Golden Globe A. R. Rahman

AR Rahman team react to 'c****ya' remark for Bowl show

2011-07-19T01:21:00.000-07:00

AR Rahman team react to 'c****ya' remark for Bowl show

Music composer AR Rahman's recent show at the Hollywood Bowl has received expletive criticism by Shonali Bose, the director of Konkona Sen Sharma's Amu. A member from Rahman's team has officially reacted to the director's comment on the social network.

The director who was at the Rahman concert recently at the Hollywood Bowl commented on her social networking profile, "Just returned from a most c*****ya concert at the Hollywood bowl wrongly advertised as an AR Rahman concert. Me and a zillion other desis who were there felt totally cheated and want our time and money back! they made AR an announcer! He came on stage and read out the synopses of his (worst) films — such disasters as raavan, mangal pandey and robot! and then we had to hear the boring score played by the la philharmonic! the highlight of the event was walking around in the beginning before the show started and finding so many good friends there. if you were there and are not bubbling with gaalis please enlighten me!"

Meanwhile, Rahman's office has reacted to this comment. Says Vijay Iyer, a member of Rahman's team, (TOI) "It was always publicized as an orchestral show and that the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra would perform his works. Last year, the London Philharmonic Orchestra performed a similar concert in London which was well-received. He just concluded his multi-city Jai Ho tour a few months aho and also performed at Nagpur and Bangalore a few weeks back, which was a different format complete with singers, dancers and lots of fireworks. This was a different format.

An orchestra is always led by a conductor, who in this, happened to be Matt Dunkley. Were they expecting Rahman to stand with the orchestra for the full duration? The show has been very well-received and we have been flooded with compliments and requests for more such shows."

A.R.Rahman Live 2010 Khawaja Mere Khawaja

2011-07-07T06:46:00.000-07:00

A R Rahman teams up with Kathir again

2011-06-25T03:23:00.000-07:00

A R Rahman teams up with Kathir again

Oscar Award winner AR Rahman is all set make his comeback to Tamil films with Kathir's next film. They are teaming up again in upcoming film Kodai Vidumurai.

The music director has given the not recently to compose the music for upcoming film Kodai Vidumurai. Recently, during the launch of the film, lyricist Vaali has revealed the news that AR Rahman would score the tunes for the film.

AR Rahman has scored the music for Kathir's all previous ventures. Their combo had given musical hits like Idhayam, Uzhavan, Kadhal Desam etc. The makers are hoping that the duo will create the same magic again.

Kodai Vidumurai is a comeback movie for Kathir, who directed his last in the year 2002. he has roped in Srikanth to play the lead role. However, he is yet to finalize the actress for the female lead role.

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Mahi

इस्माइल दरबार पर दर्ज होगा मुकदमा Ismail Darbar will be recorded on the case

2011-06-09T04:32:00.000-07:00

इस्माइल दरबार पर दर्ज होगा मुकदमा

मुंबई। ऑस्कर अवॉर्ड विजेता ए आर रहमान पर एकेडमी अर्वाड्स खरीदने का आरोप लगाने वाले संगीतकार इस्माइल दरबार मुश्किलों में पड़ सक ते हैं। सूत्रों के मुताबिक एकेडमी ऑफ मोशन पिक्चर आट्üस एंड साइंस (एएमपीएएस) दरबार के खिलाफ मुकदमा दायर करने पर विचार कर रही है।

सूत्रों ने बताया कि एएमपीएएस इस मामले में दरबार से 50 मिलियन डॉलर का हर्जाना मांगेगी। हालांकि दरबार ने किसी भी कानूनी नोटिस मिलने से इनकार किया है। उन्होंने कहा कि नोटिस मिलने पर वे जवाबी कार्रवाई करेंगे।

उल्लेखनीय है कि संजय लीला भंसाली की "हम दिल दे चुके सनम" से डेब्यू करने वाले दरबार ने रहमान एकेडमी अवार्ड के लायक नहीं है। उन्होंने यह पुरस्कार पैसों से खरीदा है। इस टिप्पणी से रहमान काफी दुखी हुए लेकिन उन्होंने दरबार पर मानहानि का दावा करने से इनकार कर दिया।

Ismail Darbar will be recorded on the case

Mumbai. Oscar Academy Award winner on AR Rahman the composer Ismail Darbar accusations of buying Arvads get into trouble are te suck. Sources C and Sciences Academy of Motion Picture Aat ü (Cmpecs) the court is considering filing a lawsuit against.

In this case, court sources said Cmpecs Ommangegee damages of $ 50 million. Although the court refused to meet anyone in the legal notice. He said that on receipt of notice they would retaliate.

Noted that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" from the court Rahman Academy Awards debut tomorrow. They bought with money prizes. Rahman was very upset by this comment but he refused to court on the defamation claim.

A R Rahman Book Review The Spirit Of Music

2011-04-07T01:36:00.000-07:00

A R Rahman Book Review The Spirit Of Music
DESCRIPTION
Nasreen Munni Kabir's book 'A R Rahman-The Spirit Of Music' is an extremely fine biographical piece on one of the finest musical genuises of India. Content Head Broadband Faridoon Shahryar in this bollywoodhungama.com exclusive Book Review, analyses what makes this book an important account of the personal and professional life of teh Oscar and Grammy winning Composer. There's a music CD 'Connections' which has come complimentary with the book. All the eight tracks in this CD have been composed by Rahman and you can get to know what makes them an added bonus for Rahman fans. Must watch!

A R Rahman wife Saira Banu arrive at the 83rd Academy Awards 2011

2011-03-01T02:22:00.000-08:00

A.R. Rahman, nominated for original score for "127 Hours" and his wife Saira Banu arrive at the 83rd Academy Awards

A.R. Rahman performs the Oscar-nominated song "If I Rise" from the movie "127 Hours" during the 83rd Academy Awards in Hollywood, California.

A R Rahman nephew to compose music for Joker

2011-02-07T00:56:00.001-08:00

A R Rahman nephew to compose music for Joker

Rahman's nephew to compose music for ' Joker '

New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS) Oscar-winning musician A R Rahman's nephew G.V. Prakash Kumar has been chosen to compose the music for Bollywood fimmaker Shirish Kunder's upcoming directorial project "Joker"."A R Rahman's nephew G.V. Prakash to compose music for JOKER. This will be his debut in Hindi. And our initiative to introduce new talent, " Kunder posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Prakash, who is Rahman's elder sister's son, made his foray as a composer with Tamil film "Veyil" in 2006.

He has also given vocals for some Tamil films like "Gentleman", "Anniyan" and "Unnale Unnale", apart from having worked on some projects with his maternal uncle.

"Joker" will be Prakash's first association with Hindi movies.

The movie boasts of actors like Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Shreyas Talpade and Minissha Lamba.
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Mahi

A R Rahman Tariq Anwar nominated for Oscar awards

2011-01-27T02:46:00.001-08:00

A R Rahman, whose score for the Donny Boyle directed survival drama 127 Hours had brought him a Golden Globe nomination a month ago, has done better at the Oscars . He has bagged two Oscar nominations, like he did for Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire . Apart from the score, he also received a nomination for If I Rise which he sang with the British artist Dido.

And Lucknow-raised Tariq Anwar, one of the most distinguished editors and an Oscar winner for American Beauty, has been nominated for The King's Speech, the hit British film which is getting worldwide release in the next two weeks. Anwar is based in London and has been editing for more than 25 years. The King's Speech has received 12 Oscar nominations.

Rahman who has also been nominated for a BAFTA award in the UK, faces competition from several veteran Hollywood composers including Hans Zimmer for Inception. Other nominations for music are John Powell for How to Train Your Dragon, Alexandre Desplat for the The King's Speech and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for the The Social Network.

The competitors for the best song category are Coming Home from Country Strong, I See the Light from Tangled), and We Belong Together from Toy Story 3 which has grossed over $1 billion.

127 Hours was also nominated for the best film but Boyle did not was not nominated for direction. But he was nominated for the screenplay along with his Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire script writer, Simon Beaufoy.

The film which is a modest success in North America with an $11 million gross may find a strong uptick at the box-office in the next few weeks. In the United Kingdom, the movie which is yet to open in most parts of the world, is a smash hit, having grossed $10 million and still going strong.

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Mahi

Rahman then nominated for an Oscar

2011-01-25T06:53:00.001-08:00

Rahman then nominated for an Oscar

Los Angeles. India's famous composer A R Rahman and director Danny Boyle is ready to pair once again creating history. In 2009 blockbuster film "Slumdog Millionaire" won the Oscar Rahman once again the movie "127 hour" category for the Oscars Arvad two have been nominated.

Earlier in 2009, Rahman the Best Music Score and Best's film Slumdog sound mixing for two awards in music met. Was the film's director Danny Boyle. Including two awards for Best Music category R film Oscar award stroke total was 9. Had created a splash in the world of film music. This time, the Danny Boyle directed "127 hour" of the Best Music category has been nominated for two awards. Rahman has given music of the film.

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Mahi

The Social Network" dominates Golden Globes, Rahman loses out

2011-01-17T04:23:00.001-08:00

The Social Network" dominates Golden Globes, Rahman loses out (Lead)

Los Angeles, Jan 17 (DPA) "The Social Network", a drama about the founding of Facebook, won the Golden Globe for the year's best drama, ensuring it heads into the home stretch of the Hollywood awards season as the hot Oscar favourite. It also won the best original score, beating Indian music maestro A R Rahman works in "127 Hours".

The movie, which focuses on billionaire Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, won three other awards Sunday night, for best screenplay, director and score. On Friday it dominated the Critics Choice Awards after sweeping up handfuls of other prizes early in the awards season.

"Kids Are All Right", a comedy about a lesbian couple who meet the man who fathered their children, won the Golden Globe Sunday for the year's best comedy or musical. Television variety show "Glee" won for best TV comedy, while prohibition-era gangster series "Boardwalk Empire" won for best TV drama.

"The Social Network" had been criticised in some areas for its unflattering portrayal of the young internet magnate. But producer Scott Rudin used his acceptance speech to thank Zuckerberg "for his willingness to allow us to use his life and work as a metaphor to tell a story about communication and how we relate to each other".

Writer Aaron Sorkin also used his speech to praise Zuckerberg. "You turned out to be a great entrepreneur a visionary and an incredible altruist," he said.

The royalty of Hollywood had gathered for stars convened Sunday at the Beverley Hilton Hotel for the 68th annual Golden Globes, widely considered Hollywood's second most important awards show after the Oscars.

From cancer survivor Michael Douglas to teen star Justin Bieber, and from Hale Berry to Angelina Jolie, anyone who was anyone in tinseltown came in their finest designer clothes.

The leading contender had been "The King's Speech", about the stuttering British monarch King George VI with seven nominations. In the end it only won one award for lead actor "Colin Firth".

Natalie Portman won best actress in a drama for her role as a dancer in "Black Swan". Paul Giamatti won the comic actor award for "Barney's version", while Annette Bening was named best comic actress for "The Kids Are All Right".

The first trophy of the night went to Christian Bale who picked up the best supporting actor award for his role in boxing drama "The Fighter". The movie also yielded a supporting actress award for Melissa Leo.

The glittering spectacle took place in the shadow of a legal scandal after the event's former publicist filed a lawsuit late last week alleging that member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which organises the awards, accepted bribes and favours from movie studios in return for supporting movies.

"Boardwalk Empire"'s Steve Buscemi and "Sons of Anarchy"'s Katey Sagal won the Golden Globes for best actors in a TV drama, while the best actors in a TV comedy or musical were Laura Linney for "The Big C" and Jim Parsons for "The Big Bang Theory". The honour for best TV mini-series or movie went to the French mini-series "Carlos", while the best foreign film was Denmark's "In a Better World".

The Globes are often touted as a predictor of Oscar glory but its record has been less than stellar in recent years. In the past six years only one winner of the best picture Globe, "Slumdog Millionaire", won the corresponding Oscar prize.

Last year, the Globes awarded the dramatic film to "Avatar" with James Cameron winning for directing, while the academy gave best picture to "The Hurt Locker" and director to Kathryn Bigelow.

Robert De Niro received the Cecil B DeMille Award for lifetime achievement.

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Mahi

Rahman loses out on Golden Globe

2011-01-17T04:22:00.001-08:00

Rahman loses out on Golden Globe

Los Angeles, Jan 17 (IANS) Indian music maestro A.R. Rahman wasn't second time lucky. He lost out on the trophy for best original score-motion picture for Danny Boyle's "127 Hours" at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross who composed 18 songs for "The Social Network".

Rahman, the double Oscar-award wining composer, was competing with the likes of Alexandre Desplat ("The King's Speech"), Danny Elfman ("Alice in Wonderland") and Hans Zimmer ("Inception") at the awards here Sunday.

The David Fincher-helmed blockbuster drama "The Social Network" is about the founding of the social networking website Facebook and its resulting lawsuits.

As Reznor once called it, the score is dark and the movie itself contains 18 songs, some of which are not found on the soundtrack. These include songs from The Beatles, Bob Marley, 10cc, Gluecifer and The White Stripes.

This was Chennai-based Rahman's second stint at Hollywood's second most prestigious annual movie prize after Boyle's Mumbai-based underdog drama "Slumdog Millionaire".

The soundtrack of "127 Hours" includes the popular song "If I Rise", a collaboration between Rahman and pop star Dido that won the Mozart of Madras, as he is fondly called, the best original song award at the 16th Critics' Choice Movie awards Friday.

Rahman, who has composed several lilting tracks for Indian fils, bagged two Oscars in 2009 for best original score in "Slumdog Millionaire" and its popular theme song "Jai Ho".

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Mahi

A R Rahman loses out on Golden Globe to 'The Social Network

2011-01-17T04:02:00.001-08:00

Rahman loses out on Golden Globe to 'The Social Network'

Los Angeles, Jan 17 (IANS) Indian music maestro A.R. Rahman could not get second time lucky. He lost out on the trophy for the best original score - motion picture for Danny Boyle's "127 Hours" at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross who won it for "The Social Network".

Rahman, the double Oscar-award wining composer, was competing with the likes of Alexandre Desplat ("The King's Speech"), Danny Elfman ("Alice in Wonderland") and Hans Zimmer ("Inception").

The David Fincher-helmed blockbuster drama "The Social Network" is about the founding of the social networking website Facebook and its resulting lawsuits.

As Reznor once called it, the score is dark and the movie itself contains 18 songs, some of which are not found on the soundtrack. These include songs from The Beatles, Bob Marley, 10cc, Gluecifer and The White Stripes.

This was the Chennai-based composer's second stint at Hollywood's second most prestigious annual movie prize after Boyle's Mumbai-based underdog drama "Slumdog Millionaire".

The soundtrack of "127 Hours" includes the popular song "If I Rise", a collaboration between Rahman and pop star Dido that won the Mozart of Madras, as he is fondly called, the best original song award at the 16th Critics' Choice Movie awards Friday.

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Mahi

Birthday Special: A R Rahman

2011-01-05T08:22:00.000-08:00

Birthday Special: A R Rahman

By winning the Oscar, A.R. Rahman not only established a name for himself in world music, but also for India. Today, he is recognized as one of the most influential people in India.

Time Magazine nicknamed him "The Mozart from Madras". To his fans, he is "Isai Puiyal" (Music Storm), and what a storm he has been!!!

