Superstar Rajinikanth has one of most enviable fan following in the industry. His punch dialogues and style of acting has wooed many people across the globe.
One of the highlights of his movies are the title songs which have been targeted at the masses. These songs have usually been sung by popular playback singer SP Balasubramanyam.
However there seems to be a change in the latest Rajni flick 'Yanthram'. Sources indicate that it will be the talented and fusion based singer Hariharan who will render his voice to the title song composed by A R Rahman.
Well let us see the impact of Hariharan’s voice for Rajini this time.
Showing posts with label AR Rahman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AR Rahman. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Govt reception for Rahman
Oscar award winner musical maestro A.R. Rahman was honored, with a reception by the State government here on Sunday. The function at Kadavu Resorts, which was conducted a few hours before his Jai Ho concert, was well attended with ministers like Elamarom Kareem, Benoy Viswam and MN K Premachandran waiting for hours for the Madras Mozart to complete his rehearsals before the concert.
Rahman who appeared in a blue jeans and white Kurta was presented with a memento, jointly by the three ministers, on behalf of the State Government. Rahman, in hi short speech expressed his happiness to be in Kerala, where he was longing to perform for the last 15 years.
Kozhikode Mayor M. Bhaskaran, District Collector P.B. Salim, P. Sathi Devi, MP P.V. Abdul Wahab, MP and chairman of Global Kerala Initiative – Keraleeyam (the organiser of the ‘Jai Ho’ show); Deputy Speaker Jose Baby; MLAs A. Pradeep Kumar and P.M.A. Salam and the former Minister M.K. Muneer were also among the celebrities who attended the function.
Rahman who appeared in a blue jeans and white Kurta was presented with a memento, jointly by the three ministers, on behalf of the State Government. Rahman, in hi short speech expressed his happiness to be in Kerala, where he was longing to perform for the last 15 years.
Kozhikode Mayor M. Bhaskaran, District Collector P.B. Salim, P. Sathi Devi, MP P.V. Abdul Wahab, MP and chairman of Global Kerala Initiative – Keraleeyam (the organiser of the ‘Jai Ho’ show); Deputy Speaker Jose Baby; MLAs A. Pradeep Kumar and P.M.A. Salam and the former Minister M.K. Muneer were also among the celebrities who attended the function.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The Oscars 2009
Hit British film Slumdog Millionaire has won the top prize at the Academy Awards, winning eight Oscars including best director and best picture.
In a great night for Britain, Kate Winslet won the best actress Oscar for The Reader, finally clinching the award on her sixth nomination.
The big surprise of the night was Sean Penn, winning best actor for his role as gay rights activist Harvey Milk.
Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for supporting actor for The Dark Knight.
The actor's family received the award on behalf of Ledger, who died in January 2008.
"We have been truly overwhelmed by the honour and respect being bestowed upon him with this award," his mother said.
Ledger becomes only the second performer to win a posthumous Oscar, following Peter Finch's win for Network in 1977.
But the night belonged to Slumdog Millionaire, the rags-to-riches tale that has enchanted audiences around the world.
Director Danny Boyle, 52, bounced up and down in delight as he received his award, telling the audience: "I swore [to my children] if this miracle ever happened I would receive it in the spirit of Tigger."
Optimism
The film, set in the slums of Mumbai (Bombay), won eight awards in total, including gongs for best adapted screenplay, cinematography, sound mixing, film editing, best original score and best song.
"There are certain places in the universe you never imagine standing. For me, it's the moon, the South Pole, the Miss World podium and here," joked British screenwriter Simon Beaufoy, previously best known for writing The Full Monty.
Indian composer AR Rahman, who received two Oscars - for best song and best score - praised the city which inspired the book, and subsequently the film.
He hailed "all the people from Mumbai and the essence of the film, which is about optimism and the power of hope and our lives".
"We had passion and we had belief and if you have those two things, truly, anything is possible," said Christian Colson.
As anticipated - after years of waiting in the wings - Winslet, 33, won her Academy Award for playing a Nazi prison officer in The Reader.
"I'd be lying if I hadn't made a version of this speech. I think I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror," she said.
"I feel very fortunate to have made it all the way from there to here."
In a night of predictable outcomes, Sean Penn's best actor triumph for his portrayal of gay rights activist Harvey Milk seemed to win the A-list audience's approval.
"You Commie, homo-loving, sons of a gun," said Penn, addressing his fellow performers.
"I did not expect this, and I want to be very clear that I know how hard I make it to appreciate me," said the 48-year-old, who often attracts criticism for his outspoken views.
In an impassioned plea - and to rapturous applause - Penn called on "equal rights for everyone".
"I think it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame," he said.
