The interview which appears below, was originally published on Kumudham in July 2008. ©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.
In this engaging interview, we dive into a series of questions posed by fans from all over India to the legendary music composer A.R. Rahman. He shares insights on his musical journey, personal experiences, and his thoughts on various aspects of his life and work.
Q: Have you reached the pinnacle in the music field? – N. Ratnam, Kambam
A.R. Rahman: As far as cinema music is concerned, we have been doing it in accordance to the needs of people. If we reach heights, then the journey would stop right there. There is no end to music. It will keep going on. So, my journey towards the goal would keep going non-stop.
Q: Do you write poems? – Sridhar Rajan, Thiruvannamalai
A.R. Rahman: I haven’t tried my hand in that. But, I admire them a lot.
Q: In what stage is the development of your symphony orchestra? – G. Mahendran, Palakkad
A.R. Rahman: As a first step, we have started a school. In another six months or a year, the Symphony Orchestra would become ready.
Q: Who is the first critic of your music? – Kalpana, Coimbatore
A.R. Rahman: Who else, it’s myself.
Q: Have you rendered music using old style instruments for any films? – A. Sukumar, Kattukaannur
A.R. Rahman: For the film, “Lagaan,” I composed music using old style instruments. Apart from this, I also used electronic instruments. As Aamir Khan was using cricket as the main storyline for the film, the music that I composed was in tune with the story.
Q: Have you felt worried, for not being able to compose music for Kannadasan? – N. Banumathi, Madurai
A.R. Rahman: I still have that worry. “Kaalangalil Aval Vasatham”… I did a retune of the above lyrics from Kannadasan’s song, not now, but twenty years before.
Q: In Ilayaraja’s music, which one has influenced you? – R. Ramesh, Madurai
A.R. Rahman: How to name it (A.R. Rahman replies in English)
Q: Have you felt bad about missing your school and college days? – Ramesh, Madurai
A.R. Rahman: In the age group of 17 and 18, everyone is going to college. I haven’t been able to go is my worry. Not for the sake of studies. But for the sake of jolly. But that same pain turns into happiness, when I realize that the same time period was spent for music in my life.
Q: In the music world, who is the person, whom you feel, you will be grateful for? – R. Meenakshi, Madurai
A.R. Rahman: Mani Ratnam.
Q: “Because of actors, there is no popularity to music. It’s good film songs, that give more value to actors. These have been said by TMS. What’s your opinion about this?” – Arunachalam
A.R. Rahman: There is truth in what TMS (T.M. Soundarrajan) has said. Because, even if a big actor sings a worst song, no one will like it. At the same time, if a good song is sung by the actor, then the popularity of the song increases. Good songs live forever. We still keep listening to good songs from films, which haven’t run for many days. We don’t consider if the film ran after a certain point of time or not. If it’s a good song, or a bad song is the question under consideration.
Q: Are you a patient man or a lucky person or a talented person? – Geethamohan, Nanganallur
A.R. Rahman: I don’t know what answer to give.
Q: If “Roja” would not have happened? – Karthikeyan, Sattur
A.R. Rahman: If Roja would not have come, then there would have been a Malligai (jasmine flowers) (Laughingly).
Q: Isai Puyale, about Cine Music stardom K.V. Mahadevan? – Vijayalakshmi Murugesan, Poyizhchalur
A.R. Rahman: K.V. Mahadevan’s music is my life. I like all his songs. Amongst them, “Tillana Moganambal,” “Sankara Bharanam” are my favorites. When Kavignar Vali spoke, he was saying that K.V. Mahadevan used to love the Nadaswaram, and hence it can be seen in his songs predominantly. According to me, he is an Isai Jambavan (Music Stalwart).
Q: Which is your favorite hotspot in India? Your favorite hill station?
A.R. Rahman: Ladakh. I have been to a lot of places in India. No other place has attracted me just like Ladakh. Beautiful landscape, the culture of the people living there, the living life, the language that they talk, have filled my hearts. When I had been there for doing some research for my music, did I feel like that.
Q: In your young age, spirituality and religion encompassed you. What’s your feeling about it?
A.R. Rahman: Right from birth, there would be an attraction. If you start thinking beyond the attraction, the secret behind the creation would be known. If every man thinks as to why God created him, we will get to know the answer before our eyes. When we go behind it, everyone will go behind spirituality for sure. Then, one will start realizing, as to what is pain, and what is joy in this world. But these would not be the answers always. Man has to keep searching for the truth always. The search would be there in music, as well as in spirituality.
Q: A lot many families of old singers are drowned in poverty nowadays. Can’t you do something to improve their standard of living?
A.R. Rahman: Certainly, we should do something. I also have an idea. Instead of me doing it all alone, if we do some sort of a collective support, then it would be a great help.
Q: Can you be compared with music behemoths like Mozart, Beethoven?
A.R. Rahman: Certainly not!
Q: You composed the “Jana Gana Mana” in which SPB had sung the song. There was a talk, that there was a mistake in that?
A.R. Rahman: The Court has adjudged that there has been no mistake in that.
