Wow !!! Jai Ho!!!
Congrats to A.R.Rahman Sir!!! for winning 2 Oscars.
Proud of you Sir!

I read this article in vikatan.com (tamil) that tried to convince Ilayaraja fans on why he didn't get the recognition that AR Rahman gets these days, inspite of being a legendry composer. And also saw this question asked in AR Rahman fans group, "If classic composers were around today".

Well, let's take all the composers from Naushad, SD Burman, RD Burman in the North to S. Rajeswara Rao, KV Mahadevan, MSV, Ilayaraja in the south. We are sure that they were all great composers. No second thought on it. But how Rahman is different from all these? May be the era he is in... the exposure he got. May be yes, but that doesn't alone make the difference as many others are there in this technology surrounded world. Only Rahman could go to other side of the world. So let's leave alone the technology or the opportunity of the period Rahman is in.

We all know the composers mentioned above have done tons of compositions, all put together will be in thousands with Ilayaraja alone taking about 800+ film scores and 5000+ songs and still counting.

Let's not forget that Ilayaraja's song for Maniratnam's Thalapathy was in the shortlist of best songs of all time. And a few more songs of AR Rahman was in the list. Notice that even then AR takes a slight lead there with more songs than others mentioned, taking it to the "global audience". That is the key, how many of these thousands of compositions were able to turn the "global audience" towards our own composers?

Let's leave alone the global arena, composers in the north have given some outstanding unforgettable compositions, but it was limited to the region. It couldn't go further. And the same case with composers from the south. They had given some of the best compositions ever, but were limited to the region. They couldn't go beyond their region and succeed.

Now, let's turn back to Rahman and see what he did that they couldn't do. He was able to deliver music that blended with people right from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. He was able to deliver what a punjabi would expect and also something what a malayali would enjoy. He was able to cross region "just like that", that was his first triumph and he did that in his debut itself. No one else has achieved this, that Rahman did.

Second, his genre is very broad, he could deliver any genre from Indian classicals - Hindustani, Carnatic - Qawwali to Bhangra - Western Classical - Pop, Jazz, Rock. Oh yes, he started off his career with the Reggae. That is one of his strengths. He was able to fuse them and do it in style.

Third, When Time magazine did this shortlisting for Best Soundtrack of All time, do you think they'd have missed these legendry composers' scores from the largest film industry in the world? No way. They'd have considered the above listed composers if i'm not wrong. Why none of the most experienced composers' score couldn't go to the top 10 list when a 26 yrs old young man's composition could make it to the top of the world?

And that's where AR Rahman is different and stands unique from all these composers. He impressed Andrew Lloyd Webber with his Chaiyya Chaiyya, with the blend of the rhythm and melody it carried and earn the offer to compose for Bombay Dreams. And he was able to compose for Chinese film, at the other end, he was able to do a period western british style movie and so on.

When it comes to Slumdog Millionaire, he did his work as usual, but he had the cushion of the carrier that show cased his work to the western audience and as they say "rest is history" yet again. See the kind of response he got from the reviews, click the below amazon.com link to read the reviews of the fans and these are not the critics'. Critics' reviews are a bunch lot that he has won. And so, no surprise that he won the Golden Globe or 3 nominations at the Oscars.

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B001LX0JK6/ref=cm_cr_pr_link_next_2?%5Fencoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&pageNumber=2

Now you'd agree that AR Rahman is unique that India has ever produced and perhaps the world would see in its history.

The biggest and most credible awards in Indian media are back, for the third time, adhering to the still unparalleled four-tier process. These awards recognize, celebrate and honour Indians who have contributed to our country, and in turn have strengthened our society and contributed towards building Brand India in 2008. This year's awards, are even more significant as they personify the undying spirit of a billion free Indian minds, in the wake of terror, natural disaster and economic challenges.

Global Indian - A R Rahman

For being the most consistent melody-machine of the year, composing for Jodhaa Akbar, Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na, Slumdog Millionaire and Ghajini.

Song - Azhagu Nilave ; Movie - Pavithra ; Year - 1994

I'm listening to it even now. My eyes are battling with tears. This song somehow disturbs me a lot. It has become a regular repeat in my car.

Listen to it, you'll feel what I say, there's no words to describe. I guess, Chitra would have gone in tears while singing this song.

The man that redefined the contemporary Indian film music, is all set to march towards the Oscar podium. His work in the latest flick ‘slumdog millionaire” is the new carrier of his career to the next stage.

Almost every magazine on earth reviewing and giving laurels to the movie doesn’t fail to praise the final credit sequence of the film.

Watch this year’s Oscar nominations for the soundtrack or song, there could be this name called “A.R.Rahman”.

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/11/ar_rahman_on_slumdogs_sound.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/11/AR2008111102775.html?nav=rss_print/style

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11122008/entertainment/movies/slumderful__138251.htm

http://hollywoodandfine.com/reviews/?p=270

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2008/11/12/2008-11-12_a_rich_portrait_of_a_poor_teen_and_his_c.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96876187

http://hdfest.com/Gerald/slumdog.html

http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/movies/story.html?id=953045

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27669648/

http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2008/11/slumdog-million.html

and lots more...

The Mozart of India has proved it yet again!

In recent times, the song, I listened to the most number of times than any other is "Dil Ka Rishta". Truely international composition with a brilliant blend. You listen to the heavy orchestration with a mix of rock kind of feel. The first thought I got is, its a perfect fit for a performance at the "American Idol". What else to say? I wish this finds a place in the Oscar nominations.

The other songs that I listen repeatedly are Tu mere dost and Tu musukura. Lovely songs that we can cherish this lifetime.

I loved the Shano shano remix better than the original version (in my opinion). I'm sure this would be seen in the future dance reality shows.

Zindagi is a soothing lullaby, with the soft rendition by Srinivas.

Mastam mastam, an interesting and soft rythmic song that my dad was tapping while travelling :-) !

Manmohini is another surprise and very interesting piece, that balances the album with genre cycle i guess.

There's nothing I would skip listening to in the album.

Thank you AR for such a gift to us again !!!

http://www.arrahman.com/

I was listening to Veerapaandi Kotayilae and Putham Puthu boomi from Thiruda Thirduda (Chor Chor) while driving. I was so deep into the song and went way far from my exit and had to return back :)

What a composition, orchestration, arrangement only in his third(?) film. I was wondering if these songs were performed in a live concert with a kind of orchestra we saw in LA in 2000. Srinivasamurthy will be sleepless to coordinate the strings and wind musicians.

Looking forward to see that happen with the KM Music Conservatory Symphony Orchestra or with the kind of String Orchestra we saw in LA.

You are taken to a different world when you listen to them with your headphones on or in a closed car.

Take a break from the financial crisis news with these songs. :)