The interview which appears below, was originally published on DNA India in January 2007. ©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.
Publicity and Me
When musical genius A.R. Rahman greets me with an innocent smile, acknowledging my seven-month, 22-day long wait for an interview, I don’t mind waiting all over again! He does admit though that being a recluse works against him.
“Nobody likes the idea of being secluded, but I am just being myself. Be it for an interview or music, I need to graph a mental framework,” laughs Rahman.
Director’s Vision
Back with his first ever English solo ‘Pray for me brother’, it’s difficult to digest his astonishment over people liking his voice in the film. We all loved him in ‘Dil Se’, then why the surprise?
“This was a duet and I wasn’t supposed to sing it. I’m so glad it didn’t go for a toss,” he gushes. Though his compatibility with director Mani Ratnam once snapped, he says, “Adhering to the demands of directors has never been a problem, because I try and understand their vision.”
Pool of Tunes
His recent compositions have been for three contrasting films (‘Akbar Jodha’, ‘Sivaji’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’). “It is terrifying to wake up one morning and find yourself working on a 15th century epic and a song and dance Tamil number together. But then you suddenly know it is not you who are making the music happen,” says this ardent Allah believer.
Allah’s Child
In the midst of commercialization, tiffs with record companies, and controversies, he believes that music goes way beyond surface level confrontations. Therefore, from ‘Roja’ to ‘Rang De Basanti’, he credits his musical success to his strong spiritual beliefs.
“There can never be a ‘Dil hai chota sa’ again because you are only the medium of a message. You never know when a tune might spring from up there. So I am always ready with my vessel,” he conveys gratefully.
Daddy Rahman
As of now, he is reliving his childhood. “I’ve been trying to spend time with my three kids. My 11-year-old daughter is already learning music. Thankfully, my kids love my music,” he ends.
