Beautiful snow capped mountains and a bed of crimson roses. A pair feeling lost in the mesmerizing beauty that is surrounding them, matched equally with a magical music that is played in sync with these scenes and the arrival of a Virtuoso is heralded. That's how the entire world felt when they first saw the song ' Yeh Haseen vaadiyaan' from the film ROJA and the question every one started asking was ' Who is the music composer?? Who?? '
This is A R RAHMAN's debut for you, with an album that eventually got itself in to the TOP 10 albums of 'all-time' by TIME magazine. What ensued after ROJA was what every one had expected. He delivered and delivered and delivered until the masses said " HE IS A GENIUS!!”There was this unique style in his composition that stood out from the rest. It was a beautiful method, an enigmatic process, master planning and the perseverant quest for something new and different! An attempt to come up with something the entire world had not heard and experienced before.
He followed ROJA with Thiruda Thiruda where he showed he could tweak. He showed earthly melody is not the only thing where he excels but he can also improvise. Even the low budget movies like Chhalia and Tu Hi Mera Dil had those moments of attention where the listener was forced to stand up and question about the new beat or about the enchanting arrangement. Perhaps 'The Maestro' felt it was time to set some commercial records and can anyone do that in a better way than he did it with BOMBAY? The album sold a whopping 5 million copies and the genius of RAHMAN became un-challengeable.
His much-awaited Bollywood arrival happened with director Ram Gopal Varma in Rangeela and before even the music could be released the teasers had already grabbed the nation's headlines (with Urmila contributing slightly). RGV said he could not sleep the whole night after RAHMAN handed him the compositions. RGV had pressure " How in the world should I picturise such beautiful compositions?” By now, RAHMAN was done satisfying the directors. He wanted to so something for his fans. Perhaps a gift that he could offer to them, as he would like it. That was how VANDEMATARAM was conceived and THE GENIUS of RAHMAN was appreciated globally as the album was released in 28 countries with SONY entering the Indian market with this album( they wanted to enter it with a bang and they had their money on the Perfect Horse... clever people).
His much-awaited Bollywood arrival happened with director Ram Gopal Varma in Rangeela and before even the music could be released the teasers had already grabbed the nation's headlines (with Urmila contributing slightly). RGV said he could not sleep the whole night after RAHMAN handed him the compositions. RGV had pressure " How in the world should I picturise such beautiful compositions?” By now, RAHMAN was done satisfying the directors. He wanted to so something for his fans. Perhaps a gift that he could offer to them, as he would like it. That was how VANDEMATARAM was conceived and THE GENIUS of RAHMAN was appreciated globally as the album was released in 28 countries with SONY entering the Indian market with this album( they wanted to enter it with a bang and they had their money on the Perfect Horse... clever people).
RAHMAN had more to offer, so had Mani Ratnam to derive out of RAHMAN. They both came up with DilSe.. regarded as the Benchmark in Bollywood music with Chhayya Chhayya becoming a rage among the nation.
Rahman accepted Subhash Ghai's challenge of his musically rich films and composed the music for his TAAL. It has to be the BEST musical under Mukta Arts banner. Circa 1999, RAHMAN went international as he landed BOMBAY DREAMS. Other international projects followed and also followed LAGAAN. With LAGAAN, RAHMAN came full circle. Again that melody, those earthly tunes, easy on ears . Amazing!
Rahman accepted Subhash Ghai's challenge of his musically rich films and composed the music for his TAAL. It has to be the BEST musical under Mukta Arts banner. Circa 1999, RAHMAN went international as he landed BOMBAY DREAMS. Other international projects followed and also followed LAGAAN. With LAGAAN, RAHMAN came full circle. Again that melody, those earthly tunes, easy on ears . Amazing!
Post LAGAAN, bollywood saw very few of RAHMAN products as he was busy internationally. THE LORD OF THE RINGS stage version followed and then came RANG DE BASANTI. With RDB, RAHMAN showed he is still RAHMAN, as Techno was beautifully dissolved with patriotic tunes. The effect was indelible. Was any room left? Was any territory left unconquered? Everybody yelled a big NO. RAHMAN said YES. I still have to do an English song!! PRAY FOR ME BROTHER.
The fact that it became UN's anthem for poverty eradication and NOKIA's default offering in the N Series says it all. From having the rare distinction of being the composer of ' Airtel ' tune which saw itself in Guinness Book of World Records as The ring tone that was downloaded the most in the world to being the only brand ambassador of WORLDSPACE, RAHMAN has had it all. No other composer has successfully composed in the number of genres than he has done.
From Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada to HINDI and English.. All done!
From Ads to movies to Theatres to Themes to Ring tones to Anthems. All done!
From rookie Naresh Iyer to SP Balasubramaniam to Nusrath Fateh Ali Khan to Varttina to Andrew Lloyd Webber to Michael Jackson. All done!
What continues is the beautiful journey that started off with ROJA.
From rookie Naresh Iyer to SP Balasubramaniam to Nusrath Fateh Ali Khan to Varttina to Andrew Lloyd Webber to Michael Jackson. All done!
What continues is the beautiful journey that started off with ROJA.
There are journeys that are memorable as some sweet thoughts are associated with them. There are some journeys that leave a mark and are never forgotten. But this is one journey that everyone feels should never end, as all the destinations in this journey so far were soul satisfying. They were magical and full of pleasantries. Mr. Navigator... Looking forward for the next destination that happens to be JODHA-AKBAR. Here's wishing you all the best for your future SIR.
