Republic Day 2018 | Rahman, tujhe salaam

When the history of contemporary Indian music will be written, it’ll have to be divided into a time before and after A R Rahman,” says musicologist and cultural historian Devesh Desai. ‘The maverick Mozart of Madras’ magic has left us hungering for his signature integration of Indian classical music with electronic music, world music and traditional orchestral arrangements.

This is not only true of obvious semi-classical songs like Chhoda Mori Baiyyan from Zubeida (Raga Pattadeep), but also other seemingly light and popular songs like Radha kaise na jale from Lagaan (Bhimpalas), Rang de from Takshak (Charukeshi/Nat Bhairav) or Ruth Aa Gayi Re from 1942- Earth (Puriya Dhanashree). In fact it will be difficult to compile a list of the best tracks of recent times without having at least half by Rahman. No wonder then that this composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician, multi-instrumentalist and philanthropist’s iconoclastic approach to music-making has created a mark for several contemporary, young composers to be inspired.

But the greatness of Rahman’s work seems to be ordained right from his debut in the year 1992, with Mani Ratnam’s Roja, which took the country by storm. Dil Hai Chhota Sa is still a favourite request RJs keep getting even today. Over the years Rahman has emerged as the biggest and India’s only global music composer. Not entirely surprising that recognition and awards have poured in from all directions. This quadruple national film awardee has bagged two Academy awards, two Grammys, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, 15 Filmfare (Hindi) awards and 16 Filmfare awards (South). Time magazine has included him on the list of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2009 and he has been conferred with India’s third highest civilian honour, the Padma Bhushan in 2010.

When some critics said Jai Ho was not his best work citing several of his other composition to buttress their view, the composer had reacted with: “Sometimes it’s not about a best creation, but the best for a particular moment of the film. ‘Jai Ho’ was right for that particular moment, that particular mindset in Slumdog Millionaire. I know there’s lot of debate over this song winning the Oscars. But then, I didn’t send the song to the Oscars, the makers did. I just composed the tune in three weeks and was done with it. However, I too feel ‘Jai Ho’ was apt for that particular moment in the film—the protagonist comes out of darkness and pain to light amid ‘Jai Ho’ hammering in the background.”

Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, who has sung some truly great Rahman compositions like ‘Jiya Jale’ (Dil Se), ‘O Paalan haare’ (Lagaan) and ‘Luka Chhipi’ (Rang De Basanti), feels music is the composer’s passion. “He wants to create something new and different every time. It is rare to come by such a storehouse of talent. He has this ability to bring out the best in every voice/instrument and make it stand out,” she says and adds, “What is most touching about him is his innate humility and his ability to stay aloof from all the greatness being heaped on him. That is most exceptional.”

Proof of what Mangeshkar attests to, is in what the legend says about his work. “The more I compose, the more I know that I don’t know it all. I think it’s a good way to start. If you think you know it all, the work becomes a repetition of what you’ve already done. I try to make sure that I don’t repeat my music.”