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What Makes AR Rahman Special

Topic started by Tamilian (@ 161.142.100.86) on Wed Jul 10 00:16:33 EDT 2002.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

All ARR detractors are kindly requested NOT To post in this thread.


What makes AR Rahman really special? Why does his music cause so much excitement and flurry?
What is the difference that AR Rahman offers that no one else offers.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Indian (@ 202.9.167.176) on: Wed Jul 10 22:04:51 EDT 2002
  
  "Aamir Khan and A.R.Rahman are constantly trying out experiments.That's why they are the best in their respective fields"
  - Udit Narayan (Film Fare,Feb 2000)
  
  "Blues and electronic music are our personal favourites as is A. R. Rahman. We worship Rahman's music."
  - Ehsaan (of shankar-ehsaan-loy) (The Hindu, Aug 2001)
  
  
  " Like Ilayaraja he also suffered a lot before. Having lost his father earlier, worked with Ilayaraja on his music troupe, later became best music director who knows what to give to new generation... A genius musician knowing psychology of youth."
  - Dr. K.J.Yesudas
  
  
  "I have cut down singing because of age but can never say "NO" to A.R.Rahman and Yash chopra
  - Lata Mangeshkar (Times Of India, 2001)
  
  
  
• From: Indian (@ 202.9.167.176) on: Wed Jul 10 22:05:32 EDT 2002
  
  "Yes, I heard Lagaan songs. The folk side of Rahman is further spreading its wings. Even for the upcoming Mani Rathnam's film he has composed an excellent song. Rahman is Rahman!"
  - writer, Sujatha (Ambalam June 2001)
  
  "Oh most of the time the film industry glorifies mediocrity. So most of the time I get to sing what you call pseudo-ghazals. But I have to keep my voice visible in Hindi films. I can't fold up my tent and fade into films in the South. Fortunately, there's A. R. Rahman who understands my style. When he gives me a song to sing, he says to please stick to the given notes. Then he says, "Just ornament it." And its wonderful".
  Q: But even Rahman finds you suitable only for the sombre numbers.
  "No, I've sung fast upbeat numbers for him in South Indian films. Up North, that doesn't happen. I've never asked him why. I can't bring myself to do such things. Where Hindi films are concerned, he must be facing the usual mental block regarding my voice. The producers must be telling him "Woh to classical gaata hai."
  -Hariharan(Film Fare, July 2001)
  
  What do I say about Rahman that has not already been said before? He just lets you do your own thing. Sometimes, the only way to get a singer to do his best is to trust him and give him enough rope. Rahman just gives you the music sheet and asks you to let go. I remember asking him “Are you sure you don’t want to rehearse this?” He said, “No, just go ahead and sing the song your way. I will take care of the rest.”
  And you are committed to give your best to him!"
  I was not even supposed to sing Ghanan ghanan. In fact, I was not part of the initial list of singers, so I was not on the floor when the song was recorded. It was just that Rahman felt that the song needed more voices, so he asked about four of us to sing and chose my voice. If you notice, my presence is not really felt in the song. I just wanted to be associated with Lagaan and Rahman."
  - Shaan (Indya.com, June 2001)
  
  "Rahman sir is like a God to me. I am glad I didn’t let him down. But unfortunately, after Awaara bhavre, one publication misquoted me and Rahman sir became very angry with me. I know and do agree that he has every right to be angry with me. But I would like him to know that it wasn’t my fault when the media misquoted me. However, I do feel guilty about what had happened. I would love to work with him again and this time I would even fall on his feet to ask his forgiveness." /*Such high praise for the young musician, who has become a name to reckon with in the music industry, speaks not only of her devotion towards Rahman, but also her true dedication to work with the best man in the industry.*/ "God has been great! He came into my life as Rahman sir."
  - Hema Sardesai (Screen, June 2001)
  
  
• From: Indian (@ 202.9.167.176) on: Wed Jul 10 22:06:02 EDT 2002
  
  "And into this ‘unsound’ era came the sound of A.R. Rahman. The fresh clean and non-conformist feel and rhythm hooked the brat-pack composers, who either tried to match up or were forced to lose out. Most struck a middle path - they simply copied either Rahman’s songs or his style. Rahman brought in one more revolution - he turned the singer into a nonentity by proving that he could deliver hits without (a) a market leader or conventional voice, (b) a voice that was trained (c) a voice that was good at Hindi and (d) a voice that was even known. On the plus side, he was responsible for recognition coming to Hariharan, and the resurgence of Asha Bhosle."
  - Rajiv Vijayakar (Screen)
  
  "I like A.R.Rahman's sound and technique. I salute him".
  - Bappi Lahiri (Asian Age)
  
  Why have you only sung one song for Rahman?
  "Don't read more into this," he cautions. "He has approached me several times but there were date problems. His working style too is diffferent from what one is normally used to. So it's difficult to fit his schedules especially when you're already committed. Besides, he works mostly in Chennai so it entails some travelling too. I'd love to work with him again."
  - Kumar Sanu(Filmfare July 2001)
  
  "Aamir Khan and A.R.Rahman are constantly trying out experiments.That's why they are the best in their respective fields"
  - Udit Narayan (Film Fare,Feb 2000)
  
  
• From: Indian (@ 202.9.167.176) on: Wed Jul 10 22:06:37 EDT 2002
  
  " Recently I wrote for ARR. I have written most of the lyrics for the ads that he did in his earlier days. I knew him very well before he became big. Even though I knew him I never had the opportunity to work with him. It did come for Tenali and I was happy. The first wong that I wrote was "Porkalam " from Tenali. The song told about my relationship with ARR. He composes music on taal(rhythm I suppose). He is a perfectionist always gets the best out of you. He rarely changes the words written. He says he will adjust with the music. It was really good. I look forward working with him."
  - Piraisudan,Lyricist (on Jaya TV, Jul 2001)
  
