Every one knows Rahman and are aware of his compositions! Everyone has heard him and have judged him, in this article/review I have tried to offer you some rare info on rahman?s career! I have given details about his albums in tamil, hindi, ad jingles, intenational projects in comments section. Basically this is more of a Biography! Hope this is Very useful to you in some way! I wanted to give more info but 8K limit spoiled my mood!
A R Rahman- Mozart of the East
Rahman (A S Dileep Kumar) was born on 6th jan 1966 in madras. His father R.K.Sekar was also a music composer. But due to some illness his father passed away when dileep was 9 yrs, the same day his dad?s first film was released. Dileep had to support his mom, and his sisters.
Dileep a school drop out, joined the orchestra of MSV and also was seen with zakir hussain and kunakudi vaidyanathan on world tours.He also played keyboard in musical shows like wonder balloon telecasted on DD.
He earned a scholarship and obtained degree from Trinity College of music at Oxford.
After he returned, he continued to play in various troupes along with Sivmani, Ranjit Barot, Suresh Peters. He later worked as a music arranger for Ilayaraja and MSV, though he gained lots of knowledge from there, it was a lead keyboard player from iilayaraja?s troupe who suggested him to look out in television. He worked under Iilayaraja for around 18 months, and he also composed the famous tune Love theme- Pudaiya Mugham, though it is credited to iilayaraja.
Dileep then devoted his time in composing ad jingles which continued for 5 years and he also composed an album Deen Isai Malai and Set Me Free with Shuba for Magnasound. But both the album failed miserable. He also started a troupe called MAGIC with his childhood friend drummer Sivamani and other, but it failed to create any magic.
His sister, fell ill and many attempts to cure her failed but a Muslim Pir cured her. After this incident his family embraced to Islam. He was given the name Abdul Rehman. On suggestion of renowned music director Naushad Ali, he named his name as Allah Rakha Rahman. naushad asked him to try film music, but rahman wasn?t interested. But in 1991, he received the best composer award for the ad jingle Leo Coffee, and Mani Ratnam?s cousin, with whom he had worked many ad jingles, introduced him with Mani Ratnam. Rahman agreed to compose songs for Mani?s next film and that?s how Roja materialized. He was paid Rs. 25000 for composing Roja.
Roja released and Rahman?s world changed for ever. People had never heard those kind of different tune, arrangements. His work was liked by one and all, he received National Award for his very first film. All the top producers and directors in tamil industry wanted to work with him. As time passed, he had tremendous success from films like Pudhiya Mugham. But his collaboration with director Shankar was the best thing happened to the tamil music industry. Shankar?s Gentleman was a massive commercial success. The chiku Bhiku Raile received tremendous response. Later he also signed Malayalam and Telugu films but didn?t taste much success in those scores. Back in tamil, his venture with balachander?s DUET made him more popular. The songs Anjali Anjali was a big craze.
But the real turning point in his career came when Roja was dubbed into Hindi. Both the music and the film received thunderous response and rahman became a hot property. Many big directors like Govind nilhani, Ram Gopal Varma signed him. If this success was not enough for him, back in tamil, Shankar?s next film Kaadhalan was released. The song Mukkala Mukaabala picturised on Prabu Deva was a instant hit not only in madras but also in whole India. Many hindi musicians started copying this tune. Infact there were dozens of songs with the same tune. This managed the original song and rahman to enter into limca book of world record for plagiarism of rahman?s tune by others for record number of time. During this period there was a new trend developing in hindi films. All the tamil films scored by rahman were being dubbed into hindi and were becoming big hits, even though rahman didn?t compose any original hindi composition.
But Govind Nilani was the first to sign rahman for BGM in Drokhal. But unfortunately rahman?s computer crashed and so was the BGM score. Later, it was Ram Gopal Varma whose rangeela was the debut of rahman in hindi music. The album as expected was a instant hit and rahman bagged many other offers. Later rahman-mani combo once again struck gold with Bombay. By this time rahman was declared the undisputed king in Indian music industry. And till now he remains one of the top music directors India has ever produced!
One may wonder how rahman emerged successful! The reason might be he offered us something different, which was unknown to Indian audience. His arrangements, use of instruments, technology and effective melody bowled us completely.
Rahman continued to taste success both in hindi and tamil music by churning albums like Jeans, Mudhalvan, Pukar, Taal, Saathiya, Kadhal Desam, Laagan, Alaipayuthey, Thiruda Thiruda, Iruvar, Dil Se, Yuva, Swades,Kisna , Vande Mataram and the list continues?..
Apart from composing the tunes rahman?s concert are also a big hit. His first concert was in Malaysia, where he started the show by dedicating the song for Bosnai people. Many would be surprised the song that he played Oh Bosnia was later rehashed by him and the result ws Ek tuhi Barosa-Pukar.
Rahman?s dubai concert was also a memorable experience. His concerts in USA received mixed reactions, will discuss about it later, and recently his unity light concert was a grand success.
Rahman?s vande mataram was a grand success. Infact the album was sent for the cannes film festival. It almost won but lost in the final due to the nuclear test conducted at the same time. The jury asked, in the album we find you singing about peace but at the same time you are testing nuclear weapons. Whatever may be he won the Mtv Asaia award for the album.
The best thing that happened to Rahman is Bombay Dreams. His score for this musical was very well received in London and Broadway. He has also collaborated with Karen David, Vanessa mae. He is the only Indian to have conducted the Birmingham concert.
Though we see, rahman as a spiritual, calm and reserved person, there are too lots of controversy and allegations made on him?by the people who were jealous of his achievements.
complete list of tamil and hindi albums, ad jingles and allegations
CONTINUED IN COMMENTS SECTION