His thoughts were echoed by Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who won best original screenplay for Milk.
"I heard the story of Harvey Milk and it gave me hope ... that one day I could live my life openly as who I am. And that maybe I could even fall in love and one day get married," he said.
Musical medley
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie both went home empty-handed, while The Curious Case of Benjamin Button converted just three of its 13 nominations - all in the technical fields.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were eager to breathe new life into this year's ceremony, after a continued decline in TV viewing figures.
Australian actor Hugh Jackman hosted the show, and showed off his musical talents - opening with a medley of songs paying tribute to the best picture nominees.
He went on to join singer Beyonce in a tribute to Hollywood's best-loved musicals.
Spanish actress Penelope Cruz became the first winner of the night, picking up the best supporting actress award.
The 34-year-old star won her first Oscar for her performance as a passionate artist in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
"Has anybody ever fainted here. I might be the first one," said Cruz, who was previously nominated in 2007.
Cruz, who becomes the first Spanish actress to win an acting Oscar, dedicated her award "to all the actors from my country".
"Thank you Woody for trusting me with this beautiful character," she said.
Comedian Jerry Lewis received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which recognises humanitarian efforts.
"This award touches my heart and the very depth of my soul because of who the award is from, and those it will benefit," said 82-year-old star.
The Nutty Professor star has raised over $2 billion (£1.3bn) for the Muscular Dystrophy Association through his annual Labor Day telethon.
In a great night for Britain, Kate Winslet won the best actress Oscar for The Reader, finally clinching the award on her sixth nomination.
The big surprise of the night was Sean Penn, winning best actor for his role as gay rights activist Harvey Milk.
Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for supporting actor for The Dark Knight.
The actor's family received the award on behalf of Ledger, who died in January 2008.
"We have been truly overwhelmed by the honour and respect being bestowed upon him with this award," his mother said.
Ledger becomes only the second performer to win a posthumous Oscar, following Peter Finch's win for Network in 1977.
But the night belonged to Slumdog Millionaire, the rags-to-riches tale that has enchanted audiences around the world.
Director Danny Boyle, 52, bounced up and down in delight as he received his award, telling the audience: "I swore [to my children] if this miracle ever happened I would receive it in the spirit of Tigger."
Optimism
The film, set in the slums of Mumbai (Bombay), won eight awards in total, including gongs for best adapted screenplay, cinematography, sound mixing, film editing, best original score and best song.
"There are certain places in the universe you never imagine standing. For me, it's the moon, the South Pole, the Miss World podium and here," joked British screenwriter Simon Beaufoy, previously best known for writing The Full Monty.
Indian composer AR Rahman, who received two Oscars - for best song and best score - praised the city which inspired the book, and subsequently the film.
He hailed "all the people from Mumbai and the essence of the film, which is about optimism and the power of hope and our lives".
"We had passion and we had belief and if you have those two things, truly, anything is possible," said Christian Colson.
As anticipated - after years of waiting in the wings - Winslet, 33, won her Academy Award for playing a Nazi prison officer in The Reader.
"I'd be lying if I hadn't made a version of this speech. I think I was probably eight years old and staring into the bathroom mirror," she said.
"I feel very fortunate to have made it all the way from there to here."
In a night of predictable outcomes, Sean Penn's best actor triumph for his portrayal of gay rights activist Harvey Milk seemed to win the A-list audience's approval.
"You Commie, homo-loving, sons of a gun," said Penn, addressing his fellow performers.
"I did not expect this, and I want to be very clear that I know how hard I make it to appreciate me," said the 48-year-old, who often attracts criticism for his outspoken views.
In an impassioned plea - and to rapturous applause - Penn called on "equal rights for everyone".
"I think it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame," he said.
His thoughts were echoed by Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who won best original screenplay for Milk.
"I heard the story of Harvey Milk and it gave me hope ... that one day I could live my life openly as who I am. And that maybe I could even fall in love and one day get married," he said.
Musical medley
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie both went home empty-handed, while The Curious Case of Benjamin Button converted just three of its 13 nominations - all in the technical fields.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were eager to breathe new life into this year's ceremony, after a continued decline in TV viewing figures.
Australian actor Hugh Jackman hosted the show, and showed off his musical talents - opening with a medley of songs paying tribute to the best picture nominees.
He went on to join singer Beyonce in a tribute to Hollywood's best-loved musicals.
Spanish actress Penelope Cruz became the first winner of the night, picking up the best supporting actress award.
The 34-year-old star won her first Oscar for her performance as a passionate artist in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
"Has anybody ever fainted here. I might be the first one," said Cruz, who was previously nominated in 2007.
Cruz, who becomes the first Spanish actress to win an acting Oscar, dedicated her award "to all the actors from my country".
