A.R.Rahman (Fan Club) - Page 66

Originally posted by: dayita

Welcome back Sammie, I have heard your exam was going on.Hope it was fine.

actually my exmas r not over yet

practical & sessional papers r left

theory papers were all well😃

Swetha all d best 4 ur last exam
u'll do nothing less dan d best 😊

Sammie, Welcome back..all the best for ur practical sessions.. have a look we r heading to 100th page.. Its celebration time.

Originally posted by: Sudha_rn

Sammie, Welcome back..all the best for ur practical sessions.. have a look we r heading to 100th page.. Its celebration time.

thanks sudha😊

yaahh, its celebration time😃

All the best for your practical exam Sammie.

rising star - part 2

Here is the second part of the interview with A.R.R. from 'The Hindu' and a song from his second movie "Pudhiya Mugam". A Passion for Quality Music S.R. Ashok Kummar

Despite your success, you do not seem to be working in a lot of films.

Rather than making money, I believe in making people happy; all other things are secondary. That is why I am not interested in a lot of movies but only in one at a time. I like directors whom I can vibe with. Ten years of experience in this field has made me quite frustrated. I have evolved a technique which requires a lot of time. Other music directors record a song in seven or eight hours. But I am different. We do a basic sitting and we record it. We record the voice and I add instrument by instrument to improve the quality.

Will not the producers say that you are delaying their projects?

My process involves a lot of time. The delay is not intentional. That is how I get my results. When people say that in "Gentleman" and "Thiruda Thiruda" the music is good and not like the usual beats, I feel happy. Abroad, in some places, they take three months to make an album. Pudhiya Mugam. His second release was "Pudhiya Mugam", and most of the songs seem to resemble his earlier songs in "Roja".


Film: Pudhiya Mugam (Tamil)
Actors: Revathi and Suresh Menon
Lyrics: Vairamuthu
Nerruu Illaatha maarum (2 versions) - Kannukku mai azhagu (2 versions) - July maatham - sambho sambho -
Song: nerru illaatha maaRum (Sujatha) Nerru illaatha maaRum ennadhu? kaaRRu en kaadhil yEdhO sonnadhu idhudhaan kaadhal enbadhaa iLamai pongi vittadhaa? idhayam sindhi vittadhaa? sol manamE nERRu illaatha maaRum ennadhu? kaaRRu en kaadhil yEdhO sonnadhu idhudhaan kaadhal enbadhaa iLamai pongi vittadhaa? idhayam sindhi vittadhaa? sol manamE kadavuL illai enREn , thaayai kaaNum varai kanavu illai enREn , aasai thOnRum varai kaadhal poi enRu sOnnEn unnai kaaNum varai kavidhai variyin suvai, artham puriyum varai gangai neerin suvai, kadalil sErum varai kaadhal suvai onRu thaanE kaaRRu veesum varai nERRu illaatha maaRum ennadhu? kaaRRu en kaadhil yEdhO sonnadhu idhudhaan kaadhal enbadhaa iLamai pongi vittadhaa? idhayam sindhi vittadhaa? sol manamE hey hey.. hey hey.. hey hey..hey hey.. vaanam illaamalE bhoomi undaagalaam varthai illamalE baashai undaagalaam kaadhal illaamal pOnaal vazhkai undaaguma? vaasam illamalE vaNNa poo pook kalaam vaasal illamalE kaRRu vandhaadalaam nEsam illaadha vaazhvil paasam undaaguma? nERRu illaatha maaRum ennadhu? kaaRRu en kaadhil yEdhO sonnadhu idhudhaan kaadhal enbadhaa iLamai pongi vittadhaa? idhayam sindhi vittadhaa? sol manamE nERRu illaatha maaRum ennadhu? kaaRRu en kaadhil yEdhO sonnadhu idhudhaan kaadhal enbadhaa iLamai pongi vittadhaa? idhayam sindhi vittadhaa? sol manamE}

http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~kailasan/interviews/rising%20star%20 -%20part%202.htm

rising star - part 3

Here is part 3 of the interview with ARR from 'The Hindu', followed by a review and a song from his third film "Gentleman". A Passion for Quality Music by S.R. Ashok Kummar (for 'The Hindu')

Do you use computer in your films?

