A R Rahman bags Grammy Nominations

Nominations for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards were announced by ‘The Recording Academy’ and reflected an eclectic mix of the best and brightest over the past year in music, as determined by the voting members of The Academy.

AR Rahman gets nominated for Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire, written by Gulzar, performed by A.R. Rahman, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer & Vijay Prakash and published by AR Rahman’s own record label, KM Musiq. The award is for best song written For motion picture, television or other visual media. He also gets a nomination for best compilation soundtrack album for motion picture, television or other visual Media for the Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire.

Both Vijay Prakash and Mahalakshmi Iyer are Mumbai based singers of Tamil origin and Tanvi Shah was born and brought up in Chennai and speaks fluent Tamil. Incidentally, Jai Ho also won the BMI award in London recently and Tanvi flew down to collect it. The song Jai Ho was also redone by the popular girl group Pussycat Dolls, as Jai Ho, You Are My Destiny- It peaked at Number 3 in the UK charts and was Number 1 in many countries and reached the U.S Billboard Top 20 in both the Hot and Pop 100 categories.

Beyoncé topped the nominations with 10, Taylor Swift garnered 8, and the Black Eyed Peas, Maxwell, and Kanye West each earned 6 nods. David Guetta, Jay-Z and Lady Gaga received 6 each; and Colbie Caillat, Michael Giacchino, Kings Of Leon, John Newton, RedOne, Bruce Springsteen, T-Pain, and Keith Urban each received 4 nominations.

Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya ~ In December

After the stupendous success of the film Vaaranam Aayiram starring Surya, Sameera Reddy and others, Gautham Vasudev Menon is currently directing a breezy entertainer titled “Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaayaa” starring Silambarasan and Trisha in the lead.

The film which has been under production has been shot extensively at Chennai, Kerala and Malta. With an urban look to it, the story is set between two young people who fall in love. The film is almost complete with some portions and the climax to be shot. The authenticity and mood of the film is maintained by shooting at some realistic ambience in and around Chennai and some picturesque locations at Allepey, Kerala.

A much awaited musical from the Oscar Award Winning Composer A R Rahman, the film is sure to churn out some magic in its own special way, rendering some unforgettable and soulful numbers in the composer’s style, shot to the creative visuals of Director Gautham. The musical got a shot in the arm when Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaayaa’s music director A R Rahman was nominated for 3 Oscars and bagged two.

With five song situations in the film, three songs have been composed already, out of which two songs have been shot extensively in Malta at some virgin locations.

The song “Hosanaa”, sung by Vijay Prakash of “Jai Ho” fame, penned to the lyrics of Thamarai and a rap by Blaze is a sure hit among the young crowd for its peppy beats and stunning visuals shot by Manoj Paramahamsa at Malta corresponding to the stylized choreography by Flexy Stu of Adiye Kolluthey fame.“Omana Penne” written by Thamarai too and sung by A R Rahman himself, holds a style of its own in the way it has been sung and programmed.

Rahman’s Jai Ho wows Kolkata !

The venue was the same; so was the man. What was different was the music he played.Six years after his debut in India,  The  Unity of  Light concert — A.R. Rahman returned to Salt Lake Stadium this evening with hip-hop, funk, jazz and praise for the city that “best appreciates”his music.

“In Los Angeles, when somebody asked me which audience appreciates your music the best’, I could only think of you. The same place, six years back… the love that you gave me is unbelievable and it is still fresh in my memory,” Rahman said. “If I have to hug each one of you,it would take me two years but I would still love to do that,” hesmiled.

Local flavour was not found wanting in the three-hour show, Jai Ho — A.R. Rahman Live in Concert, presented by the Liver Foundation of West Bengal. Javed Ali sang lines from Jodi Tor Daak Shuney Keu Na Aashey which Rahman had used in Shyam Benegal’s Bose: The Forgotten Hero.

Usha Uthup, Rahman’s “best singer from this city”, took the stage to sing two duets with the composer — Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na and then
Mustafa Mustafa. Rahman emerged from under the stage with the anthemic chants of Jaage Hain from Guru on his lips.

His concert outfits were sober as always — a white full-sleeve shirt and a black T-shirt. His most glamorous attire was a red sherwani. But there was less restraint. Rahman broke into an impromptu jig on stage. Gone was the shy man behind the keyboard.

