Delhi 6 ~ Music in stores on January 14

After director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra wowed us with Rang De Basanti two years ago, he’s back with Delhi-6, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor .

The title is inspired from the pin code of an area in Delhi , where the story is based. This area houses the historical Juma Masjid and Red Fort.

The story sees Roshan traveling from the USA to India with his ailing grandmother. Little does he know that this quick trip will turn into the longest journey of his life. Delhi-6 is told against the backdrop of the ancient walled city of Delhi.

“Maine Pyar Kiya” had a pigeon song that became popular and 20 years later Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has a dove song in his forthcoming film “Delhi-6″. He says it was not part of the original plan.”The song was not really meant to be part of the narrative. I mean, who would think of putting in a song about a dove in a film like ‘Delhi-6′? It just happened. When I came to the pre-climax portion of my script, I was stuck. I needed a continuity link taking the narrative to its finale,”

Mehra’s much talked-about “Delhi-6″ has a large cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek, Sonam Kapoor and Gulshan Grover as well as a dove named Masakali who serves as the romantic leitmotif in the plot.

‘Slumdog Millionaire’ OST Revealed

It’s one of the most buzzed-about films of the season, and a surefire Oscar contender. She’s an accomplished musician who made a commercial breakthrough with “Paper Planes,” one of the year’s biggest sleeper hits. Now, MTV has the exclusive scoop on the soundtrack that will bring M.I.A. and “Slumdog Millionaire” together for your listening enjoyment.

Renowned composer A.R. Rahman will release his critically beloved “Slumdog Millionaire” soundtrack online next week – and in stores next month – giving moviegoers the chance to take home his unique musical pastiche of what it feels like to grow up on the mean streets of Mumbai, India. In many early reviews of the recently opened Danny Boyle flick, critics (such as our own Kurt Loder) have praised the groundbreaking efforts of the music, which mixes the disparate worlds of Bollywood and hip-hop.

M.I.A.’s love for the Bollywood style had her recording inside A.R. Rahman’s studio in India, and she has referred to him as “the Indian Timbaland.” This new “Slumdog” soundtrack will make their collaboration “O…Saya” available for the first time, as well as a remix of her worldwide hit “Paper Planes.”

Rahman proposes, Himesh disposes !

Himesh Reshammiya had once said that if he had to sing for any music director other than himself, it would have to be for A R Rahman. Now, Rahman has come up with a composition, which he thinks is apt for Himesh to sing.

Rahman said, “Yes, I have come up with a composition that Himesh can do justice to. It is an important song for a big actor, in a huge project and for a big banner. But since the shooting of this song will happen only next year, it will be wrong on my part to disclose too many details about it at this time.”

I don’t sing for any outside banner (where I don’t act). I would instead request Rahman saab to give music for one of my films where I am the actor and singer – Himesh Reshammiya

So what made Rahman choose Himesh for the song? Rahman said, “Himesh’s voice and the attitude with which Himesh sings is just apt for this composition. I haven’t spoken to Himesh as yet but I will be talking to him very soon.”

When we told Himesh about Rahman’s plans, he said, “I am a great fan of AR Rahman and his music. It’s a great honor for me to sing his composition, but as a policy decision, I only sing for myself onscreen. I don’t sing for any outside banner (where I don’t act).

Rahman for theme of Champions League T20

ESPN Star Sports, the official broadcaster of Champions League Twenty20, has roped in A R Rahman to compose the official anthem of the league.

The Champions League Twenty20 is scheduled to take place from 3 -10 December and the inaugural match will be played in Mumbai.

ESS Asia MD Manu Sawhney said, “Champions League Twenty20 is a platform where the best of the world come and play. It is premium, aspirational and the highest honor the game has to offer. In our mind, it is to cricket what AR Rahman is to music.

The official anthem will reverberate not just in India but will transcend all language barriers across the global cricket fraternity.”

Meanwhile, IPL chairman Lalit Modi said the five-year deal with Pepsi as the ‘pouring rights partner’ had been mutually terminated. “It would be wrong to say that PepsiCo broke the deal because the Rs 500 million sponsorship deal was called off mutually by both the parties. In the first season of IPL, we had faced some problems during the matches. For example, there was a shortage on soft drinks and people were not allowed to carry water bottles inside the stadium,” Modi added while addressing the press.

Ghajini ~ Rahman is back with Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan’s Ghajini was slated for a Diwali release this year, but it had to be postponed because Aamir suffered a ligament injury. Not satisfied by this decision, Aamir wanted to create some kind of buzz for the film. Now he is releasing the promos of the film today.

Some source close to Aamir Khan said, “Originally, even when Aamir was making Taare Zameen Par, he had planned a Diwali release for Ghajini. But because of his ligament injury he had to take a break for two months as he couldn’t shoot for the stunts.

So the release had to be postponed. But Aamir was hell-bent on having a Diwali release, even if it was only the promos. He decided to release at least the first moving visuals on Diwali.”

Since the past fifteen days, Aamir has been slogging to complete the promos on time. The source continued, “Aamir has been working non-stop in order to meet the deadline. He requested A R Rahman to put aside his other commitments and come to Mumbai to work on the background score of the promos.

