Warning: The longest-ever post in this blog follows! Read it if you have the time and patience.

Initially when I thought about what to write to mark the 15 years of completion of A R Rahman in the world of films, I couldn’t think of any specific aspect to focus on. Besides, I was thinking what’s so special on completing 15 years? After all, Rahman has been associated with/composing music for a period more than that. But, did I listen to his music before 15 years, knowing that the music that I was listening to was composed by him (Am referring to the jingles etc. here)? Hasn’t these 15 years made a difference to my life in a way it can’t be imagined? Besides, I thought I had said everything I wanted to say about his music in my earlier post. But, can proper justice be done to the magic produced by Rahman’s music in just a single post?! So, here’s my journey of how I transformed from just another fan of A R Rahman into a Rahmaniac.

The years 1992-1999:

As I had written in one of my earlier posts, I still remember the day when my dad got the cassette of Roja and how I loved all the songs. Then many more excellent albums of Rahman released. Pudhiya Mugam, Gentleman, May Madham, Bombay, Indian, Rangeela…. In all the movies, there were a few songs that became my all-time favourites. But, it was just that. I liked the songs and kept listening to those again and again. Nothing else special happened. It wasn’t until 1997 when Minsara Kanavu released that I slowly started realizing how much I like his music. Suddenly, I found most of the songs by other music directors at that time to be not quite as great as Rahman’s. I started telling everyone that Rahman is the best. But, even at that time, I neither bought the CD/cassette of Rahman’s movies on the day of the release itself nor did I start discussing Rahman’s music with anyone who would be willing to lend an ear nor did I completely realize the effect his music has on me but, my passion for Rahman’s music seemed to be ever-growing.

The year 2000 – Alaipayuthey and ARR Fan Club:

2000 is the year that was something like a turning point in my life. I had always been known as the most silent girl of the class though I had a few close friends with whom I did talk a lot. I had given my Class 10 Board Exams. That was the time when Alaipayuthey released and as you all know, I became crazy about the movie.

Thanks to the admission system in Tamil Nadu, I had to switch over to a State Board school and in the new school, I was not the most silent girl in the class anymore (Of course, I have not changed completely. Some part of the old-me is still left even now). The reason being, Alaipayuthey (the music and the movie) became a rage and everywhere, people were discussing about it. And I found it irresistible not to take part in those conversations. When I heard someone rave about Pachchai Nirame (can any song ever come close to it? ) or some other song from the movie, I too started joining in and before I knew it, I had made a lot of good friends thanks to Alaipayuthey and Rahman!

It was at that time that I slowly started using the Internet and thanks to my craziness for Alaipayuthey, I got introduced to the Yahoo Groups. I first came to know about Madhavan fan club. Then, I searched through the groups and stumbled upon Mani Ratnam and A R Rahman fan club. Seeing so many of them sharing the same excitement about Rahman’s music and discuss about it left me amazed, and before I realized what was happening, I became a Rahmaniac! It felt great to know that there were so many others sharing the same passion (some even more!) for the man’s music. I realized that his music had always had the same effect on me ever since the beginning.

Following the messages in the group started as an activity which I pursued once a week or so. But, very soon it became everyday activity! (Since the group didn’t require a membership to read the messages, I didn’t become a member of the group till 2004 and till I started blogging, I never posted even a single message in the group!)

The year 2000 was a defining one since that’s when I realized that if I wanted to celebrate my happiness, if I wanted to cheer up, if I wanted to get motivated to do something or even if I was feeling very sad and didn’t feel like getting back to normal soon or when I was curled up with a book in my hand on a lazy weekend, I had a set of Rahman’s songs that would give me company!

