A R Rahman goes unplugged in Delhi.

The Golden Jubilee celebrations of Doordarshan got off to a grand start here with a live concert featuring the Oscar-winning A R Rahman apart from popular singers Hariharan and Kailash Kher. ‘A R Rahman Unplugged’ was meant to be a curtain-raiser for the Golden Jubilee Celebrations which will commence on 15 September and continue for a full year.

Doordarshan had commenced telecasts on 15 September 1959 with a one-hour daily transmission. AR Rahman was felicitated, who won two Oscars for the music in the film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, with a shawl and a memento.

Earlier, Doordarshan Director General Aruna Sharma told a news conference that the opening event will be in Mumbai on 15 September and programmes will be held in different Kendras. There will also be a concert in Delhi . In addition, there will be several discussions looking back at the growth of Doordarshan, and the final one on 15 September 2010 will examine sports evens, in view of the Commonwealth Games. She claimed that with the help of DTH and satellite TV, Doordarshan was reaching the entire country. Rahman announced that he would shortly be doing a reality show based on music with Doordarshan. K R Harish, Managing Director of Phat Phish India which put the concert together for Doordarshan, also spoke on the occasion.

Kher had the nearly-full auditorium at the Sirifort Complex swinging to his songs as he rendered some of his own numbers and some which had been originally sung by others for Rahman. He was accompanied by his group Kailasa. Some of the numbers rendered by him included ‘Mangal Mangal Ho’, ‘Chak de Phatte’, ‘Maula’, ‘Yeh jo des hai tera’ and ‘Rang de basanti’.

He was followed by Sivamani, who enthralled the entire hall with his magical performance with percussion instruments, moving his hands from one percussion instrument to another and producing foot-tapping music.

Rahman performed on the piano as Hariharan and Sadhna Sargam sang some of the songs composed. Delhi was once again resonated with A R Rahman’s music as the Oscar winning masetro performed with acclaimed Bollywood singers at a concert here.

“It is for the first time that I am performing with such a small band and with almost no rehearsals,” Rahman said before the performance, organised to commemorate the golden jubilee celebrations of Doordarshan.

The performance began with a big bang with ‘Mangal Mangal’ song by sufi singer Kailash Kher. Kher accompanied by his band, ‘Kailasa’ performed a string of his popular numbers besides songs composed by Rahman including ‘Maula mere maula,’ ‘Rang De Basanti,’ and ‘Ye jo Des hai mera.’

During his performance Kher briefly mentioned his recent visit to San Francisco where he was asked to sing a song that would represent India.

 

AR Rahma Childhood Photos

 

Farhan makes AR Rahman wait for his voice recording

Nothing gets bigger in music than the name of AR Rahman, and nothing is humbler than that very man! Devoted to the cause of producing the perfect notes, Rahman is ready to wait for Farhan Akhtar to get free from his commitments to record a song for ‘Blue’.

The song will be filmed on Zayed Khan. And Rahman would rather scrap the song than let anyone else do the vocals.

Highly appreciative of Farhan’s talent, he said to a news daily, “It’s not just his voice. It’s the attitude that he extends to his vocals. I thought Farhan sounded terrific in ‘Rock On!’. But the song I have in mind is totally different. I am against talking about something which is uncertain. What if the time factor plays villain? No point in jumping the gun.”

This is the dedication that keeps him on the top.

A R Rahman to open studio in Los Angeles

Oscar winner A. R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire) is developing studios in Los Angeles (USA) and London (UK), according to reports.

He reportedly already has studios in India in Chennai and Mumbai. With him going international, this will facilitate him to work with his music teams in Los Angeles and London. He reportedly said recently that he was in the middle of getting loans sanctioned for the project.

Welcoming Rahman’s move of opening studios in the West, acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed said that this would create more avenues to spread Indian music in the world and more opportunities for musicians of the West to indulge in the richness of musical traditions of India.

Rahman, also known as Oscar winner John Williams (Schindler’s List) of Indian movie industry, launched his first studio for mixing-recording music attached to his backyard in Chennai in 1992. Starting piano training at age four, he began working at 11 as a keyboardist with a music troupe.

His about 3,000 square-foot recording studio in Chennai named A. M. Studios and described as “tranquil oasis”, is developed by “Studio 440” of Hollywood (USA) and took about three years to finish, whose skillful design blends traditional materials with modern technology.

Rahman, who has reportedly recorded sales of over 300 million, was called “Mozart of Madras” by Time magazine. Rahman sees music “as a way to connect to spirituality and embrace it” and for “creating harmony in troubled times”.

