A.R.Rahman's first authorized biography to release on April 6!
http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news...529/index.html
A.R.Rahman's first authorized biography to release on April 6!
http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news...529/index.html
"AKON is a really nice guy and we might collaborate in future," says AR Rahman at the Press Conference held in Marina Bay Sands last week. Stay tuned to OLI 96.8FM and www.facebook.com/arrahmansg for the full interview! (Photos of AKON and AR Rahman from the album Freedom)
On 6th April, 2011 Om Books International will be launching 'AR
Rahman: The Spirit' of Music which provides a fascinating window into
the world of the great artist. Rahman's honesty, intelligence and
unpretentiousness shine through as he talks about everything you
wanted to know about his life and his world of music. The book launch
will be attended by some well-known celebrities and will have renowned
film maker and producer Mani Ratnam doing the honours.
The book has been written by renowned film historian, Nasreen Munni
Kabir, who has also made over 80 documentaries on Indian cinema for
Channel 4 TV, U.K. In this book, she provides rare insights into
Rahman's private life and his music. There are photographs from his
personal archives as well as a gratis CD of music composed by him (8
tracks).
Says Ajay Mago, Publisher, Om Books International, "It is indeed a
rare honour to publish this book. AR Rahman's journey, like that of
most great artists, is one that moves and inspires. Nasreen Munni
Kabir has recorded this journey, over the last three years. This book
also has a CD with AR Rahman's compositions for free distribution with
the first edition."
A two-time winner of the Academy Award (Oscars), the BAFTA and the
Grammys, AR Rahman is popularly known as the man who has redefined
contemporary Indian music. He started his career composing commercials
for cinema and television. But after ROJA (1991), Rahman's musical
genius caught the attention of Andrew Lloyd Webber who invited him to
compose music for the stage production of BOMBAY DREAMS. He is now
familiar to the audiences in the West as his song Jai Ho from the film
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE topped the charts all around the world. His film
soundtrack albums have sold over 150 million copies across the world
and he deservedly enjoys iconic status in India.
The students at Global Indian International School Singapore were thrilled and overjoyed to perform in front of the Living Legend AR Rahman. God bless them
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fb...3056&aid=39112
His message to aspiring young singers there: Just believe in yourself and you will find endless possibilities of success in your life.
-A.R. Rahman
Mani Sir to release the authorized autobiography
http://www.sify.com/movies/mani-ratn...wtujhbbdd.html
Pretty poetic
http://www.mmail.com.my/content/67805-pretty-poetic
HIS music has touched many hearts but his extraordinary talents gained an even bigger international attention in 2008, thanks to the success of Slumdog Millionaire. Now, Bollywood composer A.R. Rahman is soaring even higher.
With countless memorable Tamil and Hindi tunes decorating many films from India, Rahman has long been a legendary figure within the region.
His song Chaiyya Chaiyya from the award-winning Hindi film Dil Se is an example of the many songs that have remained unforgettable, and cherished by music lovers until today. Songs by A.R. Rahman have also broken language barriers.
Recently, the maestro was in Singapore as part of his latest project - 'The Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour'. It is no surprise that this world renowned composer/singer attracted not only Indian locals in Singapore but also foreign fans. They just could not miss the opportunity to experience his music live.
Since music is universal and language is out of the door, that's definitely the case with Rahman's concert.
The concert proved to be a psychedelic experience as it showcased his various influences. Fans were entertained with a range of sound - from classical-influenced tunes, to songs that are laced with hip hop, reggae, as well as dance beats and ballads.
His ability to fuse Eastern classical music with Western sensibilities is evident at the concert, that would definitely be the reason for Rahman to cross over easily as a great composer from Mumbai's own Bollywood, to Chennai's Kollywood and most recently all the way to Hollywood.
Those at the concert were obviously in awe of his talent in concocting his massala of music. The songs presented in the Singapore gig were catchy and upbeat, and some of the 'tear jerkers' really made the audience emotional. The entire experience was pretty dramatic.
The stage for the concert was simple with band members framing the stairs in a very laid-back style. The same stairs were also utilised by dancers and singers as they made their entrances and exits.
The mood changed accordingly as suggested by the creative and colourful visuals on a huge screen that became the backdrop for the entire evening. As a result, the concert was a total audio-video sensation for viewers.
It was a remarkable moment when legendary veteran Hindi singer Lata Mangeshkar appeared on screen to sing a duet with Rahman. Their song was Luka Chuppi from the film Rang De Basanti, an Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song in a film in 2006.
The audience were 'assaulted' with hits after hits, and no one was complaining for sure!
Another interesting segment was when the troupe did a medley which compiled all Rahman's classic hits from various films. As the singers lined the steps, Rahman walked on stage to begin the 'journey through films'.
In another captivating segment, Rahman performed a composition of songs based on prayers that represented his Hindu and Muslim background, which was pretty spiritual.
Over 20 songs were performed including many in medleys. Rahman and his supporting singers also sang some of his electro-infused tracks such as Nanan, Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera, Rang De Basanti, Latikka's Theme, Barso Re, Dil Se, Bombay Theme and Ringa.