No. Not computers. The technique involved is different. In fact, they say the music in "Roja" was computerised. As I said earlier the recording takes time. You can hear the same flute here in a

different way. It is not computerised music. Nearly 40 persons sang 'Veerapandi Kottayile' (a song from "Thiruda Thiruda") that does not sound like computer music. 'Vellai Mazhai' (from "Roja") is sync oriented. I do not restrict the musicians, but ask them to play whatever they feel. Then I record what I want. I spend a lot of time on lyrics too. It takes around four days. We write something in the first instance and then improve. So it takes about a week to complete a song.

Then you will be working only in perhaps half a dozen films a year?

What will I do if I work for more films and only a few click? I do not want my energy to be wasted. I want every film to be a musical hit. In fact, "Thiruda Thiruda" songs have created a record for any Tamil film - 25,000 discs were sold in Malaysia. They are going to give us platinum discs.


His third film "Gentleman" has been his best offering yet. It had some great mixture of songs, very different from his earlier two films.
Film: Gentleman
Actors: Arjun and Madhubala
Lyrics: Vairamuthu

The songs from this film were:
ottagaththai kattikkO - duet between SPB and S.Janaki. Great beats and nice use of chorus. veettu thOttathil - The best song of the whole lot, inspired from a classical composition. Neatly done by SPB and Sujatha. chikku bukku rayilu - Real crazy lyrics, leaning on the 'rap'pish side. But still an enjoyable song.The picturization of this song is good too. paarkkaathE paarkkaathE - Reminds you of a song 'kilele kilele' from the group "Osibisa" which toured India in early 80s. usilambhatti peNkutti - Tries a folk tune, but is not quite a pure folk number. The lyrics spoil the song.. Song: en veetu thottaththil ( SPB and Sujatha) Sujatha:hmmmm mmmm aaa AAa....aaa en veettu thOttaththil poo ellaam kEttup paar en veettu jannal kambi ellaamE kEttup paar en veettu thennam keeRRai ippodE kEttup paar en nenjai sollumE.. en veettu thOttaththil poo ellaam kEttup paar en veettu jannal kambi ellaamE kEttup paar en veettu thennam keeRRai ippodE kEttup paar en nenjai sollumE.. SPB: vai paattu paadum peNNe maunangaL koodadhu vai poottuch chattam ellaam peNNukku aagaathu Sujatha: vaNdellaam saththam pOttaal poonjOlai thaangaathu mOtutkkaL saththam pOttaal vaNdukkE kEtkaathu SPB: aadik ki pinnaalE kaavEri thaangaathu Sujatha: aaL aana pinnaalE allippoo moodaathu SPB: aasai thudikkinRadhO? SPB: un veettu thOttaththil poo ellaam kEttup paar un veettu jannal kambi ellaamE kEttup paar un veettu thenam keeRRai ovvonRaai kEttup paar en pErai sollumE.. un veettu thOttaththil poo ellaam kEttup paar[hmmm...] un veettu jannal kambi ellaamE kEttup paar[hmmm...] un veettu thenam keeRRai ovvonRaai kEttup paar[hmmm...] en pErai sollumE.. Sujatha: sOllukkum theriyaamal sOllaththaan vandEnE sOllukkuL arththam pOla sOllaamal ninREnE SPB: sOllukkum arthathukkum dhoorangaL kidayaadhu sOllaadha kaadhal ellaam sOrgaththil sEraadhu Sujatha: eNNikkai theerndaalum muththangaL theeraadhu SPB: eNNikkai paarthaalE muththangaL aagaadhu Sujatha: mmm mmm mm anubavamO? SPB: heh-heh-ha! Sujatha: en veettu thOttaththil poo ellaam kEttup paar en veettu jannal kambi ellaamE kEttup paar en veettu thennam keeRRai ippodE kEttup paar en nenjai sollumE.. SPB: un veettu thOttaththil poo ellaam kEttup paar[hmmm...] un veettu jannal kambi ellaamE kEttup paar[hmmm...] un veettu thenam keeRRai ovvonRaai kEttup paar[hmmm...] en pErai both: sollumE.. }

http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~kailasan/interviews/rising%20star%20 -%20part%203.htm

expectations are scary - Interview by Uma Maheswari appeared in Sun T.V. On 15/1/99 on Pongal Night


According to us,A.R.Rahman is the No 1 Music Director with so many prizes and awards.From this place if you look back at A.R.Rahman as the Music Director of 'Roja' , How do you feel?

