared to 32 million in 2008, the smallest audience for Oscars in the US in the recent past.
[arr] Jazz News: A.R. Rahman Takes Oscar for Slumdog Original Score, Best Song
Source - http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=30642 A.R. Rahman Takes Oscar for Slumdog Original Score, Best Song Original score: 'Slumdog Millionaire's' A.R. Rahman Rahman, composer of countless Bollywood scores, won for his transporting soundscape in Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle's crowd-pleaser that is part potboiler, part fairy tale. Rahman started writing music for Indian TV ads in the early '90s, eventually switching to film and composing dozens of soundtracks a year. In 2002, Andrew Lloyd Webber commissioned him to write the music for the play Bombay Dreams, which ran in London's West End. Rahman also collaborated with London musician M.I.A. on the film's acclaimed soundtrack. Original song: 'Jai Ho' from Slumdog Millionaire, by A.R. Rahman and Sampooran Singh Gulzar Jai Ho was one of two songs composed by Rahman that was nominated for original song from Slumdog Millionaire. It beat out the other song, O Saya, which was punctuated with stylish vocals from M.I.A., as well as Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman's Down to Earth from Wall-E. Jai Ho was the more accessible of the two Slumdog songs, an uplifting theme also threaded with tension. With lyrics by Sampooran Singh Gulzar, who often goes by the singular name Gulzar, Jai Ho was one of eight awards for Slumdog Millionaire and Rahman's second Oscar of the night. Rahman swept up by worldly influences It was only fitting that Slumdog Millionaire, a British film graced by Bollywood stars, would feature India's star film composer, A.R. Rahman. At 42, the modest maestro has been credited with a staggering number of achievements: scoring more than 100 movies, selling more than 200 million albums and making traditional music cool to Indian youth. Because his songs and soundtracks effortlessly blend Indian and Western influences, Rahman has had a string of hits, making him as well known as, say, composer John Williams (though Williams probably doesn't have a league of obsessed Japanese fans following his concerts). Rahman says that the dramatic, sweeping nature of Slumdog Millionaire and its rags to riches story spanning about 15 years led to the wide variety of music composed. We had everything from the typical Indian '80s music to more futuristic sounds . . . in one sequence, we wanted it to sound like a space shuttle taking off. Normally based out of his home studio and music conservatory in Chennai, India, Rahman composed Slumdog in a whirlwind two months in London. Using the Apple-based Logic Pro digital audio workstation to lay down ideas for director Danny Boyle, he spun notes together that spring to life in the film's emotional arcs. Sunlight on a face or a panoramic city view elicits the spare, singing notes of a sitar. During a mad pursuit through the slums, his violins slice like Bernard Herrmann's in Psycho. Another heart-stopping sequence called Escape pulses with energy, in step with the sound of a rapidly approaching train. Danny was very specific in his ideas. He wanted to hear percussion, a singing voice, Rahman says. For a sequence featuring two young boys running from the police, Rahman collaborated remotely with British-Sri Lankan artist M.I.A., e-mailing vocal and instrumental takes back and forth, resulting in the song O . . . Saya. And Rahman's Jai Ho (May You Win) gets the whole cast dancing. I take music very seriously. If it's not done, it doesn't leave the studio.
[arr] Comments on filmmusicmag.com posting
Post Comments Link - http://www.filmmusicmag.com/?p=2656 # Robert Casady says: February 24th, 2009 at 9:38 am While Rahman's music for `Slumdog' was catchy and modestly interesting, his winning of the award for best score reflects the Academy's infatuation with World Cinema (i.e., anything different). The Academy desperately wants to be perceived as open and progressive, even if it's at the expense of genuine craftsmanship. It's a dreadful shame that other, much better scores were bypassed, particularly Thomas Newman's gorgeous Wall-E. Unforgivable, in my opinion. # Daniel says: February 24th, 2009 at 10:22 am I do not agree with what you are saying. I think that Rahman's score was awesome, and contained enough complexity, and most importantly served the film in a unique proper way. To say that the win is based on the Acedemy's infatuation to become more world is kind of an insult to Rahman. 99 percent of the UNited States composer history has been mostly hollywood traditional caucasion european sounding. The Untied Sates is now more diverse, so we should see this reflected through our cinema and musical scores. Minorities still have a hard time breaking into getting teh top composing jobs, because most studios want what is safe and common. I think that Rahman's win reflects more of where we are as a country (more diverse) and where we are going. I think that it also opens the doors for more different unique composers to get the bigger jobs. Now perhaps directors will take a look at more diverse composers, and more different styles of music. And by the way, I loved teh Wall-E score as well and that it was amazing, and could have definetly won, but I am happy with Rahman's win as well. # Composer says: February 24th, 2009 at 10:33 am Thank you, I could not agree more! I had the pleasure of meeting Thomas Newman and taking the opportunity to let him know how I think he should have won for Shawshank Redemption, at least, and how much I and so many others feel he is highly overdue for the Oscar honor. With all due respect to the, maybe deserved, phenomenon that is Slumdog Millionaire' and its music, imho it's an over-hyped collection of simple, happy-songs that combine cheesy 80's electronica and otherwise silly synth meanderings (btw, I am largely an electronica artist myself, NOT a typical trad. composer), some cliche ethnic percussion and the worst examples of super mainstream East Indian music, which is, of course, completely beside the point since the score and song votes were clearly decided by people who first and foremost was enamored with the movie's message/story regardless of the score. I happen to think that is often the case and also that many of the voters in the Academy's Music Branch are so out-of-touch with contemporary music that they wouldn't know a deservedly cool electronic composition if it hit them square in the middle-ear. Because, for me, this is NOT about so-called REAL music vs. so-called SYNTH SCORES since I think people who complain about this are equally moronic and reactionary. No no, this is about GREAT music, in whatever way it was created and recorded, and in that respect it is a GREAT shame that the Academy, once again, overlooked Mr. Newmans amazing work! # john says: February 24th, 2009 at 11:23 am Last year the academy chose Glen Hansard Marketa Irglova for best song, this year A.R. Rahman, it seems that composers that also sing the title tracks are on a two year roll. The song Rahman wrote is seemingly contemporary Indian with a good dance beat, it could be the academy has shifted from our traditional western values to bring in the singer/songwriter/composer as a more approachable subject; possibly redefining the catagory for the film audience.
[arr] Interesting comment from Gopal's earlier 'AR Rahman: Global tunesmith' posting
Interesting comments from Gopal's earlier 'AR Rahman: Global tunesmith' BBC News posting. Believe it or not AR Rahman's music made a turning point in my life in 1995. Rahman's one after another super hit film music made me rethink about my way of life. I was forcibly recruited into the child soldier wing of the rebel group in Sri Lanka as a teenage boy and was not allowed to listen to cinema songs. But to listen Rahman's songs from popular Tamil movies such as Roja, Kathalan, Thiruda Thiruda, Gentleman, Bombay and Duet; I secretly sneaked out of the rebel base and used to visit a nearby home to listen to these sweet melodies. Eventually I fell in love with a girl and ran away from the rebel movement to live a new life. Thanks to Rahman, that his romantic music made me found someone to share my dreams with. More - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7894174.stm
[arr] An evening of poetry and music in store for Martin Luther King III
Source - http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2009022357600200.htmdate=2009/02/23/prd=th; Imagine if one of the best actors, finest poets and music composers came together for a live show in the city. In one such exotic blend, Kamal Haasan, Vairamuthu and faculty and students of A.R.Rahman's K.M. Music Conservatory will be part of a rather special show in the city on Wednesday. The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai is organising this show to mark the visit of Martin Luther King III, who will arrive here on Tuesday. He is in India to commemorate his parents' historic journey to the country five decades ago. Kamal Haasan will recite the historic `I Have A Dream' speech made by Martin Luther King Jr. at Washington D.C. Being inspired by Gandhi, it is not surprising that Martin Luther King evangelised people into freedom, he told The Hindu on Sunday. Stressing the power of the mass leader's message in the celebrated oration, the actor said: For me, it is an ideological necessity to be part of this event. People say I am not political. I am political, this is my politics. This is the kind of politics that does not work out at the polling booth, but one that belongs to the battle ground, Mr. Haasan added. Describing the event as a family reunion of sorts, he said: It is like cousins and members of a family meeting after a long time. It is a shared family! Poet Vairamuthu has composed a poem especially for the evening. This is a very important occasion. At a time when the entire world is seeking peace, this visit of Martin Luther King III is very significant, he said. Terming the prevalent terrorism as a tsunami and a Damocles' sword hanging above the earth, he said the central idea of his poem was world peace. The younger generation does not know all that much about Martin Luther King. Through this poem, I will make them realise the man he was, said Mr. Vairamuthu, who has described the leader as `Karuppu Mahatma' in his poem. K.M. Music Conservatory, amidst all the anxiety on the eve of the Oscars, is buzzing with activity, with the students and faculty rehearsing for the big evening. They will begin their performance with the instrumental rendition of the Bombay theme followed by the world-famous `Jai Ho .' We are also performing Gandhiji and King's favourite numbers `Vaishnava Janato ' and `We shall overcome.' We present `Vaishnava Janato' in a new form, with a strong Indian flavour interspersed with western harmonies. It has been composed by Palghat Sriram, said T. Selva Kumar, managing director of K.M. Rahman is trying his best to make it for the final rehearsal. The entire team has been practising for the last two weeks, he added. The evening's show is for an invited audience.
