A.R.Rehman!!! Jai Ho!!
It was the year 1992, me just out of college, wondering what to do next in life. One fine day, a friend of mine raved about this new album, Roja, calling the songs fantastic. I knew Roja was being directed by Mani Ratnam, and i glanced at the album cover, it said music by A.R.Rehman. Considering that all of Mani’s movies had music by Ilayaraja , and even their previous collaboration Dalapathi, had some great numbers, i was surprised at why Mani had choosen this newbie composer. Anyway always counting on the fact that Mani’s movies had great songs, i picked up the casettes. And yes i first heard, Chinni Chinni Asai, the music was something like never heard before, it was melodious, folksy, but distinctly different. It had a different tone, different rythm, i mean something attractive about it. And then followed the energetic, infectious Rukumani, Rukumani, the haunting tones of Puddhu Vellai Mazhai and the soulful Kaadhal Rojave. While the album was a success, it really gained after Roja was released, and went on to become a huge hit. Rukumani, Rukumani was a favorite at most of the functions, while Chinni Chinni Asai( Chinna Chinna Aasa in Telugu), came to be on every one’s lips. A.R. Rehman had arrived, as he won the National Award as well as Filmfare Award for his score.
If Mani and Roja, made sure that Rehman arrived with a bang, it was a 1993 movie, that established Rehman further. An assistant director to S.Chandrashekar, he made his directorial debut with Gentleman. Actually it was a movie, not many gave much a chance to run at the box office. Shankar was unknown, the hero Arjun was not exactly one of the top stars, and only Madhoo, fresh from her success in Roja, was the highlight. The movie went on to become a runaway success at the box office both in Tamil and the dubbed version in Telugu. Audiences loved its storyline of the Robin Hood like hero, and also its take on the reservation issue in Tamil Nadu. Arjun’s career got a new lease of life with this movie and Shankar announced himself as one of the hot shot directors in Kollywood. The movie also had some great action scenes, which made audiences go wow, and in fact some really gory scenes. And yes the musical score by A.R.Rehman, again busting the charts. Chikku Bukku Raile, sung by Suresh Peters, was an item song by Suresh Peters and G.V.Prakash was the campus rage, played at almost every function and party. The way ARR actually synchs the train sound with that of the music, is brilliant here. Usalampatti Penkutti( Mudinepalli in Telugu version) was again a folk song kind, with a pretty erotic depiction. Otthagathai Kattiko, had that epic style picturization, and another wonderful score, pretty much rythmic.
If Gentleman, gave a new lease of life to Arjun’s career, Shankar’s next movie, Kadhalan( dubbed into Hindi as Hum Se Hai Muqabla), would make an actor out of Prabhu Deva. Prabhu was already famous for his choreography, as well as his stunning dance movies, but Shankar, actually went and cast him as a full fledged hero. Co starring Nagma as the heroine, the movie was a typical fun filled boy meets girl caper, with the villianous elements thrown in for good measure. The movie again went on to become a runaway success, cementing Shankar’s position further. Prabhu Deva made the transition from a dancer to an actor, and as for Rehman, well suffice to say, Kadhalan would not have been the success without A.R.Rehman’s music. People watched the movie again and again, just for the songs. Mukkabla picturized in a Western kind of environment, was a run away hit. The opening riffs of the song was a straight tribute to Ennio Morricone, right from the church bell ringing to the voices echoing. And Urvasi, Urvasi was another favorite with the campus crowd, if you observe the song, it starts off slowly, and then slowly it ups the tempo. The breezy, peppy, Kadhalikum Penin, with its lovely humming and yeah the Pettai Rap song, with its absolute nonsensical lyrics.
Rehman also teamed up with Mani again for Thiruda, Thiruda starring Prashant, Anand and Heera. The movie a road caper, was a dud at the box office. However A.R.Rehman’s score was again a huge hit. Veerapandi Kotayile, one of my all time scores of ARR, had that kind of rousing, orchestra kind of feeling. And the seductive, haunting Konjam Nilavu another great song. Though Rehman was a favorite with the campus crowd thanks to Urvashi, Pettai Rap, Muqabla, Chikku Bukke Raile, he could slip into real soulful melodies like Ennavale Adi Ennavale( Kadhalan), Kaadhal Rojave( Roja), En Veetu Thotathil (Gentleman). He was as comfortable with a folksy Usilampatti( Gentlemam), Yerrani Kuradhani( Kadhalan) as he was with a more Western Anjali, Anjali( Duet, wonderful use of saxophone here). The fact is Rehman could appeal to all kinds of people, be it the hip campus crowd in Stella Maris or Loyola, or the retired uncle in Mambalam, or some one in small town Gobi or Tiruvur. And though ARR ’s foray in Telugu cinema industry was not too succesful( Gang Master, Super Police being total washouts), he was equally popular in Andhra Pradesh, with the dubbed versions of his Tamil songs proving to be equally popular with the junta.
