A.R.Rahman (Fan Club)-Part2 - Page 58

IndiaGlitz [Wednesday, August 09, 2006]

A R Rehman, the acclaimed music wizard, is all set to don a new role.

Rehman, who has achieved so much at such a very young age, is sought-after worldwide for his catchy music. Be it Tamil, Telugu or Hindi, Rehman has a place for himself.

Now the music maestro has plans to get into the music production business. He would be starting his own music production company titled KM music.

After starting a state-of-the-art music studio in Chennai, which has latest features in it, Rehman will be starting KM Music.

According to Rehman, the company will be trying to find new talents including composers but mainly new voices who could go unnoticed otherwise.

Rehman has plans only to produce music here and not distribute them.

There are several talents that go unrecognized. With KM Music, I am keen to help them to come to light, says Rehman.

Source : http://www.indiaglitz.com

Aug 21, 2006

Film audience always needs to be kept guessing as to what they are going to see on the screen. Variety is undoubtedly an ingredient that can guarantee at least decent returns if not huge profits for a movie. We have seen in the past that the audience has unfailingly accepted movies that have broken the mould, even if there was no big star cast. The 2004 Kadhal and this year's Imsai Arasan are very good examples.

So, anyone who has been in movies for a long time knows the importance of not getting typecast or predictable. One needs to be versatile if one has to stick around. Even Superstar Rajnikanth is no exception. We all saw what happened when he tried to rework the tried and tested formula in Baba. He had to then opt for something we had never seen him do before in Chandramukhi, and it is still running in the city. That's what change is all about. Rajni seems to have grasped this point quite well and if reports are anything to go by, then we can expect a lot of fresh things in Sivaji.

What are the changes? Well do not be surprised. In Sivaji, there will be no typical Rajni introduction song with the trademark philosophies and national integration ideas cropping up in the lyrics. We all love to see those larger than life intro songs, the fans go crazy, remember Devuda…. But Shankar is not the man who will buckle to set trends and stylisms. His style is that he has no trademark style and that's what makes him a top director.

When the music composer A R Rahman was contacted for his comments, he appeared to be very pleased with the way the songs have shaped up. In addition to the 'Shankar, Rajini' special, the audience will have Rahman special also in Sivaji. Five songs have been composed and all of them have come out very well and fresh. Shankar had shown two of the songs to Rahman that have been shot and Rahman in turn is very impressed with the finished product. "Visuals are very beautiful and have a happy tone in them. I have not seen a better looking Rajini till now. He looks very handsome', says Rahman.

The first song in the movie has been picturised on Rajni and Shreya with Lawrence doing the choreography. Usually it is Tarun master who choreographs all Rajni intro songs. The song was shot at the Binny mills in Chennai. Well, now we all know that we are not going to get the usual Rajni intro. We shall find out how good the new one is only when the movie releases.

Source : http://www.behindwoods.com

Aug 22, 2006

Ustad Bismillah Khan the Shehnai Maestro passed away after a brief illness at Varanasi. He was 90. He was ailing for some time. His death is an irreparable loss to the music lovers of India.

Ustad was known more for his humaneness than the music itself.

A devout Musalmaan that he was, he offered namaz five times a day. At the same time, he had immense trust in Kashi Vishwanath and Ganga Maiya too. He never wanted to leave his beloved Varanasi where he lived all his life. When his contemporaries left India for greener pastures, Ustaad stayed put at Varanasi. He wanted Gangamaiya and Lord Vishwanath wherever he went. He was the recipient of many prestigious awards.

While paying tributes to him, A R Rahman feels that Ustad's place can never be replaced by anyone.

While paying tributes to him, A R Rahman feels that Ustad's place can never be replaced by anyone. His death has left a big void which is tough to be filled. He was the best paradigm of how a musician can take his music to a higher plane of perfection. He was an inspiration to every aspiring musician. Rahman had a brief encounter with him while the Ustad was at his studio for a recording in Chennai sometime back. He feels honoured and blessed to have had Ustad for an entire day. He would cherish those moments for eternity. He was the perfect example of how a Musalmaan should lead his life by spreading goodwill and cheer through his music and conduct. Rahman signs off with prayers to the almighty to rest the soul in peace.