[arr] Rahmans team celebrates Oscar win in Chennai
Source - http://www.livemint.com/2009/02/23141222/Rahman8217s-team-celebrates.html There was wild celebration at A R Rahman's AM Studios in Kodambakkam, Chennai, when the musician bagged two Oscarsfor best original score and best songa record for any Indian. A group of 50 people including S Sivakumar, chief sound engineer of Rahman, Sami Durai, artists' coordinator for Rahman's albums, other staff of the recording studio and students from Rahman's school K M Music Conservatory watched the 81st annual Academy Awards in a film screening theatre in A M Studios from 6am on Monday. We are very very happy, said Sivakumar. We expected at least one Oscar but we are extremely happy that Rahman sir got two. The little group, which watched the awards ceremony together, celebrated by cutting a cake immediately after Rahman was pronounced the winner in original score for Slumdog Millionaire as well as for best song for the Jai Ho number in the movie. They also burst crackers and distributed sweets. As Chennai celebrates Rahman's double-win, a felicitation ceremony to be organized on 1 March by Cine Musicians Union in Chennai for his Golden Globe award for best movie score for Slumdog Millionaire would now turn into a bigger event. We are very proud of him. As soon as he got the award (Oscars), he praised God. I thank God, too. said Abu Gabriel, general secretary of Cine Musicians Union. For his hard-work and talent, he definitely deserves this and more. The event would see stars like renowned Carnatic vocalist M. Balamuralikrishna, film director K. Balachander, music composer Ilayaraja and singers Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan and Daler Mehandi. We have invited all musicians from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and of course, Tamil Nadu, Gabriel said. A die-hard fan of Rahman, Harish Venkatraman, who is pursuing his masters in business administration in media and entertainment, is organizing an event in Besant Nagar beach in Chennai this evening. Along with a few friends, I am planning to set up a wishing booth at the beach, where all Rahman fans could write in their wishes and messages to Rahman and we would present this to Rahman personally once he gets back, says Venkatraman. We are also planning to have a small procession at the beach and perhaps we'll sing Jai Ho as we walk along the beach. Augustine Paul, who has worked with leading music directors on western chorus works, said: Rahman is a very good sound engineer by himself. He can beat all the engineers sitting in the room. Even if there is no engineer, he can still finish the recording. He is very fast, is a quick thinker and planner. The good point about him is he hasn't separated himself from the artistes, doesn't put on airs and easy to work with. He works on different projects simultaneously and has used the technology to the maximum. He composes from different places at different times but gets the work done at his studio here. If there are any changes to be made, it gets done in two minutes and is okayed, no matter where he is, Paul added. G Kannan, who joined as an assistant sound engineer at A M Studios over a year ago, says that in the intial days he used to get quite tense while working with him. If he gets an idea, it has to be worked upon quick. One has to keep up the pace with him as he workshe is quite fast. But now, I don't get that tensed. Sridhar also mentioned that Rahman is a little strict when at work but is otherwise a very casual guy. The sound engineers, instrumentalists and other colleagues of Rahman who Mint spoke with were unanimous in saying that Rahman is a cool guy to work with. Almost all of them spoke about his humility and said that is one of the characteristics that makes it easy to work with him. He is a night bird, said Murthy. Rahman brought in a great variety in music. Like, he got in the Arabic style in Tamil songs and his style of blending sounds is beautiful. Peters, who appreciates Rahman for giving the instrumentalists a lot of freedom to play, said: This (Oscars nomination) is well deserved, there is real hard work but the best part is he maintains his level-headedness. He is full of God and music.
[arr] A R Rahman reactions
Source - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4178852.cms?prtpage=1 Rahman's win a great National pride, recognition for Indian music talent, Accolades pour in from people across walks of life Veteran actor, Kamal Hassan,who has worked with AR Rahman in Tenali and Indian said, I am proud of him. This was long overdue and there was a long gap between Oscar wins for India. But the wins today will keep the momentum going. The film was shot sensibly, with a lot of equi-poise. On whether Rahman seemed nervous before the awards, kamal said, rahman is a cool guy and nervousness is not a major part of his psyche. He is only particular about quality. On his message for Rahman, he said, way to go, but remember to come back. Renowned singer Yesudas recalled his association with Rahman's father Sekhar, who was a composer for the Malayalam film industry. Shekhar was a great friend, music director. Rahman proves that silence is the greatest that anyone can achieve. So, I want to tell the younger generation to not just follow Rahman but his efforts as well. Director Rajiv menon, who has worked with him in Sapney and Kandukondain Kandukondain said, Its great that he won these awards by composing Indian commercial film music and not for a Western musical score. One also needs to appreciate the humility of the man. People might get opportunities, or get lucky, but one needs to be able to handle it. Top actor Surya said, Like Rahman would say, I can only say Insha Allah for Rahman's win. Look at his humility. The whole world is talking about him, but he said Ellam Puhazh Iraivanukke ( all fame goes to God) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M Karunanidhi, who is convalescing at a private hospital said, Isai ( Music) in Tamil means Puhazh ( fame). True to this, today, Rahman, born in Chennai, has blossomed and reached the pinnacle and earned a place in the heart of entire artists community in the world. It is a great honour for our son Further, The CM said, By winning the Oscars he has brought laurels to Tamil language, six crore people of Tamil Nadu and also to one billion people living across the country. I consider the awards are gems in his crown Tamil Nadu assembly on Monday unanimously congratulated Rahman for winning two Oscars in recognition of his best music performance in 'Slumdog Millionaire'. Soon after the question hour session, Speaker Avudaiappan read out the congratulatory message saying it was the first time an Indian, especially a person from Tamil Nadu getting the world's most prestigious award. Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu, who along with Rahman got national awards in their respective fields for Mani Ratnam-directed Roja and Kannathil Muthamittlal, said the Oscar Awards given an early age of an artist will be useful for his future. An award given at old age is the one given to the past and an award given at a young age is the one given to the future, Vairamuthu said. He said though Rahman has a good sense of humour he never took efforts to make it public. He loves poetry and music like anything in life. He never diverts his attention. He always loves music, he said. Arvind Swamy, who was the Hero in the Roja Movie said, The whole world is excited by Rahman winning the two Oscar awards. Though I had quit films 10 years ago ( He now heads, Talent Maximus, a staff services firm), the famous song in the Roja film, tuned by Rahman still rings in my ears and very close to my heart. He said , Rahman will be more visible now in the world. His music works are privy to the people in Tamil Nadu and India. With Oscar awards, we can see lot more collaborations between him and international film fraternity. The awards are a great recognition for the Indian music talent. This will earn more respect for our music and lead to more international collaborations. Veteran Music Director, M S Viswanathan told ET, I am very happy to know that Rahman has won the awards. He won them for his talent. It gives me piece of mind. It is a great honour for Tamil Nadu. Gangai Amaran, brother of music maestro Ilayaraja and an all rounder in Kollywood said, There have been geniuses in Tamil cinema before, and the Oscar has been the elusive apple of their eyes, only because they didn't know the right route to showcase their creations in the international arena. Rahman, the boy who grew up in our houses and studios, has managed to achieve that. We are proud! On Ilayaraja's music, he said, My brother owns the music he creates. There is his mark in his music and he wears it proudly on his chest. But, Rahman calls his music God's music, and seems the Oscars prefer God's creations to man's! That is the beauty of it. Kamal Hassan has been trying for the Oscars since the early nineties. And here's a hardworking boy, who creates music that he credits to God, and does not expect awards. He is the one who eventually receives the highest recognition in the music world. On the music score of SM, The music is Indian, with a
[arr] Gates opened for young musicians
Source - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4178926.cms?prtpage=1 Pray for my brother! she says, when asked about what's in store for A R Rahman, the winner of two Oscars a feat that superlatives fail to describe, particularly for an Indian. She has been giving interviews since when the words And the Oscar goes to for the best original score and original song ended in ...A R Rahman, on Monday morning. She is Rahman's sister Fathima, the first in the line of three, all of whom have given their voice to their brother's scores at various times. The family, though much awaiting the award, was hardly prepared for it when it came. Breathless and euphoric, they cheered him on. There was a time, when Lagaan did not win this recognition, that we have been disappointed. It was one of his most heavenly creations, Ms Fathima said. But, now, the family is so excited that it hasn't even planned a celebration for him! Of course, everyday is a celebration, with the wonderful music Anna (big brother in Tamil) creates. And when he arrives at the airport, his fans are bound to have planned something big for him, she said. While this was happening inside the quiet house, hidden on a non-descript lane in Kodambakkam at Chennai, the scene outside the house and Rahman's studio nearby was a study in contrast. Jubiliant students of Rahman's music school KM conservatory were dancing away their high spirits, bursting crackers. We were keeping our fingers crossed yesterday. But, today, it feels like we had known all along that he would win! said Shalan, a student at the school. We learn western as well as Indian classical forms, and most of us aspire to be composers in the Indian film industry, said Sathosh, another student. This win has told us that anything is possible, right from Indian filmdom! The 'gates opened' phenomenon has caught on like wildfire, exciting the music industry across Chennai. Says Faizuddin, the project manager for Rahman's A M recording studio, Our studio was inaugurated in 2005, and we have already received a fair share of foreign clients, particularly from UK. The oscar win is bound to attract more number of foreign clients to the technical capabilities that our studio boasts of. According to KPMG media analyst Nandita Da Cunha, the gates have been opened both ways. While on one hand the Indian film industry bollywood or kollywood, will attract more foreign investment, there will also be significant talent export, she said. Renowned carnatic singer cum modern musician Bombay Jayashree agrees. There was a time when all that Indian musicians could aspire for was a film fare award. Now, not only can they explore international arenas, but also win laurels there! Ms Nandita said, This is an opportunity for sound technicians as our unique blend of IT skills, musical creativity and cost effectiveness will boost our position in the entertainment outsourcing arena, particularly in post production works. While Chennai has traditionally been a hub for the sound industry in the south, North Indian films, including Bengali, Bhojpuri, Marathi ones have been going to Mumbai for their sound processing. This scenario has slightly changed now with each state becoming self sufficient with its own audio studios, said Jayendra Panchapakesan, director of Real Image, a Chennai based post production company, which has done recording projects for Beatles George Harrison in the late nineties, and for a number of Asian and European projects. But, our industry also needs to learn a lesson, in organizing and disciplining itself, to materialize the opportunities that may open up for us, Mr Jayendra said. Moserbaer India entertainment division COO G Dhananjayan echoed the point when he said, There is no doubt the international entertainment industry is likely to view Indian talent with a wide open mind now. Outsourcing of sound engineering works is all set to come. But, attracting foreign investments is dependent on how the industry acts together as a whole, rather than on one genius winning the oscar!