That night, Rahman did everything. If he didn't sing the lead, he'd be playing an instrument *- the piano, keyboard, guitar as well as the accordion. Song number 21 was Chaiyya Chaiyya, and that got the crowd even more excited.
As he left the stage after finishing the song, the crowd just stood still in anticipation for the biggest hit of all. And yes, the maestro knew that too, and immediately appeared with the entire cast to complete the concert with Jai Ho - the song that was part of the Slumdog Millionaire craze. That really got the crowd even wilder as they sang and danced along.
The end of the concert was also like watching a movie. During the opening, Rahman made an entrance through a huge 'brass door' projected on the background screen. That was also his exit.
HONOURED FOR HIS MUSIC
According to Wikipedia, In 2009, for his score in Slumdog Millionaire, Rahman won, among others, the Critics' Choice Award; the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score; the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music and two Academy Awards for Best Original Music Score and Best Original Song at the Oscars.
His work for the film 127 Hours garnered him Golden Globe, BAFTA and two Academy Award nominations for Best Original Music Score and Best Original Song this year.
Never argue with a fool or he will drag you down to his level and beat you at it through sheer experience!
A R Rahman is the Sachin Tendulkar of music and Sachin is the Rahman of cricket. And ace director Mani Ratnam has brought these two legends together, for a short film.
The film shot for Shakthi Foundation, which works for the rights of the differently abled, has Sachin in front of the camera, with Mani Ratnam wielding the megaphone.
The Oscar-Grammy winner has taken care of the background score and he has provided soul-stirring music, we learn. "The short film is a shot in the arm for the physically challenged who successfully cross all hurdles in front of them," sources say
http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/t...cle/65374.html
Till the full stop doesn't come, the sentence is not complete - MSD
Rahman fought suicidal thoughts
The world knows about the genius of Oscar-winner Allah Rakha Rahman but very little is known about the enigmatic musician’s private life. Now, his first-ever official biography, A R Rahman The Spirit of Music, published by Om Books International, promises to let fans the world over know what makes the reserved Rahman tick.
The biography, written by Nasreen Munni Kabir, will release on April 6. It talks about how he approaches work, and more importantly, how he understands
his own life. The book also talks about how his spiritual leanings have helped him develop a balance and how his irrepressible spirit fought demons of suicidal
thoughts. He says in the book, “I live from day to day now. I believe that everything will be taken care of. It gives me a sense of stability instead of me
feeling that I need to act or react to everything around me.”
However, this sense of tranquility and faith didn’t come overnight. In the book, Rahman gives a detailed account of how at one time he didn’t want to live and how 1989 was the turning point in his life when his mother sold all the gold jewellery kept aside for the marriage of his younger sisters.
Rahman says, “With
that money I bought my first Fostex 16-track mixer/recorder. In those days, film
music in Chennai was recorded on single mono track and here I had 16 tracks. All
those years of struggle, humiliation, being ordered around by other people,
seeing worry on the faces of my family, remembering the feeling of being
overwhelmed by an inferiority complex, the lack of self-esteem, and even at
times, fighting suicidal thoughts – all that seemed to fade away. Sitting in the
music studio that night, and staring at my new recorder, I felt like a king. The
new me was born and the future seemed glorious.” Nasreen says she was shocked
when Rahman spoke of suicidal tendencies and asked him if he really meant it,
and he told her, “It felt so hopeless and I often wondered how I was going to
get out of all that.”
It took several meetings and interactions on Skype over a period of three years before the book was compete. The biography also talks about Rahman’s mentor Mani Ratnam, how he met wife Saira, and going through a depressing phase, as he was disturbed by 9/11, and the Iraq war. Rahman reveals this is when he met his spiritual teacher who also wrote the song Khwaja mere khwaja...(Jodhaa Akbar) under a pen name, Kashif.
“My teacher made me think in my small and humble way, that I could be a
bridge between the two divided worlds,” says Rahman. When asked if he still
suffers from self-doubt, despite all the fame, Rahman says in the book, “I have
tried to develop a balance over the years. Whether people praise my work or rip
it apart, I trust the possibility that a few months later they may like it.”
Things you may not know about Rahman
* At age five, he was a loner and stayed at home most of the time. He would
lock himself into a room and play the harmonium for hours.
* His father R K
Shekhar was a composer, arranger and conductor and worked in over a hundred
Malayalam films.
* His paternal grandfather was a bhajan singer in a temple
in Mylapore, South Chennai.
* He met Saira, his wife on his 28th birthday.
His mother and sister Fathima saw her at the shrine of Sufi saint Moti Baba in
Chennai.
* Rahman hopes to release an album with all his family members who
are into music.
* When alone, he likes to go for walks in The Regent’s Park,
London. In India, he spends his alone time in a 5x7 meditation room at his music
studio.
* Whenever he dreams of home, he sees his old house at Habibullah
Road where he spent 20 years. The house had a leaking roof.
* Him being
called the Mozart of Madras isn’t his favourite label and says, “Poor Mozart
should be left alone.”
source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Rahman...e1-678929.aspx
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