"Thank you Woody for trusting me with this beautiful character," she said.
Comedian Jerry Lewis received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which recognises humanitarian efforts.
"This award touches my heart and the very depth of my soul because of who the award is from, and those it will benefit," said 82-year-old star.
The Nutty Professor star has raised over $2 billion (£1.3bn) for the Muscular Dystrophy Association through his annual Labor Day telethon.
Rahman's musical journey from Chennai to Hollywood
It was a remarkable journey from Chennai to Hollywood for music maestro Allah Rakha Rahman who on Monday made a billion Indians proud, adding another feather
in his cap by bagging two Oscars for his score in Slumdog Millionaire.
It was a Jai ho for the soft-spoken Rahman, hailed by Time Magazine as the 'Mozart of Madras', when he walked to receive the award for Best Original Score and Best Song Jai Ho.
The 'Mozart of Madras', who redefined contemporary Indian music and has been a role model for millions of Indians, has already won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for his
music in Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.
The 43-year-old music wizard, who has enthralled audience in the country and abroad with his heartwarming symphonies, is creating waves on the international stage with
his composition in Slumdog Millionaire.
Born as AS Dileep Kumar in a musically affluent family in Chennai on January 6, 1966, he changed his name to Allah Rakha Rahman after his family converted to Islam in the
late 1980's. Rahman was forced to shoulder the responsibilities of his family at the age of nine after his father RK Shekhar, who was a composer, arranger and conductor for Malayalam movies, died due to illness.
The music genius came to the limelight with his music for a Bombay Dyeing ad and Leo Coffee in 1980's which became very popular. But the major break in his career came when noted filmmaker Mani Ratnam approached Rahman, who was then a keyboard player with composer Illayaraja, to compose for his film Roja in 1992.
The music of the film, which was a refreshing change from the run-of-the-mill renditions, made Rahman a star overnight and brought him his maiden Best Music Director trophy at the National Film Awards, the first time ever by a debutante film composer.
Rahman was introduced to the Hindi film industry in Ram Gopal Verma's Rangeela. The music of the film became a rage and the genius continued to give some brilliant
compositions for films such as Bombay, Dil Se, Taal, Lagaan and Rang De Basanti among others.
What made Rahman's music click with the listeners was the refreshing use of percussions, sound and melody, most of which were inspired from the Indian folk music.
Rahman developed a trademark by mixing traditional Indian tunes with International beats from African drums to electronic funk. The composer is also famous for his fondness to the newest sound and technologies in the world of music.
His 1998 super-hit composition 'chaiyya chaiyya' which was deeply rooted in Sufi mysticism, became a rage among Indians and is still considered one of the best compositions of the musician. Rahman gradually became a known face on the
international platform and in 1999 he performed with Michael Jackson in Munich for 'Michael Jackson and Friends Concert'.
In 2002, he gave the music for his maiden stage production Bombay Dreams directed by legendary musical theatre composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Rahman's music was also a hit from London's "West End" to New York's "Broadway".
In 2004, with Finnish folk music band "Varttina", he composed the music for The Lord of the Rings theater production. Rahman's composition "Jai Ho" for British director
Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire has been lapped up by western audiences and made headlines when world renowned fashion designer John Galliano used it as a theme during his fashion show.
The music has already earned him the Critics Choice Award for Best Composer in 2008 and the Golden Globe in the category of Best Original Score. A four-time National Award winner, Rahman was honoured with the Padma Shri and received six awards at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, besides 11 awards for his scores at the
Filmfare and Filmfare Awards South each.
In 2006, he received an honorary award from Stanford University for his contributions to global music. In 1995, he also received the Mauritius National Award and a Malaysian Award.
The music director, who is known for his humble demeanour, gave a new definition to patriotism with his modern rendition of 'Vande Mataram'. His latest tract 'Jiya Se Jiya'
is another attempt to send the message of peace and love through music.
Rahman, who maintains a low-profile, tied the knot with Sairo Bano in 1995 and the couple has three children -- Khadijah, Rahima and Aman. The music composer is also involved with charitable causes and had conducted concerts to raise funds for cancer
patients.
In 2004, Rahman was appointed as the global ambassador of the Stop TB partnership, a project by the World Health Organisation (WHO). He also recently launched the A R Rahman foundation, which is a step towards eradication of hunger and poverty.
in his cap by bagging two Oscars for his score in Slumdog Millionaire.
It was a Jai ho for the soft-spoken Rahman, hailed by Time Magazine as the 'Mozart of Madras', when he walked to receive the award for Best Original Score and Best Song Jai Ho.