[arr] Chennai goes into celebratory mood as Rahman wins Ocar
Source - http://chennaionline.com/specials/Oscar-ARRahman/news/newsitem.aspx?NEWSID=853dceca-6381-4bcd-80bd-a015f8b55c2bCATEGORYNAME=rahmn People of Chennai broke into celebrations today as its prodigy and music maestro Allah Rakkha Rahman made history becoming the first Indian to receive twin Oscars with his musical score in 'Slumdog Millionaire.' Celebrations erupted in many parts of the city including Kodambakkam, home of Tamil film celebrities, where the 'Mozart of Madras' resides. As local FM networks went gaga with his top scores, Rahman's joyous fans, especially students, celebrated the feat by cutting cakes, distributing sweets, bursting crackers and dancing in parts of the city. Rahman's family members and his fans cut a huge cake right in the middle of the street opposite his house in Kodambakkam and burst crackers. Students of several city colleges also joined the party by distributing sweets while the film fraternity, including leading singers, hailed his achievement. Similar scenes of celebrations were witnessed at the house of Rahman's sister A R Rehana in nearby Virugambakkam. We were just waiting for his name to be announced. I was praying to God at that time, an elated Rehana told PTI. I always wanted him to talk in Tamil after receiving the award and that is the way he spoke; I am happy about it, an overwhelmed Rehana said. Rehana said formal celebrations would be planned after Rahman's return from the US in consultation with his managers, team and fans. Students from various colleges and schools also joined in the celebrations. In the Loyola college, students came out on the streets and distributed sweets. More than 200 students of Everwin Matriculation school wearing Rahman masks expressed their joy in front of a huge cut-out of the Oscar winner. Tamil film personalities, including veteran director K Balachander, screen icon Kamal Haasan and noted playback singer S P Balasubramanium, have lauded Rahman for his feat. In Porayar in Nagapattinam district, thousands of Tsunami victims, who prayed for Rahman's success remembering the healing touch he brought about in their lives in the aftermath of the tragedy, erupted in joy and burst crackers. After Tsunami had struck the region, Rahman made a public appearance in July 2005 at Kottucherrymedu village near Karaikal and spent nearly 10 hours there, enthralling tsunami survivors with his music. Meanwhile, leaders of the state praised the musician for his achievement. Now, we have proved our merit at international level in the film industry. This historic achievement is a matter of great pride for India and every Indian, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said.
[arr] R-Music labels retail chains cash in on Rahman Mania
Source - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4178908.cms?prtpage=1 Don't be surprised if you walk into a Landmark store and are greeted with a 'Jai Ho' rather than the usual 'welcome' or 'may I help you'. With Slumdog Millionaire sweeping the awards ceremony with eight Oscars, two of them for music director AR Rahman, retailers and music labels are leaving no stone unturned to cash in on Raha-mania with special collections and prominent displays. We've put up posters that say 'Slumdog Rules' and are making sure Rahman albums and collections get good visibity and airplay at all our outlets. Slumdog Millionaire, both the book and the music, started flying off the shelves post the Golden Globe awards. And there's been crazy demand today with the Cademy awards as well, Landmark head (marketing) Lijin Thomas told ET. The RPG Group's Music World has a similar tale to tell. There'll be focus on Rahman collections and our stores will highlight the Oscar win, a spokesperson of Spencer's Retail said. The next step will be to talk to music labels and figure out if they're planning any new albums, collections or covers. Our stores will prominently display the full range of Rahman's music, he added. T Series, which has the rights for two of Rahman's latest albums, Slumdog Millionaire and Delhi 6, is working on a best of Rahman collection. We're planning a Rahman Signature series which will be three or four-CD packs that will pack in the best of his muscial genius. It will be out in the next couple of days, said T Series senior general manager (marketing) Arun Kumar. Mr Kumar said they expect a 25-30% increase in offtake of Rahman albums in the coming months. In all, it has the rights to seven ARR titles, including all of the music director's releases last year, Jane Tu Ya Jane Na, Taare Zameen Par, Ghajini. The company, for which 40% revenues come for its digital business, has an exclusive tie-up with Hungama.com for digital downloads. Moserbaer will follow a parallel path, releasing all time favourites of Rahman's compositions- Rang De Basanti, Humse Hai Muquabla, Guru, Dilse, Yuva and Bhagat Singh, as a package titled Rahman the musical maestro, for Rs 294. We have been collecting these movies over the years, and this is, of course, the right time to use them profitably, said Moserbaer India entertainment business COO G Dhananjayan. The company bought the six movies in this collection for a total of Rs 2 crore, and expects to sell 10,000 sets in the first month. It has two more such collections- one in Hindi, and another in Tamil, up its sleeve. People want to see Rahman when they enter a music store now. So, Rahman is a brand for any music label today, Mr.Dhananjayan said. However, Music label old-timers say the bulk of business now comes from digital downloads than hard copy sales in terms of casettes and CDs. Reliance Big Adda has been seeing a 40% increase in the consumption of Rahman related music content in its livestreams. Over the past 24 hours, our 20,000 strong Rahman fans community has seen a 50% jump in activity. The young, digitally hooked crowd is out there, searching for content from their youth icon Rahman, said Big Adda COO Shivanandan Pare. Music labels have also adapted by selling rights to different. We've licensed various companies for digital downloads of all of Rahman's movies in our list. It includes telcos like Airtel and Vodaphone, MP3 kiosk companies like Mango DVM and some web portals, says Ghanshyam Hemdev of Pyramid Audio, which has the rights for the most number of Rahman's movie titles in Tamil, 26 in all, including hits like Gentleman, Bombay and Muthu. An official of Saregama in Chennai told ET enquiries had already started pouring in from music stores on how much they in increase supplies of Rahman's scores. Demand is likely to increase three-fold as shops which used to take around 50 units a day have been asking us if we could start supplying 150-200 from tomorrow, the official said.
[arr] Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik congratulates OSCAR winner A.R Rahman
Source - http://www.orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=11024 Well-known sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik congratulating the team of Slumdog Millionaire and especially A.R Rahman through his sand sculpture by creating the 8 Oscars trophies with a 25 ft long movie rill. Pattnaik took 5 hours with using 5 tones of sand to complete it. Students of his golden sand art institute join hand with him to create this. Before he had created many sculptures of Bollywood stars, former World champion Sudarsan has participated in more than 37 international sand sculpture championships across the world and won many awards for the country. Through his art Sudarsan helped the tsunami victims in India, Earth quick victims, save the endangered Olive Ridley Turtles and spread awareness of the dangers of HIV-AIDS, polio and also tribute to train blast victims.
[arr] Ringa Ringa was done overnight
Source - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4178884.cms?prtpage=1 A R Rahman is known to have brought dozens of young musicians, with no film or playback singing background, into his music team. One such talent is Raqueeb Alam. He is the lyricist who wrote Ringa Ringa in Slumdog Millionaire overnight. Rahman called me from London, one evening and said he would be sending me a music composition on email. What followed was a night-long video chat that resulted in Ringa Ringa, Mr Alam said. The casually dressed gentleman has an unassuming air about him, as he narrates the story. Rahman is, of course, particular about perfection. When I gave him my first verse, he was not very satisfied, he said. When the second verse was presented, the musician okayed it, but gave Alam the sense that he was not completely satisfied with it. And so, I worked on the third verse, and that's went to the studio. The lyricist has one other song verse from Jalsa and six songs where he has given his voice for playback, to his credit.
[arr] After Slumdog, another dream for Rehman
Source - http://www.indianexpress.com/story_print.php?storyid=427121 Inspired by the rags-to-riches story of Slumdog Millionaire, Academy Award winner A R Rahman has decided to provide that magical element that made the slumdog a millionaire: opportunity. At the K M Music Conservatory, the classical music school started by Rahman, a set of 24 violins are waiting for students chosen from the Government-run MGR School next door. The only criterion is aptitude. This is just the beginning for the school that has arguably one of the best Western music training faculties and facilities. The dream is to train them well enough to play a symphony. It is not an overnight project, Jyoti said. Slumdog Millionaire seems to leave a positive effect on everybody including Rahman, who is now planning to reach out to the poor students who have interest in music. After all, he is a humble Sufi at heart, Jyoti Nair Belliappa, the administrative officer of the school told The Indian Express. Started by Rahman last March, K M Music Conservatory is a one of its kind school that teaches Indian and Western music in their purest, classical form. Classes are conducted by world-renowned professors while Rahman himself drops in whenever he can. While it is Rehman's genius that has attracted students from faraway places, it is his humility and dedication that has impressed these youngsters after their interaction with him here. He is a person who is completely dedicated to music, a genius. But it is his humility that makes him who he is. We totally respect him, said Jai, a Mumbaiite who has been in Chennai since last August to attend the foundation class at the school. Rahman also conducts small auditions to pick students to work with him with a few given chance of working with him in Delhi 6 recently. Even as the institute basked in the glory of Rehman's historic success at the Oscars, the students are busy preparing to perform for a grand event on Wednesday where they will share the stage with Rahman and 11-time Grammy award winning jazz master Herbie Hancock. They will pay musical tribute to the concept of non-violence at an event organised to welcome Martin Luther King III who is on a visit to India. The students will perform Jai Ho, which has become the signature song for Slumdog and a version of Vaishnava Janato, one of Gandhiji's favourite songs, and We shall overcome, a favourite of Martin Luther King. Award-winning actor Kamal Hassan will recite King's I have a dream, one of the most inspirations speeches of last century, while noted poet/lyricist Vairamuthu will present his poem Karuppu Mahatma (Black Mahatma), about King at the function organised by the US Consulate, Chennai. The Oscar, BAFTA and other awards are all very big. But we all know that this school and conservatory of music is his biggest dream. We are proud to be a part of his dream, we are getting ready to live up to that, said Saurav, a student from Kolkata, getting back to his laptop.
[arr] A.R. Rahman, my new favorite preacher!
Source - http://blog.beliefnet.com/idolchatter/2009/02/oscar-nights-spiritual-moments.html A.R. Rahman, my new favorite preacher! His simple benediction: God is Great, in the language of his own faith, after winning for Slumdog Millionaire's original score. Then he ran off the stage to trade his Oscar for a microphone to sing the first of the nominated Best Song nominees. Finally, after winning a second Oscar for the Best Song, Jai Ho, he said The essence of the film is about optimism and hope in our lives. All my life I've had the choice of hate and love, and I chose love, and I'm here. God bless.
[arr] He's doing the job that politicians should be doing
Source - http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-india-slumdog24-2009feb24,0,1791466.story This is a great moment. After the Mumbai attack, everyone relates to Rahman as an Indian rather than a Muslim, said P.M. Jagannathan, 56, a chemical engineer from Mumbai. He's doing the job that politicians should be doing -- uniting people rather than dividing them.