Rahman has been nominated for a Golden Globe

2010-12-18T07:34:00.000-08:00

The ‘Mozart of Madras’ who took Hollywood by storm in 2009 has done it all over again! AR Rahman has been nominated for a Golden Globe in ‘The Best Original Score’ category for Danny Boyle’s film 127 Hours.Sony Music India celebrates the genius of Rahman with their latest compilation - A R Rahman: A Music Storm. A must... have collectors’ edition box set of the maestro’s best works. A comprehensive 6 CD pack

Rahman gets Golden Globe nomination for 127 Hours

2010-12-15T00:41:00.001-08:00

Rahman gets Golden Globe nomination for '127 Hours'

New Delhi, Dec 14 (IANS) A.R. Rahman seems to have become a regular at big ticket international awards as the double Oscar-award winning Indian composer has bagged a Golden Globe nomination for Danny Boyle's "127 Hours".

This is the 44-year-old's second stint at Hollywood's second most prestigious annual movie prize after Boyle's Mumbai-based underdog drama "Slumdog Millionaire".

The Chennai-based composer is competing in the Original Score for a motion picture category with the likes of Alexandre Desplat ("The King's Speech"); Danny Elfman ("Alice in Wonderland"); Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross ("The Social Network") and Hans Zimmer ("Inception"), according to the event's official website.

The soundtrack of "127 Hours" includes the popular song "If I Rise", a collaboration between Rahman and pop star Dido.

Starring "Spider-Man" star James Franco, the movie is a biopic about mountaineer Aron Ralston, who was trapped in a canyon for five days by a boulder that fell on his arm and he freed himself by amputating the limb.

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Mahi

Jai ho Rahman at Golden Globe nominations again

2010-12-15T00:40:00.001-08:00

'Jai ho' Rahman at Golden Globe nominations again

New Delhi, Dec 14 (IANS) It doesn't get bigger than this for A.R. Rahman. The double Oscar winning Indian composer has bagged a Golden Globe nomination for Danny Boyle's "127 Hours", having already won the trophy once for the director's mega sweep "Slumdog Millionaire" in 2009.

This is the 44-year-old's second flick at Hollywood's second most prestigious annual movie prize after Boyle's Mumbai-based multiple-Oscar award wining underdog drama "Slumdog Millionaire". Rahman won two Oscars and a Golden Globe for his number "Jai ho" in the movie.

The Chennai-based composer is competing in the same section as before - Original Score for a motion picture category - with the likes of Alexandre Desplat ("The King's Speech"), Danny Elfman ("Alice in Wonderland"), Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross ("The Social Network"), and Hans Zimmer ("Inception").

Bollywood was on cloud nine with its leading musician's feat.

"AR Rahman nominated for Golden Globe for '127 Hours' score. Marching to another Oscar?" tweeted filmmaker Shekhar Kapur.

The soundtrack of "127 Hours" includes the popular song "If I Rise", a collaboration between Rahman and pop star Dido.

Starring "Spider-Man" star James Franco, the movie is a biopic about mountaineer Aron Ralston, who was trapped in a canyon in Utah for five days by a boulder that fell on his right arm and he freed himself by amputating the limb.

Ralston recently even complimented the composer on his music in the film by sending him a hand-written note.

It read: "For A.R, Thank you for bringing your amazing music to my story - if only I had your soundtrack in the canyon, I could've lasted another 127 hours. Best Wishes, A.R. (Aron Ralston)."

Fondly called the Mozart of Madras, Rahman was honoured with a Padma Bhushan this year.

The shy musician also has two gramophones on his shelf that he won at the 52nd Grammy Awards for his music in "Slumdog Millionaire".

The only defeat he had had was at this year's Oscars ceremony when his number "Na Na" from his Hollywood debut venture "Couple's Retreat" failed to win a nomination in the Best Original Song category at the gala.

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Mahi

A.R. Rahman performs at the annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo

2010-12-13T00:13:00.001-08:00

Indian singer and composer A.R. Rahman (2nd R) performs at the annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo

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Mahi

How many of you are going to join me on my Jai Ho tour

2010-11-19T00:26:00.001-08:00

How many of you are going to join me on my Jai Ho tour

A.R. Rahman

How many of you are going to join me on my Jai Ho tour on 21 Nov at Sun City,

24 Nov at GrandWest and 26 Nov at the Moses Mabhida Stadium?

The Durban show will be filmed in HD - here's your chance to be part of history!

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first Indian settlers in South Africa,

the organizers have also released a limited number of R150 tickets for Durban fans!
There is also a 25% discount off your purchase of 4 or more tickets through Computicket.

For tickets, head to A. R. Rahman

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Mahi

A R Rahman says he has grown up listening to the King of Ghazals Mehdi Hassan

2010-11-10T02:26:00.000-08:00

Rahman in awe

A R Rahman says he has grown up listening to the King of Ghazals, Mehdi Hassan

Composer A.R. Rahman Interview 127 HOURS

2010-10-29T06:00:00.001-07:00

Composer A.R. Rahman Interview 127 HOURS

For his new drama-thriller, 127 Hours, director Danny Boyle re-teams with innovative Indian film composer A.R. Rahman who won two Academy Awards for his work on Slumdog Millionaire. Rahman has created an awesome score to convey the 127-hour ordeal of American mountaineer Aron Ralston when his arm is pinned by a boulder deep inside a Utah canyon and he must resort to desperate measures in order to survive.

We sat down for a round table interview with Rahman to talk about his new film. He told us about his collaboration with Danny Boyle, why he chose a personal and intimate score with Western influences to help bring to life the director's unique vision, and how much he enjoyed once again being part of the Oscar-winning team behind Slumdog Millionaire. Rahman also liked our suggestion that he consider working with Ryan Murphy on a Bollywood version of Glee. Hit the jump to read what he had to say:

Q: How do you go about putting together a score and tracks for a guy stuck under a boulder?

A.R. Rahman: Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and the screenplay of Simon (Beaufoy) and I was reading it, even before the shoot, some kind of sounds came into my mind and I put some stuff [down] and sent it to Danny when he was cutting the movie. How we approached this was I wanted this to be personal in a way. It's not a big, epic Hollywood score but really personal and intimate, and we thought guitar would be the perfect instrument for him because he's young and he has an undying spirit and all that stuff and we went on that feeling totally.

Q: The music plays a huge role and almost from the beginning you feel like you're inside his iPod. What were the sounds that you heard when you first started reading the script? What sort of musical emotions did you get?

A.R. Rahman: Certain things are done intentionally opposite — like there's no sound at the end or synthesizers or all that stuff. Anything that drowns the movie, no. Anything that makes you sit up and watch it, yes. So, some are expecting a very sad theme going on. We didn't want to do that. It would have been a beautiful moment in the movie but it would have brought the movie down. So Danny's vision was perfect I think when he wanted it to be driven at the same time having this new emotion about this boy coming as a hallucination or like a déjà vu and as the future kid. That was a very different emotion and I felt Dido's words would be good and I had a template with my voice in it. Then, when he heard it, he wanted both our voices together in it and that's the scene when he sees the boy and then he gets charged to go on that final cutting effort.

Q: In that scene, there's a string that he hits. I associate that noise with that scene so strongly. How did you create that sound?

A.R. Rahman: That's a sound design thing but then we wanted to do music that would not disturb it and at the same time drive it.

Q: I thought they were all one thing.

A.R. Rahman: No. That's the sound design. I watched it sixty times because we were constantly tweaking. The same thing comes twice, right? Once it comes in the beginning when he's about to discover that he needs to come out and one is the dream where he's flattered (??) and then he comes out. The last one, instead of going bigger, we made it smaller. We removed elements and thinned it out. So it doesn't drive him. He drives the music rather than the other way around.

Q: Do you hear music constantly in your head?

A.R. Rahman: Yes and no. Sometimes I intentionally cut it off. I just want to be in silence, especially when I'm traveling. I watch movies without sound.

Q: What was the degree of difficulty for this particular movie? Was it something that flowed right out of you when you saw what was going on or what did you have to do?

A.R. Rahman: I had an initial 3 days before coming for this trip. I went to London to do the stuff. I was like "What am I going to do? What's going to happen?" But then once you start working, you forget all that and you start enjoying what you're doing. Once you enjoy the process, you know that people are going to do the same thing. If you don't enjoy it and just do it like a job, then it's going to be feel that way. That's my theory of doing a movie.

Q: Can you talk about how you collaborated with Danny Boyle and what that process was like?

A.R. Rahman: It's a very simple process. He comes in the tube (subway) and then he sits with me for 3 hours every evening and then I work on something. Then later, if he likes something, I put it even more perfectly. I tweak stuff. So this happened for 3 or 4 weeks and the music was done. When I initially read the script, it goes inside and comes out different things even without commenting on any stuff. And then, those pieces are taken out and then spread out through the movie.

Q: Everybody else went to the exact location in the canyon, did you also go there?

A.R. Rahman: I missed that because I was rehearsing for my tour in Los Angeles, and by the time I could go, it was done.

Q: Having worked on this project, would you like to go see the location in the future?

A.R. Rahman: Yes, of course.

Q: In this film, there's one piece that reminds me of an Indian movie song?

A.R. Rahman: In this?

Q: Yes. Was that Danny's request or your idea?

A.R. Rahman: It had a language. It's a very emotional language that only exists in India, that part of [inaudible] so we wanted to use that. I had two versions — one with my voice and one with the girl's voice. But he preferred the girl's voice and he preferred my voice with an [inaudible].

Q: Who had different themes? I felt like the raven had a theme, the streets and the sky had a theme.

A.R. Rahman: There were basically three themes. One was the sun theme which is the guitar when he'd get sun on his leg and it comes again in the end. And there's of course the lullaby which Dido sang, "If I Rise." And then there's this driving guitar which is the motivation theme.

Q: How did you come up with the sun theme?

A.R. Rahman: I played a couple of ideas and then had this unusual texture underneath which was like this little granulated kind of pipe organ almost like a scratchy record which he started [inaudible] brilliantly. "Oh I love that song." And when things go fine, it's good. So he started loving that song and that song was used quite a lot in the movie which is very granulated stuff on the guitar.

Q: You won two Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire, one for score and one for best song, where do you keep your Oscars?

A.R. Rahman: I don't know. I don't even know where mine is. My mother has hidden it because everybody who comes in wants to take a photograph of it. So what she's done is she put it inside a suitcase somewhere.

Q: What if it's lost?

A.R. Rahman: No, it'll be inside somewhere.

Q: You don't want to look at it?

A.R. Rahman: No, maybe I'll look at it later. (Laughs)

Q: How radically different is your life as a result of that experience and did you even see that coming?

A.R. Rahman: I didn't see it coming at all. I just wanted to have this new experience with this team of Danny Boyle, Christian (Colson) and Simon (Beaufoy). It was like an excursion for me from my normal routine and the Indian movies I do and that helped. Because when you work with a different team, the expectations are different and then you deliver in a very different way. You look back at it and you're proud of yourself. And when the same people come in and you do the same thing, it's boring. You could re-envision it again and again but when the new chemistry of ideas comes in, something happens as a team.

Q: When you're not working on something, what do you like to listen to?

A.R. Rahman: I listen to everything. As I told you, sometimes I just want to shut off from music and be silent. Then I play a song and it's refreshing. It's almost like initializing yourself. Recently I was in South Africa doing a press day for my tour. I listened to this band called "Freshly Ground." They were doing a live gig there so that's the last thing I've heard.

Q: Is there a genre you'd like to experiment with?

A.R. Rahman: Yes, it'd probably be somebody like Danny having a vision of a musical which I thought would be a brilliant idea but not the old way of doing it but rather the Danny way. The last time I think he tried to do a musical but it didn't take off, I guess. Four or five years back I think.

Q: Do you think Indian music is more accepted and listened to around the world now as a result ofSlumdog Millionnaire?

A.R. Rahman: What is good is what it's going to lead to, like the song "Jai Ho." If good numbers are going to come in the future, it bodes well for a lot of things. But then, who's going to maintain that. That's the question. So far they could never lead to an Indian song, like a normal film song in this that they can relate to. There are a lot of firsts in that thing. That's the reason I was doing this tour for them to see my backlog of work and what I've done for the past 20 years. We're going 17 places including South Africa, Singapore and all those places. It is stressful and exhausting, but I think when you see the joy of people, it's very nice.

Q: You're the founder of the A.R. Rahman Foundation. Can you talk a little bit about what the foundation is, how it came to be, where it's based and who it helps?

A.R. Rahman: I've been doing music for almost 20 years and after a point what is the motivation that drives you to compose and to do stuff? I did this song for the U.N., a fighting for poverty anthem. That's when I realized that I could do a foundation. And when I started the foundation, it was basically to fight poverty and to help — that kind of stuff. The best way would be education and kids and all that stuff and then education and working education comes through. Then I started a music school and the music school now teaches kids to play the violin and the viola. These are the Rad (?) instruments that are dying out in India. So, it's going well and I think now we are increasing the number of kids we have taught and of course we are helping out with other things too. It's based in India now. [The idea is to] perfect it in one place and then we'll expand.

Q: What do you think of the success of somebody like M.I.A. who had a song on the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack ("O…Saya") that really broadened her appeal and made her far more successful than she was?

A.R. Rahman: Actually it was the reverse. She catapulted. Her song, "Paper Planes," is very popular. And then, sometime later, the soundtrack through her… "That Little Face," she was helpful in doing that. "O…Saya" was a collaboration between her and me and she wrote good stuff.

Q: What genre besides Indian music would you like to see pushed more to the forefront with the work that you do?

A.R. Rahman: I basically love classical music. I love a lot of musicians playing together and the whole culture of that whether it's Indian or it's Western. But in India, I think it's limited to filler ?? music unfortunately. That's one thing I want to push in India where we have the infrastructure of an orchestra where you play Indian melodies with an orchestra and something different for a universal audience. It requires a lot of work from me.

Q: Have you ever played at the Hollywood Bowl?

A.R. Rahman: Yes, I did in 2006.

Q: You should do it again.

A.R. Rahman: (laughs) Do it again?

Q: Do something for their new season especially since you have another movie coming out. You should do it with the L.A. Philharmonic because that seems like it would fit right in your wheelhouse.

A.R. Rahman: That's a good idea. I just finished a concert in March with the London Philharmonic playing all the themes of my stuff.

Q: What do you think about (Gustavo) Dudamel?

A.R. Rahman: Dudamel? I love him and his music.

Q: Do you think people like him just because he flips his hair a lot?

A.R. Rahman: At least that's a charming thing. (Laughs) Why do you have to be critical about everything?

Q: I love him. I think he's fantastic, but I think people like him more because he is so quirky.

A.R. Rahman: Full package, isn't it? (Laughs)

Q: He makes it more interactive for an audience.

A.R. Rahman: Yes, that's good.

Q: Where haven't you been to play that you'd love to go and perform?

A.R. Rahman: My list would be Russia, Morocco, Turkey, and South Africa I'm doing which is somewhere I've wanted to go, Australia, Japan maybe, and China, if I have the energy to go and play at all those places.

Q: Is there any chance we'll see Danny bringing you along for the Olympic Opening Ceremony?

A.R. Rahman: He's briefly asked me but then there are other things (considerations). I think it's good for a team where a lot of people can put all their energies together. But he said "You're so busy here. How can you do all three? You need to give two years of a lifetime. I don't think you can give." He both asked the question and answered it.