Source : http://www.behindwoods.com

IndiaGlitz [Friday, August 25, 2006]

A R Rahman, often referred as 'Mozart of Madras', is credited with taking Tamil film songs to the global audience. He not just stamped his class in Tamil film industry, but also asserted his mastery in Bollywood and also other parts of the globe.

A frequent globe-trotter, performing in various places across the world, Rahman is happy with his work in Sillunu Oru Kadhal which is currently rocking the audio market in Tamil Nadu.

His mix of jazz, folksy and simple melodies has been lapped up the audio fans. His next Guru for Manirathinam will hit the market this Deepavali, while works for Aamir Khan's Lajjo have already commenced. Expectations are high on Rahman's forthcoming venture Sivaji featuring Rajinikanth and directed by Shankar.

Known to work in the nights, Rahman seems to have changed his style of working for now. The soft-spoken music director, says, 'I have changed my approach towards my work. I work from early in the morning till night.'

Rahman had recently performed at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in July, along with Global Rhythms, the world music band comprising American students, who are die-hard fans of the young legend.

He would also be commencing works for his private musical album soon.

Source : http://www.indiaglitz.com

IndiaGlitz [Thursday, August 31, 2006]

Finally good news for all Ajith-fans. The actor's long-pending God Father may eventually see the light of the day this Deepavali.

Close on the heels of Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu's release, all pending issues preventing the release of God Father directed by K S Ravikumar and produced by NIC Arts Chakravarthy, have been sorted out.

According to sources, God Father featuring Ajith in triple roles with musical score by A R Rahman will make it on the Deepavali day along with the likes of Vijaykanth's Dharmapuri and Vishal's Sivapathikaram.

Meanwhile Ajith is busy shooting for his Aalwar produced by Rajakaliamman films. After Aalwar, Ajith would act in a movie to be produced by Balaji Films, who churned out several movies starring Rajinikanth in the 1980s.

Buzz is that a debutant Vijay Anand, an associate of Malayalam director Priyadharshan, would direct the movie.

The shooting will commence once Ajith is through with his Aalwar.

Source : http://www.indiaglitz.com

TOP

By SHALINI DORE

He's been variously described as the John Williams of India and the Mozart of Madras; he has sold more than 100 million albums, comprising scores from more than 50 movies; and helmers Spike Lee and Andrew Niccol have used his music in the films "Inside Man" and "Lord of War," respectively.
Along the way, Allah Rakha Rahman's legit musicals "Bombay Dreams" and "The Lord of the Rings" have also brought Indian music to Western audiences.

If Rahman isn't exactly a household name outside his native country, you wouldn't know it following his sold-out Hollywood Bowl concert in July. "Music goes beyond language," he said backstage afterward. "It sounds cliched, but it's true. Today when they heard music, they didn't know if it was Tamil or Hindi or anything, but they were grooving with it."

It's that groove from his work with director Mani Ratnam -- whose collaborations have included "Roja," Rahman's film debut in 1992, as well as "Dil se" -- that piqued Andrew Lloyd Webber's interest, leading to the musical "Bombay Dreams" and a showcase for his work on the West End and Broadway.

The 40-year-old Rahman, who started out playing the keyboards professionally as a boy in Chennai, India, says he enjoys straddling the worlds of movies and theater.

"Being a film musician and always being inside a studio, I think it's good for me to move toward live performance," he says.

But working in the West posed its own challenges. Although his wife and three children joined him in London during school holidays, Rahman found the environment and the deadlines daunting.

"In India, there is no (rush) -- if you want to write a piece, you just call the musicians and you just sit and do your stuff and finish," he says. "My studio, orchestra are all there. Abroad, you're staying in a hotel room. It took me probably four years to get used to writing music there."

His upcoming film work includes Shekhar Kapur's "The Golden Age," a sequel to 1998's "Elizabeth," along with a number of Bollywood features for which he has promised to compose the music. And though the musical version of "LOTR" received less than stellar reviews in Toronto, it is headed for a London run -- that is, after Rahman has made some musical changes.