  "The composer who re-wrote the history of film music was A.R.Rahman with the path-breaking soundtrack of Roja. The sound created by the little master was nothing less than astounding. His concept of fresh sound included acoustics of unheard instruments, fusion of Indian and western, plus introducing new singers with distinct voice quality. Right from 1993 onwards, till today music industry has not been able to fathom the inexhaustible talent of the composer."
  (Article in Nazara,2001)
  
  " I think he has an incredible tone of voice. I have seen many Bollywood films, but what he manages to do is quite unique--he keeps it very much Indian. For me as a Westerner, I can always recognize his music because it has got a rule tone of voice of its own. It's very definitely Indian, yet it has an appeal which will go right across the world. He will hit the West in an amazing kind of way; that is, if he is led in the right way."
  - Lord Andrew Webber Lloyd (2000)
  
  "Rahman doesn't talk much he lets his music do the talking.. When the singer feels that they can give only 50% of what he is expecting, Rahman knows how to extract upto 100% from them!"
  - Singer Unnimenon (Ambalam, 2001)
  
  
• From: Indian (@ 202.9.167.176) on: Wed Jul 10 22:08:29 EDT 2002
  
  >> What makes AR Rahman really special?
  
  Lets listen to what some great names in Indian film and music industry has to say about Rahman. And lets see if we can find an answer to the question posed in this thread.
  
  
• From: Indian (@ 202.9.186.17) on: Wed Jul 10 22:14:53 EDT 2002
  
  "Working with him is definitely a great pleasure. I get along very well with him. He is one person who is only interested in his work. Inspite of his stupendous success, he is so humble and down-to-earth."
  - lyricist Javed Akhtar (Stardust, 2000)
  
  "I admire three things about Rahman. Among the young composers he probably is the most original. He has a strong sense of melody and his harmony is unbeatable. Finally he gives his music a rich tonal color, richness through his combination of instruments, a character to the music."
  - director Shyam Benegal (India West, Jan 2001)
  
  "We admire Rahman's work. He is a different kind of music director and has genuine knowledge about the art."
  -Jatin-Lalit, composers (Dec 2000)
  
  
• From: Uthaman (@ 65.69.45.161) on: Thu Jul 11 00:22:06 EDT 2002
  
  ST i am employed!! Don't talk like a prick!! You don't have to tell me what i should do.
  
  
• From: Tamilian (@ 161.142.100.86) on: Thu Jul 11 01:04:50 EDT 2002
  
  Very good discussions guys. And very good work Indian.
  The whole world knows ARR's talents and capabilities.
  Only one or two gnyaana sooniyams talk ill of his music.
  
  Disregarding these sooniyams, can we go on discussing ARR's specialities with specific examples?
  
  
• From: avr (@ 143.127.3.10) on: Thu Jul 11 01:45:07 EDT 2002
  
  Hello people:
  
  Thanks for a series of informative posts on ARR. Keep up the nice work.
  
  
  
• From: a (@ 156.153.254.41) on: Thu Jul 11 03:39:15 EDT 2002
  
  Tamilian
  Only one or two gnyaana sooniyams talk ill of his music. ????????
  u r one among that right....
  
  
• From: WN (@ 203.24.100.132) on: Thu Jul 11 05:56:03 EDT 2002
  
  Interesting posts, Indian.
  
  
• From: Indian (@ 202.9.186.12) on: Thu Jul 11 06:09:31 EDT 2002
  
  Thanks everybody...
  
  Here are more comments made about ARR by great names in Indian film and music industry.
  
  
• From: Indian (@ 202.9.186.12) on: Thu Jul 11 06:10:40 EDT 2002
  
  "He understands me very well and we have and we have a good tuning. He gives me a free hand and singing for him is always a pleasant experience. While recording, there are minimum people, only four of us -- director, lyricist, Rahman and me, and the peaceful atmosphere makes my work easy. And Rahman is the guy who showcased my voice commercially."
  - singer Hariharan (Screen, 1998)
  
  
  "It is every singer’s dream to work with A R Rahman because he makes you feel like God. I worked with Rahman for a beautiful song called E Nazneen suno and for Nayak. Of course, I did get nervous when I had to record with him, especially since he records at an unearthly hour like three in the night. But he makes you feel as if you are AR Rahman and he is just an ordinary fellow. Other music directors should learn to be humble like him. Today’s music directors do not respect their singers. If one singer is not around they replace them with another. Also, they demoralise you when you are in front of the mike."
  - Singer Abhijeet (SRK World, 2001)
  
  
  "I got a call from A R Rahman to sing for Govind Nihalani's new film and was very thrilled. I went to Madras and we recorded the song all night from two to five early in the morning. After the recording we went for breakfast the four of us - Mehboob the lyricist, Govindji, Rahman and myself. It was a traditional South Indian meal at a roadside stall. Singing for Rahman was a wonderful experience. I really enjoyed the song. A R Rahman is a wonderful, humble person to work with. A complete workaholic and very involved with his music. He is very creative and undoubtedly talented."
  - singer Roop Kumar Rathod (1999)
  
  
• From: MIF (@ 202.9.148.62) on: Thu Jul 11 06:29:55 EDT 2002
  
  great posts Indian......really good work
  
  hey can u find anything like this said by IR or MSV and some other big names (other than wat u have given) in Tamil cinema??.....plss
  
  dat wud really help
  neways....keep up the good work
  
  

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