Since he got two Oscar awards, it has become some sort of a fad for people to write articles on AR Rahman. Being a Rahmaniac, I always love reading all those articles that celebrate the genius of the master musician. But I am not pursuing that often tread path again and would try to bring your attention to five Rahman compositions that you mustn’t miss. I am not going to speak about his popular numbers like say, Chayya Chayya, or Chinna Chinna Asai, but about those great compositions, that for some strange reasons, didn’t catch the notice of the general public. Make note that like all other Rahman compositions, these would also not attract you at once, but would overwhelm you only after you hear them for a considerable number of times.
1. Luka Chupi from Rang De Basanti – One of the most outstanding songs composed by the master. The song has been made as a conversation between a son, an Air Force Pilot, who got martyred in a war (most probably made with the Kargil war in mind) and his mother. In the song mother asks his son to come back to her as it has become evening, where as the son who is in the other world tells his mother that it is not possible for him to come back to the world where his mother lives. An emotional number that has been efficiently rendered by the great Lata Mangeshkar and Rahman himself. They compliment each other very well and the song has been extremely successful in bringing forward the great affection between a mother and her son and shows the listener how painful the life of a mother is when her son becomes a deceased soul. It is not often that in a duet Lata Mangeshkar get out-sung by her partner, but this certainly is one such occasion. In the latter part of the song, when Rahman starts singing the alaap he follows the style of his favourite singer Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and surprises all Qawwali pundits with his breath taking Hindustani Classical rendition.
2. Oru Poiyavathu Sol Kanne from Jodi – This song comes in a very rare genre in Tamil film music – Ghazal. There are three renditions of the same song in that film by three different singers – Sujatha, Srinivas and Hariharan. But it is the one by Hariharan that makes you understand that this is not yet another ordinary song that you have grown up hearing, but is a rare jewel from the music maestro. It is a love pathos song, made in the Ghazal style, sung by one of the greatest in the Hindustani classical music, Hariharan. The way in which Hariharan gives sound to the emotions of the song is really amazing and the beauty of the music is enhanced by its lyrics. This is a one-of-the-kind song and is a must hear for any music lover.
3. Sonnalum Ketpathillai from Kadhal Virus – The song starts with the use of one of Rahman’s most favorite musical instruments, the flute or the ‘pullanguzhal’. This semi classical soulful romantic number from the album Kadhal Virus is without doubt one of the best songs in the semi classical genre in Indian film music. The Carnatic music training received by both singers, Unnikrishnan and Harini, is very much evident in this great song. The clever use of chorus singers, one trademark quality of Rahman, is also quite apparent in this melodious number.
4. Theme Music of Duet – One of Rahman’s best orchestral numbers, where the song begins with an intriguing lull followed by Rahman’s trade mark humming of the chorus. Then saxophone takes the lead with the soulful rendition of the legendary Kadri Gopalnath in Kalyanavasantham raga. The song starts with silence, then picks up some pace, again silence and then takes some enthralling notes, ending up with the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. To make the composition more interesting, Rahman has added some sounds similar to that of birds in between this composition. The song moves from silence to various levels of Carnatic classical made from this very western-style musical instrument. Once you get the feel of this music after hearing it couple of times, it will take you to another world. Best heard in an environment of silence. A truly great composition that shows the musical genius of the great man.
5. Khwaja Mere Khwaja from Jodhaa Akbar – Another Rahman special, an extremely spiritual song, sung by the great man himself. One of the most amazing things about this song is that it is a “layered” song where by one singer sings the song but the listeners would feel that it has been sung by different singers. Sung in the Qawwali style, this song takes its very peculiar character because of the raw nature of Rahman’s sound. The spirituality in Rahman’s voice is the most striking feature of this song. The vocal of Rahman is being supported by harmonium, strings and hand claps. By singing this song, Rahman has shown that he is not only a great composer but also a skilful singer capable of treading new heights. A master piece and inarguably one of the greatest compositions in Indian filmy and non-filmy music.
