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.
When we think about Rahman, the first thing that comes to mind is his belief in God, and his belief in singers. A music director must first believe in the singer, and Rahman believes in every singer, whether they’re veteran artists or newcomers. He has this unique ability to bring out the best in each vocalist.
His humility remains constant. My first collaboration with Rahman was for a Nivea talc advertisement. This was during the time when he wasn’t Rahman yet, but Dileep Kumar. We shared a mutual friend in the advertising field, and one day, at 3 AM, I received a call about recording a jingle. Until then, I hadn’t sung any jingles, having just resumed singing in Malayalam after a brief hiatus.
The First Meeting
I was sick that day with a sore throat when I got the call about recording a jingle with a boy named Dileep. Initially, I declined, thinking jingles were beneath my level as a singer. My friend informed Rahman about my illness, but he insisted that he needed exactly my kind of voice. When I finally went to the studio, I was surprised to see such a young boy (“Kutti Payyan” in Malayalam).
He used my voice in ways I never imagined possible. The song required low bass notes, and he assured me that my cough wouldn’t affect the recording. The result was heavenly. That day, I became his fan. He must have been around 20 years old then, around 1989.
Notable Collaborations
My first song with Rahman (after he changed his name) was truly memorable: “Pudhu Vellai Mazhai” from Roja. The turning point in my career was “Thillana Thillana” from “Muthu” – a Superstar-Rahman combination. Though Rahman never told me directly, I heard from others that he appreciated my rendition. “Netru Illadha Maatram” is another song dear to me. Rahman’s magic has been consistent throughout all these songs.
A Question for Rahman
Q: When you began your career as a Music Director, you introduced many new voices like Minmini, myself, and Unni Menon, despite there being many established singers. Was it just for the freshness factor? What were your other criteria? Is it the feel in singing, or the voice quality? And how do new singers reach you?
Rahman’s Response: “Thank you for the question, Sujatha. During ‘Roja,’ I had complete freedom – no pressure from producers or directors about which singers to use for better cassette sales. As a personal choice, I wanted to work with SPB Sir, Unni Menon, and Chitraji for certain songs. I don’t prefer having one singer for all songs – each song needs a different feel.
Moreover, during my time composing jingles, I had developed friendships with many singers. It was musicianship without intimidation. I didn’t have to worry about rushing through recordings. You all supported me tremendously in those early days. I wanted everyone who helped me during my jingle days to be part of my film projects. That’s why I chose new singers like you and Unni Menon.
It was a combination of familiarity and talent, I would say.