[arr] His faith keeps him grounded
Source - http://www.livemint.com/Articles/PrintArticle.aspx?artid=F489FBD6-01C8-11DE-814A-000B5DABF636 His faith keeps him grounded Rahman ended his acceptance speech for best original score at the Oscars, with the Tamil phrase Ellapugazhum iraivanuke that translates into, The praise must all go to the Almighty Samanth Subramanian and Shashi Baliga New Delhi: Nobody who knows A.R. Rahman could have been surprised by the way he ended his acceptance speech for best original score at the Oscarswith the Tamil phrase Ellapugazhum iraivanuke that translates into: The praise must all go to the Almighty. In a career littered with acceptance speeches, he has used the phrase often, an obvious statement of his deep religious convictions. He believes every moment is designed by God and goes by that, whatever opportunities come by his way, says A.R. Rehana, Rahman's sister and a playback singer herself. What drives him is his trust in God. Born as the Hindu Dileep Kumar, Rahman converted to Islam in 1989 along with the rest of his family. That conversionas well as his rigorous habit of prayeris a firm part of the well-known Rahman mythos that lives within the Indian film industry. I don't just sit down and say: `Oh, let's make a tune.' It is possible to do that but I don't work like that, he once told this correspondent. I like to make it a spiritual exercise for myself. Everybody in the industry knows how religious he is, how he prays every time before he sings or records, says Radhika Chandrasekhar, a New Delhi-based film-maker who worked as assistant director on the Rajeev Menon film Sapnay, which Rahman scored. For a long time, if he ever sang one of his songs himself, he would only sing about faith or about his love for the country. His faith has kept him grounded even as his reputation and worth have soared, Rahman's colleagues say. But the Academy Awards will be the sternest test yet. Inevitably, his price will climb as projects from the US and Europe compete for his timeand that might well affect those in India he works with in the future. Rahman charges Rs1.5 crore per film, easily the highest fee commanded by a music director today, according to Komal Nahata, editor of the trade publication Film Information. The next highest, probably Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy (Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa), charge less than Rs1 crore, he says. I think now Rahman's standard fee may even go up to Rs2 crore, and nobody will be able to refuse it. If some directors can't afford him, they won't get him, simple as that. But T. Selvakumar, co-founder along with Rahman of the KM Music Conservatory in Chennai, believes otherwise. We were talking about it, and he was sure that he would continue to do movies only if they were for good directors, and for no other reason, he says. He has a couple of Hollywood offers on hand, but he isn't at all the type of person to use this to increase his rate and commercialize this whole experience. samant...@livemint.com Vidhya Sivaramakrishnan in Chennai contributed to this story. Shashi Baliga is editor, Sunday Hindustan Times (Mumbai).
[arr] British Indians exult over Oscar recognition
Source - http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/00120090223.htm People of Indian origin in the UK exulted at the success of British film Slumdog Millionaire at the Oscars and termed it a recognition of Indian talent. The last major British film shot in India, 'Gandhi' had also won several Oscars in 1982. Glasgow-based IT professional Ravi Bhushan Singh told PTI: All my Indian colleagues were ecstatic and genuinely happy with A R Rahman's achievement. He added: It is debatable whether 'Jai Ho' is his best work or not but undoubtedly Rahman is a genius composer who finally arrived in the West with a big bang. I am really proud of his achievement. The film has been doing good business in cinema halls across Britain, and distributors expected it to be seen more widely after the Oscar sweep. P Prabhakar, an India-origin academic based in Bristol, said irrespective of the merits of the film, the fact that two Indians Rahman and Resul Pookutty had won three Oscars was a recognition of India's film industry. Indian films are considered big in Britain's film circuit, with many of them being shot in various sylvan locations across the country.
[arr] In pictures: Oscar joy in India
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7905598.stm
[arr] The day a 19-year-old student struck a chord
Source - http://www.livemint.com/2009/02/23215444/The-day-a-19yearold-student.html?h=B It was a hot and muggy August evening in Chennai. A day that meant different things to different people. A small crowd had gathered at a Syrian Orthodox church in the old Broadway area of the city, to celebrate a wedding. As the congregation waited for the ceremony to start, photographers languidly shouldered cameras in the front yard, family members bustled about seeing to last-minute arrangements and the church choir shuffled about on a narrow upper floor overlooking the main hall and altar. They could only be heard, not seen, and strains of the wedding march and snatches of songs wafted down to the hall. There were two people on the keyboards that day. Jacob John, Jim to friends and family, was a hugely gifted musician and a much respected music teacher in the city. He was the founder and leader of the Broadway church choir, and as the bridegroom's grand uncle, had been keenly involved in putting together the music for the wedding. Accompanying him was one of his favourite students (The boy is destined for big things, Jim had told us) from Musee Musicals (an iconic Chennai institution where he trained youngsters in classical pianoforte). The 19-year-old Dileep had brought along his brand new keyboard for the occasion. And so on that day which meant different things to different people, Jim played the old church organ and young Dileep proved a worthy understudy on his shiny new keyboard, as they played and improvised together to create a new backdrop for an old ritual. Many who attended said the music was something special. No one, certainly not the photographers, paid much attention to the choir in their alcove. Certainly no one looked twice at the young Dileep who hovered respectfully around Jim Master. Knowing him, he probably packed up his keyboard and departed as quietly as he had come. I remember that unusually hot and muggy August evening 23 years ago for several reasons. Not the least because I was the bride, and the young organist who accompanied uncle Jim is now A.R. Rahman. Elizabeth Eapen is editor of Mint's Business of Life pages.
[arr] 'The Oscar' - from Chinmayee blog
Link - http://chinmayisripada.blogspot.com/2009/02/oscar.html There I was screaming on my Radio show the moment it happened. I was absolutely sure He would bring it home, was just wondering whether it would be one or two. I wasn't nervous, tense or whatever else everyone asked. I was not even waiting with bated breath. I was cocksure and when it happened it was a wish of all of us that came true. It cannot be otherwise. Thats all Since morning I, like a lot of other singers have been deluged with calls for video and sound bytes from various Radio stations and News Channels. His winning two Oscar awards has put all the musicians and singers working with him on air expressing how we felt. Especially those from Chennai. As far as I know CNN IBN and NDTV have been featuring a lot of us from here. Rahman Sir was bound to bring it home, probably it was just a matter of time. And again, its just a matter of time before he wins the maximum in that too, the way he has established records with Indian awards of having set a record of winning the maximum, I know that's a fact with the Filmfare. This is definitely one of the beginning stages for the ear drums of the entire world as long as sir's music is concerned. Just about the beginning.
[arr] Who said what on the Slumdog Millionaire win
Source - http://ibnlive.in.com/news/who-said-what-on-the-slumdog-millionaire-win/86108-8-18.html The Slumdog Millionaire team has been extremely busy post the awards. The children have been giving television interviews and collecting autographs of the stars they never dreamt of meeting and the director, the rest of the star cast and the team are still letting the Oscar feeling sink in. Here is what some of the people involved in the film - and some of those not involved in the film - had to say: I never thought I'd be holding one of these. You only dream about it - Danny Boyle, Director Slumdog Millionaire I am extremely happy and proud - as an Indian, as a filmmaker and as a Tamilian. Rahman's music elevates the story of Slumdog Millionaire and enchances the script. It makes the movie watching experience more interesting and makes you more involved in the movie. He has shown all his talents in this movie and he has composed all variety of music and it's really a wonderful work. I hope the whole world enjoys more of Rahman's music in the future - Filmmaker Shankar who worked with A R Rehman in Kandhalan and Indian I'm very happy. He deserved this win. This has been a great win for him. We have been praying for him and he's a very simple man. We're very happy for him. He took my mother's name in his Oscar speech and she was estatic - A R Rahman's sister, Fatima I was really nervous before the award for Best Original Score was announced - Singer Unni Krishnan - who won the national award under music maestro A R Rahman's direction It's come a full circle. We are at the top of the Oscars finally. I think we have proved ourselves to everyone. It can't get better than this - Dev Patel, actor Slumdog Millionaire Indian actors, Indian story, Indian movie at the Oscars - I think it's wonderful. Anyone connected with films in any way wants to be here on the Oscar night. It's the biggest award of the world - Anil Kapoor, actor Slumdog Millionaire I feel great. Slumdog Millionaire has just been crowned the best film in the world. Having written the book I feel a special affection for the film. It's a great feeling. I think they thoroughly deserve the award - Vikas Swarup, author Q and A from which Slumdog Millionaire was adapted Rahman is special that's all. It doesn't matter which film he gets an award for, but the fact remains that his work is recognised and we should all be very proud of it - Filmmaker Mani Ratnam, who has worked with Rahman in many films I feel great for A R Rahman because whenever he does some work, he creates something new - Singer, Asha Bhonsle It's a great thing for us, especially for the film fraternity. It's a great moment for India. We are all proud of Rahman - Actor, Mohan Lal I want to congratulate Danny Boyle and his crew for putting India so high on the Oscar map - Actor, Akshay Kumar I hope we rise up to this challenge thrown by Rahman to us. We have to make such films so as to attract Hollywood to come back to us - Actor and Director, Kamal Hasan Hollywood everything is wiped out now. It's just Slumdog Millionaire and it's India. Jai Ho - Singer, Alka Yagnik
[arr] Jai ho, Mozart of Madras
Source - http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/film/jai-ho-mozart-of-madras/2009/02/23/1235237560783.html JAI ho was the cry around Vivekanand Camp as Slumdog Millionaire swept the Oscars yesterday. Those words, meaning praise be, from the movie's hit song, are the only thing many Indian slum dwellers know of the film that has taken the world by storm. Slumdog has not set box-office records among the millions of Indians who live in slums. But the international success of the movie meant many in Vivekanand Camp, a slum in Delhi, were curious to see how it fared at the Oscars. Hari Das, a 20-year-old school assistant, sat inside his family's tiny hut and kept up with award winners on his dusty computer, logged on via the wireless connection of a nearby office building. I'm glad Slumdog has done well it is really an Indian movie, he said. The characters and the story are from here. But Param Lal, 21, who has lived in slums since birth, said: The movie has some truth to it but I think things are improving for many people who live in slums. Sukhpal Veer likes how a poor uneducated boy can become rich, but says it is only 50 per cent true to slum life. Even so, Param and Sukhpal joined a group of friends inside the one-room house of Anil Ahirwarl to watch the Oscars. They seemed nonplussed by Kate Winslet's emotional speech after winning an Oscar for best actress and stared blankly as best actor Sean Penn made an appeal for gay marriage to be legalised. Instead, they cheered when a scene from the film Gandhi appeared on screen, another movie set in India that picked up eight Oscars in 1983. They were also delighted when the slum children who starred in Slumdog Millionaire appeared on stage when the award for best film was presented. Slumdog Millionaire picked up eight Oscars, including best picture and best director. But by far the biggest cheer came from inside the tiny slum hut when Indian A. R. Rahman, the Mozart of Madras, who wrote the music for Slumdog, won an Oscar for best original score.
