Rahman of the moment
15 Jan 2009, 0000 hrs IST, ANSHUL CHATURVEDI , TNN
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AR Rahman probably has a cupboard full of awards the way some
Bollywood<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_Buzz/Rahman_of_the_moment/articleshow/3978801.cms#>names
have cupboards full of skeletons. In both cases, it's usually a case
[image:
AR Rahman]<javascript:openslideshownew('/slideshow/3978820.cms?imw=460','541')>
<javascript:openslideshownew('/slideshow/3978820.cms?imw=460','541')>
AR Rahman (TOI Photo) More
Pics<http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3494782.cms>
of 'what's the big deal about one more'.
But the Golden Globe puts him, literally, in the global league. At this
point, looking back, which is the first award that really meant something to
him?
"I think the first big award that I treasured was the National Award for
Roja. That was a great feeling. It was also very unexpected."
This one surely wasn't. How does the kick of getting a Golden Globe for
Danny Boyle's Slumdog compare with that years-old high of the National Award
for Mani Ratnam's Roja?
"I think I feel a kind of sense of déjà vu. The whole thing. Because all
those comments that came my way then – I am hearing all of them again.
People are saying 'Oh, the same kind of
music<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_Buzz/Rahman_of_the_moment/articleshow/3978801.cms#>has
been in Hollywood for so long, and this film has come and re-energised
the whole thing, it's on a different path, it's such a relief to hear a
different kind of soundtrack...' It feels as if the whole experience which
came with the first award for Roja is being repeated, just at a different
place."
That experience moved him from the regional to the national stage in one
definitive move, and now he's been propelled firmly onto the global platform
in a manner unprecedented for an Indian. No harm in such déjà vu moments at
all, surely?
"Yes...," he laughs. "God is kind..."
God is kind to the deserving, some would say. Just before the Globe awards,
Rahman said, 'The more you expect, the more frustration comes'.
On the other hand, he's been fairly – and uncharacteristically – vocal about
saying that he wants an Oscar for Slumdog's music. Isn't that contradictory?
"See, the film was just a heartbeat away from getting the Golden Globe. At
the same time, we weren't very certain about it actually happening. So
instead of lusting over it, we said, okay, let's just be cool about the
whole thing, if we don't get it, that's okay... But after I said that this
award doesn't mean very much for me, but for India, it means a big deal, so
I want to win it for India – after I said that, I was terrified every night.
What if I don't get it? I'll be letting so many people down. This is the
first award ever that I have been so terrified about not getting. That's
because seeing the disappointment of so many people would have been tough –
that way, getting it was great. When I said to the audience here also, that
this is for the one billion people of India – the people just loved it."
The superlatives are flying thick and fast – Indian Mozart, Genius, Danny
saying it is one of the high points of his career to have worked with Rahman
("He did? So sweet!").
Unlike a SRK, who carries his compliments and adjectives with a swagger, he
generally ducks them, is rarely seen preening while counting the feathers in
his hat. But how does it really feel inside?
"I think I feel much lighter when I don't take these things very seriously,
personally, when I can just behave naturally. I think it's very difficult to
progress when there is too much luggage on your head, metaphorically
speaking. I feel much better and spiritual when I am away from that,
definitely, and so I consciously choose that path of life." So his personal
spirituality is an extension of his work, right? "Very true." Then, after a
quiet moment, he continues, "The most beautiful thing is that after you work
really hard, and it comes out, and then it changes – it becomes a part of
people's lives, and people own it. You don't own it anymore, they own it.
That's the most beautiful thing. Awards and all are definitely secondary.
However, in this particular case, someone from India getting an award like
this for the first time, it's important because I think it serves to raise
the spirits of people, of all creative people, to tell them that that there
is a way, and if we work hard, we will make it, we can make it – that's the
great thing. And I am glad that I was like an instrument for that."
Is India a fad, the flavour of the season, or is it here to stay?
"India is so rich in culture, it has so much spirituality in it, it has so
many hidden qualities to it, it has to come out one way or another. If
people are incompetent to show it, somebody else who is competent does it."
Can we read between the lines here – he's saying that internally, we haven't
developed that sort of competence in
cinema<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_Buzz/Rahman_of_the_moment/articleshow/3978801.cms#>?
It's been said that this was a film that an Indian director should have made
long back, but none could, till Danny came along and made it. He then
obviously agrees with that line of thought.
"Absolutely, ya. In my opinion, there's too much that we try to do... if you
aim at too many things, you fail. You aim at one thing, it works. You need
to be honest with one film and go with your passion. Here, when we do a
film, we are saying I want to satisfy the South Indian audience, I want to
satisfy the Bihari audience, I want to satisfy the Punjabi audience – and I
also want to win an award at Cannes! Which is just not possible, because the
sensibilities are different. Either you raise this taste to that level – or
you do films for, you know, the audiences, be proud of the stuff which we
have been doing. Nothing wrong in doing that either."
What he makes is apparently mainstream Bollywood music – but there's no
dearth of loud Bollywood music being composed in India, yet, the other
composers don't connect so easily, so naturally to a western audience.
LOTR, Bombay Dreams, Slumdog... they all have Rahman. Only Rahman. What's
the nuance? Is it the Western Music degree from Trinity? What's the trade
secret of the guy's international appeal?
"I don't know... I think in a way it's a blessing. And in a way it's because
I am very open to music. It's not like I am in a shell, that I want to only
do this thing, and I won't break this rule and won't do that... It's also a
philosophy which you take in life – of universal love, of believing that
music can cross over, that art can build bridges. And I think that it proves
again and again that if your intentions are like that, definitely, it does
happen, it is possible"
How much of your work is a journey for you? "Everything. Actually
everything, because there's nothing that's without taking His name."
Rahman's family isn't seen in public too often, they weren't there for the
awards either. How did he share the news with them?
"My agent was sitting next to me, he called my wife, and then I spoke to
her, told her..." he informs almost apologetically. Does she take all this
as quietly as he does? "No, no, no... she's not... (laughs), she was
screaming – with joy, I think!"
Will he be having terrified nights before the Oscars? "I think we'll enjoy
this moment – let's not even think about that just now!"
It's believed he'll be back and get back to working on his next release,
Delhi 6. What's with the guy, it's against the law for him to take a break,
is it?
"I think when I come out like this, meet different people, its like a break
for me. I'm not in a studio where I have to deliver two tunes or five
tunes... this itself is a change. And knowing the sort of respect that they
have for my work is a good feeling. The last four odd days I have met a lot
of people – I met Spielberg, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Akon, Kate Winslet, Puff
Daddy – somewhere the film has increased their respect for us – they respect
us in a different way now."
For all of us, this is the high point of Rahman's career so far. Is it the
same for him or is there something else he thinks merits that slot?
"No, it is, in a way, because it has taken my music to a completely
different level, to an audience whose work we used to admire for generations
– Hollywood stuff. And when praise comes from the people who have been
listening to that or making that stuff, it's a great feeling, its like
something coming a full circle."
So is this a moment of joy or a moment of peace for Rahman?
"I think it's a moment of joy. Especially with all the negativity that we
had around the year end. Personally also I lost my sound engineer. It was a
sad time. This news brings a lot of positivity for all of us. It's great."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_Buzz/Rahman_of_the_moment/articleshow/3978801.cms
--
regards,
Vithur