 

AR Rahman's 'special album' for Michael Jackson

In a matter of few months, AR Rahman has lost two people he looked up to - sound engineer H Sridhar and Michael Jackson. Sound engineer H Sridhar passed away in December due to cardiac arrest and the cause of MJ’s death is still a mystery.

Consequently, AR Rahman has decided to put together a special album as a mark of respect to MJ. Of late, AR Rahman has been making several trips to the US because his secret dream project is ready to take off. Artistes from all across the globe will contribute to this album. It is believed that the album will have a few recreated songs of MJ, along with Rahman’s original compositions.

The King of Pop’s untimely and mysterious death unsettled Rahman. A source said, “The two deaths one after the other made Rahman realise the uncertainty of life. These tragedies have made him more spiritual.”

Rahman had earlier said, “Artistes and their art lives for ever. My late sound engineer Sridhar had brought me a video of the premiere of Michael’s Remember the Time when I was recording the track Kadal Rojave for my first movie Roja . That afternoon, that video inspired all of us. Now, there is no Sridhar and no Jackson anymore.”

AR Rahman was looking forward to working with MJ whom he had met during the Oscar Awards in Los Angeles earlier this year. Talking about his meeting with the pop star, AR Rahman had said, “MJ was concerned about contemporary developmental issues such as global warming, wars and their consequences. He asked me to compose a unity anthem on the lines of We are the World for him. I nodded in awe.”

When asked about the album, Rahman, who is going LA this week, said cautiously, “It’s too early to talk about it. Talking about it right now may jeopardise things.”

A.R. Rahman to host free concert in Australia

If it’s true that music washes away sins from soul, the dust of everyday life: here comes Maestro A.R. Rahman with his attempts on proving it. With our Indian students being repeatedly harassed in racial attacks, the academy award winner has decided to express his anguished over it. Now, he has planned to stage a concert in Australia free of cost.

Interacting with media channels, Rahman has said, “I hope this musical concert will sort out racial problems and bring peace and harmony amongst everyone.”

A.R. Rahman has scheduled the concert on January 10, 2010. It’s remarkable to note here, that Rahman’s musical album ‘PRAY FOR ME BROTHER’ based on World peace was acclaimed universally.

 

AR Rahman's Son Alim Render His Voice For Tamil Movies

A.R. Rahman was here today in Chennai showering his heartiness of blessings on his students of KM conservatory who have launched their musical album ‘Ooh La La La’. Sa Re Ga Ma – audio company had released it. Musical maestro A.R. Rahman along with Shruthi Haasan, Gowtham Menon and playback singer-actress Andrea was present for the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, A.R. Rahman said that he is so elated with his students’ endeavor of coming up with innovative tunes. Also added that his small son Alim, aged 6 has crooned for his Hollywood project ‘Couples Retreat’ and sooner will come up with his debut in Tamil cinema as well.

 

A.R. Rahman Composes For Blue

We soon will be hearing more of the king of music in Indisa, A.R. Rahman. The man is said to be approached by the team of blue to compose the music. And the sources say that Rahman has even agreed. The movie is still under the shooting stage and will cast Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Sanjay Dutt and Lara Dutta. Rahman’s music will also be heard in Aamir’s upcoming movie, Ghajini. We await to hear some good music now…..

First authorized biography of A.R.Rahman to release in 2010

Since 1992 when A R Rahman was remarked for his extraordinary musical talent in Roja, his music has come to captivate music lovers all over India who have no hesitation in showing their passion for his work, equalled by their respect for his way of thinking and admiration for how lightly and modestly he wears his success.
The best Indian directors want him as he gives life to film scenes through his melodic and exhilarating songs. Through his background scores, he has unlocked the doors to a sophisticated understanding of sound perspective in Indian cinema. He is an unstoppable talent and it isn’t surprising that he was chosen to compose for international stage and cinema productions. And while most world composers dream of winning an Oscar — Rahman made India and his millions of fans proud by walking away with two Oscars in one night.
A.R.Rahman — The Spirit of Music, the only authorized biography, will be presented in the form of a ‘book of conversations’ between A R Rahman and Nasreen Munni Kabir. Despite the fact that he has already made himself a place in musical history and enjoys extraordinary international success, Rahman is a deeply private person who shies away from glitz and glamour. This book will provide a rare chance to discover A R Rahman, in his own words, as he takes us on a journey through his life and world of music.
Notes on the author: Documentary filmmaker/writer Nasreen Munni Kabir has written several books on Indian cinema, including Guru Dutt, a life in cinema, Talking Films/Talking Songs with Javed Akhtar, The Immortal Dialogue of Mughal-e-Azam and most recently,Lata Mangeshkar…in her own voice. She has also made the