These are just five among the umpteen numbers of great compositions by the master, whom the Time Magazine referred to as “The Mozart of Madras”. When you get some time off, don’t forget to listen to these songs as these are some of the greatest musical compositions of all times in any form of music.
(Republished from Vox SEO, the SEO writing forum in Calpine Technologies)
1. Luka Chupi from Rang De Basanti – One of the most outstanding songs composed by the master. The song has been made as a conversation between a son, an Air Force Pilot, who got martyred in a war (most probably made with the Kargil war in mind) and his mother. In the song mother asks his son to come back to her as it has become evening, where as the son who is in the other world tells his mother that it is not possible for him to come back to the world where his mother lives. An emotional number that has been efficiently rendered by the great Lata Mangeshkar and Rahman himself. They compliment each other very well and the song has been extremely successful in bringing forward the great affection between a mother and her son and shows the listener how painful the life of a mother is when her son becomes a deceased soul. It is not often that in a duet Lata Mangeshkar get out-sung by her partner, but this certainly is one such occasion. In the latter part of the song, when Rahman starts singing the alaap he follows the style of his favourite singer Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and surprises all Qawwali pundits with his breath taking Hindustani Classical rendition.
2. Oru Poiyavathu Sol Kanne from Jodi – This song comes in a very rare genre in Tamil film music – Ghazal. There are three renditions of the same song in that film by three different singers – Sujatha, Srinivas and Hariharan. But it is the one by Hariharan that makes you understand that this is not yet another ordinary song that you have grown up hearing, but is a rare jewel from the music maestro. It is a love pathos song, made in the Ghazal style, sung by one of the greatest in the Hindustani classical music, Hariharan. The way in which Hariharan gives sound to the emotions of the song is really amazing and the beauty of the music is enhanced by its lyrics. This is a one-of-the-kind song and is a must hear for any music lover.
3. Sonnalum Ketpathillai from Kadhal Virus – The song starts with the use of one of Rahman’s most favorite musical instruments, the flute or the ‘pullanguzhal’. This semi classical soulful romantic number from the album Kadhal Virus is without doubt one of the best songs in the semi classical genre in Indian film music. The Carnatic music training received by both singers, Unnikrishnan and Harini, is very much evident in this great song. The clever use of chorus singers, one trademark quality of Rahman, is also quite apparent in this melodious number.
4. Theme Music of Duet – One of Rahman’s best orchestral numbers, where the song begins with an intriguing lull followed by Rahman’s trade mark humming of the chorus. Then saxophone takes the lead with the soulful rendition of the legendary Kadri Gopalnath in Kalyanavasantham raga. The song starts with silence, then picks up some pace, again silence and then takes some enthralling notes, ending up with the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. To make the composition more interesting, Rahman has added some sounds similar to that of birds in between this composition. The song moves from silence to various levels of Carnatic classical made from this very western-style musical instrument. Once you get the feel of this music after hearing it couple of times, it will take you to another world. Best heard in an environment of silence. A truly great composition that shows the musical genius of the great man.
5. Khwaja Mere Khwaja from Jodhaa Akbar – Another Rahman special, an extremely spiritual song, sung by the great man himself. One of the most amazing things about this song is that it is a “layered” song where by one singer sings the song but the listeners would feel that it has been sung by different singers. Sung in the Qawwali style, this song takes its very peculiar character because of the raw nature of Rahman’s sound. The spirituality in Rahman’s voice is the most striking feature of this song. The vocal of Rahman is being supported by harmonium, strings and hand claps. By singing this song, Rahman has shown that he is not only a great composer but also a skilful singer capable of treading new heights. A master piece and inarguably one of the greatest compositions in Indian filmy and non-filmy music.
These are just five among the umpteen numbers of great compositions by the master, whom the Time Magazine referred to as “The Mozart of Madras”. When you get some time off, don’t forget to listen to these songs as these are some of the greatest musical compositions of all times in any form of music.
(Republished from Vox SEO, the SEO writing forum in Calpine Technologies)
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