Never worry about failures: AR Rahman

Global musician AR Rahman has delivered hits in both Bollywood and Hollywood. The maestro is currently busy doing a five-city tour with the Bablesberg Orchestra from Germany. Excerpts from an interview…

What’s your success secret?
Not many times really what you think actually happens. Sometimes you think that something is really good and you work very hard on it but the whole project is strapped (smiles). Like almost 50 per cent of my projects — some of which I feel were really great — have been scrapped. So whatever comes out is the rest 50 per cent.

Are you talking about anything particular?
Many things actually. I started a project with Kamal Haasan, a very interesting project. I did four songs. But it never happened... So now when I start something and it happens, I’m pleasantly surprised, if it doesn’t, it’s God’s will.

Tells us about your music
conservatory in Chennai.
Some things happen by fluke…like the conservatory. And see now these kids are performing with the Bablesberg Orchestra and they performed for Oprah (talk show host Oprah Winfrey).

How did that happen?
She saw the YouTube video. I met her two years back at the Time magazine event (Rahman was voted as one of its 100 most influential people that year). She was seated on my table along with Michelle Obama. So I asked her ‘Why don’t you come to India?’ She said, ‘Okay you invite me and I’ll come.’ And she remembered it. She called me up and said ‘Remember you’d called me to India, I’m coming there.’

What drives you the most?
After 20 years of doing music here, in the South and in Hollywood, I think that it’s not about where I’m working and who I’m working with, but it’s about what motivates me.

What’s your methodology in music making?
You know, the most difficult thing is to do an idea which has been done to death. Suppose you’re doing a love song, you hear a tune and find it uninspiring. You can do 10 different things and 10 different ragas, but what’s different? So, basically I’m looking at how to implement music better.

Is success a pressure for Rahman — a global brand?
Pressure’s always been there. You should never worry about failures, but do your hundred per cent, without any compromising. That’s my question to myself and if I reply in the affirmative that’s final.