If one can feel proud to be an Indian, Rahman can take some of the credit for that very feeling. Rahman is truly a magical word and it has created enough wonders already. The musical creation by MSV and Illayaraja are no doubt the most respected ones but were not able to reach a global audience. Life needs a change and so is Music. Rahman has taken Indian music international. That does not mean music to indians at international grounds but to millions of people totally originated from other nations. What an achievement made and at what an age!! Infact, Rahman was announced as the first Global Ambassador of the Stop TB(Tuberculosis) Partnership at a media event in London which was huge.
Rahman has worked with internationally reputed artists like Michael Jackson, Jean Michel Jarre, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Vanessa Mae, Deep Forest, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Apache Indian, Zakir Hussain, Dominic Miller, L.Shankar and David Byrne. He has also been given the title “The Mozart from Madras”, and this gives me immense pleasure as i am from madras too. My life, my city. I just love madras.
I've also read somewhere that his albums sell more than those of Britney Spears and Madonna combined. The Times of India, the nation's leading English daily newspaper, has hailed Rahman as one of the 100 greatest Indians of the 20th century. Rahman has also been assessed by a leading newsmagazine to be among the top three highest earning Indian entertainers, and even ahead of other icons like international cricket star Sachin Tendulkar and film superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Rahman’s “Vande Mataram/Maa Tujhe Salaam” and “Jana Gana Mana” took the National Song and the National Anthem of India respectively, and rendered the essence and spirit of the original compositions in an interpretation that has now become legend.
So much and so forth to talk about his success, but i believe one cannot have the patience to read those. So lets flip to some of my favorite pieces of Rahman.
I am so happy to cherish the first intro song that Rahman had through film music and specifically through our ever popular Oliyum Oliyum. The days were when entertainment meant nothing but Oliyum Oliyum. Chinna Chinna aasai came up on the screen and it created a feelng where you see a very beautiful looking girl that created butterflies in your stomach.
The flute that was used to kick start the song was never heard sound. The metallic sound provoked everyone. People went crazy and became a die hard fan of Rahman in just weeks after that. The movie which did not have a great opening went like a blaster after hearing the musical score. The cassette sales peaked up like crazy. The film by itself was a well made one and this is the movie that i would say had the biggest of an impact in the Indian film industry. The ingreds like Manirathnam, K.Balachander, Rahman and ArvindSwamy made it go big time. This movie personally is a divine for Rahman himself and from this movie, his career graph shooted in no time. There after, some of the movies that Rahman did, absolutely rocked the nook and corner.
The work of his that i personally loved would be :
1. ROJA - ALL TIME AND TOPS my chart
What a background score. Definitely the era of new sound. The scenes where he mixes a lot of his gingles touch were amazing. The word gingles would make us feel a tingling sound and Rahman best produces those. The songs were all great and that Vellai mazhai song is nothing but an art made of ice. It is tough to picture a song and produce the very same effect on the tunes. This chilling song and that blue tint used were made for each other. Kaadhal Rojaavae with SPB giving the voice is a poem. Thamizaa Thamizaa with Hariharan (my next best favorite after SPB) was a perfect anthem song. ALL in ALL, the movie which nobody would have ever missed.
2. Gentleman - Classy entertainer with a message
A movie where there was a strong theme applied with a perfect touch of enertainment. Chikku bukku would be the most heard song in the Raps and Rahman totally freaked out on that. All other numbers were great too.
3. Kadhalan - Perfect college crowd movie after Idayathai Thirudaathae
My all time favorite song is Oorvasi oorvasi. This song stands the best entertaining song of Rahman in his complete career. Right from the beginning from where Rahman hums Marugabba to where the song ends, absolute treat to eyes and ears. Other catchy numbers were ennavalae with Unni making his solid mark and Mukkala was the most dubbed song in Indian cinema without a doubt.
4. Duet - Musical entertainer with a soft love triangle.
When it comes to love triangle, there is no other director than the famous KB. KB is a master maker of triangle based love stories. The songs were fantastic. The best of the picks would be SPB's Anjali Anjali(what a song) and En kaadhalae En Kaadhalae. It was SPB at his best. These songs resembled keladi kanmani paadagan sangadhi kind of a touch.
5. Kizaaku Cheemayilae - Paasa malar of the latest trend.
One of the best movie of Rahmans with outstanding songs. Even though bharathiraja has made number of village movies, he wanted to give the old wine in a new bottle. Rahman stood best to fit the proverb here. Maanoothu song by SPB is my best pick . Next goes to Thenkiazkku
cheemayilae by my favorite female singer, Chithra. She is the chinnak kuyil without a doubt. Athaikku by Mano was classy too.
6. Bombay - A similar theme of Roja but in Bombay
Background score in the movie gets the greater respect to this movie. The songs were backed up pretty well. Uyirae by hariharan and chithra was a slow number but caught the audience like heavy waves. Humma Humma song was nothing but to prove Rahmans voice and he is the best music director who can sing also. The theme music can make you involve full time with the movie.
7. DilSe - The trio completed by Mani on handling the terror subject
Chayya Chayya is the song which came up in the top 100 charts of Internationial music which is huge. This song is the ultimate key for the movie. DIl se Re by Rahman , Jiya Jalae were all super hits.
8. Iruvar - MGR and Karu under Manis paarvai
The film was to show the friendship of 2 legends of Tamilnadu, MGR and Karunanidhi. Pretty tough subject to show on the screen and i would give complete credit to Mani to have made the movie the way he has done it. The music was a challenge for Rahman and the songs were perfectly made to fit the notes created by the period then. Aayirathil naan oruvan by Mano
was sung very very well to match the TMS style. Kannaik katti kolladae by Hariharan is my favorite in the movie. Vennila, Hello Mr definitely made us think about movies like Anbae vaa. Great work.
9. INDIAN - Corruption
The song Telephone manipol by hariharan is the best. Harinis intro made her stay for long too. Maya machi and Akkadaanu were the other catchy ones. But the best one in the movie is the background score. Fantastic effort by Rahman.
10. Boys - Nothing but boys of chennai
The songs that i still hear a lot. There was ofcourse a lot of instruments used in this movie and i personally like every single song. Enakoru girl friend number is my best pick. I hear this song like crazy in my car. Saare gaame is the next best.
I am totally proud to say that i am a complete addict to Rahman and his music. I also like every of his other movies other than what i've mentioned above. I believe i've missed many other great work of his but you cant ever stop writing when you write about a genius. If anyone can
add more about this icon, i would be happy to hear.
1 Comment
Thanks kyant for those nice words. Pls keep looking as i am trying to post more here :)
Posted on 10:33 AM