When I did 'Roja' I thought that should be my last movie and had a feeling that I should leave after that.I was not interested in movies because I was there already.Then when the film was a hit I saw the audience response and thought that I should do one more and then leave it.What happened was an evolution of a style, like 'this is my style,',which took a long time to get evolved.But now it was more or less defined.When people hear it they ask is this film music? and there is some kind of recognition to it.It is a little more simple but even if it is more, people tend to like it saying it sounds the same.So its more of a challenge, and I was more peaceful then, because of less offers.Now I think this year will be the highest no of films and I wish it also comes out well.

Before becoming a Music Director you were an excellent Keyboard player("not excellent!" ARR laughs).People have told that you were very good on the keyboard and then how did you get inspired to become a Music director because becoming one is not an easy task.

My father was a Music Director in those times.So mother felt that even I should take the same field.If you want to be a Music Director you should have certain amount of classical knowledge,so I learnt classical music.

What is the difference between Music Director A.R.Rahman and A.S.Dileep Kumar? .

When I was Dileep I was more of a person suffering from inferiority complex.But when Changed to A.R.Rahman evrything changed as though I was having a new birth and my entire past was washed out.

And, Now?

mm..its continuing (laughs)

After becoming popular, what have you gained and what have you lost?

The problem is too much of expectations.If you do some good work they will immediately see that.If we do 'X' amount of work they will think as '10X'.There is no limits for imaginations.That is too scary.Even now it is scary.

So, People's expectations is your minus point....

It is not a minus point it is rather a challenge.

Haven't you lost your privacy after becoming so popular?

Privacy is always there like when I'm praying I'm private and when I'm with my family its private.So, its with us.

Rahmanji can you differentiate sound and music?

I wish every sound is music(giggles)

Normally when you do a film you are too involved in it but why do people take it differently saying that it takes one year for you to do a film.

Thats because there was a rule.There was a concept that 7-1 two clients should be there.If you want to do something extra you need to break ordinary rules.A Song which must take a day may take 5-6 days.When the industry is rotating in a manner and you suddenly break the rules it doesn't work well.And if you don't deliver also they'll blame you.

How do you react to such criticisms?

I never hear it and I'm used to it.They are saying that from the beggining.Finally people buy the casstes and when they do, 'Its good' , 'Its bad' are the only two phrases they speak.Whether I have worked for 4 years or for 5 years ,that is not necessary for them.They have to get their money's worth for it.Thats what I think.

How Useful is the completion of Re-Recording for a film?

The Right kind of Re-Recording can elevate a film but if it is done wrongly it can destroy the film.

Rahmanji,In North India ,apart from movies people hear bhajans,classical music,pop,ghazals etc,but in the south people are confined to music from the films.Personally why do you think this difference arises?

In the north the production of a ghazal is like that of a movie in the sense that there is so much of money involved in it.But in the south Pop is very popular and Classical music is picking up as there are many people going to kutcherys and I am very happy to see that.

After your entry you have elevated tamil film music to the national levels and you have made the north indians hear tamil songs and elevated the status("Tamilnadu is lucky,thats all!" ARR laughs).No!I think you are sounding humble.I won't say it wasn't like that before, but you have definitely created an awakening.In fact we tamilians feel proud of it!What is your comment on this.

The main thing is the cultural difference between North Indians and Tamilians.If a hindi song is dubbed in tamil it is clearly noticable and similarly if a tamil song is dubbed in hindi it is clearly noticed.There are certain elements which everybody have to get because of the media and the numerous channels there is a common point which is coming ,so in another two years even an englishman will be able to appreciate a tamil song!

You are always working,so how do you find time to listen to other music to improve your knowledge?Is there time for you?

