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Malayalam songs are my inspiration, says A R Rahman

Topic started by Jay (@ 203.124.234.164) on Mon Apr 28 01:39:40 EDT 2003.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

[Source: Times of India, April 2003]
KOCHI: Describing Kerala as the 'melodic paradise' of India, internationally acclaimed music director A R Rahman said on saturday that he was waiting for the right kind of music for Malayalam films.

“I have some plans for Malayalam films. I am waiting for the right kind of music for Kerala,” Rahman told a meet the press programme, organised by the Ernakulam Press Club. But he refused to give details.

Most of his creations had been influenced by Malayalam film songs and 'Mapilla Pattu' (Muslim songs), he said.

Sharing his experience of Bombay Dreams in which he worked with Andrew Lyod Webber, Rahman said it was a 'nice opportunity' as he gained good experience. The musical might go to New York, he said.

On any other project with Webber, Rahman said Webber was doing his own musical now. There were no idea at present. There may be some in the future. Rahman is also composing an orchestral piece for Bermingham Symphonic Orchestra.

The work will be based on 'conference of birds' a 12th century Persian poem. The album was expected to be released by next summer, he said.

Replying to a question, Rahman said world wide the music industry was facing a crisis due to piracy and internet down loading. There were no stringent laws in India to curb it, he said adding the Hindi music was going through a 'troubled' phase with the market down, piracy and bad music taking its toll.

Asked about his favourite singer, Rahman diplomatically evaded the question saying for each song a particular singer might be suitable.

Stating that classical music would always have a fan following, he said he liked both melody and fast music.

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Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: SC (@ 172.162.248.88) on: Wed Apr 30 10:12:08 EDT 2003
  
  HI:
  Rahman is from tamizh based family. i personally know him and his family. so there is no contradiction about his origin.
  Thanks!
  
  
• From: An (@ 195.217.141.65) on: Wed Apr 30 11:11:43 EDT 2003
  
  S.ViIjai Ananth, dinesh and SC - Yes, this is the point I was trying to make. He is a Tamilian, for sure!
  
  SC - Thanks for the personal clarification. I had also clarified with someone who knows him and his family personally.
  
  
• From: Eswar (@ 12.236.23.149) on: Sat May 3 02:16:06 EDT 2003
  
  All,
  
  What is with the Tamil people that they have to use derogatory (read racist) words like "Mallu" to address one particular community. I have not read such stuff from Malayalies on public forums. I am a Tamil Iyer, but have been born, brought up in Cochin, which your dear Rehman is taking his vaccation in. I have no idea if you have ever visited Malayala Naadu without these set prejudices and enjoyed the natural and simple beauty of a place that is Kerala.
  
  Secondly, if Rehman enjoys Malayalam music SO WHAT? Why do you have to degrade his favouratism by justifying what he thinks about. It is his personal preference. I would ask the people who predict and justify Rehman's ideas to MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS and just enjoy music. Almost ALL of the music director's in Tamil Nadu/ South India would have their favourite place set somewhere in Kerala - reason? - It is simply the paradise of India (One of the rare natural places left in India - believe it or not).
  
  So, please... don't think on Rehman's behalf. Instead enjoy his music when you can.
  
  Eswar
  
  
• From: sindu (@ 203.94.228.12) on: Sun May 4 03:22:56 EDT 2003
  
  Hey Easwar relax Do u know in kerala they call the tamilians as Pandi Maar ,EE paandi maarrkku onnum arinuuuda enganna parayum. Malasilaayo ?
  
  
• From: Theepan (@ 209.197.171.58) on: Sun May 4 05:40:15 EDT 2003
  
  He doesn't mean that boyz.
  
  
• From: Eswar (@ 12.236.23.149) on: Sun May 4 11:18:08 EDT 2003
  
  Hi,
  
  Iyaallu Malayikal ningale Paandimaarunnu idhe pole oru internet foruthil villichu kettitundo? Adhendha Malayalikal athra moshapetteveranno? They have given you S Janaki, KJY, P Susheela, Chitra, Mamootty, Mohanlal. So be a little respectful when you talk about them. Not just Malayalam people, but every other people from other parts of India.
  
  Eswar
  
  
• From: mani pathara ;--) (@ 65.176.168.17) on: Sun May 4 12:37:51 EDT 2003
  
  Eswar, u'r overly reactin. mallu is an affectionate nomenonclature. mallus' themselves call mallu, what else they call themselves - kallu? pallu? they didn't give sjanaki or psuseela (they are from Karnataka and AP). what is the deal i say. every individual is prejudiced. nothin wrong, human nature. neram paa. poyittu onnu kulichey saarey.
  
  sindu, pandi is identity, mallus are cheras. in cochin there is a place called pandikoodi, quite derogatory, in Karunanidhi' time mallus were called malayalathaan's - but don't forget malayalam is 75% derived from tamil and only 20% from sanskrit, only 5% it is still not derived ;--)
  
  
• From: XXX (@ 12.236.183.153) on: Mon May 5 12:00:47 EDT 2003
  
  Eswar, why do u call yourself tamil "Iyer"? Remove all prejudices within yourself, you will see the world without any prejudice.
  
  
• From: Saagar (@ 202.9.154.95) on: Mon May 5 12:37:30 EDT 2003
  
  Here's a list of Mallu people who have hardly had anything to do with the Malayalam film Industry Many have never spoken in Malayalam in any public forum :
  
  MG Ramachandran
  
  MN Nambiar
  
  P Vasu ( he acted in one Mal film "SUndara Travels" recently but the voice was dubbed - The biggest example of a Mallu brought up in Madras not knowing Malayalam but can speak as well as any Tamilian in Tamil). DO not come up with theories - His joint family right from his grandparents are still in Gopalapuram in Chennai.
  