1995 was a landmark year for Rehman. Though already popular with Hindi audiences, due to the dubbed versions of his songs in Roja, Kadhalan, ARR, made his debut in mainstream Bollywood with Rangeela. Ram Gopal Verma’s tribute to the musical, the movie made Aamir Khan every one’s favorite tapori, while Urmila Matondkar, made the transition from a Plain jane, to the nation’s pin up girl. The pulsating opening riffs of Tanha, Tanha were just magical, and as Asha Bhonsle’s seductive voice floated on the screen, to the images of Urmila running on the beach, dressed in just a tee, guys just went fida. And then the mesmerizing Hai Rama Yeh Kya Hua, to the more peppy Kya Kare Ya Na Kare, to the energetic infectious title track, Rehman had arrived in Bollywood. Though Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, swept the Filmfare Awards, Rehman won the Best Music Director and deservedly so. No disrespect to Jatin Lalit’s score in DDLJ, but all the songs in that movie, put together could never come close to the opening beats of Tanha, Tanha.
ARR had arrived now in Bollywood, officially that is, because Hindi movie audiences were already exposed to his songs. And earlier in 1995, too, ARR teamed up with Mani again for Bombay, set in the backdrop of the 1993 riots in Mumbai. When Bombay released, i was working in Delhi, and throughout that time, the songs on every one’s lips were from that movie. While the foot tapping Humma Humma, was already the rage with the younger crowd, my eternal favorite would be Tu Hi Re(Uyire in Tamil), only one word describes that song for me, masterpiece. Take the opening notes again, slow, drawn out, kind of deep bass, and then the musical interlude, fantastic use of flute, and the way the song modulates from low to high, with a flawless rendition by Hariharan. Honestly whenever i listen to the song, i just get the goosebumps. If i were to choose just one song, that qualifies ARR as a genius, it would be this, IMO. And of course Kannalane, wonderfully mixing up the Sufi beats with a lovely rythm. While Rangeela had a great soundtrack, for me though Bombay is the much better of the two.
One feature of A.R. Rehman’s career has been the breaks he has given to new comers. Minmini shot into fame with Chinni Chinni Asai in Roja, Hariharan made his debut with Thamiza in Roja, and from then on has always been a Rehman favorite. Sujatha again became noted with Puthu Vellai Mazhai in Roja. Swarnalatha was the husky voice of Usilampatti and Muqabla. Udit Narayan’s foray down South started with Kadhalan, Unnikrishnan again became famous with Ennavale in Kadhalan. While he used Udit for couple of songs in Rangeela, the rest of the singers were not the regular Hindi movie ones. ARR himself providing the vocals with Shewta Shetty for Mangta Hai Kya, getting the underrated Suresh Wadkar for Pyaar Yeh Jaane Kaise Hai.
Rangeela, Bombay established ARR firmly, and in fact the most important thing here is that ARR, broke the North-South barrier. He was equally popular on both sides of the Vindhyas. Now what made ARR actually break this invisible barrier? I guess one reason could be with the spread of cable TV , people were having more exposure. Also ARR had a unique style of his own, which actually could not be classified as totally Southern. If we take Chinni Chinni Asai, it had a typically Southern folk touch, especially in the musical interludes, and yet when dubbed into Hindi, it could appeal equally to the North audience. However, in my opinion, it was ARR’s 1997 music video Vande Mataram, that made him a pan Indian icon. The pulsating rythm, the music, the simple lyrics and of course ARR’s rendering, totally transformed everything. When ARR’s exclaims “Maa Tujhe Salaam”, you actually feel that josh. It appealed to every Indian, old, young, rich, poor, North, South, urban, rural. In effect, Vande Mataram transformed ARR from just a music director into a celebrity in his own right. He was not just someone in the background, he had a face, he had a voice, and most important, his music touched both the commoner and connosieur alike. If the commoner could jive to Rangeela Re or Muqabla, the connosieur could delight in the sheer artistry of Narumagaye or Tu Hi Re.
