The interview which appears below, was originally published on Rediff in January 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.
One of the highlights of Jodhaa Akbar is the song, Azeem Shaan Shahenshah, which has spirited choreography and grand visuals. The number follows Akbar’s success in consolidating his hold on the empire. It is sung by Mohammad Aslam, who has performed for many A.R. Rahman tracks in Tamil and Hindi. Joining him is Bony Chakravarti.
The song is unlike any other Rahman composition but the maestro admits that he has used a similar number and orchestration in a Tamil film.
“But the song in Jodhaa Akbar is far better,” Rahman says. “And it is used very well in an important part of the film.” The song sounds like it has voiced by a dozen voices and a raft of musical instruments.
“There was a lot of percussion, drums and voices mainly and chorus here and there,” Rahman explains. “There wasn’t a lot of orchestration. It is a drum-and-voice song. Therefore, we did not want to use violins or other instruments in it.”
The last song to appear in Jodhaa Akbar, Inn Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein, is one of the most haunting songs composed by A.R. Rahman. But like many of his fabled compositions, this one will also take time to make a lasting impact. The song is used mostly in the background, as Jodhaa and Akbar make love for the first time.
The number is sung by Sonu Nigam, and Madhushree who, in recent years, has emerged as one of Rahman’s favourites.
The composer says the song challenged him considerably. “It comes in the climax of the film,” he says. “It was very important to have the song right. If it is too slow, it will bring the whole energy down. If it is too fast, it won’t do justice to the situation. The end of the film shows Jodhaa finally loving Akbar for the first time since their wedding.”
He had to play ‘a kind of dynamic composition where it starts on a soothing note, and then goes to the big chorus,’ he says.
“It has a full journey in it,” he adds. “I think it is very good.”
