I have a very tough schedule this year A R Rahman

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

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

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

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

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.