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It’s hard to pin down what exactly it is about A R Rahman that makes him so appealing in person. Maybe it’s the absence of airs of any kind. Maybe it’s the refreshing lack of ennui or cynicism. Or, maybe it’s just plain old n iciness, of a simple, down-to-earth variety that’s hard to come by these days.

Whatever it is, it works just as effortlessly on the six winners of a Sony music organized ‘Sakkarakatti contest’ who get to meet the maestro in his front office late one evening as it does on yours truly.

They all go from hushed reverence to easy, happy smiles within minutes. And although he’s in the middle of recording for Mani Ratnam’s “Ravan”, he makes sure everyone’s got the pictures they want with him before they leave.

Starting off by discussing the music of “Sakkarakatti”, which has now spent over 20 weeks at the top of the charts. “It’s interesting to work with this new generation of directors,” says Rahman, referring to first-time director of “Sakkarakatti”, Kalaprabhu S Dhanu. “They don’t carry the same sort of baggage other directors do, they’re willing to let go of things that could make a product old and go in a new direction, with new influences.”

And as this reporter watched in amusement, the remaining young adults in the room promptly lined up to get one themselves. Moral of the story? When A R Rahman hands out something, you go pick it up. Even if it’s a pea-green coloring book for five year olds.

Sakkarakkatti became famous for its song `Taxi Taxi’, which was an instant hit. Its sheen and popularity even compelled the filmmakers to re shoot the original video. A R Rahman, before starting to compose for this film,promised that his work in this film will make everyone undergo the same pleasant feeling they had when they listened to him for the first time in Roja. Well, the maestro has fulfilled his promise.

Yuvraaj is produced and directed by Subhash Ghai, starring Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Katrina Kaif, Zayed Khan and Jawed Sheikh. A R Rahman has teamed with Gulzar Saab for the Music of the film. The film is Subhash Ghai’s next much-awaited musical after the stupendous success of Taal in 1999. When a company has the music rights of a film’s songs composed by the Mozart of Asia A.R.Rahman, then there is no need to get worried about the success of sales of the music.

Talking about the music of the film, veteran director Subhash Ghai says “The music of Yuvraaj has an international feel. It blends both Western music with Indian classical music and folk music. It has some peppy numbers and some excellent melodies. It has a larger than life feel to it. Rahman has done his best”

He was in Delhi recently to promote a marathon race. He emphasised on the need for such events to be organised and said, “These days when a lot of unnecessary divisions and fragments are being created in society in the name of religion, caste and region, such events hold great importance. When we run along with hundreds of others, we forget what our religion or region is.”

And is he planning to take part in the race himself as well, we asked him. “An event like this where people run together will make me feel ecstatic. It is like a music concert. Like music breaks all boundaries and proves to be a unifying factor for people from across the borders who stand together and enjoy the music without thinking about its source. Here as well, we are expecting people from all walks of life to take part. I have never been a part of such an event, and who knows this year I might run too,” signed off Rahman.