Also one more reason why i felt A.R.Rehman was able to be equally succesful in the North, was his understanding of the North folk music. And it was not Lagaan, but 1947-Earth, that initially showcased it. Ruth Aa Gayi Re, by Sukhwinder, was a song, totally rooted in the North Indian folk tradition, the way he beautifully uses the dholak in the song, shows his wonderful grasp of the local folk idiom. Of course in Lagaan, he totally showed his mastery. The way he starts off the Mithwa song with the tanpur strumming and the “Har Sant Kahe” line, and slowly in synch with the strumming, and when it comes to the Mithwa part, just observe the way he simply ups the tempo, with the drum sound. And the way he mixes the Western classical beats with the more folksy tunes in Oh Re Chori, and the way he switches between the contrasting voices of Vasundhara Das and Alka Yagnik, with not a single jarring note.
A.R. Rehman is a person, about whom, the more is said, there is still more to be said. Honestly me writing about A.R.Rehman is like “sooraj ko roshni dikhana” or trying to hold a candle to the sun. This was just a very small and humble tribute to this genius and maestro. Maybe he is not giving his best now, maybe some of his recent songs have been plain mediocre. But i refuse to give up on a man, who has composed Tu Hi Re, Mitwa, Naramugaye. There are music directors who are just good, and then there are people like A.R.Rehman, whose songs just transport me into another world. Jai Ho, Allah Rakha Rehman, you totally deserve those two Golden Statuetes in your hand. It may not have been for your best, but its not an issue. For having been listening to your songs from the past 17 years, i can say with conviction, you deserve to stand where you are today.
Tags: A.R.Rehman, Indian Music
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An absolutely awesome article about the genius!
I still remember the Woodlands theater (Chennai) ad in The Hindu when Rangeela got released. I was in 6th, i guess. It read “Audience are requested not to dance on stage” :-D
Rangeela had a real MTV inspired feel. But again in such a score, ARR, comes up with a very soft number, Pyaar Yeh Jaane Kaisa Hai. Well i still remember in college fests, Rangeela Re, was the first choice for people wanting to show their dancing skills. And for those trying their luck during singing competitions, “Tanha, Tanha” and “Hai Rama Yeh Kya Hua” were de facto choice.
thanks Ratnakar, for taking me down the memory lane…….all the songs listed are truly masterpieces and the nostalgia associated with these songs is very heartfelt……I still remember wondering how nutrine chocolate candies can be named after a song?? These were released and named as Aasa with Chinna Chinna Aasa in the background for their advertisements….and listening to Premikudu songs, I used to say to my cousins that Prabhu Deva and ARR are born ‘made for each other’….and that Bombay theme for me is what Tu Hi Re is for you…..thanks and this article is indeed ‘trying to hold a candle to the sun.’…..
Narendra, yeah still remember that Nutrine Chinni Chinni Aasai ad, but it was not just Nutrine, even most of the ads on the local cable TV, had some ARR song playing or other. The opening riffs of Urvashi, Muqabla, Chiku Buku Raile were played almost everywhere.
Well Prabhu Deva is quite a decent actor, but honestly he should be thanking ARR for the success of Kadhalan. Sans ARR’s score, that movie would have been just another boy meets girl drama, and not many would have even cared about it. Even Kaadhal Desam for that matter, which was just another campus flick, but it was ARR’s music that again made it a success.
Good tribute to the great genius! I think they didn’t give the best music director award to A.R.R. They gave it to Jatin-Lalit and R.D.Burman award to A.R.R. for the best new music talent.
@ J
It was A.R.Rehman indeed who won it for Rangeela.
http://filmfareawards.indiatimes.com/articleshow/368633.cms
DDLJ got the Best Lyrics.
@ Narendra
Well the Bombay Theme, is again one of my favorites. The flute tone is awesome in it. So soft, so melodious and so haunting.
Ratnakar, thanks for the Article… you still missed some important films and songs but it was a great ride down the memory lane…
Tu hi re is also one of my favourites …also Mani did not let us down with the picturisation of the song. It was placed appropriately in a very emotional situation….
@ Shawshank
Yes ur right, there r so many which i did not cover. Dil Se( one of his best), Rythm( one of my all time ARR favorites), Takshak, Taal, Earth-1947, Alaipayuthey( liked the Tam version more), Mudhalvan are some of the other great albums.
Rythm was a fabulous album, modelling the songs on the 5 elements.