Q: Are there other filmmakers you're collaborating with aside from Danny?

A.R. Rahman: Right now I'm taking a break. I'm just finishing up here. It's been a stressful year with this tour and all the scores and stuff.

Q: Especially since winning the Oscar, do you have a lot of people in Hollywood clamoring to work with you?

A.R. Rahman: Not as much, but the thing is I don't want to be in a studio situation where you're forced to think. I love the second stuff. This stuff is perfect for me. This is what I want to do. I wanted to work on a movie that is intimate and yet have the music ?? I did, of course, a movie called Couple's Retreat with Vince Vaughn. This came even before the Oscars. He wanted me to do the music. I'm doing a complete U-turn. (Laughs)

Q: You mentioned you liked classic music. What are your favorites?

A.R. Rahman: I grew up on Bach and Beethoven and now I'm listening to more modern composers who I can't even name. But since I'm constantly doing music, it's difficult to have that quality time to listen to music and do classical stuff. That's the only reason I'm thinking of going on.

Q: So what are you going to do with all this time off now?

A.R. Rahman: Spend time with my family. Then, my studio is getting completed here in Hollywood.

Q: Are you going to come to L.A. and be based here now?

A.R. Rahman: I'm already based half.

Q: Half? That's not based. That's half based. You have your foundation in India. There are lots of kids here who need musical educations. It's dead in America now.

A.R. Rahman: Maybe I should do that very soon. But I'd like to perfect it in one place. My ideology is to do one thing perfect first.

Q: At one point I think I suggested to Ryan Murphy that they do a Bollywood Glee and he was kind of interested in that. Is that something you might enjoy seeing – something mainstream on television in America?

A.R. Rahman: That would be awesome.

Q: Has Ryan spoken to you about it?

A.R. Rahman: Has he said he wanted to do something with us? I'd be interested. I think it brings a lot of excitement and joy. That whole style which was there before has been forgotten for years now in Hollywood. My recent DVD which I loved was Rob Marshall's Tony Bennett: An American Classic. Have you listened to that stuff? It was beautiful. It was Tony Bennett's movie, a documentary. Nobody knows but it's a beautiful piece of work — a lot of collaborations in it and all that stuff.

Q: What about a big band Bollywood?

A.R. Rahman: There is a band in London that does that. It's called Rahmania, strangely.

Q: If you did a musical, what sort of things would you want to do?

A.R. Rahman: I think I would like to discover a new root where people don't get bored with people singing boring lines but something exciting. That'd be interesting.

Q: In a classical style or the rock opera style?

A.R. Rahman: I think it should be a mix of stuff.

Q: Do you see yourself teaming up with Alan Mencken anytime soon in a Disney animated film?

A.R. Rahman: I'd love to. That's a very exciting thing. It's so exciting. But again, it has to be discovered. It shouldn't be the same old thing. Boring.

Q: You keep mentioning Danny's team — Christian, Simon — and now you're part of it.

A.R. Rahman: (laughs) Hopefully. At least in this movie I'm part of it.

Q: You don't think you are?

A.R. Rahman: Well I think nobody should be pressurized like a tag on. And, of course, I'd love to be in another movie but nobody should have the pressure of "Oh he's wants to be in my movie? How do we get rid of him?" It shouldn't be like that. But it should complement it.

Q: I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to get rid of you.

A.R. Rahman: No, no, I'm just saying. That's my philosophy of life always. The film gives you even more joy to work with rather than…

Q: When I was watching this film, I felt the same kind of emotion and energy as in Trainspotting.Was that Danny's idea?

A.R. Rahman: I've never watched Trainspotting. I just know it's a very critically acclaimed film. In fact, I've never watched any of Danny's movies [means before he met him]. I just worked with him and felt the energy of what he is about initially before I do something. In a way, I think that's why we have discovered each other rather than replicate something else.

Q: You've seen the movies you've done with him though?

A.R. Rahman: Yes. Of course.

Q: You said you'd never seen any of them?

A.R. Rahman: Danny's movies I've not seen any except for the Hollywood movie with Cameron Diaz, A Life Less Ordinary.

Q: So you have?

A.R. Rahman: Only that one which is not a typical Danny Boyle movie.

Q: How do you think the audience reaction to 127 Days compares to Slumdog Millionaire? Have you been watching the audience?

A.R. Rahman: I haven't watched the audience yet because I just came in two days ago and I missed the screening yesterday.

Q: Are you looking forward to seeing it with an audience?

A.R. Rahman: Yes, I'm going to see it in London. It's going to happen in two days.

Q: Do you get nervous about those sorts of things or do you just feel the excitement?

A.R. Rahman: I do get nervous.

Q: Can you feel the audience sort of swelling with the score?

A.R. Rahman: My first experience of that was with my first movie which I did in India. And it was so different from other people. I find that "Oh my God." Every time the music is slow I feel that people are going to get up and go out. You get this nervousness. But, to my surprise, people starting singing the song even before it came in. They started singing along a week later, after release, which was very cool.

Q: How do they know the song?

A.R. Rahman: In India, the music releases at least 15 days before.

Q: Who's doing film scores that get you really excited?

A.R. Rahman: I like Tan Dun, the Chinese composer. I like some of Hans Zimmer's stuff. (Ennio) Morricone is my favorite and John Williams. As a sound, I think Gustavo. But this is all four or five years back. Now I just want to cleanse my mind. I'd like to discover something new or a new part of something. And anybody that's coming to you, they want a fresh sound. They want more of me which I'm discovering myself every day.

Q: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now with your music?

A.R. Rahman: Ten years from now? I don't know. Because a mind is like a monkey, isn't it? Suddenly it says "Work hard" and suddenly it says "Quit." And for me, the second one is the one that keeps sounding off. "That's enough. Let's go." If something comes along that's exciting, it motivates me to work harder. But I guess that's a burden to have. Ten years of good music. I want to feel light inside.

127 Days opens in theaters on November 5^th.

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Mahi

Rahman delays release of Jhoota Hi Sahi

2010-10-06T05:28:00.001-07:00

Rahman delays release of Jhoota Hi Sahi

A month ago, AR Rahman recorded the title track of Jhootha Hi Sahi in under 40 hours. But his background score is still not complete and so the release of Abbas Tyrewalla film, toplining John Abraham and Pakhi has been deferred by a week, to October 22. Interestingly, the Oscar winning composer didn't ask for any extension this time. It was Tyrewalla who didn't want to rush him to meet the deadline lest it affect the creativity. So producer Madhu Mantena decided to shift the release date from October 15.

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Confirming the news, Mantena says that he was shocked at how stressed Rahman and Tyrewalla was. "They had barely slept in three days, no creative person should have to work like that," he reasons.

He concedes that they could have got the film censored by October 11 and released it next Friday. But they didn't want to push his composer who had been through a lot of pressure over his Commonwealth Games anthem. "So I decided to give Rahman more time to complete the background score," says Mantena.

Apparently, Rahman himself wasn't happy with all the bad publicity he was getting for the CWG song. And Mantena didn't want more negative press for him. He says, "Certain portions need to be tweaked. While Rahman perfects it, we will use the extra week to promote our film better

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Mahi

A R Rahman Rahman Opening Ceremony Live Rise Ascend Win

2010-10-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

A. R. Rahman Opening Ceremony Live Rise Ascend Win

ए. आर रहमान अजमेर के गरीब नवाज ख्वाजा साहब की जियारत

2010-10-04T07:28:00.001-07:00

ऑस्कर अवॉर्ड से सम्मानित ए. आर रहमान अजमेर के गरीब नवाज ख्वाजा साहब की जियारत के लिए शनिवार को जयपुर होते हुए अजमेर पहुंचे

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Mahi

A R Rahman CWG Revised Version~Rahman

2010-09-24T07:02:00.000-07:00

A R Rahman CWG Revised Version~Rahman 360º

A R Rahman is human not god Vishal Dadlani

2010-09-07T03:23:00.000-07:00

A R Rahman is human not god Vishal Dadlani

New Delhi, Sep 7 (IANS) Bollywood music composer Vishal Dadlani is defending Oscar winner A.R. Rahman against all negative comments for the latter's composition "Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto", which is the official song for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

"The only infallible one is god, who sends music to us all. Everyone else is human, including Rahman. We're all allowed off days. Be nice. All you doubters, and haters, please understand that Rahman has done more for music and India's international image than almost anyone else," Dadlani of music director duo Vishal-Shekhar posted on Twitter.

Rahman, who is said to have charged over Rs.5 crore to compose the song, is receiving flak for lack of any catchy phrase a la 'Waka Waka'.

Nevertheless, a lot of his fans are also supporting him.

Dadlani is looking forward to meeting Rahman on the sets of Zee TV's "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Singing Superstar".

"Today's guest on 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa...' is the man himself, Mr. A.R. Rahman. Oddly, I've never met him before! Can't wait," he posted.

While Dadlani is one of the judges on the show, Rahman will be a special guest in one of the upcoming episodes.

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Mahi

CWG lyricist fights criticism says not reworking song

2010-09-03T09:38:00.001-07:00

CWG lyricist fights criticism, says not reworking song

New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) A.R. Rahman's theme song for the Commonwealth Games (CWG) "Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto" has been widely panned as just average, but lyricist Mehboob defends his work and says people forget it's an anthem and not a commercial Bollywood song.

"We have not received any intimation as far as rework on the song is concerned and I don't think we need to rework on it," Mehboob told IANS.

It took Mehboob and Rehman six months to finish the CWG song, which involved a bit of travelling as Rahman sits in Chennai and Mehboob in Mumbai.

"The song is getting mixed reviews but the negative side is being blown out of proportion. People are forgetting it's an anthem and not a commercial Bollywood song," said Mehboob.

"Rahman's song are usually slow to pick up but have a mass appeal to them when they reach the peak. His music is like sweet poison it starts from the ground level and then reaches heights. I'm sure this song will grow, but the public needs to realise it is not a film song.

"Just because it has Rahman, people expect it to be a fast, peppy number but this has serious sentiments attached to it. The song is not based on a particular game, it is for all of them and we are the host, we are inviting 53 countries to our nation. People need to focus on the lyrics and visualise it."

According to a recent report, former sports minister Shahnawaz Hussain has demanded a re-composition of the theme track.

"I respect Rahman for what he has achieved but the track simply does not excite me. No one in the Organising Committee (OC) likes it except perhaps Suresh Kalmadi. It is nowhere close to 'Waka Waka' (Shakira's hit song for the football World Cup) and has failed to lift the sagging spirits of the CWG," Hussain was quoted as saying.

"Either it is good music or bad. There is no middle way to evaluate the appeal of a Rs.5 crore (Rs.50 million) track, he can surely re-compose it," he added.

Many disappointed fans have also posted their reactions on the micro-blogging site Twitter.

"No way near to 'Waka Waka'. We don't want classical wizards to compose for sports event. Five crore rupees went down the drain, time also wasted," a fan posted on Rahman's Twitter page.

Another fan wrote: "Very average song..Definitely not worth Rs.5 crores.. Poor music is... well.... poor music... irrespective of where it comes from."

"I love your approach to music and creativity you bring about in the Indian sub-continent. But this composition was for the nation and miss the 'deep love' depicting the true soul of India and its rich diverse culture. I dont understand why elements of Rap had to be here at all. It has got nothing to do with the true soul of India," read another post.

Rahman and Mehboob have earlier collaborated on projects like "Rangeela", "Bombay", "Doli Saja Ke Rakhna", "Daud", "Yuva" "Thakshak" and "Dil Hi Dil Mein".

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Mahi

A R Rahman unveils Games theme song

2010-08-28T08:56:00.001-07:00

Rahman unveils Games theme song (Lead)

Gurgaon, Aug 28 (IANS) The Commonwealth Games' theme song, "Jiyo Utho Badho Jeeto", by Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman was unveiled at a glittering function here Saturday.

The song calls upon everyone to participate in the Oct 3-14 mega sporting event.

"I wrote the first line six months back and kept tweaking it till I finally finished it last night (Friday). It is definitely an honour to compose the official theme song which is in the spirit of the Commonwealth Games," said Rahman, who performed at the launch function.

The theme song was recently cleared by the Group of Ministers headed by Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said that the city will hold the best ever Games.

"The Games which have come to India for the first time are going to be the most memorable Commonwealth Games ever held. We are confident that Delhi, with India behind it, will be able to achieve what many people believe may not be possible," she said after the launch of the theme song.

"I do believe that along with (Organising Committee chairman) Suresh Kalmadi and his team, with support of the Indian government, the very warm and kind blessings of prime minister of India, we will achieve the best ever Games held anywhere in the world," she added.

The unveiling of the theme song was delayed by a few days after the GoM asked Rahman to tweak the song.

"When we got the flag we had promised that we will put up a great show and we will live up to the promise. We are using the best of infrastructure in the opening and the closing ceremonies which would depict 5,000 years of Indian culture," said Kalmadi.

"We are working hard and we know we can do it. The Games will be better than the Beijing Olympics," he said.

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was also present on the occasion.

A.R. Rahman The Commonwealth Games theme song was released today Listen to it online

http://soundcloud.com/arrahman/cwg-theme-song

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Mahi

The Commonwealth Games theme song was released today Listen to it online

2010-08-28T06:50:00.001-07:00

The Commonwealth Games theme song was released today Listen to it online

http://soundcloud.com/arrahman/cwg-theme-song
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Mahi

My next dream is to sing for Bollywood Rahman Indian Idol winner

2010-08-16T09:37:00.001-07:00

My next dream is to sing for Bollywood, Rahman: 'Indian Idol' winner

By Radhika Bhirani

New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) For Hyderabad boy Sreeram Chandra, this Independence Day couldn't have been more special. He realised his dream of winning music reality show "Indian Idol 5", and can't wait now for his next dream -- of singing for Bollywood and Oscar winning music composer A.R. Rahman -- to come true.

"My next dream is to make it big in Bollywood," Sreeram, who was declared the winner of "Indian Idol 5" Sunday, told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

"I want to sing hit songs, be a well-known playback singer and be a star performer. I want to learn a lot. 'Indian Idol' has given me a concrete base to create a name for myself and I want to improve on it by working with all the music directors, especially A.R. Rahman sir," he added.

Sreeram, an engineer, is not from a musical family. As a struggling singer back in Hyderabad, he used to audition for regional reality shows, sing for small budget films and lend his voice for chorus, jingles and radio advertisements.

But his consistently melodious performances on "Indian Idol" struck the right chords with judges - Sunidhi Chauhan, Annu Malek and Salim Merchant as well as various Bollywood celebrities and the audience alike.

He says the feeling of waking up as "Indian Idol 5" was "amazing".

"Every morning before the finale, we used to wake up with the conviction of working hard towards the title. When I woke up today (Monday), it was a different feeling. I wasn't just Sreeram anymore. This show has given me a new identity - of being 'Indian Idol 5'," said the 24-year-old.

Along with this new identity, Sreeram has also won Rs.5 million cash, a one-year contract with Sony BMG, a Tata Winger car, and a golden chance to sing a song in a Yash Raj Films' project.

It couldn't have been bigger and better, he says.