2002:

I joined college and that’s where I got fully exposed to the Dappankutthu and Gaana songs (read sub-standard stuff according to me) since I was forced to listen to those in bus during industrial visits or even while traveling to college everyday. After listening to such crap, my passion for Rahman’s music grew even more. When anyone asked me what my hobby is, I would say listening to Rahman’s and Carnatic music! Wherever informal introduction was required, I started introducing myself as a fan of A R Rahman. When any of my friends came across anything related to Rahman, I became the first person they told that to. And, I became what I am today some 5 years back – a complete Rahmaniac!

Chinna Chinna Aasai, Telephone Manipol, Thee Thee, Aathangara Marame, Kadhalikkum, Tanha Tanha, Leo Coffee Ad, Thendrale, Kanava, O Rey Chori, O Bawre, Poo Pookkum Osai, Uyirum Neeye, Nenjinile, Kaatre En Vaasal, Do Kadam, Ishq Bina, Kabhi Meeti Lagti Hai/Tu Accha Lagta Hai, Des Ki Mitti, Yeh Tara, Vanessa Mae’s Raaga’s Dance, New York Nagaram,….. I started enjoying every bit of music composed by Rahman.

2007 – Dream comes true!

The thing that I never ever thought would happen even in my wildest dreams, happened – Meeting A R Rahman himself! Standing in front of him, I wanted to tell him so much, how much his music meant to me and all such stuff. But, as expected, I got tongue-tied. All I wanted was to catch a glimpse of the man whose music has made a very big difference to my life and I got that. That was more than more than enough. Writing these lines has made me relive every moment of that day! It all still seems like a dream.

Never wishing to wake up from that dream and ever a Rahmaniac,
Aparna

I listened properly to most of the songs from the movie, Vandisolai Chinnarasu for the first time only yesterday! Considering the fact that ARR scored music for this movie way back in 1994 and I have been a fan of his right from the beginning, I must say I am listening to it veryyyy late!

Barotta/Parotta
How many of you have listened to this song? It’s something like a folk song kind of one. I would say there’s nothing extraordinary about it. The words Barotta, etc. have always put me off and I never managed listen to this song properly. But, yesterday I don’t know why, I started listening to it and I listened to it for more than 4 times. The music of the line that goes like ‘Barotta naan poattaa veLlaikaaran vandhu nippaanyaa’ (What lyrics!!) has Rahman touch. What say? This song reminds me of KuLicha Kutthalam from Duet in some places. After so many listening, this one seems to sound not so bad.

Sithirai Nilavu
This song opens with flute. I liked the flute interludes, the chorus humming at 1.15 and 3.00 minutes. The tune of the charanams of this song somehow, reminds me of the song, Laysa Laysa (from the movie with the same name). The flute interludes are what adds Rahman feel to this song.

Sugam Sugam
Vani Jayaram has sung this song with SPB! I didn’t know she has sung for Rahman!
Many parts of this song, esp. the words meendum meendum reminds me of the song, Kaatru En from Johnny. This song has a classical touch to it. Flute, Mridangam has been used in this song. The flute piece at 1.45 minutes seems to be based on raaga, Darbari Kanada (Please correct me if I am wrong). I like this song and I am sure this one has the potential to grow on you with repeated listening.

Chinna Mayile
I listened to the song for the first time only when I came to know from the ARR Fan Club that a song from this movie has a tune similar to Lukka Chuppi from Rang De Basanti!! The starting of the song with the words ‘Chinna mayile’ made me want to stop the song. Such sad and boring opening! But, at 0.36, the Lukka Chuppi tune starts and the song transforms to quite a good one.

Kaattu Panamaram Pola
Swarnalatha and Malgudi Shubha have sung this song both singing it in their own style. This is a fast-paced song. The first time I couldn’t stand listening to it at all what with words like Mutthu Papa and all! I found Shubha and Swarnalatha singing ‘Ma Ma Pa’ alternately so irritating. Anyway, all that was the first few times when I listened to it. I have now listened to it so many times that I don’t find it that boring even though there is nothing special in this song.

