Hindi film music has come a long way since the golden days, with music directors like R.D.Burman who first pushed the envelop to create something’different’.
Today that practice is being carried on with the birth of A.R.Rahman. I have sampled every type of music from east to west and rahman is the best! Born on January 6, 1966 in Madras(Chennai) India to a musically affluent family, Rahman started learning the piano at the age of 4 and at the age of 9 his father passed away.
Since the pressure of supporting his family fell on him, he joined Illaiyaraja’s troupe as a keyboard player at the age of 11. Dileep Kumar dropped out of school as a result of this and travelled all around the world with various orchestras. He accompanied the great Table maestro Zakir Hussain on a few world tours and also won a scholarship at the Trinity College of Music at Oxford University and obtained a degree in Western Classical Music.
Due to some personal crisis, Dileep Kumar embraced Islam and came to be known as AR Rahman. In 1987, he moved to advertising where he composed more than 300 jingles over 5 years. In 1989, he started a small studio called Panchathan Record Inn which later developed into one of the most well equipped and advanced sound and recording studios in India.
At an advertising awards function, Rahman met with one of India’s most famous directors - Mani Ratnam. Rahman played him a few of his music samples. Mani loved them so much that he signed Rahman to compose for his next film - Roja(1992). The rest, as they say, is history.
He went on to compose several great hits for Tamil films before composing his first Hindi film album for Rangeela(1995). The enormous success of his first Hindi venture followed by chart topping albums such as Bombay(1995), Dil Se(1998), Taal(1999) and recently_Zubeida(2001)_(qv) and Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India(2001)(which was nominated for best foreign film at the Academy Awards, 2002). He is currently believed to be working with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Shekhar Kapur(director of Elizabeth(1998) on a musical called Bombay Dreams.
At 36 years, A R Rahman has revolutionised Indian film music and one can only expect this musical genius to reach greater heights.
CHOTI SE ASHA [Roja] - this song is perhaps the best song on the album. sung by Sadhana Sargam this song is beautifully rendered. rahman mixes alittle classical with a little modern and the results were WOW!
AWAARA BHAVRE [Sapnay] - sung by Hema Sardesai. the song starts off slow then grows pace. hema’s vocals blend beautifully with rahman’s music. rahman has a habit of bringing out the best of singers whenever they sing for him. hema sounds like a million bucks!
O BHAVRE [Daud] - hmmm. we all know what happens when u mix rahman and ashaji. then to add the sweet voice of Yesudas. REWIND!
SUNTA HAI MERA KHUDA [Pukar] - this was one of rahman’s best albums. sung by kavita and udit this song is a keeper! the way udit opens the song and the way kavita follows is just mesmerising. swarnathana also appears on this track and adds even more magic with her limited time slots in the song. Filmfare winner!
ISHQ BINA [Taal] - WHOA! was that anuradha shriram? she sounds so good! thanx to mr. rahman ofcourse. this album won a filmfare. this song is great. anuradha opens and sonu joins in later. every line is sheer magic.’oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh.’ A MASTERPIECE!
MITWA [Lagaan] - sung by alka yagnik and udit narayan. I loved those drums. what can I say about this song?. THIS ALBUM ALSO WON A FILMFARE!
DHEEM TA GARE [Thakshak] - those drums again. rahman’s signature instrument. this song was an attempt by rahman to create a classical number. ofcourse it succeeded. did someone say filmfare?. yes it did win!
TANHA TANHA [Rangeela] - ashaji and rehman again. DAMN! rahman himself said that he creates specific songs with ashaji in mind. filmfare winner. REWIND!
DIL SE RE [Dil Se] - DRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMS! sung by rahman himself. DRUUUUUUUUUUUUUMS!(this album won a filmfare by the way)
AJOOBA HAI [Jeans] - wow. wow. wow. god bless mr. rahman. this song is everything a song should be. hariharan and sadhana sing their hearts out in this one. one of the best duets i’ve ever heard.:):):)
Trivia
Studied Western classical music as a student at Oxford University in the UK.
Studied Western classical music as a student at UK’s Trinity college of music.
He was nominated for a 2003 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for The Hilton Award for Best New Musical of 2002 for Bombay Dreams performed at the Apollo Theatre, West End, London.
I know there are alot of southern films that a.r.rahman has worked in but I’ve never seen a southern film so i’m totally oblivious to the music but perhaps you can include some in the comments.