Connections

TRACK LISTING CD

JIYA SE JIYA
SINGER: A.R.Rahman

KHALBALI
SINGER: A.R.Rahman, Aslam & Nacim
(Rang De Basanti OST) MEHERBAAN
SINGER: A.R.Rahman
(Ada OST) DIL SE RE
SINGER: A.R.Rahman
(Dil Se OST) EK MOHABBAT
SINGER: A.R.Rahman, Karthik & Naresh Iyer PRAY FOR ME BROTHER
SINGER: A.R.Rahman feat. Blaaze BOMBAY THEME
Instrumental
(Bombay OST) PRAY FOR ME BROTHER
Instrumental JIYA SE JIYA (Club Mix)
SINGER: A.R.Rahman/ Remixed by DJ A-Myth DVD JIYA SE JIYA
Also includes ‘The 5.1 surround sound experience’ JIYA SE JIYA
The Rockstar Version’ PRAY FOR ME BROTHER
Original Unedited Full Length Video Film

Middlesex University honours India's brightest musical star- AR Rahman

In India, a country of a billion inhabitants, where film and pop music are one, A.R. Rahman, 43, dominates the music industry so totally that he has supplied the sound track for a whole generation. He enjoys the godlike devotion of India's youth, but everyone from the street child who sweeps train platforms to the middle-aged doctor in Mumbai's posh Malabar Hill hums his tunes.

 

Born in Chennai (formerly Madras) and raised on Tamil movies and music, Rahman converted to Sufism — a mystical form of Islam — in the late 1980s. It is easy to hear these influences in his work, but his genius lies in tying many forms of music together to make a sound that is at once familiar and new. He first gained widespread notice for Mani Ratnam's Tamil film Roja (1992), then branched out into Hindi films and has succeeded in making Indian film music a global phenomenon. He has worked with Andrew Lloyd Webber and with Shekhar Kapur on Elizabeth and has influenced other gifted directors like Baz Luhrmann. This year he won two Oscars, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for giving Slumdog Millionaire its frenetic sound.

 

Rahman is a shy and quiet man, but his music has emotional force. Renowned for his immense range, he'll do a traditional score for a conventional film, then blend exotic vocals with Japanese music and Western classical arrangements in his next project. A veritable Pied Piper, he has no competition, yet he makes it a priority to discover new talent and promote it. He has shaped modern India's music for more than a decade. Now the "Mozart of Madras" has the world's foot tapping along with him.

 

President felicitates A.R.Rahman

President, invitees watch special screening of Slumdog Millionaire

New Delhi: President Pratibha Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, music composer A.R. Rahman and lyricist Gulzar on Sunday saw the Oscar-winning movie, Slumdog Millionaire, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan auditorium here.

Oscar awardee Resul Pookuty and Vikas Swarup, on whose novel ‘Q and A’ the movie is based, also attended the screening.

According to a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson, the two-hour special screening was organised for the President and selected invitees. The film bagged eight Oscars early this year at the 81st Academy Awards.

“The film reminds us about the lives of the people,” Mr. Rahman, who along with Mr. Gulzar, won the Oscar for the Best original song, ‘Jai Ho’ in the movie, told journalists after the screening. The show of the movie in Hindi was also attended by Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Prithviraj Chavan, Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja, Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed and CBI Director Ashwani Kumar.

President Pratibha Patil felicitates lyricist Gulzar, music composer A.R. Rahman, sound designer Resul Pookutty and author Vikas Swarup for the Oscar-winning film `Slumdog Millionaire' at a function held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Auditorium in New Delhi on Sunday.

 

Rahman turns emotional on Lankan Tamils' plight

Oscar Winner A R Rahman on Saturday turned emotional over the plight of suffering Sri Lankan Tamils as an honorary doctorate was conferred upon him by Anna University.

Speaking after receiving the doctorate, the music maestro said that he had been skipping functions in Tamil Nadu keeping in mind the plight of the Tamils suffering in Sri Lanka.

"Soon after I won the Oscar, I was invited for several functions in Tamil Nadu. But I had avoided them because many Tamils were suffering in Sri Lanka. I hope that a solution will come," he stated.

"If I had hurt anyone by not accepting their invitations, I apologise to them," he said, adding, this was his second function in Tamil Nadu after winning the Oscar.

He said the first public function he had attended was the inauguration of Apollo Children's Hospital a few days ago.