AR Rahman does Kannada film for free
Confirming the news, the producer of the film, K Manju, says, “Rahman did not charge a penny for the film. You can say he did it for free as he didn’t charge anything for himself. He charged, approximately a crore, only for the studio, artists, instruments, recording and re-recording of the film.”
Quiz Manju about why the composer took a pay cut and he replies, “He didn’t compose all the tracks from scratch as they were lifted from the Tamil version. So, the majority of the tracks for the film remain the same. He only composed two new tracks. Also, the length of the Kannada footage is slightly shorter than the Tamil version. The other reason is that this is a goodwill gesture on Rahman’s part for the Kannada audience.”
Some sources in the industry suggest that Rahman slashed his price because he isn’t flooded with offers at present. Manju refutes such conjecture, saying, “Rahman cannot sign projects left, right and centre. He has to keep up his quality work. He spent six months working on the music score forGodfather.”
The composer, who was in Bangalore for the audio launch of the film on Saturday, said, “I owe a lot to my fans in Karnataka. I realize I have many fans in this part of the country. I’m indebted to them and it was time to sing back to them.”
Rahman also reminisced about his days as a music arranger in Bangalore. “I worked with Kannada composers like Hamsalekha and Vijaya Anand as an arranger and visited the Chamundi studios. So there’s lot of history in Bangalore and I’m glad to be back here.”
A.R Rahman to kick-off Whistling Woods’ ‘Cinema 100′
The Mozart of Madras, A. R. Rahman, will kick-off the festivities at ‘Cinema 100′, a three-day film festival (June 1-June 3), organised by the students and alumni of Whistling Woods International, to earmark the centenary celebrations of Indian Cinema. The music maestro will inaugurate the festival on 1st June.
The inauguration will be followed by a 10-minute documentary encapsulating all the 100 glorious years of Indian cinema followed by a performance by Sukhwinder Singh.
And if that was not enough, legendary choreographer Saroj Khan will be conducting a workshop on the inaugural day of the festival. Gulzar saab will then take over talking about poetry in Indian films.
The grand event will also include a wonderful display of films, artefacts, workshops, panel discussions and a lot more along with a healthy dose of entertainment.
Rahman encouarged me: Suryah
S J Suryah who is coming after a break with Isai, says, ‘ after intense search and hard work, I penned the script for Isai. It would be fresh and innovative’.
Besides playing the lead role and directing the flick, Suryah would be composing tracks for the film too. He says, ‘ when I was working with A R Rahman, he was appreciative of my love and knowledge on music. It was he who encouraged me to try my hands in scoring music. That gave me the confidence to turn music director’.
With Suryah and newbie Savithri in the lead, Prakash Raj, Ganja Karuppu and MS Baskar will feature in supporting roles. Soundar Rajan will do the cinematography and Antony will do the editing. Vaali will pen the lyrics and Victor Raj Pandian will fund the venture.
Source: cinesnacks.net
A lowdown on Team Rahman
Since Roja released in 1992, AR Rahman has wowed audiences across the globe. Dil Se or Lagaan, Rangeela or Slumdog Millionaire - Rahman’s soundtracks have left listeners mesmerised with their energy, melodies and complexity.
As his fan base has grown, so has his stardom. The master is performing today at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, from 6.30 pm and with him will be a clutch of performers. TOI gives you a lowdown on Team Rahman
Javed Ali He made Aishwarya shimmy with baap-beta Amitabh and Abhishek in Kajra Re. The singer, trained under ghazal guru Ghulam Ali, never had to look back. A range of hits followed, including Nagada Nagada (Jab We Met) and Ek Din Teri Raahon Mein (Naqaab). But Javed entered the big league with Guzarish (Ghajini) and some marvellous sufi numbers in Rockstar.
Natalie Di Luccio This 21-year-old from Toronto looks oh-so-firang, but boy, can she belt it out, Bollywood ishtyle! Her western rendition of Tu Jaane Na got over one million hits on a popular video sharing website. She’s worked on a range of Bollywood projects, including some stellar work with Sonu Nigam. She’s also lent her voice to songs in Chalo Dilli and Band Baaja Baaraat.
Ranjit Barot This virtuoso drummer and composer has worked closely with Rahman and is a member of John McLaughlin and the fourth dimension. He’s performed with leading jazz and classical musicians like Zakir Hussain, Vikku Vinayakram, Jonas Helborg and Aydin Esen. His album Bada Boom has created ripples in music circles and features some of the greatest musicians of this day and age.