"I feel blessed that I was a part of 'Indian Idol 5' where they are giving me a direct entry into Bollywood with the chance to sing for one of India's biggest production houses - YRF. No previous 'Indian Idol' has got this chance, and I hope this boosts my standing as a singer," he said.

He is also excited about the opportunity of creating his own album and says he would like to sing all kinds of songs because he considers himself a "versatile singer".

For now, he is in a party mood and wants to rush back to his hometown Hyderabad to thank and acknowledge all those who supported him.

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Mahi

A R Rahman asks media to project positive image of CWG

2010-08-16T09:17:00.001-07:00

Rahman asks media to project 'positive image' of CWG

New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) Oscar winner A.R. Rahman, who has composed the theme song of the Commonwealth Games, said Monday that he was pained by the negative publicity for the mega sporting event.

Appealing to the media to present a positive image of the Games, Rahman said: "It is my humble request to you (media) to present a positive image of the Games to the international community."

"Hundreds of people are working day and night for making the Games successful. People across the world are asking if India will be able to hold them successfully… so kindly bring a positive image to the Games," the music maestro told reporters during a function in the capital.

Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chief Suresh Kalmadi quoted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Independence Day address in which he said the Oct 3-14 Games would be a "national festival".

"With 30 days to go for the opening of the Games village, we are confident of a great Games," Kalmadi said.

With the delay in preparations and corruption allegations in the biggest sporting event being organised in India since the 1982 Asiad Games, Manmohan Singh Saturday issued clear instructions that the facilities for the Games be made ready in time and meet international standards.

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Mahi

Rahman asked to tweak CWG theme song

2010-08-16T09:06:00.001-07:00

Rahman asked to tweak CWG theme song

New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) Oscar winner A.R. Rahman is ready with the Commonwealth Games theme song but the Group of Ministers (GoM) on the Games has asked the composer to tweak it before the opening ceremony.

"I presented the theme song before the GoM and it was approved. I have been asked to tweak it and it will be released within next 10 days," Rahman told reporters here at a function organised to launch the theme song.

"I think it won't be good to release the theme song without making the necessary changes," he said when asked about the song.

The GoM chaired by Urban Development Minister S. Jaipal Reddy met for the first time Sunday after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intervened to take stock of the much-criticised preparations for the Oct 3-14 Games.

The three-hour long GoM meeting also discussed other details related to the opening ceremony besides giving approval to the theme song composed by Rahman.

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Mahi

रहमान बोले, ओ यारो..ये इंडिया बुला रहा है

2010-08-16T02:57:00.000-07:00

रहमान बोले, ओ यारो..ये इंडिया बुला रहा है

नई दिल्ली। आस्कर विजेता संगीतकार ए. आर. रहमान ने नई दिल्ली में अक्टूबर में होने वाले कॉमनवेल्थ गेम्स का थीम सॉन्ग आज लॉन्च किया। राजधानी के अशोका होटल में थीम सॉन्ग के लॉचिंग समारोह के दौरान कॉमनवेल्थ गेम्स की आयोजन समिति के अध्यक्ष सुरेश कलमाडी भी मौजूद थे। रहमान ने कहा कि "मैं इस सॉन्ग को महात्मा गांधी को समर्पित करना चाहता हूं।"

इस मौके पर रहमान ने थीम सॉन्ग की सिर्फ एक लाइन गाकर सुनाई। स्वागतम नाम के थीम सॉन्ग के बोल है- "ओ यारों ये इंडिया बुला रहा है।" उन्होंने कहा कि "कॉमनवेल्थ गेम्स का थीम सॉन्ग तैयार कर लिया गया है, लेकिन पूरे गाने को अभी नहीं सुनाया जा सकता।" थीम सॉन्ग में हिंदी और अंग्रेजी दोनों भाष्ााओं के बोल होंगे। गौरतलब है कि रहमान की धुन पर रविवार को मंत्रियों के समूह (जीओएम) ने मुहर लगा दी थी।

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Mahi

AR Rahman to arrive at Showing Off headquarters

2010-07-27T06:55:00.001-07:00

AR Rahman

A superstar film composer who conquered the rest of the world from a position of dominance within his own Asian environment

Film composer AR Rahman talks about his craft Link to this video

Waiting for AR Rahman to arrive at Showing Off headquarters, I imagine some kind of powerful, glamorous giant will arrive, swathed in ego, surrounded by adoring entourage, encrusted in diamonds, trailing mist, ribbons and glitter behind him. I will need to bow in his presence, and the idea of asking about world music seems particularly preposterous. He's a superstar composer who conquered the rest of the world from a position of dominance within his own Asian environment.

Thinking of his achievements and successes, all the way up to the Oscars he won for the soundtrack to Danny Boyle's sweethearted fable Slumdog Millionaire, is enough to make me swoon. There are BAFTAs, Golden Globes, Grammys, National Film Awards, Time magazine named him the "Mozart of Madras" and estimated him to be one of the world's 100 most influential people, he's sold more than 150 million copies of his albums worldwide, which makes him one of the world's all-time best-selling recording artists, the only Indian and the only soundtrack composer, in the top 200. He's got this way of fusing classic Indian techniques with frenetic, bombastic ideas borrowed from modern Hollywood composers like Vangelis, Hans Zimmer and John Williams so that his music combines illuminating commercial glamour with flighty, spirited artistry. He's worked with the Andrew Lloyd Webber, M.I.A, Michael Jackson and the Pussycat Dolls; he's a pop star himself playing arena sized venues; he received an honorary degree from Stanford University for contributions to global music; his first film soundtrack in 1992 for Mani Ratnam's Roja was voted one of the top 10 greatest of all time alongside the likes of Citizen Kane, On The Waterfront, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly and The Man With The Golden Arm. Thinking of all that, it seems that the man who will arrive will be the size of a mountain and make a noise when he speaks that is beyond the hearing of mere mortals.

I compose myself to meet the great composer. When he does arrive, it's a surprise. He is normal sized. He does not breathe fire. I can hear him speak, although he does so very quietly, and with no sense of hurry. There are no diamonds. He wears quite modest clothes, indeed clothes you might buy at River Island. He boasts a subtle smile that is actually not boastful at all. He has a certain sort of genial serenity about him that suggests his ego is tethered elsewhere and only revealed on very rare occasions. He brings with him a video message on his iPhone from Danny Boyle's editor, who, so AR and Danny think, looks like me. "Frankie says," the message goes, "be kind to AR."

And of course, just in case he does in fact suddenly turn into a diamond encrusted giant complete with dramatic, kingdom come soundtrack that threatens to knock me out, I am kind to AR.

--
Mahi

A. R. Rahman To Sacrifice Bollywood For International Career?

2010-07-27T06:44:00.001-07:00

A. R. Rahman To Sacrifice Bollywood For International Career?

July 27, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): A. R. Rahman's international career which has taken off in a big way after Slumdog Millionaire, keeps encountering snags, thanks to long-pending assignments back home.

According to sources Rahman has to keep interrupting his international plans to be home for various pending assignments. The harried composer is now seriously thinking of putting all home-made assignments on hold to concentrate on building his career abroad, or else he feels he would lose the international advantage he obtained after Slumdog Millionaire.

Says a friend of Rahman, "The Indian assignments after Slumdog Millioniare have been very time-consuming, especially Raavan where Rahman not only had to do two versions of the music in Hindi and Tamil, but director Mani Ratnam also asked him to give 3–4 tunes for every lyric before one was selected. The music of Raavan took more time than Rahman could afford, with the result that other Indian assignments primarily Abbas Tyrewala's untitled John Abraham-Pakhi starrer got left behind".

At the moment Rahman is back again in Chennai for mixing the music of Abbas' film. But the background score of the film which releases in October is still be done.

No one is admitting it, but one of the primary reasons why Tyrewala's film got delayed is the music score which Rahman has been serving up piecemeal, for no fault of his, since the composer was committed to be out of the country for half the year for his world concerts.

Says the source, "Rahman had to continuously keep breaking his international tours and other projects to be home for various reasons, like the music release of Raavan and other things. He has begun to feel that his international career would never take off if he has to keep returning home".

Abbas Tyrewala, in Chennai with Rahman for the mixing of his film's music, jumps to the composer's defence. "Yes Rahman has been a little tied up and therefore unable to deliver quickly. But that's because he has to be constantly moving back and forth between India and the US. Raavan took much longer than Rahman thought. I'm not worried about my music. It's almost done. Whatever time Rahman takes is finally worth the while."

In the meantime, Rahman has not signed a single new assignment in Mumbai or Chennai in the last few months.

After completing Abbas Tyrewala's music Rahman will now focus on consolidating his career abroad.

– Subhash K. Jha/Sampurn Wire

--
Mahi

A.R. Rahman to sacrifice Bollywood for international career?

2010-07-27T02:46:00.001-07:00

A.R. Rahman to sacrifice Bollywood for international career?

By Subhash K. Jha, July 27, 2010 - 10:51 IST

A R Rahman's international career which has taken off in a biggish way after Slumdog Millionaire, keeps encountering snags, thanks to long-pending assignments back home.

According to sources, Rahman has to keep interrupting his international plans to be home for various pending assignments. The harried composer is now seriously thinking of putting all home-made assignments on hold to concentrate on building his career abroad, or else he feels he would lose the international advantage he obtained after Slumdog Millionaire.

Says a friend of Rahman, "The Indian assignments after Slumdog Millioniare have been very time-consuming, especiallyRaavan where Rahman not only had to do two versions of the music in Hindi and Tamil, but director Mani Ratnam also asked him to give 3-4 tunes for every lyric before one was selected. The music of Raavan took more time than Rahman could afford, with the result that other Indian assignments primarily Abbas Tyrewala's John Abraham-Pakhi starrer got left behind."

At the moment Rahman is back again in Chennai for mixing the music of Abbas' film. But the background score of the film which releases in October is still to be done.

No one is admitting it, but one of the primary reasons why Tyrewala's film got delayed is the music score which Rahman has been serving up piecemeal, for no fault of his, since the composer was committed to be out of the country for half the year for his world concerts.

Says the source, "Rahman had to continuously keep breaking his international tours and other projects to be home for various reasons, like the music release of Raavan and other things. He has begun to feel that his international career would never take off if he has to keep returning home."

Abbas Tyrewala, in Chennai with Rahman for the mixing of his film's music, jumps to the composer's defence. "Yes Rahman has been a little tied up and therefore unable to deliver quickly. But that's because he has to be constantly moving back and forth between India and the US. Raavan took much longer than Rahman thought. I'm not worried about my music. It's almost done. Whatever time Rahman takes is finally worth the while."

In the meanwhile, Rahman has not signed a single new assignment in Mumbai or Chennai in the last few months.

After completing Abbas Tyrewala's music, Rahman will now focus on consolidating his career abroad.

--
Mahi

Rahman cancels North American leg of Jai Ho concert

2010-06-25T01:43:00.001-07:00

Rahman cancels North American leg of 'Jai Ho' concert

New Delhi, June 24 (IANS) Music maestro A.R. Rahman has cancelled the North American leg of his "Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour" after a lighting rig collapsed in Detroit before the show.

"Dear friends, fans and well-wishers, as you may know, members of our tour miraculously escaped a big disaster in Detroit this past Saturday, when part of the Pontiac Silverdome infrastructure collapsed on our set. All the artists, singers, musicians, dancers, technicians (myself included) have been almost given a second life," Rahman wrote on his Facebook page.

"With that, we have decided to postpone the remaining dates of the North American leg of this tour and will reschedule them at a later date. We will go ahead with the concerts scheduled in Europe and UK. That is the best option we have, considering the circumstances.

"While I apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused to our friends in the US and Canada, maybe it's a blessing in disguise as we will have the opportunity to perform for you with even more energy and perfection," he wrote.

The Oscar winning musician is on a world tour that takes him across US, Canada, France, Switzerland, Holland and Britain. He has so far performed in New York, Atlantic City and Chicago.

A R Rahman performs at his Jai Ho The Journey Home concert in New York Photos

2010-06-12T03:58:00.001-07:00

A R Rahman performs at his Jai Ho The Journey Home concert in New York

A R Rahman Jai Ho World Tour starts June 11

Asha Bhosle and A R Rahman Photos

2010-06-03T04:50:00.000-07:00

Asha Bhosle and A R Rahman

A R Rahman Jai Ho World Tour starts June 11

A R Rahman rehearsal for an upcoming tour

2010-05-28T23:55:00.001-07:00

A.R. Rahman poses for a portrait during rehearsal for an upcoming tour, at a rehearsal studio in Burbank, Calif.

A R Rahman jives with cricketers at IPL Awards Night

2010-05-19T05:08:00.001-07:00

Yuvraj Singh Shahrukh Khan Adam Gilchrist jives with cricketers at IPL Awards Night

Yuvraj Singh Shahrukh Khan Adam Gilchrist jives with cricketers at IPL Awards Night

IPL Night Parties

Shilpa Preity Diya Yuvraj Sameera Sahara IPL Awards

Yuvraj Singh Preity Zinta

A R Rahman Gulzar Resul Pookutty Launch Resul Pookutty autobiography

2010-05-14T05:09:00.001-07:00

A R Rahman Gulzar Resul Pookutty Launch Resul Pookutty autobiography

A R Rahman Katrina Kaif Launch Rhyme Skool Album Vol 1

2010-05-14T04:45:00.001-07:00

A R Rahman Katrina Kaif Launch Rhyme Skool Album Vol 1

Katrina Rahman launch music album for kids

2010-05-13T07:24:00.001-07:00

Katrina, Rahman launch music album for kids

Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Katrina Kaif and A R Rahman launched a music album for children and the music maestro says his students have done a good job.

The compositions in the album "Rhyme Skool", released by music label Saregama, have been given by Rahman's students.

"I have a lot of expectations from my students and I am confident that even though it is a kid's music album, the music will be loved by people of all age groups," Rahman told reporters here Wednesday.

Katrina has given the commentary in it and talking about her experience, she said: "I am very happy that I am playing a part in entertaining the children. The music is simply amazing because it's composed under the guidance of a world renowned music composer like A.R. Rahman and his very talented students."

A R Rahman daughter in Mumbai hospital

2010-05-07T08:38:00.001-07:00

Rahman's daughter in Mumbai hospital

Mumbai, May 7 (IANS) Music maestro A R Rahman's daughter Raheema had been admitted to the Asian Heart Hospital in Bandra earlier this week following cardiac problems but is "recovering fast".

"For the past three nights I have exclusively been playing the role of a loving father, with no music, nothing. I want to sincerely thank all my friends and family members for their prayers and good wishes," Rahman posted on his Twitter page.

"God has been kind and Raheema is recovering fast. I also want to thank all my friends from the media for their support and for respecting our privacy," he added.

The 11-year-old was operated upon by doctors Wednesday night. Rahman has two more children - daughter Khatija, 14 and five-year-old son, Ameen.

A R Rahman Jai Ho World Tour starts June 11

2010-04-27T03:17:00.001-07:00

A R Rahman Jai Ho World Tour starts June 11

A R Rahman will be embarking on a 'Jai Ho' concert worldwide tour from June this year. The "A R Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour" kicks off on June 11 at the Nassau Coliseum in New York and will extent to over 16 major cities worldwide.

For this world tour A R Rahman will be collaborating with choreographer-director Amy Tinkham, who has created stage shows for the likes of Paul McCartney, Madonna, Britney Spears, Dixie Chicks, Motley Crue, etc. The concerts are said to include spectacular special effects and global cast of dancers and musicians inspired by his native India. It is termed as a "virtual journey through beauty, culture, and spirituality".

