A.R. Rahman. AFP/File photoIncluding you and me, there's an ocean of people who can be so fittingly called as Rahmaniacs; these are the people who have madly fallen in love with the music of Mozart of Madras who turns 50 Friday.
There's this custom I've been following for quite some years on Rahman's birthdays – I make it a point to play no other music apart from Rahman's tunes on January 6. (I know there are more crazier ones out there).
A young A.R. Rahman with Malayalam music composer MK Arjunan. Onmanorama/File photoNow, Rahman's songs that are close to my heart are aplenty. You are overwhelmed by some songs that your eyes well up with tears while listening to them. I am sure many of you would have experienced the same. Kun Faya Kun (Rockstar), Khwaja Mere Khwaja (Jodhaa Akbar), Uyire (Bombay), Lukka Chuppi (Rang De Basanti), Thaai Sonna Thaalattu (Desam – Tamil version of Swades) - always have this effect on me.
Then, there are these peppy songs that are so addictive that make you wonder how he comes up with them in his head – take Chikku Bukku (Gentleman), Antha Arabi Kadaloram (Bombay), Kalluri Salai (Kadhal Desam), Urvasi Urvasi (Kadhalan) as examples. They are not your regular dance numbers but these songs are sure to put you on a foot-tapping mode.
And then, there are these songs which you don't like at all on first hearing. It's so complicated and is that even a song, we have asked. A week later, you are playing that song in a loop; yes, you have been slow poisoned by A.R. Rahman's musical wizardry.
Chances are that you would have come across most of these songs in Rahman's comparatively recent works. Examples: Hey Goodbye Nanba (Aayutha Ezhuthu), Dil Gira Dafatan (Delhi-6), Thalli Pogathey (Achcham Enbadhu Madamaiyada).
It is an indisputable fact Rahman changed India's music scene big time with Roja, his debut. There's definitely magic in his music.
Let me conclude this note with something that I wrote on Facebook 5 years ago on his birthday. The emotions have not changed a bit.
What if I did not have 'Chinna Chinna Aasai' to light up my mornings? What if I did not have 'Vennilave' to to feel the agony of love? What if I did not have 'Khwaja mere' to cry to? What if I did not have 'Kannukku Mai Azhagu' to feel lost in the beauty of romance? What if I did not have 'Padakaali' to laugh to? The list is endless.
When The Week made its cover on A.R. Rahman after his double Oscar win. The Week/File photoGive us more and more of your music. Happy birthday Mozart of Madras, A.R. Rahman. Salute!