Harshdeep Kaur She can stun you as much with her looks as with her powerful voice! A trained sufi singer, Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is her mentor. She was also declared Sufi Ki Sultana by Amitabh Bachchan on a TV show and has wowed audiences with her range and repertoire of songs. She’s given hits like Katiyaan Karoon (Rockstar), Chand Ki Katori (Guzaarish) and Baari Barsi (Band Baaja Baarat).
I want Rahman to sing my intro song: S J Suryah
SJ Suryah has donned a new role in his forthcoming Tamil-Telugu bilingual, Isai - that of a music composer. And the actor-director says he took the decision after being encouraged by Mozart of Madras, A R Rahman.
“I was explaining the situation for a song in my Telugu film, Puli, when Rahman stopped me mid sentence and said, ‘You explain well and you have an ear for music. Why don’t you compose for your next?’ I was stumped, and I told him jokingly, ‘Please tell me if you don’t have dates to do my next film!’ But Rahman was serious, and well, here I am,” begins Suryah.
He plays the role of a music composer in Isai. “I learnt guitar, keys and vocals for my character in the film. I practised music for five whole months, and late at nights, I tried coming up with my own tunes. Over a period of time, I’d composed almost nine tracks. Vaali sir will be writing the lyrics, and I will soon record the songs with top singers,” he smiles.
So, has Rahman listened to his composition yet? “I will be playing the tracks for him soon. I’ve told him that he has to sing the introduction song for me, ” Suryah says.
The Kushi director admits he has been deeply influenced by Rahman. “You look up to one person to model your character. I’ve tried to look like how Rahman did during his early days, with long hair et all,” he smiles, and adds, “Every musician has a lighter side to him. He romanticises life, and lives by what he feels. This film is a poetic love story. After auditioning almost 100 girls, I’ve roped in a newcomer for the lead role. I’ve christened her Savithri.”
The shooting will begin next month, and will be shot extensively in Chennai, and deep forests in Kerala and Karnataka.
People don’t recognise me much in LA: Rahman
Busy that he is, AR Rahman sure knows how to balance work and family life. He’s working on the film Monkeys of Bollywood, and his People Like Us soundtrack releases in June.
Apart from this, he’s working on three Tamil projects (with Mani Ratnam, Bharat Bala and Rajinikanth), Yashraj’s SRK-Katrina film and has just received an honorary doctorate from Miami University. Yet, when it came to spending time with his kids, papa Rahman wasn’t found wanting for time.
The music maestro took time out to take them to Universal Studios on Sunday, and later that night, to chat with NT. Speaking to us from Los Angeles, Rahman said, “The kids had holidays, so there are here in LA. Plus, I had the doctorate and there were a few sessions for Monkeys of Bollywood too, so it all worked out.” But, instead of taking them to Disneyland, where most kids want to go, Rahman took them to the studios! “My kids are very happy that I took them there,” he said. But how does the Rahman family handle all the attention in public? “My kids are pretty cool,” he said. “They know when to hide… they’ve been trained pretty well. When I am with my family, people tend to give me privacy. They don’t ask for photographs or autographs.” Though AR claims that he doesn’t get recognised much in LA, on Sunday, when he went out, a West African family spotted him – it turned out they were his fans. “They were around 12 people. It was very interesting meeting and speaking to them.”
But there’s another musical project that Rahman his working on – the script of his own film. He says, “The movie under my own banner is going to take a while. It needs a lot of music implementation and it will be different, but also very exciting. It could take six months or even a year. Sometimes these things take time. They have to come together at the right moment.”
There’s no dearth of news in his life though. Just a few days ago, pop diva Madonna was quoted as saying that she was keen on working with the Madras magician. But quiz Rahman about it, and all he says is: “It all happened last night when someone sent me that story. It’s still Sunday here, so I don’t know much about it. I just posted it on Twitter. There’s nothing else on it yet.”
So how does he balance life spanning across two continents? “I think you learn to manage things when you’re that driven. In Chennai, I have my friends, my family and my producers, who are all waiting for their songs. When I am in LA, I work with them on video. So, it all works out.” For geniuses, it always does!
Rajinikanth’s Kochadaiyaan music launch in June
Rajinikanth’s Kochadaiyaan has been creating a lot of ripples in both Kollywood and Bollywood. Both the industries are eagerly waiting to watch this magnum opus. Recently, it was announced that the music of the film will be released shortly which is compiled by Oscar winning musician A R Rahman. The launch will take place in the month of June.