The 'Mozart of Madras', who redefined contemporary Indian music and has been a role model for millions of Indians, has already won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for his
music in Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.
The 43-year-old music wizard, who has enthralled audience in the country and abroad with his heartwarming symphonies, is creating waves on the international stage with
his composition in Slumdog Millionaire.
Born as AS Dileep Kumar in a musically affluent family in Chennai on January 6, 1966, he changed his name to Allah Rakha Rahman after his family converted to Islam in the
late 1980's. Rahman was forced to shoulder the responsibilities of his family at the age of nine after his father RK Shekhar, who was a composer, arranger and conductor for Malayalam movies, died due to illness.
The music genius came to the limelight with his music for a Bombay Dyeing ad and Leo Coffee in 1980's which became very popular. But the major break in his career came when noted filmmaker Mani Ratnam approached Rahman, who was then a keyboard player with composer Illayaraja, to compose for his film Roja in 1992.
The music of the film, which was a refreshing change from the run-of-the-mill renditions, made Rahman a star overnight and brought him his maiden Best Music Director trophy at the National Film Awards, the first time ever by a debutante film composer.
Rahman was introduced to the Hindi film industry in Ram Gopal Verma's Rangeela. The music of the film became a rage and the genius continued to give some brilliant
compositions for films such as Bombay, Dil Se, Taal, Lagaan and Rang De Basanti among others.
What made Rahman's music click with the listeners was the refreshing use of percussions, sound and melody, most of which were inspired from the Indian folk music.
Rahman developed a trademark by mixing traditional Indian tunes with International beats from African drums to electronic funk. The composer is also famous for his fondness to the newest sound and technologies in the world of music.
His 1998 super-hit composition 'chaiyya chaiyya' which was deeply rooted in Sufi mysticism, became a rage among Indians and is still considered one of the best compositions of the musician. Rahman gradually became a known face on the
international platform and in 1999 he performed with Michael Jackson in Munich for 'Michael Jackson and Friends Concert'.
In 2002, he gave the music for his maiden stage production Bombay Dreams directed by legendary musical theatre composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber. Rahman's music was also a hit from London's "West End" to New York's "Broadway".
In 2004, with Finnish folk music band "Varttina", he composed the music for The Lord of the Rings theater production. Rahman's composition "Jai Ho" for British director
Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire has been lapped up by western audiences and made headlines when world renowned fashion designer John Galliano used it as a theme during his fashion show.
The music has already earned him the Critics Choice Award for Best Composer in 2008 and the Golden Globe in the category of Best Original Score. A four-time National Award winner, Rahman was honoured with the Padma Shri and received six awards at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, besides 11 awards for his scores at the
Filmfare and Filmfare Awards South each.
In 2006, he received an honorary award from Stanford University for his contributions to global music. In 1995, he also received the Mauritius National Award and a Malaysian Award.
The music director, who is known for his humble demeanour, gave a new definition to patriotism with his modern rendition of 'Vande Mataram'. His latest tract 'Jiya Se Jiya'
is another attempt to send the message of peace and love through music.
Rahman, who maintains a low-profile, tied the knot with Sairo Bano in 1995 and the couple has three children -- Khadijah, Rahima and Aman. The music composer is also involved with charitable causes and had conducted concerts to raise funds for cancer
patients.
In 2004, Rahman was appointed as the global ambassador of the Stop TB partnership, a project by the World Health Organisation (WHO). He also recently launched the A R Rahman foundation, which is a step towards eradication of hunger and poverty.
Best Film: Slumdog Millionaire makes it India's night at the Oscars
It was a night to remember for India at the 81st annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday (early Monday in India). Slumdog Millionaire swept the Oscars with the film bagging eight awards, including Best Director and Best Film.
Among the winners were three Indians, music composer AR Rahman (best Original Score and best Original Song, Jai Ho), lyricist Gulzar (Jai Ho), and sound engineer Resul Pookutty (best Sound Mixing). AR Rahman became the first Indian to win two Oscars.
Danny Boyle picked up one of the biggest awards of the night, the title of Best Director, for Slumdog Millionaire. The cast and crew of the film went on stage to collect the Best Film award, which went to producer Christian Colson.
Simon Beaufoy was awarded for best Adapted Screenplay, Anthony Dod Mantle for best Cinematographer, Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, and Pookutty for best Sound Mixing and Chris Dickens for best Film Editing.
Earlier, Pookutty became only the second Indian to win the prestigious award, after Bhanu Athaiya for the costumes of Gandhi in 1982. (Filmmaker Satyajit Ray was given an honorary Oscar while he was on his deathbed in Calcutta in 1992.)
Accepting the accolade, Pookutty said, "This is not just an award. This is history being handed over to me."