[arr] Chidambaram Favors Tax Exemption to Rahmans Oscars
Source - http://movies.iexplorehere.com/news/1645/Chidambaram-Favors-Tax-Exemption-to-Rahmans-Oscars.html Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday congratulated music maestro AR Rahman and favored tax exemption to the two Oscars won by him. Chidambaram said he would recommend the Finance Minister to exempt the prize money, if any, from being taxed. He was speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of Rajaswa Bhavan in Delhi's North Block. Monday became a historic day after Indian musician AR Rahman became first Indian to win two Oscars. He won the prestigious honors for best original music score and best theme song `Jai Ho' for the film Slumdog Millionaire at the 81st Academy Awards in Los Angeles. The film successfully swept eight of the 10 nominations including best director and best film titles. Earlier, Rahman became the first Indian to win the British Academy (Bafta) Awards in the music category. He also won the Golden Globe Award for Slumdog Millionaire.
[arr] Andrew Lloyd Webber congratulates AR Rahman on his double Oscar glory
Source - http://www.andrewlloydwebber.com/news/article.php?ID=213 February 23, 2009, 12:00 am Andrew Lloyd Webber has heaped praise on AR Rahman after winning two Academy Awards for his music in the hit film Slumdog Millionaire. Andrew, who collaborated with AR Rahman on the 2002 smash-hit musical Bombay Dreams, said: I am absolutely delighted that A R Rahman, one of the world's great composers, has been recognised at the Oscars. I am very proud to have presented his work Bombay Dreams in the theatre . Rahman picked up the Oscar for best original score before scooping the best song Oscar moments later. The awards took Slumdog`s tally to eight for the evening, with Danny Boyle winning the best director Oscar. Slumdog Millionaire, the rags-to-riches tale of a boy from Mumbai, has dominated the awards season and has seen A R Rahman win a Golden Globe, a BAFTA and The Critics` Choice Award 2009 alongside several other industry accolades.
[arr] He couldnt lift the keyboard on his own
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/He-couldnt-lift-the-keyboard-on-his-own/articleshow/4180014.cms CHENNAI: As Valli Arunachalam, principal, Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan, Nungambakkam, hands out a black-and-white class photo taken years ago, she asks with a smile, Can you spot AR Rahman? She then points to the little boy next to her in the frame and says excitedly, That's him, that's him! He was a quiet boy, says Valli Arunachalam, who was AR Rahman's seventh grade class teacher. He sat in the front row of my class. Even then, his hair used to fall over his forehead and I used to keep telling him to have it cut. But he never did, she adds. When AR Rahman was in school, Mrs YG Parthasarathy, currently the dean, was principal. She remembers Rahman as a music master. He was a one-man orchestra, he and his keyboard, she says. Chandra Ramani, his Hindi teacher, says she remembers going to his house in a cycle rickshaw so they could return with his keyboard. He was a little boy,' she says. He couldn't lift the keyboard on his own. Raji Babu, his class six science teacher, says many years later when they called Rahman to school to felicitate him, the function had started at 6.30 pm and was to go on for more than an hour. Rahman excused himself from the stage for a while and went backstage to perform namaz, she says. Outside of school, one of Rahman's favourite teachers was his piano teacher Jacob John, who passed away a few years ago in Liverpool, where he lived with his daughter Tanya Paul after he retired. Every time Rahman was in UK he would visit John. AR was the son of my dad's good friend Sekhar. My mum says he used to come for lessons on Sundays. He came to my father for 15 years. My father thought he was a prodigious talent, she says. Rahman went to visit her father in the UK six months before he died. Though bedridden, my father seemed to find a new lease of life on seeing AR. They discussed music through the night. My dad even managed to get off the bed in a sprightly manner and play the piano with him. He was so excited for days after that, she adds.
[arr] The Hindu - Great composer, greater human feted
Source - http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2009022460281200.htmdate=2009/02/24/prd=th; The above link has a childhood photograph of A.R.Rahman and his sister Fathima with their father R.K. Shekhar. Every Indian has to be proud of Rahman and his team, says P.C. Sreeram. CHENNAI: For a moment on Monday morning, things stood still in India. The silence was deeper in Chennai during the seconds it took for the announcement to be read out: A.R.Rahman. As Chennai's own genius walked the polished floor at Kodak Theatre to get his own little statuette, it is possible the southern city cheered the loudest. The encomium kept pouring in ever since. Many feted not only his talent for music but also his humility and simplicity. S. P. Balasubramaniam, whose rendering of Rahman's `Thanga Thamarai Magale' in Minsara Kanavu won him a National Award says: Rahman is a great composer and a greater human being. I think seniors and juniors have a lot to learn from him, from his humility. Even after the Oscars, he will be the same. He is a genius! For yesteryear composer M.S.Viswanathan who has sung one number for him, Rahman is not only exceptionally talented but also a very good person. Special victory Kamal Hassan called it a special victory and joked that they had given him two Oscars, so it would be easier for him to balance the statuettes. Rahman's favourite playback singer P. Suseela reciprocates the admiration he has for her. Honouring the great musician, who is an Indian, on such a global platform is rather special. Like a double century, he has bagged two awards. Pitching in with the patriotic angle, cinematographer P.C .Sreeram says: Every Indian has to be proud of Rahman and his team. He feels there is a bond between sound and light that can't be explained in words. Certain songs make you react in a particular way. Yes, I think some of my best expressions in light have come with his music. And then there was Tamil pride to the fore as well, with actor Prabhu and lyricist Vairamuthu congratulating him on speaking in Tamil at the Awards ceremonyElla Pughazhum Iraivanukke. Vairamuthu says: I am doubly happy that a Tamilian has won India such an honour. I had written `Ennai inda boomi sutri vasa aasai (I want the world to go around me)' in the Roja song `Chinna china aasai.' Now, I am elated that the world has begun going around him now! Rahman's sound engineer S. Sivakumar says the composer would lose track of time while at work. Senthil Kumar, director, Real Image, points out, Rahman pioneered the use of synthesisers, sequences and multi-tracks. He is one of the best keyboard players. Actor Suriya, whose on-screen romancing has often been embellished by music from Rahman, reveals how it also played a role in his off-screen romance with Jyothika. Apparently he had stopped singing love songs, but we were surprised when Rahman sir volunteered to sing the stirring `New York Nagaram' from Sillunu Oru Kadhal. Since it was just before our wedding, it was like a great wedding gift for us, Suriya says. Actor Madhavan's career-launching film, Alaipayuthe sizzled the screens and not in any small measure due to Rahman's score. He has since gone on to do five more movies with Rahman. Maddy says, I think we missed giving him one more Oscarto the nicest person in the industry. Gopal Srinivasan of the A.R.Rahman Fan Club is one of an ecstatic world-wide band of brothers and sisters. A group of hardcore fans watched the Oscar awards live at Bangalore together. To celebrate, they went to a local orphanage, wrote out a cheque for the kids and sponsored a meal. A larger celebration is being planned, with the idol himself. We know it is going to be hectic immediately after the awards. We will wait until things cool down, Gopal says. To the team of diehard fans, the Oscars come as recognition for the fantastic body of work Rahman has produced, instead of applause for just one song or one movie. Rapper Blaaze who worked on Slumdog Millionaire, was mentioned by Rahman in his speech at Kodak Theatre. He says he is rendered speechless by Rahman's kindness. His message after the `Jai Ho' song when he said, `All my life I had choices, love and hate, I chose loveand here I am ' is the message for the world right now. It is a historic moment for over a billion hearts Tanvi Shah, who was among those who sang the award-clincher `Jai Ho,' spoke excitedly from the United States where she flew to get a taste of the Oscar magic. I'm just really happy and thrilled that we won for the best score and best song. For me, it will be a really special day for the rest of my life, she gushes. I am glad that I was part of this big project, and I think hard work and patience pays off at some point. ARR deserves every bit of the glory all I can say is JAI HO! Praveen Mani, a music director in his own right, worked with A.R. Rahman as an arranger/programmer in his team on Slumdog Millionaire. As a close friend, I
[arr] Rahman an amazing innovator, says Gulzar
Source - http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/24/stories/2009022460301200.htm New Delhi: Lyricist Gulzar, who shared the Oscar for his song Jai ho in Slumdog Millionaire with A.R. Rahman, has admitted that he never thought Indian lyrics could win the golden statuette. It was beyond my wildest dreams that Indian lyrics can ever win an Oscar. Indian songs never had a place there [in the West] and the credit for this recognition goes to Rahman, Gulzar told a news channel. The lyricist was profuse in his praise for the composer. What a team to work with. You see the spirit of a film in his music. It's a pleasure to work with that man. He is an amazing innovator the way he innovates the sounds is just amazing. He is the one who broke the clichéd methods of music composition in the country and his innovativeness is the reason he has reached the Oscars. I am really proud of him, Gulzar said. IANS
[arr] Dare to hope
Source - http://www.expressindia.com/story_print.php?storyId=427239 With Slumdog Millionaire sweeping the Academy Awards and Smile Pinki adding another, Indians have arrived on the world stage. Here is what celebrities had to say about the win Adoor gopalkrishnan, director (On Saturday while in the city) The movie portrays Indians as hustlers, and petty and is built on falsehood. Moreover it shows that Indians are under developed and live mostly in slums. They have a fixed notion about India. That's not what India is all about. There is more to India and the movie is not a true measure of we Indians. Personally I am glad that the Indian audience was wise enough to reject the movie. It might have done well in the western theatres but the audience of India was smart to reject it. Jabbar Patel, director I think AR Rahman's soundtrack for the movie and Resul Pookutty's sound mixing along with the brilliant and highly imaginative camera work of the team of Slumdog Millionaire were the reasons for its massive success at the Oscars. As far as the documentary Smile Pinki goes, even though the director of the same wasn't an Indian but the way the documentary portrayed a very realistic issue was commendable. I am glad that it made its way to the top honours at the Academy Awards. As far as Indian cinema is concerned the awards will definitely make the West sit up and take notice of the talent that we have here. Sonali Kulkarni, actor I am immensely happy for AR Rahman and Resul Pookutty. More so for Rahman because I have been associated with him since 1994 when he first composed the music for a Tamil film that I was starring in. Even though it took him a bit long to reach here this is his moment and he really deserves it. Speaking about the western audiences starting to take notice of our talent it is about time that they do. Infact even for Indian actors, directors and technicians we need to start working, keeping the global audiences in mind. However as of now it's the time of Rahman, Resul and the full crew of Slumdog and Smile Pinki. I am really happy for them. Umesh Kulkarni, director I am glad for Rahman and also for Gulzarji for getting the award. Resul Pookutty was my senior at FTII and is a through professional and one of the best in the business. Their work is top notch, and even though the Oscars doesn't mean the end of the world it is one of the best platforms for getting noticed and making the West sit up and take notice of Indian cinema and technicians. Rahman's music in particular evoked a basic rhythm of India and blended perfectly with the settings of the movie. It's really a big thing for Indian artistes and technicians as far as world cinema goes. Makrand Anaspure, actor I guess this is one of the best things to happen to Indian artistes on the international arena. It has taken a long time for us to prove our mettle to the West but finally we are here. I am really happy for the cast and crew of both Slumdog Millionaire and Smile Pinki for having gotten this far and made the country proud. As far as the music score goes it is crisp and true to the script of the movie. (As told to Rohan Swamy)
[arr] Jai Ho echoes in State prisons
Source - http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/24/stories/2009022460211200.htm We are thinking of screening the movie in central prisons as a special case CHENNAI: Hours after A.R. Rahman made the country proud at the Oscars, Jai Ho, one of the enchanting numbers in the movie that also bagged an award, echoed in the central prisons of Tamil Nadu. As the country was celebrating the historic achievement of Slumdog Millionaire, a decision was taken to let thousands of inmates lodged in nine central prisons across the State to have a feel of the magical mantra. Besides the song, some background input on the much-acclaimed film was also played, prison sources said. Rahman needs no introduction in prisons. Every morning one of his popular numbers `Thai Manne Vanakkam' is played in all prisons. We play patriotic songs every morning and evening they like his song, Director General of Prisons R. Natraj, told The#8194;Hindu. Though satellite channels are not broadcast inside prison campuses, inmates were aware that Slumdog Millionaire made it to the Oscars through newspapers. However, some prisoners had to be told about how the movie won eight Oscar awards, prison sources said. Soon after the song was played, the prisoners applauded. We are thinking of screening the movie in central prisons as a special case, Mr. Natraj added.