* Sky – Anbe( Sadhana Sargam)
* Water- Nadiye Nadiye( Unni Menon)
* Wind- Kaatre( Unni, Kavitha Krishnamurthy)
* Earth- Thaniye( Shankar Mahadevan)
* Fire- Pathikichu( Udit, Vasundhara).
awesome article.
kudos Rehman.
Paruvam Vaanaga in Roja, Bombay theme are great pieces apart from my fave which is definitely Tu Hi Re.
and I remember seeing Rangeela in Chennai during my first year of engineering which I did in chennai I saw it in Devi …and purchased it in black for Rs10 ka ticket for Rs70, because I could not resist after listening to the songs.
I do think he has given much better songs to us – than “JAI HO”, but since I have been listening to him, since I was a kid, …. he totally deserves those 2 oscars he got !!!
Bipin, Paruvam Vaanaga( Yeh Haseen Vadiyan) is a real romantic number. The music was something not heard much before, i mean i had grown up with IR’s romantic numbers, but this totally different, some what techno based. Tu Hi Re is a masterpiece for sure. Yeah Jai Ho is not his best, but given all his songs to date, i have no issues with the Oscar.
Thanks for the clarification Ratna. IMDB states that he won R.D.Burman award in 1995 and best music award for Rangeela in 1996. Anyways, even thousand oscars are not enough for this genius!He is a great inspiration!
Ratnakar Bhai, Isnt it A.R. Rahman and not A.R. Rehman?
@ Neeraj: Whats in a name??
Why is my message being deleted by the mods? I just said it’s A.R. Rahman and not A.R. Rehman.
Ratnakar- thats a lovely tribute to ARR.A true musical genius & a worthy successor to Ilayaraja.Though I wouldnt rate his work in SDM to be anywhere close to some of his best work in tamil or hindi,lets just say that this is like his reward for his overall contribution to music so far.Some of the other works of his that I really enjoyed were Alaipayuthey,Kandukondain Kandukondain, Kadhalar Dinam ( Dil Hi Dil Mein),
May Maadham etc.My favourite songs in these would be Kadhal Sadugudu & Snehithane-Alaipayuthey,
Enna solla pogirai ( Kandukondain Kandukondain),
Enna vilai azhage ( Kadhalar Dhinam), Minnale nee
vandhadenadi ( May Maadham). Of course the list goes on with songs from lot more movies.The sky is the limit for ARR.
@ Sethu, loved a lot of his Tam songs. Have you heard Narumagaye from Iruvar, totally classical based, one of his more underrated numbers i feel. Enna Solla Pogirai is another brilliant one, just loved the beat in it. And from KK, love the Kanamochi song, so melodious and soothing.
Also loved the songs in Pudhiya Mugam, Ithuthan Kaadhal Inbudhan, being one of my all time favorites. And Anjali, Anjali in Duet, one of the best use of saxophone.
@ Neeraj..Your comments are not being deleted. PFC has switched on a 30 min cache to stabilize its server from heavy hits. :-)
Loverly tribute to the genius.But you have missed Dil Se in this detailed article.That movie just established his work with Gulzaar and Sukhwinder.
I wouldn’t call Hariharan as a “newcomer” in Roja. Tamizha Tamizha might have been his first Tamil film song, but he was already an established singer by the that time with a repertoire of private ghazal albums as well as a few songs in Hindi films like Lamhe.
@ Aditya, yes i am aware of that, as well as his Ghazals. But Roja was what established Hariharan down South in the Tamil movie industry. Maybe not technically a newcomer, but Roja was Hariharan’s debut in the Tam movie world, and i was referring in that context.
Funny things is there were talks like same kind of music and he is because he knows to manipulate technology.
He has proved everyone wrong. Now the talks are his music doesnt have vintage rahman feel and is on down slide. Hopefully he proves everybody wrong again.
For those of u not watched here is vintage rahman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-N4q552U68
@ Arr Fan
I dont think ARR is on a down slide, yeah sure SDM had pretty ordinary music, but come on Delhi 6 had one of the best soundtracks in recent times. I mean getting the voice of late Ghulam Bade Ali Khan from a previous soundtrack and then mixing it with Shreya Ghoshal’s voice for Bhor Bhaye, and composing it in Raag Gujri Todi, is not just some technical manipulation, it needs a kind of passion, a knowledge of the raagas, it is sheer artistry.
Well written article.I am glad that you mentioned Shankar and ARR association, because this is one of highly succesfull combo like mani, but for some reason shankar seems to be comfortable in his south zone.
@Ratnakar
Excellent answers,Especially the 20th !!!
