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.”

“Oh wait… coloring books”.. Rahman’s gift

Recently, six winners of a “Sakkarakatti” contest organized by Sony at Music World, including a father and his cheerful little kid, got the chance to meet A R Rahman personally. As they were preparing to leave, Rahman suddenly said, “Oh wait… coloring book!” As everyone looked mildly confused, he picked up a bright green children’s coloring book from one of three neat stacks on one side of the room and gave it to the child with a smile.

And as this reporter watched in amusement, the remaining young adults in the room promptly lined up to get one themselves. Moral of the story? When A R Rahman hands out something, you go pick it up. Even if it’s a pea-green coloring book for five year olds.

Sakkarakkatti became famous for its song `Taxi Taxi’, which was an instant hit. Its sheen and popularity even compelled the filmmakers to re shoot the original video. A R Rahman, before starting to compose for this film,promised that his work in this film will make everyone undergo the same pleasant feeling they had when they listened to him for the first time in Roja. Well, the maestro has fulfilled his promise.

Rahman’s Yuvraaj will be out on October 17th 2008

Super Cassettes Industries Ltd aka T-Series will release the music of Subhash Ghai Film Yuvraaj on October 17th. “It is a pleasure for us to make the announcement of the release date of the music,” said a T Series spokesperson. “We are proud of our association with Showman Subhash Ghai for all Mukta Arts ventures. Since October 17 is an auspicious day, we decided to go in for the release on that day.”

Yuvraaj is produced and directed by Subhash Ghai, starring Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Katrina Kaif, Zayed Khan and Jawed Sheikh. A R Rahman has teamed with Gulzar Saab for the Music of the film. The film is Subhash Ghai’s next much-awaited musical after the stupendous success of Taal in 1999. When a company has the music rights of a film’s songs composed by the Mozart of Asia A.R.Rahman, then there is no need to get worried about the success of sales of the music.

Talking about the music of the film, veteran director Subhash Ghai says “The music of Yuvraaj has an international feel. It blends both Western music with Indian classical music and folk music. It has some peppy numbers and some excellent melodies. It has a larger than life feel to it. Rahman has done his best”

Rahman ready with Delhi Marathon Theme

A R Rahman is known for doing anthem’s that go on to stay in public memory for years. Well, his latest anthem is out and this time its for the Airtel Delhi half marathon 2008. It sounds familiar yet refreshing. Rahman was in the capital to promote this album.

He was in Delhi recently to promote a marathon race. He emphasised on the need for such events to be organised and said, “These days when a lot of unnecessary divisions and fragments are being created in society in the name of religion, caste and region, such events hold great importance. When we run along with hundreds of others, we forget what our religion or region is.”

And is he planning to take part in the race himself as well, we asked him. “An event like this where people run together will make me feel ecstatic. It is like a music concert. Like music breaks all boundaries and proves to be a unifying factor for people from across the borders who stand together and enjoy the music without thinking about its source. Here as well, we are expecting people from all walks of life to take part. I have never been a part of such an event, and who knows this year I might run too,” signed off Rahman.

Rising Star of Rahman ~ Benny Dayal

The Rising Star, the latest find of Rahman is the voice to watch out for in the music business.

Most of the songs that he has sung seem to reflect his personality to the Tee fun, confident and passionate. Twenty three-year-old Benny Dayal has had the dream start in the music industry that many dream of. His debut was with A.R. Rahman and from then on he has gone on to wield the microphone for the likes of Harris Jayaraj, Vidyasagar and G.V. Prakash.

His first song to hit the airwaves was Maduraikku Pogadhedi, from the film ‘Azhagiya Thamizh Magan’ in which he has also sung Nee Marylin Monroe Cloninga, both of which can get you to shake a leg or two. But it wasn’t just luck, there’s a lot of practice and exposure that earned him the call from Rahman’s studio.

Based in the Gulf, Benny came to Chennai to earn a graduation degree from MCC. That’s when he participated in SS Music channel’s talent hunt contest and became a part of the then-famous S5 band. A few years later, he was also spotted in Vijay TV’s ‘Paadum Office’, a singing competition between professionals working in corporate offices and is a part of a Rock and Roll band called “Rainbow Bridge”.

Rahman’s Soul stirring Musical notes

For all his achievements, A R Rahman is humility personified. The ace composer now wants to nurture youngsters with a passion for music. And his KM Music Conservatory, an International School of Music and Music Technology, is a step in that direction.

“We hope to expand the horizons of musicians in India by creating awareness about Western music and Music Technology, while continuing to respect and strengthen the art of Indian music. Aspirants will be trained to reach high standards of proficiency as musicians with good grounding in the technology that goes behind the process of making music,” explains the enthusiastic founder and principal of the Conservatory.

When it comes to acknowledging good work, Rahman is second to none. At the recent audio release function of the film Saroja, he heaped praise on music director Yuvan Shankar Raja. “Yuvan was seven or eight when I was working with Ilayaraja. I have seen him grow as a music director. I am happy that he is among the best composers in the industry right now. I am sure he will reach greater heights,” he says.

Rahman fans ~ Strongest community in Orkut

For the 3,00,000 strong A R Rahman Fans community in Orkut, virtual space is for meeting and organizing. The community is used as a platform for the planning of their outdoor activities, which include free food distribution for the poor, concerts, and aid for the disabled kids. It also serves as a platform for raising money for these charity works by selling Rahman tees, Pray for me Brother color books, etc.

A speck of the spotlight

Fans themselves come under the spotlight as they rally support from their communities to help their stars shoot high in online polls. Adding to these are the numerous games related to the stars that are available online. An SRK application in Facebook has 624 monthly active users, while another game on Aamir Khan attracts 205 users every month.

As a fan flaunts her pictures with the star, much to the envy of others, or another one brings out a link to a rare snippet on the star, the fan too gets a share of the star’s glamor. It’s all about show biz, indeed!

Slum Dog Millionnaire ~ Rahman goes West again

Maestro makes it to Hollywood again. This time Bollywood’s super singer Sukhwinder has recorded a song for Danny Boyle’s film Slum Dog Millionaire. Starring Irfan Khan and Anil Kapoor, its music is given by AR Rahman. “Lyrics of the song were amazing. It is written by Gulzaar saab and music is naturally peppy, the way all Rahman songs are. I loved singing ‘Jai Ho’ and I must have sung the song so many times that eventually Rahman got really perplexed. Now they are wondering who would edit all the versions and which version is the best,” laughs Sukhwinder.

Film is based on a true story, and it’s about a kid from the slums of Mumbai, who has nothing – he’s ill educated, he’s illiterate – and he goes on the Hindi version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ and wins it. It has tongue-in-cheek humor. This film is written by Simon Beaufoy.

As for Sukhwinder Singh he is all set to ride the Hollywood wave after winning over Indian audience with his voice and melody. His other Hollywood venture as a music director and singer is Steven Spielberg’s next film.

For this film Sukhwinder is recording a ‘kutch’ song. “I chose folk because it will stand out in the crowd.