[arr] The world needs to listen to what Rahman composed for Roots
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4180010,prtpage-1.cms The Summer of '84 24 Feb 2009, 0233 hrs IST, Lakshmy Ramanathan, TNN CHENNAI: For viewers across the world watching the 81st Academy Awards on television on Monday morning (IST), one of the high points was the rousing rendition of `Jai Ho'. As the plush interiors of Kodak theatre reverberated with the sound of Rahman's Jai Ho, old-timers in his hometown reminisced about the shy, gawky teenager who used to jam with bands at cocktail parties, friends' weddings and universities. Bro (sic) was very shy. He never hung around after a performance. He would leave for home as soon the concert was done, recollects ace drummer A Sivamani, who was part of Roots, the first band that Rahman was a part of. The mid-eighties, during which Roots performed (1984-1988), was also a time by which Rahman aka Dilip had converted to Islam. Band member John Anthony says, There were various religious motifs on his instruments. I remember seeing the number 786, holy to all Muslims, and pictures of Mecca stuck on his DX7 Yamaha keyboard. With Roots, an all instrument band comprising Sivamani, John Anthony, Raja and the late Jojo, Rahman created a brand of world music that was strongly influenced by Jazz maestros like Chick Correa and Indian classical music. The world needs to listen to what Rahman composed for Roots. It was so fresh and international even for those days, says John. It's unfortunate that the world only knows Rahman as a composer, not performer, he adds. Apart from Roots, which regrouped into a band called Magic for a single performance at the famed Music Academy in Chennai, Rahman also played with another band Myth. Rehearsals and jam sessions were not without their own dose of fun. AR's mother was a fabulous cook. Every session was accompanied with her samosas and fried fish, says Sivamani. Once school was over, AR and I would often head to a VHS store. We both had a weakness for action flicks, he adds. Slowly, but surely, the quiet little composer who was leaving peers awed by his talent, started composing for advertisements. What followed were jingles hummed to addictively by the masses. Around this time, another rock band Nemesis Avenue (NA) also approached Rahman to be its producer-arranger. Lead guitarist of NA, Sudhin Prabhakar, jokes about their first rendezvous. Rahman had already begun work on Roja. He was considering quitting the ad scene and plunging into films full time. This is when we approached him and said, `Look, we are already a popular band that has toured the country. There are too many big names in the music industry to compete with. Join us, recalls Sudhin with a grin. Though Rahman collaborated with NA for an album and performed with them just once, post Roja, the little maestro was sucked into the film music industry that was yearning to hear something new and original; different from what was produced inside the studios of Kodambakkam, hub of the Tamil industry. And Rahman more than delivered, says Paul Jacobs, bass guitarist with NA. Music is a journey for Rahman and ever since we've known him, he has always tried to reach the highest point of it. This is why his music, especially in films like Rang De Basanti or in albums like Vande Mataram move you. They show you his commitment towards humanity, sums up Jacobs.
[arr] First reaction from LA: Please dont go overboard
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/First-reaction-from-LA-Please-dont-go-overboard/articleshow/4180033.cms MUMBAI: I have a simple request. Please don't go overboard about me, says the double-bill Oscar winner from his room no 704 in a Los Angeles Hotel. I don't want people to say, `Oh no, not this guy again. Excited about his two Oscars, Rahman says, I wasn't sure about winning. I had heard media reports saying that the music wouldn't win. So I was just concentrating entirely on my performance at the Awards function. When the first trophy came my way, it didn't sink in. But when I picked up the second trophy I was truly excited. I am happy and indebted to the people of India whose good wishes won me this award. I also thank the American people and Academy Members for voting for me. Talking of India breaking the sound barrier in the west, Rahman says, Earlier there was a kind of an aversion in the West when you played anything that didn't fit in with their culture. However, now they're open to our music; and the acceptance of the Slumdog Millionaire track is evidence of this. Subhash Ghai is the one who asked me to use the words `Jai Ho' in a song. He said the words had a positive feel. It was like a prayer. I honestly didn't think the song would win me an Oscar though. But like the film Slumdog suggests, everything has its own destiny. Sharing his plans to come back and host a party for all lyricists, technicians and musicians who have worked with him from the days of Mani Ratnam's Roja, Rahman says, When you trust God and do something it always works out for the best.
[arr] Rahman, a devout of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4179290,prtpage-1.cms JAIPUR/AJMER: In the two decades, Oscar winner A R Rahman has never missed a visit to the mausoleum of 12th century sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer. A devout, Rehman comes twice a year to the dargah . The name of the music school founded by him in Chennai is Khawaja Moinuddin Conservatory. His recent composition for the song `Tere darbaar mein Khawaja' in Jodha-Akbar was dedicated to the Ajmer shrine. Before he left for Los Angeles to attend the Oscar ceremony, Rahman called a priest here to request him to perform `ziyarat' (prayers) at the mausoleum. A special chadder was offered to the saint during early Monday morning prayers soon after the `fazr namaz' was over. He was excited and filled with enthusiasm when he called me and asked me to pay his obeisance in the shrine. Similar calls were made by his family members,'' Haji Sayed Mushir Chishti, the priest, told TOI. Soon after the awards ceremony was over, the Rahman family from Chennai called the priest to thank Khwaja. Even during the Golden Globe awards, which Rahman won, he and his wife asked the priest to perform certain rituals at the dargah . Rahman had, along with his wife, visited the dargah in October last year and stayed at a guesthouse in dargah vicinity mainly to get a feel of the surroundings. He attends all daily rituals along with offering prayers on dargah premises,'' Chishti said. During his visits, Rahman would be engrossed in the qawwalis in the shrine and sit among the hundreds of other devotees. He never asks for security because it could cause inconvenience to other devotees. He distributes meals to devotees and the poor, cooked in the huge cauldrons in the dargah,'' says Haji Shabbir Khan, a member of dargah staff. Ajmer district PRO, Pyare Mohan Tripathi, says Rahman is so simple'' that he comes like a common man and visits the dargah without letting others know his identity.
[arr] A dargah awaits the pilgrim
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4180022,prtpage-1.cms CHENNAI: People at a 234-year-old dargah in Chennai are looking forward to the day Rahman will walk in quietly, clutching the two statuettes. Rahman is known to seek Allah's blessings at the Hazrath Dastagir Sahib Dargah, tucked away in a narrow street off the arterial Radhakrishnan Road. Even if he buys a new piece of equipment, he brings it here and get it blessed, says Yesub who serves at the dargah . He comes every Friday for the 2 pm prayer, wearing a smile on his face, he adds. This is the place where young Rahman came seeking blessings some 20 years ago. And till date, the 42-year-old music composer continues to visit the dargah whenever he is in the city. The musician, who lost his father at the age of nine, converted to Islam from Hinduism along with his family in 1989. Rahman last came on Feb 13 after winning the Golden Globe and offered prayers, placing the award before the grave of Dastagir baba. I told him, `Welcome Golden Globe and Oscar hero. Jai Ho!' He smiled, reached into his pocket and held out a wad of notes, 61-year-old Allah Baksh Aarzoo, who has been a sweeper at the dargah for nearly four decades, recalls. I've been seeing him here for several years. There may be a vast change in his appearance and position but not in his nature. He has always been an amiable and humble person who helps the poor, Noorjahan, an alms-seeker, fondly recalls. Inside the sprawling premises of the dargah, is a burial ground in which Rahman's pir, Syed Shah Kareemullah Hussaini Khadari, has been laid to rest under a tree. He was the one who rechristened A S Dileep Kumar Allah Rakha Rahman. After offering prayers in the dargah, Rahman comes to the grave of his pir and pays his respects. He also organises community feeding every Friday in memory of his pir, says Ibrahim, the watchman who firmly believes that it is Rahman's unflinching faith in God that has helped him to reach greater heights.