Moments earlier, Rahman had said: “As I get older, I see other points of view…. Things I wouldn’t have noticed before. If music wakes you up, makes you think, heals you, the music is working. And then, a thought put in action in a positive way is a blessed thought.”

Kolkata all set to rock to Rahman beats.

Come Saturday,November 14 2009 and music lovers are in for a star-studded treat. A R Rahman will be in town with an entourage that reads like the who’s-who of Bollywood playback music.

The winner of two Oscars has some great plans up his sleeves, and helping him conjure a magical evening at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan will be some of the country’s best singers Sadhana Sargam, Hariharan, Javed Ali, Rashid Ali, Shweta Pandit and Neeti Mohan, not to mention renowned percussionist Sivamani.

The thousands of Rahman fans who will turn up for the evening are certain to be mesmerized at the concert organised by the Liver Foundation, West Bengal, which will build a liver hospital in the city from the proceeds of the ticket sales. During a trip to Kolkata on October 13, his first to the city since winning the Oscars, the music genius signed guitars which will be auctioned off within a few days.

The revenue so raised, too, will be spent on building the hospital. Most paintings and portraits creations of Liver Foundation vice-president Kalyan Bose that Rahman signed during that visit have been auctioned at a gala dinner.

Rahmaniac now operating from Emirates

Rahmaniac.com is now operating from United Arab Emirates. I am sorry for the delayed updates, as I was busy with some other assignments. Thank you for your patience. Lots of exclusive updates are coming up in your way which includes songs from Vinnai Thandi Varuvaya, unreleased song from Blue, theme of Sultan and lots more. If any rahmaniac’s are out here in U.A.E, I would love to meet up with you and have a cup of coffee. Do ring me up in my mobile 00971-55-2660114.

Warm Regards,
Farzad Khaleel

Couples Retreat ~ Music on 13th October

Hollywood star Vince Vaughn might do something for AR Rahman which he has never done before for anyone else. Sources from the industry are saying that the actor is expected to strain his vocal cords for the romantic comedy Couples Retreat for which the South Indian musician and composer has been roped in for the soundtrack.

Vince has never sung in a movie but had performed for the soundtrack Hollywood to the Heartland in a comedy show called 30 Days & 30 Nights. An insider tipped us about the development, “Rahman is scoring the sound for Couples Retreat in which Vince plays the lead.

When Rahman was in the US sometime back, they had met up and had a discussion about the project. It is here that Rahman apparently bounced off the idea that Vince should sing for him in the movie and Vince was very excited about it. It is learnt that he will be singing a romantic track in the movie. This film will have Rahman composing the score for a totally different audience. It will have pure Western sounds.” Rahman remained unavailable for comment.

Couples Retreat is a comedy that narrates the story of four diverse couples who settle into a tropical island resort for a vacation, with one of them there especially to work on their failing marriage.

Kailash Kher has also sung in Couples Retreat. “I have sung a’tarana’ in the film for Rahman and working with him is always a unique experience,” said the singer while adding that he is open to other offers from the west but will only accept work of quality.”

Blue Music Review ~ Stirred & Stylish

“Blue” is the first soundtrack from the Double Academy Award winner Rahman Sir after his famous win and his second for this year after “Delhi 6?which got both public and critics appreciation . Though his genius needs no approval but Delhi 6 just show-cased it once more to the whole world why Rahman deserves the Academy more than anyone else. For a fan like me expectations are always high from his every album but after such a win the spotlight on him has just got much more brighter

Chiggy Wiggy | Kylie Minogue, Sonu Nigam, Suzanne: The song created especially for a promotional music video purpose, has Kylie who will appear in the music video with Akshay crooning her Chiggy Wiggy way that somewhat reminds you of Deep within the Bamboo grove. But as this is Rahman’s track, you can always expect something new in it. Listen to halfway of the song and enter Sonu Nigam with an out-of-the-blue bhangra rhythm, now this is fusion of a high-order. Inovative-ness hardly comes in a better package. I am hooked to the 45 second segment from 2:15 to 3:00. The western sections suit Kylie fine, and the bhangra section suits Akshay’s image fine. You can already imagine how the music video is gonna be now. A good track which will take some time to be liked.