He was soon overtaken by Rahman, however, who became the first Indian to win two Oscars. Rahman shared the Oscar for Best Song for Jai Ho with lyricist Gulzar, who wasn't present at the function.
Other winners of the most coveted categories included Kate Winslet as Best Actress for The Reader and Sean Penn as Best Actor for Milk.
Heath Ledger won the Oscar posthumously for best Supporting Actor for his diabolical act in The Dark Knight while Penelope Cruz picked up the best Supporting Actress Oscar for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Dustin Lance Black scooped the Oscar for best Original Screenplay for the film Milk.
Among the winners were three Indians, music composer AR Rahman (best Original Score and best Original Song, Jai Ho), lyricist Gulzar (Jai Ho), and sound engineer Resul Pookutty (best Sound Mixing). AR Rahman became the first Indian to win two Oscars.
Danny Boyle picked up one of the biggest awards of the night, the title of Best Director, for Slumdog Millionaire. The cast and crew of the film went on stage to collect the Best Film award, which went to producer Christian Colson.
Simon Beaufoy was awarded for best Adapted Screenplay, Anthony Dod Mantle for best Cinematographer, Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, and Pookutty for best Sound Mixing and Chris Dickens for best Film Editing.
Earlier, Pookutty became only the second Indian to win the prestigious award, after Bhanu Athaiya for the costumes of Gandhi in 1982. (Filmmaker Satyajit Ray was given an honorary Oscar while he was on his deathbed in Calcutta in 1992.)
Accepting the accolade, Pookutty said, "This is not just an award. This is history being handed over to me."
He was soon overtaken by Rahman, however, who became the first Indian to win two Oscars. Rahman shared the Oscar for Best Song for Jai Ho with lyricist Gulzar, who wasn't present at the function.
Other winners of the most coveted categories included Kate Winslet as Best Actress for The Reader and Sean Penn as Best Actor for Milk.
Heath Ledger won the Oscar posthumously for best Supporting Actor for his diabolical act in The Dark Knight while Penelope Cruz picked up the best Supporting Actress Oscar for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Dustin Lance Black scooped the Oscar for best Original Screenplay for the film Milk.
Dev Patel wrecked our relationship, says Freida's fiance
Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto's fiance blames the movie, and co-star Dev Patel, for the end of his relationship with the actress.
Jilted fiance Rohan Antao revealed that Pinto not only compelled him to stay mum about their engagement for the benefit of the movie, but also snubbed him to be with her on-screen lover.
The 24-year-old said his former love gave him the thumbs down in a phone call while she was promoting the film with her co-star, who is six years younger to her.
"She ended it with me after getting close to Dev Patel," News of the World quoted Rohan as saying. "Now everywhere I go, I see them on billboards. I am devastated.
"I hate the film. It wrecked my relationship. As soon as it became a success and she started spending all her time with Dev, she ended it," Antao said.
He continued: "She decided she didn't want to be with me anymore. She said she wanted us to be friends. But how can I be when she has destroyed my faith in love?
"She is infatuated with Dev. I don't know if they were having a sexual relationship, but if I came face to face with him I would have things to say.
"This is a very hard time for me, because as much as I don't want to let go, I have to.
"I wish her success in her career, but I can't watch the Oscars, and I don't want to watch the film -- it wrecked our love."
Jilted fiance Rohan Antao revealed that Pinto not only compelled him to stay mum about their engagement for the benefit of the movie, but also snubbed him to be with her on-screen lover.
The 24-year-old said his former love gave him the thumbs down in a phone call while she was promoting the film with her co-star, who is six years younger to her.
"She ended it with me after getting close to Dev Patel," News of the World quoted Rohan as saying. "Now everywhere I go, I see them on billboards. I am devastated.
"I hate the film. It wrecked my relationship. As soon as it became a success and she started spending all her time with Dev, she ended it," Antao said.
He continued: "She decided she didn't want to be with me anymore. She said she wanted us to be friends. But how can I be when she has destroyed my faith in love?
"She is infatuated with Dev. I don't know if they were having a sexual relationship, but if I came face to face with him I would have things to say.
"This is a very hard time for me, because as much as I don't want to let go, I have to.
"I wish her success in her career, but I can't watch the Oscars, and I don't want to watch the film -- it wrecked our love."
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
AR Rahman turns 43
AR Rahman turned 43 on Tuesday, as television and FM channels played special programmes to mark the day but the music maestro said the celebrations were low key due to Muharram.
Speaking at the South India launch of a mobile phone, Rahman said the day was usual for him and there were not much celebrations as the Muslims mourn during the month of Muharram.
Rahman is an inspiration for many. For instance, acclaimed singer Sukhwinder Singh gives the credit of his success to the composer.
