A R Rahman Online Website Beta

This talent is typically discussed in reference to his work outside India, which began early this century when he collaborated with Andrew Lloyd Webber on the saccharine West End confection Bombay Dreams, pairing reworked versions of some of his most outstanding songs from the 1990s with some of his worst original music.

Since then, his work has featured on Broadway and in Chinese and Hollywood films. All this, particularly the Slumdog Oscars, has made Rahman the first Indian composer to find substantial audiences beyond the already large world of his country’s film industry.

But Rahman’s first, more impressive feat of border-crossing occurred much earlier, when he became the first Indian composer with a pan-Indian audience. So often is Bollywood used as a symbol of the entire Indian film industry that it is easy to overlook the country’s diversity of other regional cinema. Outside Mumbai, other sizeable film industries operate like self-contained planets, producing movies in the languages of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Bengali.

An industry source says, “Rahman is currently busy with a track for the film Blue and he will then set his eyes on completing his Hollywood venture Couples Retreat. Post these two assignments, he will take a plunge at doing this international album that will see him make music for some of the best singers and artistes of the world. It is a very hush-hush project as Rahman is now currently meeting with officials who are firming up the names that will feature in this star-studded album.”

The insider adds, “It is heard that Rahman might be teaming up with people he has already worked with for this compilation. He has worked with Pussycat Dolls for Jai Ho and they are certainly the hot favourites on the list. Rahman is also very fond of Mick Jagger and Joss Stone having been associated with them. Efforts to rope them in can’t be ruled out.

He has also recently recorded with Kylie Minogue and she is a huge star in the West. She will definitely be approached for the album. Several other big names who have expressed their willingness to work with AR Rahman are also being looked at.”

That was the international award I thought he’d win first, this restless pop-rock explorer whose far-flung voyages of musical introspection have consistently reshaped the landscape of the film song. There was the unmatched finish in his albums, for instance — the kind of sonic spit-polish we’ve encountered only in international records.

Then there were the influences that shaped Rahman — Osibisa, Jim Reeves, Switched-On Bach, Chick Corea, Vangelis and Dave Grusin, none of which appear, at least at first glance, capable of being co-opted into the traditional five-minute film song.

Vangelis Music was always an inspiration to Rahman. This is what Rahman has to say, when he met Vangelis in Greece recently.

The first glimpse of BLUE was unveiled at Cinemax in a grand media event by none other than Music Maestro A.R. Rahman, sound expert Resul Pookuty, Director Anthony D’Souza and Producer Dhilin Mehta as they presented a unique ‘Sound Promo’ of the film.

Audiences too will get a sneak peek of the extravaganza on their television screens and on the big screens too as the theatrical promo opens with the weekend releases. An underwater action thriller BLUE captures the fast paced action, above and below the ocean as never seen before in Indian Cinema!

All set to hit theatres this Diwali on October 16th, Blue is produced by one of the biggest production houses Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd., which has tossed out landmark films like Jab We met, Bhagambhag, Golmaal,  etc. And this time, producer Dhilin Mehta has once again defied norms and raised the bar in film-making.

Read the rest of this entry »

NSW Premier and Sydney Festival President Nathan Rees yesterday made the initial announcement at Sydney Olympic Park at the India Australia Friendship Fair, to an extremely appreciative Indian/Australian crowd. “Oscar award-winning artist A.R. Rahman has generously agreed to offer a one-off, free public concert, as part of Sydney Festival in January next year. The NSW Government in conjunction with Sydney Festival will host the event at Parramatta Park.” The Premier said.

“Without doubt one of the world’s great talents, I am sure Rahman will show Sydney why he is one of the all-time highest selling recording artists. I congratulate Mr Rahman for his leadership and goodwill. We all look forward to having him here next year.”

Doordarshan had commenced telecasts on 15 September 1959 with a one-hour daily transmission. AR Rahman was felicitated, who won two Oscars for the music in the film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, with a shawl and a memento.

Earlier, Doordarshan Director General Aruna Sharma told a news conference that the opening event will be in Mumbai on 15 September and programmes will be held in different Kendras. There will also be a concert in Delhi . In addition, there will be several discussions looking back at the growth of Doordarshan, and the final one on 15 September 2010 will examine sports evens, in view of the Commonwealth Games. She claimed that with the help of DTH and satellite TV, Doordarshan was reaching the entire country. Rahman announced that he would shortly be doing a reality show based on music with Doordarshan. K R Harish, Managing Director of Phat Phish India which put the concert together for Doordarshan, also spoke on the occasion.

And he is wasting no time to reach his goal. Last week, Amin sung a song in the Hollywood film, Couples Retreat for which AR Rahman has composed the music.

A source said, “AR Rahman’s family and people in his office have still not got over the fact that Rahman’s little son has sung the song.  They are very excited and happy and can’t stop talking about it. His mom and dad are very proud of him.”

AR Rahman’s life has become super-hectic after his international win. This Chennai-based music composer who has been dividing his time between Chennai, Mumbai, London and Los Angeles, has now begun to miss the time he used to spend at home with his wife and children.So Rahman took a totally unscheduled break from his assignments in LA and was back in Chennai on Friday for two weeks. Confirming the news, Rahman said, “The kids were always there with me when I worked regularly from home in Chennai. Now I get to spend less time with them.”

“Even now when I’m here in Chennai, work for my pending Hindi films like Blue has to be taken care of. I’ve come at a time when I cannot afford to take a break. My first Hollywood soundtrack for Couples Retreat has to be ready because the film is releasing on October 6.”