[arr] Will Rahman have to pay Customs duty on his Oscars?
Source - http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2009/02/24/stories/2009022451020500.htm New Delhi, Feb. 23 Will A.R. Rahman be required to pay Customs duty on his Oscar statuettes? No one knows yet. The statuettes are not solid gold, but gold-plated. The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) thinks the two statuettes may be worth about $1,000. Rahman will be returning with two in his hand baggage. For passengers (above 10 years of age), who return after a stay abroad of more than three days, the Customs baggage rules allow duty-free clearance for articles up to Rs 25,000. This, however, does not cover gold or silver, in any form other than ornaments. Earlier in the day, at a Revenue Department function for laying the foundation stone for Rajaswa Bhawan, the Union Home Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, suggested tax exemption on cash awards that may come with the Oscars bagged by Rahman. If the Oscars carry a cash award, I would recommend to the Finance Minister that it should be exempt from taxation, Mr Chidambaram had said. There is a precedent for taxing such trophies. In 2002, Sachin Tendulkar, after he scored 29 centuries to equal Sir Donald Bradman's record, was gifted a Ferrari by its makers. The then finance minister said the government was waiving the Customs duty of Rs 1.13 crore on it. But the rules said that waivers were not allowed on gifts, only on prizes. In 2003, the Finance Bill of 2003 was amended and Sachin brought in the Ferrari without payment of the Customs duty. This led to a public interest litigation and Sachin offered to pay. Eventually, Ferrari paid the duty.
[arr] City dancer enthralled Madrid with 'Jai ho'
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4179868,prtpage-1.cms KOLKATA: When Sohini Roy Chowdhury used to learn Bharatanatyam under Guru Thankamani Kutty from the tender age of six, little did she know that some day she would be asked to dance to AR Rahman's Oscar winning music from Slumdog Millionaire directed by a British filmmaker and the toast of Hollywood's biggest night. The film has won two golden statuettes for the composer, along with one for lyricist Gulzar. Barely a fortnight ago, Sohini, who runs a dance school in Madrid, was contacted by the film's distributors to perform to the track of Jai ho! and O Saya, the two numbers that were nominated in the Best Song category. They wanted an Indian group, dancing Bharatanatyam in particular, since that is the dance from Chennai, the home of Rahman, Sohini told TOI from Madrid. Against the background of life-size cutouts, SohiniMoksha danced to the two nominated tracks, as well as select numbers from Slumdog, including Liquid Dance, where sounds of percussion have been blended with music of the veena. One of the strains in Jai ho! lends itself to Flamenco, and this was right down the alley of the dancer who had recently performed this fusion dance in Kolkata. The appeal could be gauged from the thunderous applause, as too the request to perform all the numbers twice. By the time we finished, the numbers had got entrenched in the mind of the viewers. The danseuse was accompanied by five of her students, who come from Spain, France, Jamaica, Iraq and the US. Danny Boyle was completely enthralled by this touch of India in Madrid, more so because a dancer performed pure Bharatanatyam to tracks from my film,' Sohini said, quoting the director. When the magnificent stage at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles came alive to the vibrant number that marked Rahman lifting the spirit of India along with the Oscar, the dancers performed a mix of Bollywood and Broadway movements, she observed. The premiere at Cine Callao had all the celebrities of Spain, but not Penelope Cruz, adjudged the Best Supporting Actress for Vicky Christina Barcelona directed by Woody Allen. Sohini doesn't mind that, especially after the wonderful success of Slumdog. We kept praying May our film win,' for we feel a part of it, however remotely. This was not only because the India connection was reinforced by the Madrid premiere. I'm happy because the end message gives hope, which is so needed in the world today.
[arr] Top Rahman!
Source - http://www.filmmusicsociety.org/news_events/features/2009/022309.html HOLLYWOODIndian composer A.R. Rahman won two Oscars Sunday night at the Kodak Theater, for best song and original score for Slumdog Millionaire. Rahman who shared the song Oscar with lyricist Gulzar, for Jai Ho said the essence of the film is about optimism and the power of hope in our lives. Between accepting the two awards, he participated in the nominated-song medley, singing both O...Saya (substituting for M.I.A., who had given birth just days before) and Jai Ho. Rahman's three 2008 music nominations (two for song, one for score) were his first Academy nods despite being one of India's most prolific film composers, a best-selling recording artist and composer of the smash London musical Bombay Dreams. Subbing for writer-performer Peter Gabriel on the nominated WALL-E song, Down to Earth, was John Legend, backed by nine members of South Africa's Soweto Gospel Choir. Gabriel was in the audience but had declined to sing a truncated version as part of a best-song medley. All of Rahman's fellow score nominees Alexandre Desplat (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), James Newton Howard (Defiance), Danny Elfman (Milk) and Thomas Newman (WALL-E) were in the audience for the 81st annual Academy Awards, hosted by Hugh Jackman. Michael Giacchino (Ratatouille) was music director, handling baton duties during the three-minute medley of score excerpts. This year's show was especially musical, with Jackman playing song-and-dance man in an opening number saluting Best Picture nominees and a musicals are back number later in the show, conceived and directed by his Australia director Baz Luhrmann and co-starring Beyonce Knowles, High School Musical stars Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, and Mamma Mia! stars Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper. The evening's play-ons and play-offs were a surprising collection of classic movie themes, including Lawrence of Arabia, Out of Africa, The Big Country, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Dark Knight, Breakfast at Tiffany's (Moon River), The Sting, Never on Sunday, Casablanca (As Time Goes By), Gone With the Wind, The Magnificent Seven, Modern Times (Smile), Victor/Victoria (Le Jazz Hot) and even King Kong. The late composers Leonard Rosenman and Isaac Hayes, who died during the past year, were shown during the in memoriam tribute sequence as Queen Latifah sang I'll Be Seeing You. And Jerry Goldsmith's 1998 fanfare for Oscar was performed during the evening, a tribute to the composer who would have turned 80 this month. The night before, Desplat, Elfman and Newman appeared at the Society of Composers Lyricists' annual champagne reception for Oscar music nominees at the Beverly Hills home of composer John Cacavas. Honoring the nominees were Academy vice president Charles Bernstein, music-branch governor Bruce Broughton and SCL president Dan Foliart.
[arr] Reihana hopes her brother Rahman brings home two Oscars
Source - http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/reihana-hopes- her-brother-rahman-brings-home-two-oscars_100158173.html Chennai, Feb 22 (IANS) She is hoping her brother will bring back at least two Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire. Music maestro A.R. Rahman's elder sister Reihana, a well-known Tamil music composer and singer, says the family is very excited and deliriously happy at his super success. We are hoping he will win at least two Oscars. We trust in god and have surrendered to him, Reihana told IANS here. Rahman has been nominated for three Oscars - Best Original Score, for the song Jai Ho and for O Saya. Though Rahman's bagging awards is nothing new for the family, an Academy Award will of course be special. Awards may have become commonplace for Rahman, but we are deliriously happy on every occasion. The mood now is similar to that on the eve of his maiden honour for `Roja'. We are excited, but not nervous about the special honour, Reihana said. Reihana has yet to wish her brother luck. I will, when everybody else has finished doing that, she said with a chuckle. Tanvi Shah, who crooned the Oscar-nominated `Jai Ho', is optimistic and proud of her mentor. When Rahman Sir wins the Oscar, it would be for the whole nation, Shah told IANS. Two weeks ago when I congratulated him breathlessly, he replied, `Congrats to you too!' This shows why we have a proud sense of belonging as he values our team work. He may be thousands of miles away, in a different continent, but to us he is virtually next door, Shah said. Shah has also rendered another number `Gangsta Blues' in the movie. Young Madhumita, another singer in Slumdog, is sure Rahman will bring home at least one Oscar. I have a very strong feeling that he will come home with an Oscar. I want to catch every second from the moment when Rahman's name is announced, Madhumita told IANS. Already in celebration mode, Madhumita is all keyed up to watch the big event and the man who, according to her, unleashes the creativity in every singer. I will always be grateful to Rahman Sir for the `Slumdog ' opportunity. I only came to know how big it was when I saw the album with Mia and Sukhvinder's names on it too, she recalled. The `Liquid Dance' number was a challenge because Rahman asked me to rap with `jathis' (notations), which are normally used only in south Indian classical music, Madhumita added. P.A. Deepak, one of the main sound engineers for the movie and its songs, other than `Jai Ho' and `Dreams on Fire' which were done by the late H. Sridhar, has expressed his `wish' already to Rahman. He called me from LA for some work and asked me what I wanted from the US. I said to him `I want an Oscar'. With intricate knowledge of the pluses of each technician and singer, Rahman brings out the best in us without pushing us too much. Working with him is indeed an inspiring pleasure, Deepak told IANS. If `Slumdog' wins even one Oscar, its Tamil dubbed version Naanum Kodeeshwaran may get a windfall, according to Sunil Narvekar, who is currently exhibiting the movie here. The publicity generated during the run-up to the Oscars is a win-win situation for the movie. And when Rahman is given the gold-plated Oscar statuette, it would be our crowning glory, Narvekar said.
[arr] India's stars prepare for the Oscars
Source - http://www.timesnow.tv/Newsdtls.aspx?NewsID=30142 The old Oscar man - The Oscar trophy - will travel to the grand stand naked, as always, but the stars of the red carpet will be dressed in their best; and some secrets are already out. AR Rahman will wear a black and grey tux from Lanvin. Mumbai grapevine is abuzz that Shobhaa De has texted Freida Pinto, British socialite Jemima Khan's wish to dress her up. But Freida's not giving anything out yet; pretty much like other Hollywood divas. Oscars Night sees almost as much attention focusing on what Hollywood's A-listers are wearing as the films they've starred in. As the fashion experts on American TV go berserk insisting that the recession shouldn't completely put off grand fashion, outrageous offerings, like Stuart Weitzmann's million dollar plus diamond studded sandals, and diamond facials are out. No one is talking million dollar price tags. While, Martin Katz, designer who is adorning A-listers with some of the hottest bling in town this year isn't revealing much, but expects a more subtle line in red carpet jewellery. His prize jewel is, however, a 240-carat, two-million (USD) dollar diamond necklace. He said,I believe you'll see necklace styles, and earrings and pieces that are a little more subdued in their nature. Not quite as large scale as we may have done in year's past but again it's just a wave of style and in a few more year's it'll go back the other direction again. The in thing is predicted to be lots of metallics, nude and taupe tones. One piece statements will be in, be it in jewellery or in outfits. Patrick Melville, a hairdresser to the stars said, I think the hair is all going to be very shiny a little smoother a little bit more contained but not overly textured like we've seen in the past. It's not going to be as textured a lot of open waves it's going to be very soft very sexy. So while muted styles are expected to dominate, the glam factor won't fade out totally - thankfully!