“Rahman has been a catalyst in my success because when everyone turned me down and ridiculed my song Thaiyan thaiyan, he was the only one to believe in me. With a few changes in lyrics, he gave me my first big success in the form of Chaiyyan chaiyyan," Sukhwinder said.
With 11 Filmfare Awards to his credit, Rahman has achieved the status of legend in the lives of upcoming singers who dream to work with the composer, at least once.
“Rahman can easily be termed as the living legend in Bollywood. He is one of the few people who made Indian music popular internationally. It will be a dream come true if I get an opportunity to work with him,” said Abhijeet Sawant, who won the first season of musical reality show Indian Idol.
Said Harshit Saxena, runner-up of Amul Star Voice of India: “Rahman always does an excellent job. Everybody has a dream to work with him, and being a great fan of his, I possess the same.”
The musician got his first big break in Mani Ratnam's Roja and later Rahman composed for many films in the south. The film was dubbed in Hindi and the songs like Dil hai chota sa, came as a whiff of fresh air for music lovers who wanted more from this musical genius.
Winner of numerous prestigious awards, Rahman has recently been nominated for the Golden Globe Awards for his score in Slumdog Millionaire.
So what is in Rahman's music that clicks so well with audiences the world over?
“Rahman's music spells magic. We actually wait for his albums. You can see his soul, hard work and dedication in his songs. He never compromises with his style, which is so distinct,” shared Prajakta Shukre, a finalist of Indian Idol 1, who is currently singing for regional films.
Abhijeet Sawant added: “Rahman has never gone with formula music and is on a different level altogether. A calm and soft individual, he has a very different vision. His music is never dictated by popular demand. He always experiments and that is what people like about him.”
With his upcoming projects Delhi-6 and Blue, Rahman's fans will have no dearth of good music to hear and hum.
Speaking at the South India launch of a mobile phone, Rahman said the day was usual for him and there were not much celebrations as the Muslims mourn during the month of Muharram.
Rahman is an inspiration for many. For instance, acclaimed singer Sukhwinder Singh gives the credit of his success to the composer.
“Rahman has been a catalyst in my success because when everyone turned me down and ridiculed my song Thaiyan thaiyan, he was the only one to believe in me. With a few changes in lyrics, he gave me my first big success in the form of Chaiyyan chaiyyan," Sukhwinder said.
With 11 Filmfare Awards to his credit, Rahman has achieved the status of legend in the lives of upcoming singers who dream to work with the composer, at least once.
“Rahman can easily be termed as the living legend in Bollywood. He is one of the few people who made Indian music popular internationally. It will be a dream come true if I get an opportunity to work with him,” said Abhijeet Sawant, who won the first season of musical reality show Indian Idol.
Said Harshit Saxena, runner-up of Amul Star Voice of India: “Rahman always does an excellent job. Everybody has a dream to work with him, and being a great fan of his, I possess the same.”
The musician got his first big break in Mani Ratnam's Roja and later Rahman composed for many films in the south. The film was dubbed in Hindi and the songs like Dil hai chota sa, came as a whiff of fresh air for music lovers who wanted more from this musical genius.
Winner of numerous prestigious awards, Rahman has recently been nominated for the Golden Globe Awards for his score in Slumdog Millionaire.
So what is in Rahman's music that clicks so well with audiences the world over?
“Rahman's music spells magic. We actually wait for his albums. You can see his soul, hard work and dedication in his songs. He never compromises with his style, which is so distinct,” shared Prajakta Shukre, a finalist of Indian Idol 1, who is currently singing for regional films.
Abhijeet Sawant added: “Rahman has never gone with formula music and is on a different level altogether. A calm and soft individual, he has a very different vision. His music is never dictated by popular demand. He always experiments and that is what people like about him.”
With his upcoming projects Delhi-6 and Blue, Rahman's fans will have no dearth of good music to hear and hum.
Monday, December 29, 2008
AR Rahman revamps his website for birthday
Ace music composer AR Rahman hasn’t revamped his official website for about two years, but we have news that work is on to make his website more stylish by including additional features in it. The new, improved portal will be launched on January 6, 2009, which marks Rahman’s 43rd birthday.
A close aide of Rahman revealed that the decision to upgrade his website came after Rahman was nominated for the Golden Globe awards for his score in Danny Boyle’s acclaimed film, Slumdog Millionaire.
And also through his interactions abroad he realised that his website did not have enough juice for his global audiences like his music videos, footage of live concerts, behind-the-scenes stills and videos and also Rahman’s photographs from his concerts and travels. It will also have a link called ‘Rahman’s Recommendation’ in which he will select his top 10 songs from a particular genre.