The concerts will include songs from 'Slumdog Millionaire' as well as the Indian films 'Lagaan', 'Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na', 'Dil Se', 'Rang De Basanti', 'Roja' and others.

Here are the tour dates for the 'A R Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour':

Jun. 11: Uniondale, N.Y. (Nassau Coliseum)

Jun. 12: Atlantic City, N.J. (Boardwalk Hall Arena)
Jun. 13: Washington, D.C. (Patriot Center)
Jun. 18: Chicago, Ill. (Sears Centre Arena)
Jun. 19: Detroit, Mich. (Pontiac Silverdome)
Jun. 20: Toronto, Ontario (Air Canada Centre)

Jun. 26: San Francisco, Calif. (Oracle Arena)
Jun. 27: Los Angeles, Calif. (The Forum)
Jul. 2: Dallas, Texas (American Airlines Center)

Jul. 3: Houston, Texas (Houston Toyota Center)
Jul. 9: Amsterdam, Netherlands (Ohio Arena)
Jul. 10: Paris, France (Bercy)
Jul. 18: Oslo, Norway (Oslo Spektrum)
Jul. 23: Glasgow, Scotland (SECC)

Jul. 24: Manchester, England (M.E.N. Arena)
Jul. 25: London, England (O2 Arena)
Jul. 26: London, England (Wembley Stadium)

Additional dates are yet to be announced. For ticket information, visitwww.arrahman.com.

A R Rehman Shahid Bipasha IPL 3 Closing Ceremony Performance

2010-04-26T03:15:00.001-07:00

Shahid Kapoor A R Rehman Bipasha Basu performing at the last night of IPL season 3.

Shahid Kapoor At IPL 3 Closing Ceremony

Rahman's done. And seems it's the end of the ceremony. No sign of Lata Mangeshkar. It's Shahid after taking a round of the stadium. He says he's rooting for Mumbai Indians. Yes. he's also sporting a blue t-shirt.

Girls hold your breath! Here comes Shahid Kapoor, grooving on the tracks of his new movie. Shahid sets the stage on fire...Really a fabulous performance.

A R Rahman to begin world tour June 11

2010-04-20T08:28:00.001-07:00

A.R. Rahman to begin world tour June 11

New York, April 20 (IANS) Music maestro A R Rahman will launch his world tour June 11 with a show at the Nassau Coliseum here, followed by concerts across the US, Canada, France, Zurich, Holland, and Britain.

In the US, the 45-day world tour titled "AR Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour" will take him to New Jersey, Washington, Chicago, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Raleigh and Atlanta, according to the organisers.

Deepak Gattani of Rapport Productions with Amy Tinkham as creative director has produced the concert that promises to be a theatrical experience blending new technology with powerful dance arrangements and acrobatics.

"It will be a blend of the East and West, from Bharatnatyam to pop and tap dance," said Tinkham.

"The concert will break all barriers with a spectacular show of music and songs from the great music maestro who has won the prestigious Oscar, Grammy awards and numerous other world awards in the field of music," she added.

"The concert will keep intact the heritage and tradition of India with a new modern presentation. The show will feature changing sets, large images on LED screens and a spectacular cast of musicians and dancers from across the globe," Tinkham said.

The concert will span throughout Rahman's career, right from its inception with "Roja" to the latest hit "Slumdog Millionaire" which brought him the Oscar. Besides these, there will be songs from "Laagan", "Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na", "Dil Se", "Rang De Basanti" and his other creations.

The producer, Deepak Gattani, said: "In the 150-minute musical spectacle, the very soul of India can be experienced. From the myths of rural India to the colours of the festivities, the rhythm and beats of the urban culture, this musical concert will have it all."

The music maestro will also travel by road in a bus during the tour. The entire team will move around in 53-foot air conditioned trailers with six touring coaches and one star coach ferrying the entire entourage.

"An international composer cannot make music that is purely national in quality," Rahman said.

"This will be the first time that I will be performing in London since winning the Oscar and so it is important to play music that will be accepted by an international audience but which retains an essential Indian quality," he added.

A R Rahman Padma Shri Awards 2010

2010-04-09T08:56:00.001-07:00

Music Director A R Rahman receiving Padma Bhushan award from President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil during Investiture Ceremony at Rastrapati Bhawan.

Actor Aamir Khan, Union Minister Farooq Abdullah and music composer A R Rahman during Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.

Bollywood composer A R Rahman, left, Classical vocalist Chhannulal Misra, center, and Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, pose for photographs after receiving the Padma awards, India's highest civilian awards at the Presidential Palace in New Delhi, India.

I have a very tough schedule this year A R Rahman

2010-03-19T06:01:00.000-07:00

I have a very tough schedule this year: Rahman
By Subhash K. Jha

Mumbai, March 18 (IANS) Composer A R Rahman plans to be out of India for the longest period for a series of world concerts and says he is not thinking about any other work for the next few months.

"It's a very tough schedule for me this year. I'll be out of the country for five months which I've kept aside completely for the word tour," Rahman told IANS.

The concerts will take Rahman to places he has never been before.

"I essentially need time for my music, sprirituality and family. Everything else is secondary. We'll be going to remote places in Europe, the Far East and America. I'll be touring from this month (March 2010). This would be my longest tour ever and I'm not thinking of any other work," said the composer.

Rahman admits time management is a problem.

"But you have to prioritise your time and do what you must. For example, I know I've to be away for five months this year. So it'd be foolish of me to commit myself to anything until I finish my concerts."

Rahman says it's a blessing to work out of his home.

"My family is always around me. I think that's what keeps me creatively charged. When I travel, I crave to return. My kids are growing up. It's important that they see their father regularly. Or they'll soon start calling me uncle."

Rahman has just done a soundtrack for a Tamil film directed by Gautam Menon.

"Then I've Mani Ratnam's 'Raavan' and Abbas Tyrewala's '1-800-Love'. Also Shekhar Kapoor's 'Paani', which is a very important film. But with the world tour on, will I have the time?"

Clarifying doubts about his age, he said: "I was born in 1967, so it's my 43rd birthday (in January this year). I am an old man now. Do I feel older? It's a good feeling. I'm heading towards the place where all of us are destined to. You are born and then one day you die. So my policy in life is to do what I want to do today, not tomorrow. If I want to do good things in life I better do them now."

Rahman out of Oscar race

2010-02-03T00:31:00.001-08:00

Rahman out of Oscar race

Los Angeles, Feb 2 (IANS) Indian music maestro A R Rahman's song "Na na" from the film "Couples Retreat" has failed to bag a nomination in the original song category for the 82nd Academy Awards. The news came just a day after he triumphed at the Grammys by bagging double Golden Gramophones.

Competing with 62 songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures for nomination, Rahman's "Na na" lost out to "Almost there" ("The Princess And The Frog"), "Down in new Orleons" ("The Princess And The Frog"), "Loin de Paname" ("Paris 36"), "Take it all" ("Nine") and "The weary Kind" (Crazy Heart").

"Na na" was penned by double Oscar winner Rahman, Blaaze and Vivian Chaix and crooned by Rahman, Blaaze, Chaix, A.R. Ameen (Rahman's son), Clinton and Dominic.

The 82nd Academy Awards event will take place March 7 in Hollywood, California.

Bollywood cheers as Rahman scoops double Grammys

2010-02-02T00:11:00.000-08:00

Bollywood cheers as Rahman scoops double Grammys

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) The Hindi film industry is elated after music maestro A.R. Rahman triumphed at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards by scooping two golden gramophones. From Gulzar and Javed Akhtar to Shyam Benegal and Subhash Ghai, all feel he has taken Indian music places and made the country proud.

Members of Bollywood praised the dedication of the 44-year-old, who is also a double Oscar winner. This is what they had to say.

Gulzar: We all are very proud of him. This magical musician has brought more honour to India, his family, fans, friends and his entire team. Such a young man has made his mark on the music map of the world. All of us should put him on our shoulders.

Javed Akhtar: He is great! Rahman has taken India's music places.

Imtiaz Ali: It fills me with pride. Also makes me think if he is getting this much accolade for 'Jai ho', wonder what the reaction of the West will be when they discover the rest of Rahman? I'm waiting to see the man go from strength to strength.

Shyam Benegal: Fantastic...Rahman is the greatest.

Subhash Ghai: I am proud of Rahman as a special friend and composer who made India proud in the world of music. It's his true dedication towards innovative music and his connection with divine energies. Bravo Rahman!

Sulaiman Merchant: I would like to congratulate Rahman for his consecutive wins at the Oscars and Grammys. He has taken Indian music into the international arena.

Javed Ali: I am feeling on top of the world. I think this is the best award and I have worked with him, that's why I think this is my award too.

Sukhwinder Singh: I am extremely happy for Rahman. As I have said earlier, I had been hoping for international recognition for him since 'Roja'. So I am not at all surprised.

Vishal Dadlani: Two Grammys for Rahman, congratulations! God is great and India is truly proud.

Sunidhi Chauhan: It's great news. He truly deserves it... heartiest congratulations to him.

Manoj Bajpayee: We all are proud of Rahman. He has opened doors for other music directors and we will be thankful to him for his contribution... I have no words to explain it. My best wishes to him.

Mallika Sherawat: Congrats A.R. (Rahman)...congrats India! Jai ho! (I'm) so proud.

Lara Dutta: Rahman congratulations! That's a fantastic achievement. We wish you many more. God bless.

Shreya Ghoshal: What great news to wake up to this morning - double Grammy. This is just the beginning, sir. So proud of you. Hearty congratulations.

Purab Kohli: Rahman's music has always been moving and inspiring. As Indians, we always knew that. It was only a matter of time that the world would notice. Congratulations to him. Jai ho!

Raghav Sachar: Heartiest congratulations, well deserved Grammys, besides "Jai ho", all the work over the years. And thanks for opening the world for India in music.

Rahman is amazing says friend Baz Luhrmann

2010-02-02T00:04:00.000-08:00

Rahman is amazing, says friend Baz Luhrmann
New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann congratulated good friend A R Rahman on winning a double Grammy and praised the music maestro as "amazing".

"Congratulations A.R. He is amazing and now he has won two Grammys. To think that only a couple of days ago, we were sitting together and discussing our children and what we love (in terms of creative sensibilities) is like a dream," Luhrmann told IANS here.

"We are friends. Whenever he is in my country or whenever I am here, we catch up. We discuss whether we should have a live concert or any other collaboration. The relationship is precious," he added.

Lurhman is not oblivious to Bollywood song and dance culture as he used the popular Hindi song "Chamma chamma" from the film "China Gate" in his musical "Moulin Rouge".

According to reports, the ace director now wants to collaborate with Rahman as he wants to make film in India.

Luhrmann was in the capital Monday with Archibald Prize winner Australian portrait painter Vincent Fantauzzo to paint a 14/5ft public mural called Art Gesture at Le Sutra, Mumbai.

Rahman composed a free-of-cost background music for the video that shows the two artists doing the same. It has been shot by Kaizad Gustad. After finishing that, Luhrmann and Fantauzzo embarked on a Classic Tour on Royal Enfield Classic motorcycles to Rajasthan and painted frescoes there.

They will have an exhibition of photographs taken during their Rajasthan tour and proceeds from it will go to the charity DEEDS.

Golden boy Rahman does it again with double Grammy

2010-02-01T23:51:00.000-08:00

Golden boy Rahman does it again with double Grammy (Lead)

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Indians went "Jai Ho" once again Monday when music maestro A R Rahman scored a double triumph at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, a year after winning two Oscars for the exuberant "Slumdog Millionaire" music.

The composer bagged the best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture and another one for "Jai Ho" for the best motion picture song at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.

He won the award with veteran lyricist Gulzar and Tanvi Shah who wrote the Spanish lyrics for it.

"This is insane, god is great again," a beaming Rahman said after receiving the award at the biggest show in the music world. The other Indian contenders, Zakir Hussain and Amjad Ali Khan, could not manage to win the golden gramophones.

"Insane eh? I never even dreamt about winning all these awards," Rahman posted on his Twitter page shortly after receiving the award.

Just a year ago, Rahman's music for "Slumdog Millionaire", a screen adaptation of Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup's novel "Q & A", had propelled him to the record books as India's first double Oscar winner.

Besides the Oscars and now the Grammys, the Chennai musician's composition for the film has also won him other prestigious international awards like the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Critics Choice Award and the Golden Globe.

The composer's sister Reihana said winning awards is now "a way of life" for her 44-year-old brother.

"It's a good start of the year. It was Rahman's birthday on Jan 6 and now he wins Grammys. It's a way of life now since he has won so many," Reihana told NDTV after her brother won the award.

"When he was going for the Golden Globes last year, he was doubtful about his win and so were we, but after he got that, it has been awards and awards for him, so we were quite sure that he will get the Grammy as well," she added.

The song was crooned by Sukhvinder Singh, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Vijay Prakash with support from Rahman and Shah.

Global honours may have come his way only since "Slumdog Millionaire", but the unassuming composer has been contributing to world music for quite a while. He composed music for the "The Lord of the Rings" theatre production, for instance, as well as for Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Bombay Dreams".

His talent first came to the fore with "Roja" in 1992, and there has been no looking back since for the musician, who has just been awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award.

The accolades have not stopped.

top winner at Grammy's with six awards

2010-02-01T08:17:00.000-08:00

Beyonce top winner at Grammy's with six awards

Los Angeles, Feb 1 (IANS) Pop diva Beyonce Knowles took home six golden gramophones at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards and became the top winner at the star-studded event.

The singer was nominated in 10 categories and won six including song of the year, best R&B song and best female R&B vocal performance awards for the song "Single Ladies" (Put A Ring On It).

American rock band Kings of Leon and teenage singing sensation Taylor Swift were the other top grabbers at the Grammys, the most prestigious event of the music industry that was held at Staples Centre Sunday.

Swift took home four Grammys, including the album of the year award for "Fearless", and Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody" earned the rockers prizes for record of the Year, best rock song and best rock performance by a duo or group with vocals.

Hip hop band the Black Eyed Peas and singer Jay-Z were also triple winners at the mega music event.

While Elton John and Lady Gaga collaborated to open the show, the event also witnessed terrific performances from acts like Green Day, Pink, Dave Matthews Band, Beyonce and the Black Eyed Peas.

But the event's highlight was a star-studded tribute to the late pop legend Michael Jackson. The stunning collaboration was accompanied by a 3-D version of the Earth Song video that Jackson had planned to use as a backdrop during his This Is It concerts last year.

Following the peformance, Jackson's children Prince and Paris came on the stage to receive Lifetime Achievement Awards on their father's behalf.

Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Smokey Robinson and Carrie Underwood teamed up to perform the King of Pop's Earth Song.

Indian presence was strongly felt at the awards ceremony with music maestro A.R. Rahman bagging two Grammys. He was honoured for his compositions in "Slumdog Millionaire". He won best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture award as well as the best motion picture song for "Jai ho", which he shared with lyricist Gulzar and Tanvi Shah.