Aaj Dil Gustakh | Sukhwinder Singh, Shreya Ghosal :  Aaj Dil, which is a fire and ice duet featuring Sukhwinder Singh and Shreya Ghoshal. Nothing is predictable about this song which draws inspiration from jazz, Carnatic, funk and what have you! Just like dozens of Rahman songs heard in the past, this one takes its own time to register with the listener. Not at all an easy song to have been composed, written and sung, that has a slight Western touch to it. In the first few hearing ‘Aaj Dil’ appears to be a late 90s style composition by Rahman but after a dozen odd hearing, the song just sits pretty much in your head and it is impossible to get rid of this addictive tune.

Passage ~ Music out on September 8.

Shekhar Kapoor is on cloud nine. He has just finished a short film in Argentina, for which the music was by A.R. Rahman, and has been asked to sculpt a structure inspired by the film that will join likes of Salvadore Dali and Picasso in a museum in Europe. The 25-minute film “Passage” stars Haley Benett, Lily Cole and Julia Stiles.

Speaking about the music of Passage, Shekhar Kapoor quotes “Rahman composed a classic opera song that he recorded in India in an Indian female singer’s voice from his KM music institute in Chennai. When I played the song in Argentina, they said, ‘Oh My God, what a great opera and an operatic voice ‘ Their jaws fell open when I said both were Indians”

Rahman’s all compositions are mind blowing for this movie. The film was shot in Argentina. There is a beautiful song named Aria in French. I ask people to guess where it is from, and they search for all the great composers of the western classical form. And are stunned when I tell them the piece was composed by A R Rahman, sung by an Indian girl called Kavita Baliga from his Music Academy, and produced in his studio in Chennai.”

Rahman’s next “Jai Ho” in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad International Airport will be hosting Oscar award winner A.R.Rahman’s ‘Jai Ho’ Concert on Saturday, October 24,2009.

Over 50,000 people are expected to attend the event, which will be organized by Rapport Global Events and Wizcraft, and held at a specially created ‘GMR Arena’ near the Novotel Hyderabad Airport, just two kilometers away from the airport.

CEO of Hyderabad International Airport, said: “We intend creating a leisure destination outside and around our airport, so that the people of Hyderabad are provided newer, interesting avenues for entertainment and enjoyment. We will have these events on a regular basis. With the festival season starting middle of September, we have already lined up a host of activities that will lead up to the ‘Jai Ho’ Concert on October 24.

“We will start off the festive celebrations with the Airport Festive Carnival from the September 19 through October 25. During this period, any passenger or their relatives and friends who purchase any goods or services worth a minimum of Rs.300, will be eligible for a lucky draw coupon which will enable them to be entered for the Grand Draw prize of a return ticket for two, to Singapore. Additionally, in the weekly draws, two lucky winners will get free tickets to the ‘Jai Ho’ Concert”, he added.

Sripathy said the ‘Jai Ho’ Concert will provide the people of Hyderabad and surrounding areas, an international standard event experience, with state of the art equipment and facilities. Plans are on to provide a special weekend package for outstation enthusiasts in collaboration with the Novotel Hyderabad Airport and Jet Airways.

A R Rahman : God’s own Musician.

The Indian composer AR Rahman, recent winner of a pair of Academy Awards for his jaunty songs in Slumdog Millionaire, has over the years demonstrated a keen talent for reaching new, rapidly appreciative audiences.

This talent is typically discussed in reference to his work outside India, which began early this century when he collaborated with Andrew Lloyd Webber on the saccharine West End confection Bombay Dreams, pairing reworked versions of some of his most outstanding songs from the 1990s with some of his worst original music.

Since then, his work has featured on Broadway and in Chinese and Hollywood films. All this, particularly the Slumdog Oscars, has made Rahman the first Indian composer to find substantial audiences beyond the already large world of his country’s film industry.

But Rahman’s first, more impressive feat of border-crossing occurred much earlier, when he became the first Indian composer with a pan-Indian audience. So often is Bollywood used as a symbol of the entire Indian film industry that it is easy to overlook the country’s diversity of other regional cinema. Outside Mumbai, other sizeable film industries operate like self-contained planets, producing movies in the languages of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Bengali.