“Rahman’s official website was very basic and not a lot of work has been done on it for almost two years now. His website did not have many features like live show grabs, his chartbuster videos and even his songs that a composer of his repute should have. People in India and abroad get so much news about him and so we did not want to do anything on the news front in his new website,” says a Rahman aide.
“We wanted to stylise his website and have concert footage, his photographs etc, loaded for his international fans who are deprived of all this. It will be a very up-to-date site now. Rahman too liked the idea and gave a go ahead to the effort.”
A close aide of Rahman revealed that the decision to upgrade his website came after Rahman was nominated for the Golden Globe awards for his score in Danny Boyle’s acclaimed film, Slumdog Millionaire.
And also through his interactions abroad he realised that his website did not have enough juice for his global audiences like his music videos, footage of live concerts, behind-the-scenes stills and videos and also Rahman’s photographs from his concerts and travels. It will also have a link called ‘Rahman’s Recommendation’ in which he will select his top 10 songs from a particular genre.
“Rahman’s official website was very basic and not a lot of work has been done on it for almost two years now. His website did not have many features like live show grabs, his chartbuster videos and even his songs that a composer of his repute should have. People in India and abroad get so much news about him and so we did not want to do anything on the news front in his new website,” says a Rahman aide.
“We wanted to stylise his website and have concert footage, his photographs etc, loaded for his international fans who are deprived of all this. It will be a very up-to-date site now. Rahman too liked the idea and gave a go ahead to the effort.”
Monday, December 22, 2008
Is Endhiran worth Rs 165 cr?
The grapevine has it that the deal has been firmed up between the Rajinikanth-Shankar combo and Sun Pictures for a whopping Rs 165 crore, on a first copy basis.
All that Kalanidhi Maran, chairman and managing director of Sun TV Network Limited was willing to say was, “This is a big moment for Sun Pictures as we feel this is going to be India’s biggest movie. We are very happy and proud to be associated with Superstar Rajinikanth, Shankar and A R Rahman.”
Sources close to AI say the company is relieved that it is out of the project, which according to them “does not make any business sense”.
The buzz is that Shankar and Karunamoorthy of AI have parted ways over the budget of Endhiran, which was originally pegged at Rs 120 crore.
After the meltdown and global recession, the Kishore Lulla-owned Eros International, which has a stake in AI, wanted Shankar to scale down the budget.
However, sources claim Shankar was in no mood to comply. As per sources close to the production, for shooting two songs in North America, Peru and other foreign locations and some scenes in Goa, AI shelled out a whopping Rs 30 crore!
Shankar and key members of his unit travelled in style in first class, first on a recce to spot locations and then for the actual shoot. They stayed at luxury resorts and took helicopters from the US for the aerial shots for the songs. Also, sources claim they hired top technicians from Hollywood with salaries on par with what they would get for an English film!
And for an action scene to be shot in Goa, the producers were forced to buy, on the insistence of the director, three brand new luxury cars — a Mercedes, BMW and an Audi, costing nearly Rs 3 crore, when they could have hired it! And the brand new Merc was blown up for an action scene, when they could have used a dummy! It was at this stage that AI decided that enough was enough and wanted to wriggle out of the project.
A source says, “They literally blew up a fortune — nearly Rs 30 crore and hardly 25 percent of the film was over. Remember? Rajinikanth’s biggest blockbuster of all times, Chandramukhi, was made on a budget including prints for Rs 30 crore, which went on to collect between Rs 80 and 100 crore from theatricals and all other rights. In the international market, a Rajinikanth film has the potential to generate a sum of $3 to $3.5 million, roughly about Rs 15 crore, while an SRK or Aamir Khan superhit film can make anywhere between Rs 40 and Rs 50 crore.”
Meanwhile, Kishore Lulla of Eros International has been going through difficult times as his big budget Bollywood films like Drona and Yuvvraaj have bombed.
In a recent interview, Lulla was quoted as saying, “With the liquidity crunch in the market, people now have less disposable income and so, they will now spend less on luxury and entertainment. This means the movie-going clientele will decrease and so will the box-office collections.”
And the underlining factor that the parent company Eros was stressing was that Kollywood is hardly 30 percent of Bollywood in the international market. Karunamoorthy was clearly told that, this was no time for any kind of bravado.
But Maran and his team do not want to talk about the past. Instead, they are looking at the future.
They feel Endhiran has the potential to be a blockbuster and from Tamil Nadu alone, it may gross a bulk of its production cost.
Added to that, Sun DTH’s foray into north India has been a marketing success and Endhiran’s Hindi version, when it releases next year, can piggyback on it.
