A R Rahman is the subject of a documentary but has turned down four acting offers
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 16, 2015)
"You know his music, but do you know the man?" are the opening lines of Jai Ho, a 90-minute documentary on the life and works of two-time Oscar winner AR Rahman.
The film premiered at The White House for US President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle and staff, in May. After Washington, it was screened at the Museum of Moving Images in New York and will release worldwide on October 26.
"I hate to see myself on screen but NRIs living abroad and waving the tricolour, deserve to know about the people of India. I didn't know that the documentary would turn out to be charming," the internationally acclaimed composer told Mirror.
The 48-year-old introvert had initially dismissed the idea of the documentary on him but the persistent, award-winning filmmaker, Umesh Aggarwal, who is directing the project, eventually convinced him to give his nod. One of the reasons for him agreeing to it was that Umesh's film on pesticides in bottled water and soft drinks, The Whistle Blowers, made for Public Service Trust of India (PSBT), won the National Award for Best Investigative Film.
"Umesh told me the film would be screened for consulates all over the world. This kind of exposure was great, but I didn't know how it would happen," Rahman recalls.
He admits that he's been approached for a biography earlier, but didn't think any of it was necessary. "After the Oscars, there was a lot of brouhaha and some people thought my journey, the way I make music, would be an inspiration," says the two-time Grammy Award winner, matter-of-factly.
Jai Ho traces his journey from Chennai to Los Angeles. It has been shot inside his Chennai home, London and the US. It has interviews with actor Aamir Khan, filmmakers like Danny Boyle, Mani Ratnam, Ashutosh Gowariker, Shekhar Kapur, music legends Gulzar and Alka Yagnik, and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, among others.
Ratnam admits that it's not a cakewalk working with the 'Mozart of Madras', while Shekhar Kapoor points out, "He goes from Western to Indian and back to Western classic with ease." Gulzar jokes that Rahman is the only composer who gets away with adding "Maula" to every song and Danny Boyle complains, "He never does anything you ask him to do." But Rahman doesn't agree with the Slumdog Millionaire director, "I always do what the director tells me to, I follow his vision in my own style." Rahman says.
His association with Ratnam spans a dozen films, beginning with Roja in 1992. Rahman reveals that the filmmaker now no longer feels the need to brief him on a song. "He loves what I compose, we have a great understanding," he says.
The four-time National Award winner has filmed a personal account of his interactions as a counter-view, in Jai Ho. On Gulzar, he says, "He is a great writer and teases me that I add words to give my music a Sufi feel," he laughs.
Now that he has given a nod to a documentary, is a biopic next? "No!" he retorts. And what about acting in a film? Rahman admits that he was offered a role in a Hollywood film. "I've got four acting offers but I don't remember what the roles were about," he laughs. "I'm still young enough to make music but too old for all this. Of course, I am flattered, but I believe that one can't master everything. Music is my passion, my only mission in life."
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Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; October 16, 2015)
His score in Slumdog Millionaire won him two Oscars and a Grammy making him a global sensation. Earlier, he had teamed up with Andrew Lloyd Webber for Bombay Dreams; more recently, he composed the music for Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi’s Muhammad: The Messenger of God, and formed a supergroup with Mick Jagger called Superheavy.
Despite all this international glory and fame, AR Rahman continues to remain elusive and media-shy. Now, a documentary on the music icon, tracing his journey from Chennai to Los Angeles will let the viewers into his home and heart — his style of working, his inspiration, what music means to him, etc. Called Jai Ho, the 90-minute documentary will be aired on Discovery later this month. Here Rahman talks about the reason why he agreed to a film on him, scoring music for the biopic of soccer legend Pele and more...
Do you like watching documentaries?
Yes, I loved watching Waiting For Sugarman (about South African culture), When We Were Kings (on Mohammad Ali) and the documentary on Michael Jordan.
What made you give a nod for Jai Ho?
I have had a lot of offers before Jai Ho, but I felt it was not necessary. However, after the Oscars and all the brouhaha, I thought people would get some kind of inspiration on the journey of my life, the way I make music, through a documentary. Umesh Aggarwal, who is an award-winning filmmaker contacted me and said it’s only for the consulates all over the world. People who live abroad and hold the Indian flag in esteem, deserve to know about personalities in India. Also, ‘only for the consulates’ means less exposure, which is good because I hate to watch myself. I didn’t know this would happen.
What did you think about it?
It’s a very understated documentary, not very big. It has got its humour and is mostly about my music. More than me, people are talking about about me. It is fascinating to watch what Gulzar, Andrew (Lloyd Webber) and Danny Boyle are saying about me. It is like rediscovering myself.
Listening to them, has there been any change in you?
Yes. In fact, there has been a whole shift in my thinking in the past four years. Now, I have got into the filmmaking process, casting hundreds of girls and boys, something I have never done in my life before. I have started this movie which I am producing, scripting, and composing music for. It is being directed by Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy. I will be announcing it very soon.
What does the title Jai Ho mean to you?
I am lucky that I have done a song like Jai Ho. It’s almost like a mantra for India. It was there always, but it fell into place at the right time. The whole world woke up to it, I am really proud of it.
What are your Jai Ho memories?
It was a period of ups and downs. 2008 was the year of the Mumbai terror attack. My studio was flooded, a lot of negative things happened. I lost my engineer. It was the lowest point of my life after my father’s death. But when I went to Los Angeles for the promotion of Slumdog Millionaire, all the highs happened — Superheavy with Mick Jagger, winning the Golden Globe and getting the Oscar nomination. I think it’s an interesting period to examine life and how it takes you.
Any plans of penning a book?
Nasreen Munni Kabir has written a book on me and is planning another in a couple of years. Also, the first movie I am producing could become a book later. There is so much information and detailing in it, that it might become an interesting book.
You composed music for Pele’s biopic...
He is a legend in sports and it was a honour doing his movie. Meeting him recently was a bigger honour. It was a dream come true.
What kind of music have you scored for it?
It’s edgy — the mode of making is in the school of Danny Boyle, but very Pele with Brazilian influence. I loved it.
Having worked in Hollywood, do you think their perception towards Bollywood has changed now or is it still only about song-and-dance?
I think more movies like Slumdog Millionare should happen. It is all a question of success. In fact, success is the best revenge. More movies from here have to become worldwide hits. Respect comes from how you place your culture and make it accessible to everyone. And I see it happening. A lot of young people are discovering themselves and explosion of talent is going to happen.