[arr] Chennais music industry awaits party
Source - http://www.livemint.com/Articles/PrintArticle.aspx?artid=EB1F079C-FF72-11DD-9C81-000B5DABF636 Chennai: As the countdown to the 81st Annual Academy Awards gathers pace, music director A.R. Rahman's invisible army of sound engineers, instrumentalists, chorus singers and trainers in Chennai is getting ready to celebrate. Rahman's home city is hoping, expecting and praying that the Mozart of Madras brings home an Oscaror two. On a wining note? A 2 February photo of A.R. Rahman at the Academy Awards luncheon in Beverly Hills, California. The Oscars will be telecast in India on Monday from 6.30am. Chris Pizzello / AP On a wining note? A 2 February photo of A.R. Rahman at the Academy Awards luncheon in Beverly Hills, California. The Oscars will be telecast in India on Monday from 6.30am. Chris Pizzello / AP The Cine Musicians Union and Trust in Chennai is busy making arrangements and sending out invitations to felicitate Rahman on 1 March for winning the Golden Globe award for Jai Ho in Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire. The Cine Audiographers Association of South India is also planning to celebrate the occasion, but is yet to finalize specific plans. Rahman has three Academy Award nominations for Slumdog Millionairetwo Original Song nominations and a third Best Score nomination; Mumbai-based Resul Pookutty has been nominated in the Sound Mixing category for the same movie. If this Sunday brings Rahman his first-ever Oscar, the big event will be even bigger, says the secretary of Cine Musicians Union Trust, M. Kalyan. Not only this award (referring to the Oscars), but he will get many more! he says. Kalyan, who has known Rahman since the days he worked with his father S.A. Shekar, fondly calls him Dileep (Rahman was earlier known as A.S. Dileep Kumar). Kalyan uncle, as Rahman calls him, has been a solo instrumentalist for string instruments the violin and viola since 1993's Roja, which won Rahman a National Film Award for best music director. Celebration frequency: (left to right) Assistant sound engineers Dinesh Ramalingam and Suresh Permal, and chief sound engineer S. Siva Kumar at AM Studios, in Kodambakkam, Chennai. Sharp Image Celebration frequency: (left to right) Assistant sound engineers Dinesh Ramalingam and Suresh Permal, and chief sound engineer S. Siva Kumar at AM Studios, in Kodambakkam, Chennai. Sharp Image Kalyan and a host of others, including sound engineers, instrumentalists, chorus singers and trainers, make up Rahman's behind-the-scenes team. They're part of a breed whose talent is recognized mostly within the confines of the recording studio and within the music industry. For example, how many know that the flute piece in the famous theme music of Mani Ratnam's Bombay was played by P.M.K. Naveen Kumar? Or that the man behind the saxophone in Tamil movie Duet is Raju (also known as Sax Raju)? Or that the sound engineer who worked in the recent blockbuster Ghajini is S. Sivakumar? Base guitarist Keith Peters, who has worked with Rahman on many movies, believes that things have changed in the last few years. Names of the instrumentalists and sound engineers are printed on the covers of CDs and cassettes, and then there is word-of-mouth. So, people know and there is awareness and knowledge, media coverage and exposure through television. Peters, who has contributed to chartbusters such as Aye udi udi from Saathiya, Kehna hi kya from Bombay and Chaiyya chaiyya from Dil Se, believes that in the coming years, backstage musicians will get more recognition. Sound engineer Sivakumar, who has worked with Rahman in around 125 movies, says that it was Rahman who introduced the practice of printing the names of instrumentalists and technicians, including the name of the studio(s) where the sounds have been recorded, mixed and edited. After this, everybody took up this practice. Sivakumar says the initial days of his career were quite a struggle. Nowadays, it's relatively easier. When I started out as an assistant engineer in Sujatha Studios, I was asked to stand near the sound engineering equipment and see where the tapes are getting punched and had to change the tapes once they rolled overI was not allowed to mix the sounds initially. Nowadays, youngsters want to start mixing (sound) right away. Sound engineering was quite a task in the earlier analog years, but it became easier to handle when the process went digital. Sivakumar, who joined as Rahman's sound engineer after Roja, says that in the initial years, they experimented with new technology, new methods of sound mixing and new software. The learning processes used to happen in the night, after a hard day's work. He used to keep experimenting till late in the night and sometimes, I would tell him I am sleepy (grins). Siva, as his colleagues call him, says that his average sleep time has increased from four hours in the initial years to five-six hours in the last three years. V.S. Murthy, who worked on the sound for Roja and who has
[arr] 'Slumdog' composer Rahman up for 3 Oscars
Source - http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/20/PKAM15SOP0.DTL In India, A.R. Rahman's film music is often anticipated more eagerly than the movies it is made for. Rahman took the Indian film industry by storm in the early '90s, alchemizing Sufi qawwalis, Indian music and symphonic orchestral themes. He's won more National Film Awards for best music director than anyone else. But he's remained relatively unknown abroad, despite productions such as the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Bombay Dreams. Slumdog Millionaire changed all that. If he takes home an Oscar tonight (he has three nominations), he'll be the first Indian to win one since Bhanu Athaiya won for costume design for Gandhi (1982). Rahman spoke by phone from Los Angeles. Q: Were you worried when you heard an English director who had never been to India was making a film set in Mumbai slums? A: Danny (Boyle) sent me a script, but I had no time to read it. (Director) Shekhar Kapur told me, Danny is my friend. Don't make him wait. A couple of months later, Danny gave me a DVD, and I loved it. I did it in about three weeks. I loved the optimism and the hope it gives. It's universal. Q: Does it apply to your life? A: Certainly. It's not that dramatic a struggle. But coming from a middle-class family, a lot of things were out of reach. Now I am sitting here in Hollywood talking to you. Q: What did Boyle want in terms of the music? A: He said no sentiment. And no cello. He didn't want anything depressing. Some scenes are unbearable, and then the music comes in. It's like being pushed from a cliff and then having wings to fly. Q: What's the biggest difference in the role music plays in Western films and Bollywood films? A: Danny gave me specific cue points: 17, 18. In a film in India, there can be 130 cues. Slumdog was like going back to (my first film), Roja. When all the awards came to Roja, it was a shock. This is my first big English film where I have sole credit. It's new territory for me. Q: When did you first get paid for your music? A: I think it was for operating a record player in a studio. I got paid what is about a dollar now. But then I made money doing ad jingles. I think the first one was for a photo lab. The ad jingles led to films. Q: How many films are you scoring in a year? A: I sometimes do eight films in a year. Sometimes it's only two. Sometimes you do a film, and it never takes off. I don't know what the average in Bollywood is these days. A few years ago, people could do 30 films a year. Q: Which of your collaborations with Western artists has been the most interesting? A: I think The Lord of the Rings (theater) was both interesting and exhausting. I worked with a Finnish band. Then there was Elizabeth: The Golden Age with Craig Armstrong. That was a new genre of music. I'd never done it before. Now I am working on a Japanese collaboration. There could be some changes coming. I will know in the next two months. This article appeared on page R - 19 of the San Francisco Chronicle
[arr] The Hindu - Rahman returns to Chennai
Source - http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2009021356880200.htmdate=2009/02/13/prd=th; CHENNAI: Music director A. R. Rahman on Thursday returned to Chennai after receiving BAFTA award in London for his score in the film Slumdog Millionaire. From London, Mr. Rahman came by a Lufthansa airlines flight to Mumbai, took a Jet airways flight to Chennai that reached around 9 a.m. When asked about the award, Mr. Rahman said the Golden Globe was from the United States and the BAFTA was from the United Kingdom. Querried on the possibility of receiving the Oscar Award, Mr. Rahman said: I do not have any expectations, but if it comes it will be nice.
[arr] Re: [Non-ARR] Best players for organising music
Songbird (http://getsongbird.com/) is a good player too.
[arr] Re: Check out what non Indians have to say about Slumdog's music
Juxtapose these comments with Roja. We felt the same with ARR's intro movie :)
[arr] Watch Slumdog Millionaire in Mumbai AdLabs for Free
From - http://www.labnol.org/india/watch-slumdog-millionaire-free/6692/ Slumdog Millionaire, a feel good movie that won four awards at the Golden Globes, will release in India this Friday and here's an opportunity for you to watch the movie in a cinema hall for free provided you are in Mumbai. To get a free pass, all you need is a free MySpace account and a printer. First login to your MySpace account and then add SlumDog to your friend's list on MySpace. Now select the `Change my Top Friends' link and include SlumDog in your Top friends on MySpace. Print your MySpace profile page and head over to Fame AdLabs Cinema in Andheri (W) and grab a seat. Here are the directions to the movie hall. Good luck.
[arr] Re: ARR Wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was pretty fast Gopal!, seconds after ARR name was announced.
[arr] ARR on CrunchGear
For techies ARR listed on CrunchGear, sort of :) Link - http://www.crunchgear.com/2009/01/06/review-itunes-plus/
[arr] ARR at Live Earth?
Any news if ARR would be at Live Earth next month. More at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7739939.stm
[arr] (Non ARR) - Apple to unveil iTune Store soon in India
Apple, the US consumer electronics and software company, is close to opening its iTune Store in India. iTune Store, the world's most popular online entertainment store, offers songs, movies, TV shows, podcasts, audiobooks and iPod games. Apple will open iTune Store immediately to enable users buy legitimate entertainment content for their iPods, touch iPods, Mac PCs and iPhones, according to sources. To buy files through the store, a user requires a valid credit card with a billing address in the country of purchase. More - http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=332317