Shankar put it succinctly, “I am proud to join hands with Kalanidhi Maran. Working with superstar Rajinikanth is a pleasure.”
All that Kalanidhi Maran, chairman and managing director of Sun TV Network Limited was willing to say was, “This is a big moment for Sun Pictures as we feel this is going to be India’s biggest movie. We are very happy and proud to be associated with Superstar Rajinikanth, Shankar and A R Rahman.”
Sources close to AI say the company is relieved that it is out of the project, which according to them “does not make any business sense”.
The buzz is that Shankar and Karunamoorthy of AI have parted ways over the budget of Endhiran, which was originally pegged at Rs 120 crore.
After the meltdown and global recession, the Kishore Lulla-owned Eros International, which has a stake in AI, wanted Shankar to scale down the budget.
However, sources claim Shankar was in no mood to comply. As per sources close to the production, for shooting two songs in North America, Peru and other foreign locations and some scenes in Goa, AI shelled out a whopping Rs 30 crore!
Shankar and key members of his unit travelled in style in first class, first on a recce to spot locations and then for the actual shoot. They stayed at luxury resorts and took helicopters from the US for the aerial shots for the songs. Also, sources claim they hired top technicians from Hollywood with salaries on par with what they would get for an English film!
And for an action scene to be shot in Goa, the producers were forced to buy, on the insistence of the director, three brand new luxury cars — a Mercedes, BMW and an Audi, costing nearly Rs 3 crore, when they could have hired it! And the brand new Merc was blown up for an action scene, when they could have used a dummy! It was at this stage that AI decided that enough was enough and wanted to wriggle out of the project.
A source says, “They literally blew up a fortune — nearly Rs 30 crore and hardly 25 percent of the film was over. Remember? Rajinikanth’s biggest blockbuster of all times, Chandramukhi, was made on a budget including prints for Rs 30 crore, which went on to collect between Rs 80 and 100 crore from theatricals and all other rights. In the international market, a Rajinikanth film has the potential to generate a sum of $3 to $3.5 million, roughly about Rs 15 crore, while an SRK or Aamir Khan superhit film can make anywhere between Rs 40 and Rs 50 crore.”
Meanwhile, Kishore Lulla of Eros International has been going through difficult times as his big budget Bollywood films like Drona and Yuvvraaj have bombed.
In a recent interview, Lulla was quoted as saying, “With the liquidity crunch in the market, people now have less disposable income and so, they will now spend less on luxury and entertainment. This means the movie-going clientele will decrease and so will the box-office collections.”
And the underlining factor that the parent company Eros was stressing was that Kollywood is hardly 30 percent of Bollywood in the international market. Karunamoorthy was clearly told that, this was no time for any kind of bravado.
But Maran and his team do not want to talk about the past. Instead, they are looking at the future.
They feel Endhiran has the potential to be a blockbuster and from Tamil Nadu alone, it may gross a bulk of its production cost.
Added to that, Sun DTH’s foray into north India has been a marketing success and Endhiran’s Hindi version, when it releases next year, can piggyback on it.
Shankar put it succinctly, “I am proud to join hands with Kalanidhi Maran. Working with superstar Rajinikanth is a pleasure.”
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Kylie Minogue to sing for Rahman
Just her fees and recording of the video will add around Rs 10 crore to the already sky high budget of Blue
Madonna didn’t respond because she was going through a bitter divorce, Rihanna asked for a sum that was not affordable, so finally it is Kylie Minogue who’ll be making history as the first international A-list pop star to lend her voice for a mainstream Bollywood music director.
According to sources, the Australia-born crooner who has sold more than 60 million records, has agreed to sing for AR Rahman. Kylie will be coming to India by January 2009 with her entourage to record the song with Rahman. She has reportedly charged the producers of the film about Rs five crore as her fees ($1 million).
“The song will be recorded for the film Blue, which has Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt and Lara Dutta. The producers also want Kylie to make a music video of the song. In all probability, the song might be shot in Hollywood,” says the source.
The total cost of hosting the star in Mumbai and recording the song and music video could well cost the producers an extra Rs five crore. The company negotiating with Kylie confirmed that they are very close to inking the deal.
“We are negotiating with an international artist. Within two to three weeks, we’ll make a formal announcement,” said Rajnigandha Shekhawat of Nine Winds, which is handling the film’s communications. Sources also revealed that there were a fresh round of negotiations last week. The singer, sources say, is not afraid of visiting Mumbai though she is well aware of the recent terrorist attack.
The production cost of Blue is already hovering around Rs 130 crore - without the expense they are incurring for Kylie’s song. With the last leg of shooting left, at Rs 140 crore-odd, Blue might race past Rajnikanth’s Endhiran to become the costliest film to be produced in India.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
