The interview which appears below, was originally published on Rainbow FM in March 2009. ©The rights to this material are reserved to the owner. If you have any concerns or comments, please send an email to info@rahmaniac.com.
“My salutations to everyone. I am playback singer K.S. Chithra, and today I’m delighted to share my journey with A.R. Rahman Sir. From ‘Roja’ to ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, we’ve created musical magic together. Each melody he has crafted for me holds a special place in my heart – very very important songs that have become timeless classics.
Before The Fame
My story with Rahman goes back to when he wasn’t yet the maestro we know today. I still remember watching him play keyboard for Raja Sir – this quiet, humble young man whose only companions seemed to be his music and his work. His silent dedication spoke volumes about the artist he would become.
What many people don’t know is something remarkable about Rahman Sir’s early days. It is only Rahman sir’s CDs and cassettes, which give credit to all the musicians who have been part of the effort. In an industry where background musicians often remained anonymous, this was revolutionary.
But it was he who first and foremost started this, and this depicts his broad mindedness and magnanimous nature. This respect for every artist, from the lead singer to the last instrumentalist, shows his true character. You have never commented about anyone – this integrity is rare in our industry. May you continue making more beautiful music. My prayers are always with you.
A Burning Question
Like many others, I’ve always wondered about something. Rahman Sir has this unique gift – a way of discovering new voices and matching them perfectly with his compositions. So I asked him:
“In all your new films, you introduce some new singers. You give the songs in such a way that they’re perfectly suited to each voice. How do you make these magical matches? How do you discover such talents?
What’s remarkable is how you’ve transformed careers – especially for many Bombay singers who found their true recognition after singing for you. They weren’t as celebrated before, but after working with you, their names became household words even in their hometown. This is something we should all celebrate. What’s your secret to this perfect selection?”
Rahman Speaks
A.R. Rahman’s Response: “This praise coming from you means so much, Chitraji. You’re an established singer yourself, yet you speak without a trace of jealousy or competition. This shows your extraordinary foundation – you don’t feel insecure. Thank you for this thoughtful question.
When I started, there was this unwritten rule – songs would only ‘work’ if certain established singers performed them. This pressure was both a blessing and a curse. But I believed that just because someone is popular doesn’t mean they’re right for every song. Forcing such matches would do justice to neither the song nor the singer.
Things began changing when I entered the industry. Mani Ratnam was looking for fresh perspectives, and I was ready to challenge the old beliefs. Music used to be simpler then, but we were ready for evolution.
I broke free from traditional constraints – no rules about caste, religion, or musical lineage. I wanted anyone going in the road also to sing. If you have talent, you have the right to sing – that’s been my simple philosophy. I never wanted labels like ‘North Indian’ or ‘South Indian’ singer. Yes, sometimes this approach worked brilliantly, sometimes it didn’t. But it was worth trying.
Speaking of singers like Sadhana Sargam and others… I feel that it’s not me who is giving them a chance or an opportunity, but it’s because of them that my song got improvised and became nice.