Other winners at the event were:

Best New Artist: Zak Brown Band

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Make It Mine" - Jason Mraz

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals: "Lucky" - Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat

Best Pop Instrumental Performance: "Throw Down Your Heart" - Bela Fleck

Best Pop Instrumental Album: "Potato Hole" - Booker T. Jones

Best Pop Vocal Album: "The E.N.D." - The Black Eyed Peas

Best Dance Recording: "Poker Face" - Lady Gaga

Best Electronic/Dance Album: "The Fame" - Lady Gaga

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: "Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden" - Michael Buble

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance: "Working On A Dream" - Bruce Springsteen

Best Hard Rock Performance: "War MAChine "- AC DC

Best Metal Performance: "Dissident Aggressor" - Judas Priest

Best Rock Instrumental Performance: "A Day In The Life" - Jeff Beck

Best Rock Album: "21st Century Breakdown" - Green Day

Best Alternative Music Album: "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" - Phoenix

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: "Pretty Wings" - Maxwell

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: "Blame It" - Jamie Foxx & T-Pain

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "At Last" - Beyonce

Best Urban/Alternative Performance: "Pearls" - India.Arie and Dobet Gnahore

Best R&B Album: "Blacksummers'" Night - Maxwell

Best Contemporary R&B Album: "I Am... Sasha Fierce" - Beyonce

Best Rap Solo Performance: "D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)" - Jay-Z

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group: "Crack A Bottle" - Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "Run This Town" - Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West

Best Rap Song: "Run This Town"- Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West

Best Rap Album: "Relapse" - Eminem

Best Female Country Vocal Performance: "White Horse" - Taylor Swift

Best Male Country Vocal Performance: "Sweet Thing" - Keith Urban

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: "I Run To You" - Lady Antebellum

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals: "I Told You So" - Carrie Underwood & Randy Travis

Best Country Instrumental Performance: "Producer's Medley" - Steve Wariner

Best Country Song: "White Horse" - Taylor Swift

Best New Age Album: "Prayer For Compassion" - David Darling

Best Contemporary Jazz Album: "75" - Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate

Best Jazz Vocal Album: Dedicated To You: "Kurt Elling Sings The Music Of Coltrane And Hartman" - Kurt Elling

Best Improvised Jazz Solo: "Dancin' 4 Chicken" - Terence Blanchard

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group: "Five Peace Band Live" - Chick Corea & John MCLaughlin Five Peace Band

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: "Book One" - New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

Best Latin Jazz Album: "Juntos Para Siempre" - Bebo Valdes And Chucho Valdes

Best Gospel Performance: "Wait On The Lord" - Donnie MCClurkin Featuring Karen Clark Sheard

Best Gospel Song: "God In Me" - Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Mary Mary Featuring Kierra 'KiKi' Sheard)

Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album: "Live Revelations" - Third Day

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: "The Power Of One" - Israel Houghton

Best Southern/Country/Bluegrass Gospel Album: "Jason Crabb" - Jason Crabb

Best Traditional Gospel Album: "Oh Happy Day" - Various

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: "Audience Of One" - Heather Headley

Best Latin Pop Album: "Sin Frenos" - La Quinta Estacion

Best Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album: "Los De Atras Vienen Conmigo" - Calle 13

Best Tropical Latin Album: "Ciclos" - Luis Enrique

Best Regional Mexican Album: "Necesito De Ti" - Vicente Fernandez

Best Tejano Album: "Borders Y Bailes" - Los Texmaniacs

Best Norteno Album: "Tu Noche Con... Los Tigres Del Norte" - Los Tigres Del Norte

Best Banda Album: "Tu Esclavo Y Amo" - Lupillo Rivera

Best Americana Album: "Electric Dirt" - Levon Helm

Best Bluegrass Album: "The Crow / New Songs For The Five-String Banjo" - Steve Martin

Best Traditional Blues Album: "A Stranger Here" - Ramblin' Jack Elliott

Best Contemporary Blues Album: "Already Free" - The Derek Trucks Band

Best Traditional Folk Album: High Wide & Handsome: "The Charlie Poole Project" - Loudon Wainwright III

Best Contemporary Folk Album: "Townes" - Steve Earle

Best Native American Music Album: "Spirit Wind North" - Bill Miller

Best Hawaiian Music Album: "Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2" - Various

Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album: "Lay Your Burden Down" - Buckwheat Zydeco

Best Reggae Album: Mind Control: "Acoustic" - Stephen Marley

Best Traditional World Music Album: "Douga Mansa" - Mamadou Diabate

Best Contemporary World Music Album: "Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 Africa Sessions" - Bela Fleck

Best Musical Album For Children: "Family Time "- Ziggy Marley

Best Spoken Word Album For Children: "Aaaaah! Spooky, Scary Stories & Songs" - Buck Howdy

Best Spoken Word Album: "Always Looking Up" - Michael J. Fox

Best Comedy Album: A Colbert Christmas: "The Greatest Gift Of All!" - Stephen Colbert

Best Musical Show Album: "West Side Story" - David Caddick & David Lai, producers (Leonard Bernstein, composer; Stephen Sondheim, lyricist) (New Broadway Cast with Matt Cavenaugh, Josefina Scaglione & Others)

Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media: "Up" - Michael Giacchino

Best Instrumental Composition: "Married Life" (From Up) - Michael Giacchino

Best Instrumental Arrangement: "West Side Story Medley" - Bill Cunliffe, arranger (Resonance Big Band)

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): "Quiet Nights" - Claus Ogerman, arranger (Diana Krall)

Best Recording Package: "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today" - Stefan Sagmeister, art director (David Byrne & Brian Eno)

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package: Neil Young Archives Vol. I (1963-1972) - Gary Burden, Jenice Heo & Neil Young, art directors (Neil Young)

Best Album Notes: The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions (1935-1946) - Dan Morgenstern, album notes writer (Louis Armstrong)

Best Historical Album: "The Complete Chess Masters" (1950-1967) - Andy MCKaie, compilation producer; Erick Labson, mastering engineer (Little Walter)

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: "Ellipse" - Imogen Heap, engineer (Imogen Heap)

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical: Brendan O'Brien

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: "When Love Takes Over" (Electro Extended Remix) - David Guetta, remixer (David Guetta Featuring Kelly Rowland)

Best Surround Sound Album: "Transmigration" - Michael Bishop, surround mix engineer; Michael Bishop, surround mastering engineer; Elaine Martone, surround producer (Robert Spano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Choruses)

Best Engineered Album, Classical: "Mahler: Symphony No. 8"; Adagio From Symphony No. 10 - Peter Laenger, engineer (Michael Tilson Thomas & San Francisco Symphony)

Producer Of The Year, Classical: Steven Epstein

Best Classical Album: "Mahler: Symphony No. 8"; Adagio From Symphony No. 10 - Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; Ragnar Bohlin, Kevin Fox & Susan MCMane, choir directors; Andreas Neubronner, producer; Peter Laenger, engineer/mixer; Andreas Neubronner, mastering engineer (Laura Claycomb, Anthony Dean Griffey, Katarina Karneus, Quinn Kelsey, James Morris, Yvonne Naef, Elza van den Heever & Erin Wall; San Francisco Symphony; Pacific Boychoir, San Francisco Girls Chorus & San Francisco Symphony Chorus)

Best Orchestral Performance: "Ravel: Daphnis Et Chloe" - James Levine, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra; Tanglewood Festival Chorus)

Best Opera Recording: "Britten: Billy Budd" - Daniel Harding, conductor; Ian Bostridge, Neal Davies, Nathan Gunn, Jonathan Lemalu, Matthew Rose & Gidon Saks; John Fraser, producer (London Symphony Orchestra; Gentlemen Of The London Symphony Chorus)

Best Choral Performance: "Mahler: Symphony No. 8"; Adagio From Symphony No. 10 - Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; Ragnar Bohlin, Kevin Fox & Susan MCMane, choir directors (Laura Claycomb, Anthony Dean Griffey, Elza van den Heever, Katarina Karneus, Quinn Kelsey, James Morris, Yvonne Naef & Erin Wall; San Francisco Symphony; Pacific Boychoir, San Francisco Symphony Chorus & San Francisco Girls Chorus)

Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra): Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 - Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor; Evgeny Kissin (Philharmonia Orchestra)

Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra): Journey To The New World - Sharon Isbin (Joan Baez & Mark O'Connor)

Best Chamber Music Performance: Intimate Letters - Emerson String Quartet

Best Small Ensemble Performance: Lang, David: The Little Match Girl Passion - Paul Hillier, conductor; Ars Nova Copenhagen & Theatre Of Voices

Best Classical Vocal Performance: Verismo Arias - Renee Fleming (Marco Armiliato; Jonas Kaufmann; Orchestra Sinfonica Di Milano Giuseppi Verdi; Coro Sinfonica Di Milano Giuseppi Verdi)

Best Classical Contemporary Composition: "Higdon, Jennifer: Percussion Concerto" - Jennifer Higdon

Best Classical Crossover Album: "Yo-Yo Ma & Friends: Songs Of Joy And Peace" -Yo-Yo Ma

Best Short Form Music Video: "Boom Boom Pow" - Black Eyed Peas

Best Long Form Music Video: "The Beatles Love: All Together Now" - Various

Lifetime Achievement Award: Leonard Cohen

Lifetime Achievement Award: Michael Jackson

Lifetime Achievement Award: Loretta Lynn

Lifetime Achievement Award: Bobby Darin

Lifetime Achievement Award: Clark Terry

Lifetime Achievement Award: David 'Honeyboy' Edwards

Lifetime Achievement Award: Andre Previn

Trustees Award: Walter C. Miller

Trustees Award: Florence Greenberg

Trustees Award: Harold Bradley

Presidents Merit Award: Doug Morris

Presidents Merit Award: Placido Domingo

Presidents Merit Award: Ken Ehrlich

MusiCares Person of the Year: Neil Young

I've never dreamt of winning these awards: Rahman

2010-02-01T08:11:00.001-08:00

I've never dreamt of winning these awards: Rahman

Los Angeles, Feb 1 (IANS) Indian music maestro A R Rahman, who won two awards at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony here, says he never dreamt of winning honours of this stature.

"Insane eh? I never even dreamt about winning all these awards," Rahman posted on his Twitter page after receiving the award.

He was honoured for his compositions in Danny Boyle's fairytale drama "Slumdog Millionaire" - he won for the best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture and the best motion picture song for "Jai ho", which he shares with lyricist Gulzar and Tanvi Shah.

The composition in the film has won Rahman the most prestigious international awards including two Oscars, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Critics Choice Award and the Golden Globe.

The singer-composer has thanked a string of people through the micro-blogging site.

"I once again want to thank the Almighty, my spiritual Sufi teachers - Ameen Peerullah Malik Sahib, Danny Boyle, Fox, the whole 'Slumdog...' creative team, all the awesome actors in the movie and Resul Pookutty. My whole team, Gulzarji, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Vijay Prakash, my friend and sound engineer the late H. Sridhar....

"My agents Sam Schwartz and Amos Newman, my mentors Mani Ratnam, Shekhar Kapur and Subhash Ghai, and mentor in the west, Andrew Lloyd Webber, folks at id-PR, Allison and Courtney... extraordinary musicians from Chennai and Mumbai, my mother, my father, my sisters and my lovely wife and children... And all my well wishers from the world who keep me going... Jai ho India!" he posted.

Rahman started his career with director Mani Ratnam's 1992 Tamil film "Roja" and has never looked back since.

Winning awards is a way of life for Rahman: Sister

2010-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Winning awards is a way of life for Rahman: Sister

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Winning awards is "a way of life" for A R Rahman who triumphed at the Grammys by winning a double honour, the composer's sister said.

"It's a good start of the year. It was Rahman's birthday on Jan 6 and now he wins Grammys. It's a way of life now since he has won so many," Reihana told NDTV after her brother won the award.

"When he was going for Golden Globes last year, he was doubtful about his win and so were we, but after he got that, it has been awards and awards for him so we were quite sure that he will get the Grammy as well," she added.

The 44-year-old was honoured for his compositions in Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches drama "Slumdog Millionaire", getting the awards for best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture and "Jai ho" being the best motion picture song.

The composition has won Rahman the prestigious international awards, including the Oscars, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards, Critics Choice Award, The Golden Globe and now the world music industry's biggest honour - the Grammys.

Back home he was recently honoured with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award.

Grammy Awards ceremony took place at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles, Sunday.

Jai ho fetches a bouquet of global awards for Rahman

2010-02-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

Jai ho' fetches a bouquet of global awards for Rahman
New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) When Indian music maestro A R Rahman was composing the song "Jai ho", he didn't envisage that the composition would become such a rage and win him laurels and awards across the globe.

The song features in British filmmaker Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire", which is a screen adaptation of Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup's novel "Q & A".

The composition in the film has won Rahman the most prestigious international awards including, the Oscars, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Critics Choice Award, The Golden Globe and now the music industry's biggest honour - the Grammys.

The song that was penned by lyricist Gulzar and Tanvi Shah, was crooned by Sukhvinder Singh, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Vijay Prakash with support from Rahman and Shah.

Rahman, who started his career with director Mani Ratnam's 1992 Tamil film "Roja", made his presence felt and has gone up several notches in terms of popularity after the super success of the song "Jai ho". It made Rahman the most successful Indian composer in the global arena.

Rahman Gulzar Tanvi share Grammy for Jai ho

2010-02-01T07:45:00.000-08:00

Rahman, Gulzar, Tanvi share Grammy for 'Jai ho'
Los Angeles, Feb 1 (IANS) Music maestro A R Rahman shared the Grammy award for the best motion picture song \"Jai ho\" with veteran lyricist Gulzar and Tanvi Shah who wrote the Spanish lyrics for it.

Rahman, Gulzar and Shah made the Indian presence felt at the 52nd edition of the Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Centre here.

"Jai ho", that has won various international awards including the Oscars last year, is from Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches film "Slumdog millionaire". The song was sung by Sukhvinder Singh, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Vijay Prakash along with Rahman and Shah.

A R Rahman bags two Grammy awards

2010-02-01T07:29:00.000-08:00

Rahman bags two Grammy awards

Los Angeles, Feb 1 (IANS) Indian music maestro A R Rahman has bagged two awards at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony here Sunday.

The double Oscar winning composer was honoured for his compositions in Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches film "Slumdog Millionaire", getting the awards for best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture and "Jai ho" being the best motion picture song. Rahman shares the Grammy with lyricist Gulzar who penned "Jai ho".

"This is insane, god is great again," Rahman said as he accepted his second award.

"Jai ho" has been sung by Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Vijay Prakash and Rahman himself. This is the first time Rahman has been nominated for a Grammy. He joins other Indian music greats like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Zakir Jussain, Vikku Vinayak and Vishvamohan Bhatt who have won a Grammy in the past.

Rahman's rivals in the soundtrack category included Steve Jordan for "Cadillac Records," Quentin Tarantino for "Inglourious Basterds", and the producers of "Twilight" and "True Blood."

In the best song category Rahman's beaten rivals included Bruce Springsteen for his song "The Wrestler", from the Oscar-nominated movie of the same name.

Will India repeat Oscar glory at Grammys ?

2010-02-01T07:10:00.000-08:00

Will India repeat Oscar glory at Grammys?
New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) With two nominations for composer A R Rahman and one each for sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and tabla veteran Zakir Hussain at the 52nd Grammy awards, the country is keeping its fingers crossed for them to bring the Oscar glory back home Sunday night.