I have time and I have a system outside my studio and when we finish final mixing we listen to it in the system like any other listener to see if it sounds good.Sometimes the computer crashes and it takes 4 hours so we listen to other music.

A Simple question.You started with 'chinna chinna asai'('Choti isi asha').Can you tell some of your chinna chinna asais(little little wishes)?

Actually if you dont have asai(wishes) it is better because everything is a surprise for you

But there is no one without asais(wishes)!

Thats right but once we keep asais(wishes) it never happens.

No there will be lots of chinna chinna asais(little little wishes)!

You ask that to Vairamuthu sir (laughs loudly)

Which is your favourite musical instrument?

(Laughs uncontrollably and in the middle of fading laughter)lets shout KEYBOARD!)(Continues laughing)

Rahmanji your album Vande Mataram created a sensation especially among the youth.Have you created any other albums or will you create any other non-film albums?

We are postponing the albums due to existing commitments.Nearly 9-10 films are due and you know how much time I take (laughs).
I wish all Fans my heartiest Pongal Wishes.

Rahmanji,this is a common dialouge for all ,but makes special mention to you alone. 'Thanks for sparing some time from your busy schedule'

http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~kailasan/interviews/pongal_interview _1999.htm

is duniya ke sitaare - Interview appeared in 'Is Duniya Ke Sitaare' on Star Plus 26/01/99 - part 1

Farida Jalal: Welcome to LG 'Is Duniya ke sitaare'. Well your fans and all of us would like to know everything about you.

Before that I would like to tell you all that I am not fluent in hindi so...'main angrezi me baat karta hun'(laughs)

Vande Mataram, We would like to know about this album.

The whole thing came when I met Bharatbala my friend in some award function in Bombay.We just talked and we used to do commercials five years back and we thought we should do something together.Bala's father told why dont you do something for the country.We joined together and bala asked 'why dont we do Vande Mataram?'.I said if we do vande mataram it should reach out to the young people and bring about a sense of belonging to all the religions to all the people all around the world and to feel we have a home and to give a sense of belonging to ourselves .We combined everything and made the first song,a big song and Mehboobji wrote the lyrics.

Why did you dedicate it to the youth?

This was a beautiful song that was there for nearly 100 years and todays youth should relate to it without any bias.The whole thing was to grudge both.As you guys know it happened very well.It reached out to people.

We were all thrilled and pleasently surprised to see you before the camera instead of being in your studio or recording room under the sun and oing a bit of acting.How did you feel?

Initially I said I cant do all this and i'm not used to it and then Bala said ,You have sung the song and if you dont face the camera people cant relate to it.He said whatever you have done in the studio you just do it exept for a little makeup and wear a simple dress like what I wear normally a T-Shirt and Jeans.

What was your reaction when you were asked to perform Vande Mataram on India's 50th Anniversary?

I was really hounoured.I called my orchestra and we went to delhi and they gave us a slot of 10 minutes before the prime minister came and they said we cant perform after that.By the time the prime minister came,the previous parties were prolonging and the time was off and they said 'No everyone is hear do it now!'

I was told that before films you were composing jingles.

From the age of around 11 I started playing as a musician and I wanted to do something more since evry morning I was doing songs ..songs ..songs.I thought of doing something outside the film industry.I met a different crowd one that is entirely different from the fiilm crowd.Thats when I met Mani Ratnamji and got my first break

'Roja'.How did that happen

One of my commercials for Leo Coffee and we had a party in one of the hotels.Mani Ratnam came for the party and I asked why dont you come to the studio and listen to my music and exactly after 6 months he had an oppurunity to come and said we might do a film.In one week's time I gave him some tunes and he like it and we started 'Roja'.It was a blessing from lord that I got a very fine director for my Music Dirctorial debut film.He encouraged me a lot and he listened to my experimenting music and said this is sounding this is sounding old.He was like a school for me and it was like an own university and he made me blessed with the music which I have know .I was into all kinds of music like traditional music ,Pop music ,Classical music and he is like a brother to me.

The very first song in your very first film .What was it.

I think in 'Roja' it was 'Dil he chot Asha'.It was a simple and melodious song.

The Director is important to you or the artist is important picturise hone vala hai.