Date in print: Thurs., Aug. 31, 2006, Los Angeles

Source : http://www.variety.com

Sep 04, 2006

We need not tell you that a life in filmdom is full of stress and pressure with budgets to take care of and deadlines to meet even if one happens to be a music composer. When it comes to A R Rahman, the expectations that people have is enough to give one the creeps. So how does he unwind and release all the stress that accumulates.

He does not try yoga or the art of meditation or Zen or any of those ancient techniques that are in demand in today's modern world. He simply sits on his green patch. You must be wondering what this green patch is all about. It is nothing, just a lush area of grass that one can see as one enters Rahman's residence.

Rahman likes to lounge on this patch of grass and talk casually and this seems to be his most preferred relaxation. One can also see a hammock hanging close by. When we pry further we get to know that he likes to rock the hammock as his children sit on it. This too seems to be pretty good relaxation technique. We all listen to Rahman music when we feel stressed out. Rahman prefers to take time off from music.

Source :http://www.behindwoods.com

Tuesday September 5 2006 12:04 IST

'You will not find the usual Rajni opening song in Sivaji , where he will advise his fans on how to live ,'' says AR Rahman. Instead, the ace music director says he has come up with five rollicking numbers, which are out and out entertainers.

Rahman is awestruck with the picturisation of two of the songs in the film, of which he had a sneak preview with director Shankar.

''They are simply amazing,'' he confesses. After the stupendous success of Rang de Basanti , everyone's expectations of Rahman have gone up, have they not? Rahman gives his trademark laugh. ''The minute you say Rajni or Shankar, you can be sure everything will be spectacular. For my part, I paid special attention to the songs. I wanted them to be powerful,'' he says.

Anything else that we can share with our readers? ''I have not seen such a good-looking, handsome Rajni as this. He looks fabulous,'' says Rahman, whetting further everyone's appetite for the film, which is being produced by AVM.

Source :http://www.newindpress.com

Tuesday September 5 2006 12:04 IST

'You will not find the usual Rajni opening song in Sivaji , where he will advise his fans on how to live ,'' says AR Rahman. Instead, the ace music director says he has come up with five rollicking numbers, which are out and out entertainers.

Rahman is awestruck with the picturisation of two of the songs in the film, of which he had a sneak preview with director Shankar.

''They are simply amazing,'' he confesses. After the stupendous success of Rang de Basanti , everyone's expectations of Rahman have gone up, have they not? Rahman gives his trademark laugh. ''The minute you say Rajni or Shankar, you can be sure everything will be spectacular. For my part, I paid special attention to the songs. I wanted them to be powerful,'' he says.

Anything else that we can share with our readers? ''I have not seen such a good-looking, handsome Rajni as this. He looks fabulous,'' says Rahman, whetting further everyone's appetite for the film, which is being produced by AVM.

Source :http://www.newindpress.com

Aparna Nath [Monday, September 18, 2006]

Chennai, Sep 19 (IANS) Composer A.R. Rahman's new Tamil album "Jillunu Oru Kaadhal" continues to be a rage, but the film is turning out to be a major disappointment at the box office.

The top five Tamil albums are:

1. "Jillunu Oru Kaadhal" - Music: A.R. Rahman. Be it radio or television, the title track of the film and "Munbe Vaa", a melody by Shreya Ghosal and Naresh Iyer, are huge draws everywhere.

2. "Vettayadu Vilayadu" - Music: Harris Jayaraj. The songs are doing extremely well, especially "Partha muthal" by Unni Menon and Bombay Jayashri.

3. "Vallavan" - Music Yuvan Shankar Raja. "Loose penne" sung by Silambarasan and Blaze is very much in demand.

4. "Something Something Unakkum Enakkum" - Music: Devisri Prasad. The film's success has got a lot to do with the album's popularity. All the songs are in demand with "Maane mane" in the lead.

5. "Thimiru" - Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja. "Maana Madhurai" sung by Shankar Mahadevan is very popular all over Tamil Nadu.

Source : http://www.nowrunning.com/news/news.asp?it=7809