Rahman has been nominated for two Grammy's in the best soundtrack for motion pictures, television or other visual media category for "Slumdog Millionaire", and in the best song for motion picture, television and other visual media category for "Jai ho".

Written by lyricist Gulzar, "Jai ho" has been sung by Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Vijay Prakash and Rahman himself.

Nominated for the first time at the Grammy's, Rahman triumphed at the 2009 Oscars by winning double golden statuettes and at the Golden Globe Awards by winning the best original score award.

Amjad Ali Khan has been nominated in the best traditional world music album category for his album "Ancient Sounds", a joint-venture with Iraqi oud soloist Rahim Alhaj.

Zakir Hussain, who won a Grammy last year, has been nominated in the best classical crossover album category for his album "The Melody of Rhythm", which features works by Leonard Slatkin, Bela Fleck, Hussain and Edgar Meyer (Detroit Symphony Orchestra).

The 52th edition of the Annual Grammy Awards will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

ग्रैमी में भी 'जय हो' की धूम

2010-02-01T00:54:00.000-08:00

ग्रैमी पुरस्कार संगीत की दुनिया में नोबेल पुरस्कारों के समकक्ष माने जाते हैं.

ऑस्कर और गोल्डन ग्लोब के बाद स्लमडॉग मिलियनेयर का गाना 'जय हो' ग्रैमी पुरस्कारों में भी छाया रहा.

अमरीका के इस प्रतिष्ठित म्यूज़िक अवॉर्ड में जाने माने संगीतकार एआर रहमान को दो ग्रैमी पुरस्कार मिले.

हालाँकि पॉप स्टार बियोंसी को सबसे ज़्यादा छह वर्गों में ग्रैमी पुरस्कार मिले हैं.

रहमान को जय हो के लिए सर्वश्रेष्ठ साउंड ट्रैक और सर्वश्रेष्ठ फ़िल्मी गीत इन दो वर्गों में पुरस्कार मिला है.

ख़ास बात ये रही कि 'बेस्ट मोशन पिक्चर सॉंग' वर्ग में उन्होंने ब्रूस स्प्रिंग्सटन के चर्चित गाने 'द रेसलर' और बियोंसी के 'वन्स इन ए लाइफ़ टाइम' को पीछे छोड़ कर ये सफ़लता हासिल की.

ये दीवाना बना देने वाली ख़बर है, ऊपर वाला दोबारा मेहरबान हुआ है.

एआर रहमान

ग्रैमी पुरस्कार जीतने के बाद रहमान ने कहा, ''ये दीवाना बना देने वाली ख़बर है, ऊपर वाला दोबारा मेहरबान हुआ है.''

ग्रैमी में रैप,रॉक,पॉप और शास्त्रीय संगीत की 109 शैलियों में कलाकारों को पुरस्कृत किया जाता है.

वैसे रहमान के लिए अवॉर्ड कोई नए नहीं हैं.

रहमान ने इसके पहले स्लमडॉग मिलियनेयर के संगीत के लिए ऑस्कर पुरस्कार जीतकर इतिहास रचा था.

रहमान की जय जयकार

बियोंसी को सर्वाधिक पाँच ग्रैमी मिले.

स्लमडॉग के संगीत के लिए रहमान को कुछ ही दिन पहले क्रिटिक्स अवार्ड भी मिला था.

ग़ौरतलब है कि मुंबई की पृष्ठभूमि पर बनी इस फ़िल्म का संगीत अत्यंत लोकप्रिय रहा.

52वें ग्रैमी पुरस्कारों में इस बार भारतीय संगीत की चार जानी-मानी हस्तियों, ऑस्कर विजेता एआर रहमान, उस्ताद ज़ाकिर हुसैन, उस्ताद अमजद अली ख़ान और गीतकार गुलज़ार को नामांकित किया गया था.

उल्लेखनीय है कि 'जय हो' को जाने माने गीतकार गुलज़ार ने लिखा है.

अमजद अली ख़ान को उनकी अपने ही एल्बम एंशिएंट साउंड्स के लिए बेहतरीन पारंपरिक विश्व संगीत की श्रेणी में नामांकित किया गया था.

इस एल्बम ‘एंशिएंट साउंड्स’ में उस्ताद अमजद अली ख़ान और इराक़ी-अमरीकन संगीतकार रहीम अलहज पहली बार एक साथ आए हैं.

इस एल्बम में सात गाने हैं जिन्हें खुद अमजद अली ख़ान ने लिखा और स्वरबद्ध किया है.

पिछले वर्ष ग्रैमी पुरस्कार जीत चुके उस्ताद ज़ाकिर हुसैन को उनके एल्बम, 'द मेलडी ऑफ़ रिदम' के लिए बेहतरीन शास्त्रीय क्रॉसओवर एल्बम की श्रेणी में नामांकित किया गया था.

बियोंसी का जलवा

दस श्रेणियों में नामांकित पॉप स्टार बियोंसी छह ग्रैमी झटक कर समारोह के केंद्र में रहीं. इसमें साल के सर्वश्रेष्ठ गीत का ग्रैमी भी शामिल है जो उन्हें 'पुट अ रिंग ऑन इट' के लिए दिया गया.

द ब्लैक आईड पीज़, टेलर स्विफ्ट को तीन-तीन जबकि लेडी गा गा, किंग्स ऑफ लियोन, जे ज़ी और एमिनेम को दो-दो ग्रैमी पुरस्कार मिले.

बीस साल की टेलर स्विफ्ट को बेस्ट कंट्री एल्बम का पुरस्कार मिला. उन्हें ये पुरस्कार उनके एल्बम फ़ियरलेस के लिए दिया गया है.

पुरस्कार समारोह की शुरुआत लेडी गा गा ने की

A R Rahman receive award at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards

2010-01-31T23:27:00.000-08:00

A R Rahman receive award at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards

A R Rahman, George Flanigen

A R Rahman receive award at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards

Kurt Elling, Tia Carrere, A R Rahman

Kurt Elling, A R Rahman

By Subhash K. Jha, February 1, 2010

After the Oscars and the Padma Bhushan, it's Grammy time for A R Rahman. On Sunday night, his music for Slumdog Millionaire won two Grammy awards, setting Rahman's global score even higher in 2010 than it was last year.

Reacting to the double Grammy whammy, Rahman said, "I never even dreamt about winning all these awards. I once again want to thank the Almighty, my spiritual Sufi teachers Ameen Peerullah Malik Sahib, Danny Boyle and the whole Slumdog creative team."

After the Grammy, Rahman also had a special word of thanks for his mentor Mani Ratnam and his mentors in Mumbai, Shekhar Kapur and Subhash Ghai and mentor in the West, Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Back home, Rahman is happy to have received the Padma Bhushan. But unhappy about the fact that a lot of the deserving artistes remain unrecognized by the government. "There're so many deserving candidates for National Awards, still unsung. On the other hand, I believe people with dubious records get recognized. That isn't fair. Personally speaking I'm very happy to get the Padma Bhushan. Ever since the announcement my phone hasn't stopped ringing. I think I've received more congratulations for the Padma than for the Oscars."

Rahman says he's prouder of the Padma Bhushan than the Oscar. "It definitely means more when you're recognized by your own people and country. I definitely value this award more than the Oscar or Grammy," said Rahman before flying out to Los Angeles for the Grammys. "My award comes in a category that won't be televised. So it won't be like Slumdog Millionaire where people back home could watch me."

Much has been said about the two Padma winners Rahman and sound designer Resul Pookutty's disappointing follow-up collaboration in Blue after Slumdog Millionaire. But Rahman stands by Blue. "The script was a bummer. But grant the director Anthony D'Souza for the fact that he tried something different. I enjoyed doing Blue."

Our resident Mozart is amused by premature reports in the press that his song 'Na Na' from his first Hollywood soundtrack has been nominated for and Oscar.

Says Rahman, "'Na Na' is short listed. It's one of 63 songs in the race. Not nominated yet. It's an English song."

in News BH

A.R.Rahman, Aamir, Rekha, Saif get civilian honours

2010-01-25T08:41:00.000-08:00

A.R.Rahman, Aamir, Rekha, Saif get civilian honours (Roundup)

New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) Bollywood star Aamir Khan and celebrated Tamil composers A.R. Rahman and Ilayaraja were Monday named for Padma Bhushan, the nation's third highest civilian award, While actors Rekha, Saif Ali Khan, Arundhati Nag and sound engineer Resul Pokutty got Padma Shri.

Aamir, 44, who struck gold at the box office with his latest outing "3 Idiots" that grossed over Rs.375 crore worldwide, is already a recipient of the Padma Shri.

Allah Rakha Rahman, who shone at the Oscars last year with his double golden statuette win, seems to be on an award winning spree post the success of "Slumdog Millionaire".

In 2008, Rahman scored the music of Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches drama "Slumdog Millionaire" for which he won a Golden Globe. He also bagged two Oscars for the film, becoming the first Indian citizen to do so.

Apart from the Oscars, Rahman has also been awarded with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award, four National Film Awards and 13 Filmfare awards.

Tamil composer Ilayaraja has been a prominent name in the southern film industry since 1976. He debuted with "Annakkili" and is known for integrating Tamil folk lyric with Western music. He won the Indian National Film Award thrice for the movies - "Sindhu Bhairavi", "Rudraveena" and "Saagara Sangamam."

And now Ilayaraja gets the Padma Bhushan.

Bollywood diva Rekha, 55, has been selected for the Padma Shri, the fourth highest honour, after four decades in the Indian film industry.

The daughter of the late southern star Gemini Ganesan, Rekha bagged overnight success with her debut film and went on to become India's sex symbol.

Rekha has acted in over 150 films and maintained versatility in films like "Do Anjaane" (1976), "Ghar" (1978), "Muqaddar Ka Sikander" (1978), "Khubsoorat" (1980), "Silsila" (1981), "Baseraa" (1981), "Utsav" (1984), "Khoon Bhari Maang" (1988), "Ijaazat" (1988), "Kama Sutra" (1996) and "Zubeidaa" (2001), et al.

After being awarded with the 2008 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, now Arundhati Nag, a well-known name in the theatre world, wins Padma Shri. She was recently seen in "Paa" as Amitabh Bachchan's grandmother.

Saif Ali Khan, one of the top notch actors in Hindi film industry, has been honoured with the Padma Shri. He became a sought after name after the success of "Dil Chahta Hai" (2001). After that there has been no looking back for the actor who also bagged the National Film Awards for his performance in "Hum Tum".

Sound engineer Resul Pokutty, who won Oscar last year for his work in "Slumdog Millionaire", is honoured with the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri.

A R Rahman Iliyaraja get Padma Bhushan Rekha Padma Shri

2010-01-25T08:39:00.000-08:00

Rahman, Iliyaraja get Padma Bhushan, Rekha Padma Shri

New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) Composers A.R. Rahman, who shone at the Oscars last year with his double golden statuette win, and Iliyaraja have been honoured with the Padma Bhushan, the nation's third highest civilian award, on the eve of Republic Day.

Rahman, who started his career in 1992 with Mani Ratnam's Tamil film "Roja", made his debut in Bollywood with the hit soundtrack in Ram Gopal Varma's blockbuster movie "Rangeela".

Some of his hit numbers are "Chaiyyan Chaiyyan", "Roobaroo", "Tere bina", "Jai ho" and "Masakali" and "Kabhi kabhi Aditi".

In a career spanning almost two decades, Rahman who has his own music label called KM Music, achieved many milestones.

In 2008, Rahman scored the music of Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches drama "Slumdog Millionaire" for which he won a Golden Globe. He also bagged two Oscars the same, becoming the first Indian citizen to do so.

Apart from the Oscars, Rahman has also been awarded with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award, four National Film Awards and 13 Filmfare awards.

The 44-year-old musician has also been nominated for two Grammy Awards, the results of which will be announced Jan 31.

While Time magazine referred to him as the "Mozart of Madras", in 2009, the magazine placed him in their 100 list of "World's Most Influential People".

Iliyaraja has been a prominent composer in the southern film industry since 1976. He debuted with "Annakkili" and is known for integrating Tamil folk lyric with Western music. He won the Indian National Film Award thrice for the movies - "Sindhu Bhairavi", "Rudraveena" and "Saagara Sangamam.

Bollywood veteran Rekha, 55, has been conferred the Padma Shri, the fourth highest honour, after four decades in the Indian film industry.

The daughter of late southern star Gemini Ganesan, Rekha bagged overnight success with her debut film and went on to become India's sex symbol.

Rekha has acted in over 150 films and maintained versatility in films like "Do Anjaane" (1976), "Ghar" (1978), "Muqaddar Ka Sikander" (1978), "Khubsoorat" (1980), "Silsila" (1981), "Baseraa" (1981), "Utsav" (1984), "Khoon Bhari Maang" (1988), "Ijaazat" (1988), "Kama Sutra" (1996) and "Zubeidaa" (2001), et al.

It was Muzaffar Ali's period drama "Umrao Jaan" that catapulted Rekha to unprecedented success and even won her a National Award.

A R Rahman releasing his latest Hollywood film Couples Retreat

2010-01-21T06:28:00.000-08:00

Music Maestro A R Rahman releasing his latest Hollywood film ' Couples Retreat ' soundtrack at a function, in Chennai.

A R Rahman's song in Oscar race again!

2010-01-21T05:37:00.000-08:00

A R Rahman's song in Oscar race again!

The musician who created history by becoming the first Indian to win two Oscars is in the running for the coveted prize for the second consecutive year. Last year, A R Rahman took the trophy for both 'Best Original Song' and the 'Best Soundtrack'

MUSICIAN A R Rahman is in the Oscar shortlist yet again for 'Best Original Song' thanks to his first Hollywood film 'Couple's Retreat’. The Tamil song 'Na Na' from this movie has been short listed for nomination in the original song category for the 82nd Academy Awards. 'Couples Retreat' a film by Emmy nominated Peter Billingsley revolves around four couples trying to rekindle the magic through a tropical-island vacation.

The song will be in competition with 62 other tracks from eligible feature-length motion pictures. The nominations will be announced on February 2 according to the official Academy awards website.

This will be Rahman’s second run for the coveted prize. He created history by becoming the first Indian to win two Oscars. Last year his compositions in Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire' won him the award for 'Best Soundtrack' while the score 'Jai Ho' got him the trophy for 'Best Original Song' .

रहमान का गाना ऑस्कर की रेस में

2010-01-21T05:24:00.000-08:00

रहमान का गाना ऑस्कर की रेस में

एआर रहमान के संगीत से सजी हॉलीवुड फ़िल्म 'कपल्स रिट्रीट' के एक गाने ‘ना ना’ को ऑस्कर पुरस्कारों के लिए चयनित सूची में शामिल किया गया है. इस गाने को 'बेस्ट ऑरिजिनल सॉन्ग' श्रेणी में चयनित किया गया है.

यहां ये गीत 62 अन्य गानों से साथ ऑस्कर नामांकन पाने के लिए संघर्ष करेगा. ऑस्कर पुरस्कारों के नामांकन का ऐलान दो फ़रवरी को किया जाएगा.

रहमान ने इस गाने के ऑस्कर सूची में आने पर कहा, “ मुझे नहीं मालूम इस गाने को नामांकन मिलेगा या नहीं क्योंकि हमने इस गाने का कोई प्रचार तो किया नहीं है.”

