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i n t e r v i e w

rising star - part 1

Just half a dozen films old, already has a national award to his credit, and has millions of fans all over who are eagerly waiting for more from this young man in his early twenties.... that is A.R.Rahman for you, the latest sensation in the music world of the South! This is a short series on A.R. Rahman, in which you will see an interview with him (which appeared in "The Hindu") and some lyrics from the first few films for which he scored the music. Hope you will enjoy it! Here is the first part of the interview, which is followed by a small review of ARR's first Tamil film "Roja" (along with some Tamil and Hindi lyrics). A Passion for Quality Music by S.R. Ashok Kummar (for `The Hindu' 1993).
With his mop of dusky curls, t-shirt and jeans, he looks like a teenage college student, but the very first film for which he scored music fetched him the National Award. It and his subsequent films were also musical hits. The young music director of the South, A.R. Rahman, who shot into limelight with "Roja" for blazing a new trial in film music, has grown in stature and is undoubtedly here to stay.

How did you come into films?

My father, R.K.Shekar, was a music director in Malayalam films. He assisted Salil Chowdhary, Devrajan and others. He died when I was nine. At 11, I came into the field, playing on the keyboards and later as an accompanyist. I worked under various music directors in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam - Ramesh Naidu, M.S.Vishwanathan and Illayaraja. It started becoming a bit monotonous. I thought advertising would be a good alternative. This went on for three years. I built my studio and took to different forms of music - pop, rock and so on. It was then that I met producer Tirlok Sharadha, cousin of ManiRathnam at a party. He (Mani) came to my studio and heard some of my tunes. We agreed to work together though we did not then decide on which movie.Only later he told me it was to be "Roja" which he was directing for K.Balachander. Roja. His first film was Roja which made everyone sit up and listen to him.. The music was very different from the usual fare that one was used to. Especially striking was the use of chorus and the instruments in most of the songs.

Film: Roja
Actors: Arvind, Madhubala
Lyrics: Vairamuthu
Director: Mani Rathnam

Here are the list of songs from this movie: 1. chinna chinna aasai - Was rated the best song of the year 92. Received the national award - for best lyricist (for Vairamuthu) and best music (for Rahman). Very simple song, but has a nice beat to it. 2. rukkumani, rukkumani- Even though the lyrics and picturisation of this song makes some people biased, but the use of the chorus and the beat is real good. 3. Kaathal Rojaave - A nice solo from SPB (with some humming in between by Sujatha). \par \pard 4. pudhu vellai mazhai - A soothing duet from Unni Menon and Sujatha. 5. thamizha thamizha - A patriotic song sung by Hariharan and chorus.

Chinna chinna aasai (Tamil) chinna chinna aasai siRakatikkum aasai muththu muthu aasai mudinthu vaiththa aasai vennilavu thottu muththamida aasai ennai indha poomi chutRi vara aasai chinna chinna aasai siRakatikkum aasai muththu muthu aasai mudinthu vaiththa aasai vennilavu thottu muththamida aasai ennai indha poomi chutRi vara aasai chinna chinna aasai siRakatikkum aasai mallikaip poovaai maaRi vida aasai thenRalai kandu maalaiYida aasai mEkaNGaLai ellaam thottu vida aasai sokaNGikaLai ellaam vittu vida aasai kaarkuzhalil ulakai kattivida aasai chinna chinna aasai siRakatikkum aasai muththu muthu aasai mudinthu vaiththa aasai vennilavu thottu muththamida aasai ennai indha poomi chutRi vara aasai chinna chinna aasai siRakatikkum aasai muththu muthu aasai mudinthu vaiththa aasai sEttRu vaYal aadi naatRRu nada aasai meen pidiththu meeNdum aatRil vida aasai vaanavillai koNYcham uduththi koLLa aasai pani thuLikkuL naanum paduththu koLLa aasai chiththiraththu mElE sElai katta aasai chinna chinna aasai siRakatikkum aasai muththu muthu aasai mudinthu vaiththa aasai vennilavu thottu muththamida aasai ennai indha poomi chutRi vara aasai chinna chinna aasai siRakatikkum aasai muththu muthu aasai mudinthu vaiththa aasai

Chhoti Si Aasha (Hindi)Dil hai chotta sa, chhoti si asha masti bhare man ki, bholi si asha chand taron ko, choone ki asha asmanon me udne ki asha dil hai chotta sa, chhoti si asha masti bhare man ki, bholi si asha chand taron ko, choone ki asha asmanon me udne ki asha dil hai chotta sa, chhoti si asha mehek jaoon main, aaj to aise phool bagiya me, meheke hai jaise badAlon ki main odhoon chunariya jhoom jaoon main banke bawariya apni choti me bandh loon duniya erero ere ereyo .... erero ere ereyo .... swarg si dharti, khil rahi jaise mera man bhi to, khil raha aise koyal ki tarha, gane ka armaan machli ki tarha, machloon ye armaan jawani hai layi rangeen sapna dil hai chotta sa, chhoti si asha masti bhare man ki, bholi si asha chand taron ko, choone ki asha asmanon me udne ki asha dil hai chotta sa, chhoti si asha masti bhare man ki, bholi si asha chand taron ko, choone ki asha asmanon me udne ki asha dil hai chotta sa, chhoti si asha masti bhare man ki, bholi si asha

other interviews | part two | part three

 

 

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