No.Everything particularly the script and the situations.The sounds are also important to a film .We feel a traditional sound may be suitable for this film and all that is decided before composing.

The difference in composing a jingle and a film song.

Everything dependes on that attitude in which you take.If you take a jingle like joke then it is like that and it sounds like, that but if you take it seriously and work on it and concentrate every second of the 60 seconds it is going to last it sounds good and thats the same attitude I take for a song like you have a muqda ,a BGM and then if this muqda comes again,what surprise can you get?I cant repeat the same thing so I would like to give a surprise there.I concentrate on each section of the song.Its an extra burden for you but gives you a joy and when people hear it they say 'Thats a surprise ,Thats a surprise' and they keep hearing to it 10 times and discover new things in it.Its not like once they hear and it is predictable.In a way it helped me to develop a new style in song making.

People say that your songs are repititive and once they hear it they can say 'Ah!this is A.R.Rahman combination'.

In a way it is good to have a recognition.What happens when I do a similar kind of film given the success of a film and when I do a similar kind of film rematched,thats where I get caught.They want the same kind of song 'OK give me another Chaiyya Chaiyya or another Muqabla' and it gets repititive.Even in 'Doli Saja Ke Rakhna' I tried to blend the old style of music with my style so it would sound different with an old melody with new music and I think it is slowly reaching out to the people.When you are into the same kind of things and when you are composing you should be free and shouldn't be bound by song situations, like when you are doing only Background scores, ads, art films.Working with Mr.Govind Nihlani is different from working with Mr.Mani Ratnam or Mr.Ghai. He is completely into a different kind of world.

Do you feel handicapped by the lack of knowledge of the language Hindi.

Not anymore because now i'm quite familiar with most words .Even the Bad Words (laughs)

Do you think that the director's hassling in your work has an ill effect.

Not Really.If we Music directors start to think lets do what we like and let the director keep shouting,then the music wont reach the people quickly.Directors like Shankar will immediately say 'No I want a song that'll reach out to the people'.He wants every song in his films to adhere to the serious subjects on which he takes.

What is necessary to make a hit song.

I think the basic thing is to be honest to it.You have to say something in it,not just to make it come to the charts .When you are honest to it and when you want to make a simple melody ,simple thought in it a simple lyric and good orchestrisation and immediately it will be a hit.I think it is in the way you go about it. You shouldn't get into the song to make a hit out of it but make it in your style and obtaining a hit from that.

You always opt for new voices a new kinds of tracks when there are so many accomplished singers in the south as well as in Mumbai.Why is it so?

When I was doing commercials I used to get a lot of voices and it was a very interesting part of my career which I loved using different kind of voices training them and ofcourse people recognise new talents.When the composition is new these new singers sing in their own style and sometimes the mistakes they make sounds good and when they sing completely or slightly off it is interesting.

How was the experience working with Lataji?

I wanted to give a nice song to Latji and not a normal one and it was timed perfectly and when Maniji wanted this song 'Jiya Jale', I asked him 'Why dont we let Lataji sing this one?' and he said Ok.Gulzar Ji finished and when we offered her she acceoted it immediately and it was a great honour for us.She stayed for two days and finished the song.

What did she say when she heard you r composition for the first time.Did she say something.

I was so scared since this was the first time, after finishing I just kept quite.She said 'Why dont you answer?Is it good or bad?'.(laughs).I said 'How it be bad if you sing?' and then she went to Bombay and said 'This composer is not talking anything.I dont know whether he likes it or not'.

People say when you are composing the music its a one-man show and its just yours.

I wouldn't say its just mine because first of all there's a director who gives the thought and there is a tune which is composed and there is a lyric writer who plays a very important role in making the song good and respectable and then I put a rough thing on a computer and take the voice and then I call the musicians .Mostly people dont see that part since they just come for the voice mixing and they see me taking it on the computer.After that there is a process where I call all the musicians with the real part to add life to that and we mix it in such a way it sounds new.

How would you describe A.R.Rahman in your own words?

A.R.Rahman is a failure and slowly he is trying to reach something

to be continued on 2/2/99 at 8:30 p.m

http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~kailasan/interviews/duniya%20ke%20pa rt%201.htm