The film presently is in its production leg with various scenes being canned in London, Hong Kong and India. A few days back, the crew was in Hong Kong filming some important scenes. Though it was heard that Rajinikanth’s portions in the film will be over after completing the London and Kerela schedules, the superstar was seen shooting a few sequences in Hong Kong too. Sources say Rajinikanth shot a few pivotal scenes from the film in a highly technological environment with the help of motion capture technique at a studio in HK. The film will hit the theatres in September this year and will have English, Hindi, Japanese, Tamil and Telugu versions as well. We know the wait is too long for you but meanwhile you can relish some good melody from the film to be released this June. So stay tuned!
‘I’ve been guided by AR Rahman’
It was with the song Dil Gira Dafatan(Delhi 6) that Indian singer AshutoshGanguly, or Ash King, as he is popularly known as, made a dazzling debut in Bollywood music. And that was just the start of a consistent love affair. Soon after we saw him coming out with popular tracks likeSuno Aisha (Aisha), I Love You (Bodyguard), Uh-Oh Uh-Oh (MujhseFraaandship Karoge), the chart-buster Te Amo (Dum Maaro Dum), and the recent offering — Aunty Ji(Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu).
The singer, who featured on international pop star Lady GaGa’s Deewaanremix of Just Dance, which was also used in GaGa’s remix album and the Asian release of the album, says that it was a story by fluke. “I was inspired by AR Rahman. He urged me to do something new,” says Ash, adding, “It was during the time when I was recording my first Bollywood song forRahman in Delhi 6 that he told me I should strive to do something beyond the ordinary.”
He even admits that he was not too charmed by Bollywood back then. “I would say that I was guided by geniuses like Rahman and Pritam. When I sang my first film song, I was not looking forward to making a career inBollywood. But Delhi 6 opened my eyes and ignited my interest in doing film numbers here,” he adds.
“And hence I felt like doing something hardcore. So I thought let me just try and remix GaGa’s dance number and give it a desi twist. And she happened to really like it and decided to feature it on her album,” says Ash, who has been nominated at the upcoming IIFA. “It’s going to be my first time at a cinema award show. I feel people still don’t see me as a singer. They rather feel like I’m this international singer doing some experiments here,” says Ash, who’s also performed at the prestigious Glastonbury music festival in the past.
I’d like to work with Rahman: Madonna
Although hugely popular in India, Madonna has somehow never performed for her fans here. Talking about what’s kept her away from the country, she says, “I haven’t got the chance to tour India, but I would surely love to.”
Ask the international pop icon if she has considered collaborating with India’s very own global musician, AR Rahman, and she says, “I would like to work with him when the opportunity comes, and things work out. Only then we will be able to decide on the music.”
On her last trip to the country in 2007, the musician had visited Jodhpur and Udaipur with her then-husband Guy Ritchie and her children. Reports had claimed that she even extended her trip by a few days because she loved the desert state so much.
“I really did. I had gone with my family and friends and I completely fell in love with the culture and traditions of Rajasthan. I also heard a few folk songs and saw some traditional dances,” she reveals.
Although at one time the Like A Virgin singer was married to a filmmaker, she hasn’t watched any Bollywood films. “But I know they are very colourful and have huge dance sequences. I’m sure I’ll enjoy them,” she says, before talking about desi music, “I haven’t heard a lot, but I’m familiar with Indian music.”
Madonna’s recently released 12th album debuted at number one across charts in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Italy and Spain. Called MDNA, the compilation even has a few collaborative tracks with American musician Nicki Minaj and Sri Lankan artiste M.I.A.
Talking about the ‘trippy’ title, she says, “MDNA mainly signifies my name. It also represents Madonna DNA. I’m happy that it has done well. Even today, I’m anxious to know everyone’s response to my work.”
AR Rahman to judge Indian Idol 6?
Sony’s Indian Idol returns on the tube with Season 6 from June 1, but this season the channel has a surprise in store for the audiences. For the past five years, this popular adaptation of the Idol format has served as the ultimate platform for budding singers across the nation.
And though it has stuck to the original format of the international show all these years, this season the production team will bring a novelty factor. Instead of the three judges — Sunidhi Chauhan, Salim Merchant and Anu Malik, Indian Idol will have four judges on the panel this time.
The producers have asked music maestro AR Rahman to join the team and are awaiting his response. A source close reveals, “Rahman has been approached but he hasn’t reverted. Indian Idol 6 will begin next month with the auditions that will air for almost a month.
If Rahman comes on board, then he will be seen in the Gala round (second round of selections).” Rumours are that if Rahman declines the offer due to his busy schedule, then the team will approach other big names from the music industry.
Among other firsts, the new season of the show will see promotions take an emotional route.
The tone of the promos are based on their catchphrase ‘Har idol ke peeche hote hain najane kitne idol’ (behind every idol, there are many other idols as well). With the popularity of the reality show, the channel is leaving no stone unturned to create the right buzz.