Rahman, who generally doesn’t work outside Chennai, gave in to this last minute request and came to Mumbai. He has been working in a Mumbai lab for the past four days, only on Aamir’s insistence. Being such a perfectionist, he didn’t want to compromise on anything at all.”

Yuvvraaj Music Review ~ Boss Back at Work

So after much anticipation and hype, the music of Yuvvraaj is out. Music Maestro Rahman and Show Man Subhash Ghai ties up again in Yuvvraaj after eight long years, in short they are back after Taal. Taal was indeed a musical success and it is said that a cassette of Taal was sold every minute in Indian Streets at that time.

So is anyone expecting another Taal ? Indeed don’t, because this musical score is extremely a different try from Rahman. Because Yuvvraaj is inspired in soul and element from European and Indian classical as well as Rahman’s exclusive library of imagination. After hearing the score, one can strongly say that all songs are strictly based on it script. If Ghai could give imaginative identity to the picturization of the songs, then a sure chart buster album is in the charts.

Main hoon Yuvvraaj

The soundtrack opens with Main hoon Yuvvraaj, designed as a dialog monologue in Salman Khan’s weird accent. The instrumentation of the song is based on 5th Beethoven Symphony performed by The Chennai String Orchestra. The track is nothing but to show Salman’s bad boy role in the movie.

My Wife is my Biggest Critic ~ A R Rahman

In the city of much joy, music maestro A R Rahman is once again on a high after the music launch for Yuvraaj, his comeback venture with Subhash Ghai after eight years. The music launch of Yuvvraaj last week in Mumbai marked a number of firsts for its star players.

A R Rahman's mother launches Yuvvraaj music

Here’s why ; The film, which stars Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif,Anil Kapoor and Zayed Khan, saw the collaboration between Rahman and Subhash Ghai after nine long years. The last time the two worked together was in Taal.

The film also marked the first time Salman Khan is working with showman Subhash Ghai. And lastly, got a glimpse of A R Rahman’s mother, Kareema Begum who happened to be the guest of honor at the launch. Yuvvraaj is likely to release in the last week of November.

Music maestro AR Rahman is once again on a high after the music launch for ‘Yuvraaj’, his comeback venture with Subhash Ghai after eight years. MSN India hit the right chord with him in this free flowing chat.

Rahman launches Music Reality Hunt Contest

A R Rahman and Phat Phish have launched a new reality show called The Big Band.

This show is based on an indigenous format and will provide a platform for nurturing and building musical talent across languages and the broad genres of ethnic, regional and contemporary music. Spanning the seven Asian countries of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka, this reality show aims to create Indian television and web cast history by all measures of budget, viewer ship, regional breadth and diversity.

Rahman, said, “The Big Band is a truly unique stage which gives local bands a chance to dive deep into their true artistic depth and create original music which transcends language and that is universally accessible. We want to present to India and the world at large the story behind what forms and binds a band and how they can be mentored to become world class talent.”

The show will be presented as a travelogue through Rahman’s eyes as he journeys across fifteen cities of India in search of new talent.

Yuvvraaj ~ The first look and Quotes on Music

If initial sound of Yuvvraaj is any indication, Subhash Ghai, A R Rahman and Gulzar have a winner in hands. The teasers of this yet another magnum opus from Ghai are out and so far, reactions from all around have been positive all the way.

Though one is yet to hear the words in the song, just the sound of piano playing in the background with some well etched frames featuring the quartet of Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Zayed Khan are collectively good enough to promise a lot in the offering. Add to that a lavish look of the film and one can almost sense a Taal round the corner.

Years back Ghai and Rahman had created magic with Taal which finds itself amongst one of the all time great soundtracks. Though Rahman along with Ismail Darbar did come up with a very good soundtrack in Kisna as well, it went largely unnoticed. Now with Yuvvraaj, Ghai is back with Rahman and one expects nothing but magic from the showman and the maestro!

Crossed three generations ~ Now next one

It’s hard to pin down what exactly it is about A R Rahman that makes him so appealing in person. Maybe it’s the absence of airs of any kind. Maybe it’s the refreshing lack of ennui or cynicism. Or, maybe it’s just plain old n iciness, of a simple, down-to-earth variety that’s hard to come by these days.

Whatever it is, it works just as effortlessly on the six winners of a Sony music organized ‘Sakkarakatti contest’ who get to meet the maestro in his front office late one evening as it does on yours truly.

They all go from hushed reverence to easy, happy smiles within minutes. And although he’s in the middle of recording for Mani Ratnam’s “Ravan”, he makes sure everyone’s got the pictures they want with him before they leave.

Starting off by discussing the music of “Sakkarakatti”, which has now spent over 20 weeks at the top of the charts. “It’s interesting to work with this new generation of directors,” says Rahman, referring to first-time director of “Sakkarakatti”, Kalaprabhu S Dhanu. “They don’t carry the same sort of baggage other directors do, they’re willing to let go of things that could make a product old and go in a new direction, with new influences.”