GK
“No disrespect to Jatin Lalit’s score in DDLJ, but all the songs in that movie, put together could never come close to the opening beats of Tanha, Tanha”
That was so cruel.How much ever JL is put down,I have sort of feeling that inspite of being ridiculed by so many music pundits here at PFC their music will survive,I am not so sure about ARR.A small example being ‘Bin Tere Sanam’
I am not putting down JL, they provide good songs, but honestly speaking they can never touch ARR’s level. Ask JL to do a Bombay Theme or Tu Hi Re or a Mitwa. At the most i can say of JL, is that they gave pleasant melodies during a “Sarkayilo Khatiya” era.
One of the few ARR music I really liked
Spirit of unity in DD few years back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVfO0KsPftY&feature=related
Ratnakar: I disagree with you on SDM music. It was definitely not ordinary. Ringa Ringa is amazing tribute to Choli Ke Peechey. He has even used the same singers. Liquid dance is an adaptation of his own Spirit of Rangeela. And I loved Latika’s theme. Gangsta Blues, Riots, Mausam and Escape are situation based. They went well when you watch the film, but as standalones they sound ordinary. And of course Jai Ho and O saaya. O Saaya has been composed after the film is shot (it is like BGM). And what an effect it had in the film. The viusals burst with energy and the soundtrack simply took it to another level altogether.
Delhi 6 is the strongest album from Rahman in the last year or so (in fact I think it is his best work in the last 3 -4 years), but that doesn’t make SDM ordinary.
the article and the subsequent comments have captured the ‘real’ ARR beautifully. if we start taking the names of individual compositions of ARR, it wud run into pages in itself.
the concept of ARR being accepted at the pan-Indian level has been captured succintly by ratnakar. excellent article. bring more of these on…
@ Ratnakar- yes I love Narumugaye myself- very underrated.Yes Duet & Pudhiya Mugam also were lovely albums.Apart from the songs mentioned by you from them I also like- Kannuku Mai Azhagu
( Pudhiya Mugam) & Vennanilavin theril eri
( Duet).Some other gems I like are Nenje Nenje
( Ratchagan), ennai kaana villaye netrodu
( kadhal desam), Patchai kiligal ( Indian) etc.Dil Se is one of my all time favourite albums of ARR & I think Sangamam was one of his most underrated albums.
I think Dil Se and Taal totally established him in the Hindi music scene. Both were landmark soundtracks and showcased his incredible versatility.
One lucky thing for me is that he came to the industry when I was growing up. Any song of his will remind me of some thing or the other in school.
I am just too damn lucky in that aspect! :-)
@Ratnakar – Anna chimpesinavu, wow was a good read…and a good tribute to another Maestro from Chennai…
@Sethu – Yes, Narumugaye was a wonderful song indeed, but I liked the telugu version much…
“Sasivadane Sasivadane swara neelaambari neeva
andela vannela vaikharito nee madi telupaga raava
achochETi vennelalo vicchandaalu navvaganE
guccheteti kulukusiri needa”
One more underrated song is ‘thee thee thithikude..’ from Thiruda Thiruda…brilliant composition…especially the chorus in between was amazing…
@Ratnakar and Sethu – Hey we missed the wonderful song sung by the meastro himself and a National Award winning album – ‘VeLLai pookaL ulagam engum malarhavae, vidiyum bhoomi amaidhikaaga vidihavae…’ from ‘kangalil muthamittal’…Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant!!!
There have been albums by AR which have gone unnoticed, say Indira – Zubeidda, and now Ada – and a lot many of them!
I love harini’s singing in Indira (Nila kaigirathu), esp coz she is made to sing out-of-sur and it sounds very sweet!
Good Tribute Ratnakar.. I could very well follow the chronology as I read the article.. My All Time Favorite Album is Duet, and was a fan since Roja.. but it was “achcham achcham illai” in Indira that made me Rahman fanatic for next 6-7 years..
BTW Hariharan started way way before in 1978 when Jaidev gave him “Ajeeb saneha mujh par gujar gaya yaaro”.. Later RD brought him in Boxer in 84 “Hai Mubarak aaj ka din”.. so he cant be termed as a new comer..
Great article Ratnakar. A.R.Rahman is an absolute genius. Slumdog, though not his best, is still a fantastic album. My two years old son jumps with joy whenever he hears Jai Ho! Had goosebumps when Rahman performed it at the Oscar awards nite. Latika’s theme is as good as the Bombay theme. Jai Ho to Rahman.