दिलचस्प बात ये है कि ‘ना ना’ गाने में रहमान ने अपने साढ़े छह साल के बेटे आलिम से भी कुछ बोल गवाए हैं.

'कपल्स रिट्रीट'

'कपल्स रिट्रीट' का संगीत भारत में भी रिलीज़ किया गया है.

मैं उन दिनों काफ़ी तमिल संगीत सुन रहा था और मैं पिछले साल कोई तमिल फ़िल्म भी नहीं कर रहा था. मैं कुछ ऐसा करना चाहता था जो थोड़ा अलग-सा हो. जब ‘कुरु कुरु’ तैयार हुआ तो उन्हें पसंद आया

एआर रहमान

इस एल्बम में ‘कुरु कुरु’ नाम का तमिल गाना भी है जिसे रहमान ने लिखा भी है. इसके अलावा 'कपल्स रिट्रीट' की एल्बम में संस्कृत, स्पेनिश और हिंदी में भी गीत हैं.

‘कुरु कुरु’ के बारे में बात करते हुए रहमान ने कहा, “मैं उन दिनों काफ़ी तमिल संगीत सुन रहा था और मैं पिछले साल कोई तमिल फ़िल्म भी नहीं कर रहा था. मैं कुछ ऐसा करना चाहता था जो थोड़ा अलग-सा हो. जब ‘कुरु कुरु’ तैयार हुआ तो उन्हें पसंद आया.”

ए आर रहमान ने कहा, “स्लमडॉग मिलेनियर को मिली अपार सफलता के बाद, वो मुझसे कुछ ख़ास चाहते थे लेकिन साथ ही कुछ ऐसा जो फ़िल्म के साथ चल सके.”

रहमान ने कहा उन्हें 'कपल्स रिट्रीट' के लिए काम करने में मज़ा आया क्योंकि उन्हें संगीत रचने के लिए पूरी स्वतंत्रता मिली थी.

Not all attacks in Australia are racist says Rahman

2010-01-14T08:01:00.000-08:00

Not all attacks in Australia are racist, says Rahman

Sydney, Jan 14 (IANS) Not all attacks on Indians in Australia are racist in nature, says music maestro A.R. Rahman, now here for a free concert in a bid to bridge relations between India and Australia.

The Indian Oscar winner urged the media not to go overboard.

"We need a more responsible media. Media is a great tool but it can also be misused and provoke people. Just one wrong can kill thousands of people. That's happened in the past, and we need to be extremely careful and strict about what we are - the truth," Rahman told a press conference here Thursday.

"I was speaking to a lot of people. They were saying that some of them (attacks) are racial killings, some are not. But everything gets painted in the same colour, and we have to be very careful on that," he added.

Rahman's remarks came after a string of attacks on Indians, mainly students, in the country, the latest being a fire at a Melbourne gurdwara.

Rahman is slated to perform Saturday at the Parramatta Park as part of the Festival of Sydney, and he says it is a step forward to bridge the gap between the two countries.

"This country is reaffirming the friendship, and I hope that this concert brings that and I'm sure it will, hopefully," said the 44-year-old.

"Australia has taken this first step, they called me. I think any art form, whether it's a movie or whether it's a concert, you see all kinds of people in one," he added.

Rahman, who is known internationally for composing the song "Jai Ho" from Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire", also gave safety tips to people.

"Regarding safety, I would advise not to go anywhere at night, especially in shady places where there are a lot of drug addicts and alcoholics. Be careful because they are going to be the main reason for any trouble," he said.

Media needs to be more responsible: A.R. Rahman

2010-01-14T07:59:00.000-08:00

Media needs to be more responsible: A.R. Rahman

Sydney, Jan 14 (IANS) Referring to the news reports of recent attacks on Indians in Australia, music maestro A.R. Rahman, who is in Sydney for a free concert to bridge relations between India and Australia, says the media should act responsibly.

"We need more responsible media. Media's a great tool, but it can also be misused and provoke people and just one wrong can kill thousands of people. And that's happened in the past and we need to be extremely careful and strict about what we are - the truth," said Rahman at a press conference here Thursday.

"I was speaking to a lot of people, they were saying that some of them are racial killings, some of them are not. But everything gets painted in the same colour and we have to be very careful on that," he added.

Rahman's remarks came amid a string of attacks on Indians and Indian symbols in the country, the latest being a fire at a Melbourne gurdwara.

The Indian Oscar winner is slated to perform at the Parramatta Park as part of the Festival of Sydney, Saturday and he says it is a step forward to bridge the gaps.

"This country is re-affirming the friendship and I hope that this concert brings that and I'm sure it will, hopefully," said the 44-year-old.

"Australia has taken this first step, they called me. I think any art form, whether it's a movie or whether it's a concert, you see all kinds of people in one," he added.

Rahman, who is known internationally for composing the song "Jai Ho" from Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire", also gave safety tips to people.

"Regarding safety, I would advise not to go anywhere at night, especially in shady places where there are a lot of drug addicts and alcoholics and be careful, because they are going to be the main reason for any trouble in the future," he said.

Ebony & Ivory AR Rahman strikes the right chords

2010-01-09T00:24:00.000-08:00

AR Rahman is consumed with passion to bring together Western and Eastern musical forms

Danny Boyle almost botched it. The Welsh director had bottled the mad razzle of Mumbai quite brilliantly in Slumdog Millionaire. He just had to cap it well. As Jamal meets Latika at the Churchgate station in a climax that was inevitably Mumbai, everything was perfect – the release of tension, atmosphere of jubilation – except for the sound of joy. “Rahman heard the song that I had put and said ‘Don’t use this song. I have another song for you. Use it’ and I said What!!!” Boyle recalled in an interview to a Web site. Actually, it wasn’t even a song; just a danceable instrumental piece. But he agreed to listen to the song that Allah Rakha Rahman had in mind. Looking back, Jai Ho is what defines the climax. Hell, it is the climax.

Critics don’t consider Jai Ho as his best work but they are barking up the tree and missing the woods. The reality is that Jai Ho is important for a variety of reasons that make Rahman one of the most influential musicians on the planet. And most of the reasons are in that song. The song itself can be thought of as a Rahman glide note that joins three worlds: music of the West, East and computer technology. The rousing victory song set in A Minor reminds many people of Mozart’s 40th Symphony but the melodic line of Jai Ho runs closer to the Austrian Legend’s Piano Sonata 8. One is tempted to think of it as a subconscious hat-tip from the Mozart of Madras to the Dear Departed.

Beyond the hat-tip though, it is Rahman’s interpretation of the euphoric mood of the moment. The song loops in the enthusiasm of disco, rawness of world music, slick synthesizer runs and all of these buoy the soaring vocals. Superb sound engineering is the final touch that creates a song that is as much at home in an Indian music competition as much as it is in an Oscar ceremony.

The success of Slumdog may have left everyone surprised but it is the result of a concerted effort. Rahman did the music for a Chinese film Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003. Then, he did the musical Bombay Dreams with Andrew Lloyd Webber in 2004. He did the score for Lord of the Rings in 2007 and he did Raga’s Dance for the violinist Vanessa Mae in 2008. In 2009, he did the music for a Hollywood film Couple’s Retreat.

If this was merely another Indian composer trying to make it in the West it wouldn’t be a big deal. It is much bigger. Rahman is trying to create sound that fuses the music of East and West. To do this, he has started his own KM music conservatory, a school of music as it were. He also has his own label KM Musiq to produce the sort of music that he thinks should be out there. “I want to think like an entrepreneur not an employee. Attempts to create a synthesis of the music of West and the East were made in the past but did not last because that form wasn’t institutionalised. I want to do that,” says Rahman. The tea leaves augur well. “Rahman has been trying to do this East-West bridge for a very long time. Bombay Dreams was the first time he made such an attempt. If anyone can, he can,” says Atul Churamani, vice president at SaReGaMa.

Rahman was destined to cross boundaries. He was a child prodigy. A Tehelka article on him talks about one such instance. When Rahman was a kid, his father took him to a music director called Sudarshan. “I hear your child can play anything. Let’s see if you can play this,” he said and played a challening piece. He then covered the harmonium keys with a veshti and gave it to the child. Rahman played the composition pitch perfect. An overwhelmed Sudarshan embraced the boy.

Maybe Rahman could have become a great Carnatic musician, maybe a great western classical virtuoso. A world of possibilities ended when his father passed away and the family went through some very hard times. He had to record music for a fee to help feed his family. He played for television shows. He travelled with different music troupes all over South India. The genius could have remained a journeyman. A scholarship to Trinity College of Music at Oxford in changed everything. In 1987, he returned from Oxford and by 1992, he had stunned the world with the soundtrack of Roja.

Rahman is 'Entertainer of the year' News

2009-12-18T02:48:00.000-08:00

New Delhi, December 18, 2009

First Published: 14:00 IST(18/12/2009)

Oscar winning music maestro AR Rahman has won the CNN-IBN Indian of the Year award 2009 in the entertainment category.

"Rahman has redefined contemporary Indian music and is the pride of the entire nation. He is also an idol to millions for making a mark on the global music arena," Rajdeep Sardesai, editor-in-chief, IBN Network 18, said on Thursday.

The other nominees in the category included megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, Ranbir Kapoor, Prince Group of Orissa and Colors Entertainment Channel.

Rahman will be given the award on December 21 at Hotel Taj Palace in the capital. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be the chief guest at the event.

NEWS HT

Rap to sufi music Rahman charms Chennai

2009-10-13T02:18:00.001-07:00

Rap to sufi music - Rahman charms Chennai

Chennai, Oct 12 (IANS) From rap to fusion, carnatic to sufi double Oscar winner A.R. Rahman used every genre to keep his audience mesmerized at a live concert here.

All roads in Chennai Sunday led to Seekinankuppam village near Mahabalipuram where the concert was organised to raise funds for Shakti Foundation that works for the welfare of the disabled.

The concert, which was a part of Rahman's world tour, brought an eclectic mix of songs right from his debut film "Roja" to the forthcoming release "Blue". Billed as a crowdpuller, the event drew close to 75,000 fans.

"Khalbali", a song from "Rang De Basanti", was a rather laid back starter but soon the maestro who is often called the Mozart of Madras pepped it up by choosing a couple of hits from "Sivaji-The Boss".

The rocking fast numbers were followed by a series of rock and crossover hits and with each rendition the cheers kept growing until they nearly drowned Rahman's voice out.

Other singers like Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam and Benny Dayal too treated the crowd by belting hit numbers composed by Rahman.

An intense performer, Rahman showed no signs of tiredness and his smile stuck to him till the very end. And even after four hours, the crowd couldn't have enough of his music.

The maestro's Oscar winning song "Jai Ho" brought the curtains down on what turned out to be one of the biggest musical events the region has witnessed in recent times.

"If music makes you think, moves you to action; then I think the music is working," Rahman told the crowd.

Marg, a leading construction company, tied up with Rahman for the concert.

Oscar winning music director A. R. Rahman smiles during a news conference in Hyderabad .

A R Rahman proves his prowess yet again with Blue Movie Music Review

2009-09-14T08:40:00.001-07:00

Rahman proves his prowess yet again with 'Blue'
By Ruchika Kher

Film: "Blue"; Music Director: A R Rahman; Lyricists: Abbas Tyrewala, Mayur Puri and Raqeeb Alam; Singers: Kylie Minogue, Sonu Nigam, Sukhwinder Singh, Shreya Ghoshal, Vijay Prakash, Rashid Ali, Blaaze, Raqeeb Alam, Sonu Kakkar, Neha Kakkar, Jaspreet Singh, Udit Narayan and Madhushree; Ratings: *** 1/2

India's double Oscar winner A.R. Rahman returns with another hit musical score in underwater film "Blue". The album boasts of both racy and slow songs and brings forth contemporary sounds that generate a lot of interest.

The film, which is set to hit theatres Oct 16, stars Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar and Lara Dutta among others. The soundtrack has seven originals.

The listener is provided with a breezy and soothing experience with "Aaj dil gustakh hai", a romantic song sung wonderfully by Shreya Ghoshal and Sukhwinder Singh. With the strumming of the acoustic guitar, the song becomes hip and rich in contemporary sounds. It sure is a delight to hear.

Up next is another likeable number "Bhoola tujhe". The song crooned by Rashid Ali is a poignant offering and is slow in pace initially. But the tempo gradually increases. It has a unique quality that strikes a chord with the listener and Rahman spins his magic yet again.

Next in line is the theme song. It changes pace many times and also shifts from western to Indian influences and back. A power-packed number, it has Blaaze, Raqeeb Alam, Sonu Kakkar and Jaspreet Singh behind the microphone.

Then there is the much-awaited song "Chiggy wiggy", which features international pop singer Kylie Minogue. Not only does she sing the number, she is also seen in the video. that is already on air. Kylie is supported by Sonu Nigam for the vocals.

The first part of the song is in English and is completely western, but Sonu enters with the sound of the dhol and gives the song an Indian feel. The track is neither bad nor brilliant.

"Fiqrana" by Shreya Ghoshal and Vijay Prakash is another fast-paced number. But it doesn't impress very much.

Up next is "Rehnuma", a sensual number with influences of jazz. The song is crooned by Shreya Ghoshal yet again along with Sonu Nigam. It's in a different league altogether. Rahman's signature style can be felt at places. A nice track indeed.

Finally there is "Yaar mil tha", which has vocals by Udit Narayan and Madhushree. The song, a fusion of western and Indian styles, is not as interesting as others. It really doesn't stand out as extraordinary.

But on the whole, Rahman has proved his musical prowess yet again with this soundtrack.

Morr Moive photos WWW.bollywoodsargam.com

A.R.Rahman Resul Pookuty and others Press Confrence and First look of Film Blue

2009-08-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

Event: Press Confrence and First look of Film Blue

Celebrities: Dhilin Mehta, Anthony D'souza, A.R.Rahman, Resul Pookuty and others

Venue: Cinemax Andheri

Date: 12th August, 2009

Oscar winning music director A R Rahman and Resul Pookutty Oscar winner sound mixing SM

2009-08-13T04:52:00.001-07:00

Oscar winning music director A. R. Rahman (L) and Resul Pookutty, winner of the Oscar for sound mixing for "Slumdog Millionaire", pose for a picture during a news conference to promote their forthcoming movie "Blue" in Mumbai .

A R Rahman speaking on the occasion

2009-08-12T06:34:00.001-07:00

Music Director, A R Rahman speaking on the occasion of Doordarshan's golden jubilee celebration of broadcasting in New Delhi.

Indian music composer A R Rahman who won two Oscars

2009-08-04T01:43:00.001-07:00

Indian music composer AR Rahman who won two Oscars for the film "Slumdog Millionaire," is felicitated by the Speaker of the lower house of Indian Parliament, Meira Kumar, in New Delhi, India, Monday, Aug. 3, 2009.

Pratibha Patil felicitates music maestro A R Rahman

2009-08-03T01:41:00.001-07:00

President Pratibha Patil felicitates music maestro AR Rahman after the special screening of Slumdog Millionaire at the President house in New Delhi. The movie, won eight Oscars early this year at the 81st Academy Awards at Hollywood in the US.

R Rahman during the inauguration of Apollo Children Hospital

2009-07-31T00:19:00.001-07:00

Oscar Award Winner AR Rahman during the inauguration of Apollo Children's Hospital in Chennai.