  Suresh Krishna (sister Krishna has acted in some Mal films though)
  
  Meena
  
  Sangeetha
  
  Oorvasi - (not quite alien to Mal film industry) she picked up Mal after acting in a lot of films . Still all her movies in Mal are dubbed while she speaks in her own voice in Tamil.
  
  Shobana - Her name is also important because she has told in interviews in Asianet that she cannot speak in Mal - All her interviews so far have been in English. But she speaks in Tamil in Tv programmes.
  
  Revathi (Ahsa Menon Kelunni)- She too has picked up in bits recently - still you run away in miles when she starts speaking in Mal like a non malayali...
  
  Malaysia Vasudevan - Never has spoken any word in Malayalam.
  
  Popular names instantly recognisable have only been given ... Any more examples of people of this category required..
  
  It is most sad that the kind of fervour Tamils have towards Tamil is not there in Mals towards Malayalam especially - NRK's 9non resident keralites - a large population not all). You'll never find a Tamil who says I don't know to talk well in Tamil but there are plenty of Mals even in common life who'll give a statement like that...
  
  Not many even have the guts to come out & keep repeating I am not one among your lang / caste / creed / religion... I am X ....
  
  Maybe Rajini is the only exeption ( come on I am not remotely a fan of his but to accept)... He has been maintaining in all forums & has given so much publicity to it himself that he is not a tamil but a kannadiga giving no choice for his fans in this forum to come up with theories that the lady to whom his grandfather had an affair to whom his father was born was actually a tamil brahmin from madurai - He is not a kannadiga... It is this blind passion towards tamil (that is not true) that maybe scares many non tamils successful here
  
  Meanwhile friends, you are all open to start of things like you know MGR personally ... u are his son etc.. & u can or any mgronline spokesman can certify that he is a tamil & not a mallu... All the best ... I do not carry the horoscopes of all these people to substantiate more...
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• From: chochs (@ 194.170.98.68) on: Tue May 6 08:41:03 EDT 2003
  
  Suresh Krishna - Is a Tamil Iyer (He was working in Hindi Films as assistant director and Balachandar wanted a Assistant who knew Tamil & Hindi for EK Tuje Keliye)
  
  Meena - Is a Tamil Chettiar Girl
  
  P. Susheel and S. Janaki from Andhra Pradesh
  
  Malysia Vasudevan - Is a malaysian Tamil (I am not saying because he attached Malaysia with him)
  
  K.J. Yesudas, Unni Krishnan,Unni Menon, K. Chitra, Sujatha, Minmini (Roja fame).
  
  Cameraman - Ravi K Chandran, Madhu Ambat, Santhosh Sivan, Venu
  
  
  
  
  
  
• From: Sathyamoorthy (@ 195.229.241.234) on: Tue May 6 09:22:31 EDT 2003
  
  Here in U.A.E, We (south indians) except Malayalees, use to identify malayalees.. as Matthi or Kappai.. sometimes Mallu..
  
  
• From: Saagar (@ 202.9.154.242) on: Tue May 6 10:24:58 EDT 2003
  
  Some more names :
  
  Balu Mahendra
  
  Prathap Pothan ( he speaks even tamil as engamil)
  
  Radha ( sister Ambika acted in some mal films though)
  
  Shobha ( Mother Prema acted in some mal films)
  
  
• From: An - Anita (@ 195.217.141.65) on: Tue May 6 11:29:09 EDT 2003
  
  Saagar - I heard that Balu Mahendra was a Sri Lankan Tamil!
  
  
• From: Eswar (@ 12.236.23.149) on: Tue May 6 12:37:26 EDT 2003
  
  XXX, or whatever,
  
  I was just saying that I am Tamilian by theory, and that too "Iyer". It has nothing to do with prejudice. Tell me, o! wise one, where do you find prejudice in telling I am Tamil Iyer. I am proud to belong to that category, just like many in Tamil Nadu like to say I am Tamizhan 1000 times per minute. Why is that it works for you, and not for me. Whatever the case maybe, where is "prejudice" in telling what community I belong to. I am against anybody using "racist" words to describe another community. Like you call Black Americans "kallus" - God knows how much of a racist term is that.
  
  Eswar
  
  
• From: :) (@ 24.150.35.51) on: Tue May 6 13:45:32 EDT 2003
  
  hey Eswar:
  unakkuthaan prejudice madhiri thOnudhu. I didn't see any one complain about ARR relaxing in Kerala. Are you seeing things that don't exist? In that case, may be you need some medical help. Could you please go spill your prejudiced poson somewhere else and leave us to discuss tfm related topics here.
  
  
• From: :) (@ 24.150.35.51) on: Tue May 6 13:45:40 EDT 2003
  
  hey Eswar:
  unakkuthaan prejudice madhiri thOnudhu. I didn't see any one complain about ARR relaxing in Kerala. Are you seeing things that don't exist? In that case, may be you need some medical help. Could you please go spill your prejudiced poison somewhere else and leave us to discuss tfm related topics here.
  
  
• From: Eswar (@ 12.236.23.149) on: Tue May 6 14:14:01 EDT 2003
  
  What the hell? And calling other's racist words and seeing whether Tamil is better than Malayalam, or calling Malayalees Mallus is SOOOO relevant TFM I guess. So your TFM is a place where you bash other communities and NOT talk about Tamil Film Music. Bravo!
  
  

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