Senthamizh Naattu
This is the only song from this movie that I have earlier listened to properly quite a few times. But for the way the tune changes at udambu verkkum ushna naattil…. that I don’t like, this song is quite ok. Don’t have much to say about this.

How many of have you have heard these songs? What’s your take on it? After listening to these songs continuously since yesterday night, I don’t think I have found even one song that will be in my list of favourite A R Rahman’s songs. But then, these are Rahman’s songs (as of now, I find the songs to be good only in parts) and my verdict might change soon.

Complete silence apart from A R Rahman singing VeLLai pookaL! In a state of bliss that cannot be described in words

veLLai pookkaL ulagam engum malargave
vidiyum bhoomi amaidhikaaga vidigave

Good Morning folks!

I have always liked Santhosha kaNNeerey more than Dil Se Re. Maybe it’s because I listened to the Tamil version first. Anyway, I love the lyrics of both the songs (I like the words Santhosha KaNNeerey itself). What great lyrics that suits the mood of the song so beautifully!

Some of my favourite lines from the songs:

kalloNru thadaiseidha poadhum pulloNru pudhuvaergaL poadum
nam kaadhal adhu poala meerum

unnoadu naan kaNda bandham maNNoadu mazhai koNda sondham
kaaindhaalum adi eeram enjum

Do Patte Patjhad Ke Pedon Se Utre The
Pedon Ki Shakhon Se Utre The
Phir Utne Mausam Guzre Woh Patte Do Bechaare
Phir Ugne Ki Chahat Mein Woh Sahraon Se Guzre
Woh Patte Dil Dil Dil The Woh Dil The Dil Dil Dil The
Dil Hai To Phir Dard Hoga Dard Hai To Dil Bhi Hoga
Mausam Guzarte Hi Rahte Hain

With such a lovely lyrics having music by A R Rahman & sung by the man himself, is there anything more you can ask for?! Add to it, when the song is picturized by Mani Ratnam you can rest assured that it is a visual cum aural treat. Some parts that I like in the picturization of this song: the colours of Manisha’s costumes, Manisha’s bangles breaking in sync with the beats, Sharukh & Manisha running just as the bomb blasts behind them and the Army men run, Sharukh singing the lines ‘Do Patte Patjhad Ke….’ standing amidst patjhad ke patte! Wow!

Watch Santhosha KaNNeerey here:

I recently transferred some of my favourite songs that I haven’t listened to for quite sometime, to my mobile. So, I have almost stopped listening to radio now. The next three paras of this post is what I typed in my mobile as a message when I was travelling home from work after I pressed the play button in the music player with the random option turned on.

As the bus travels down the East Coast Road at God-knows-what speed, I am enjoying my journey listening to Rahman’s songs. Pachchai KiLigaL – I am listening to it after a long time. I love everything about it – the humming in the beginning, lovely lines like ‘naan innoru piravi unnai petraal innum aanandam’, the interlude/music at around 2 minutes.

Munching a Dairy Milk Eclairs, listening to Jiya Jale ( wonderful beats and flute interludes ), cool breeze caressing my face (surprisingly the person sitting next to me has allowed me to keep the window fully open!), pachai kiLigaL ending and MalargaLe playing next and the beats in the song starting just as I finish typing the previous line, I am loving every minute of the bus ride! I got into the bus feeling a bit tired but now I feel as though my energy level has shot up ten times!

As though in sync with my mood, the next song is Akkadanu naanga! Wow! The next one – Andha Arabic! Is there anything better than Rahman himself lending his voice to his own music? Dil Se Re! Oh my God! It feels as though Rahman himself wanted to cheer me up and stop feeling tired! It hasn’t stopped yet. Doubling up my happiness is the song Sevvanam now!

Just as my stop was nearing, Thee Thee started and I had to stop the song midway and get down from the bus. But, how can I even imagine sleeping without listening to Thee Thee after listening to it halfway? After listening to Thee Thee, Aayo Re Sakhi and Vasishnava Janato, I am now listening to veLLai pookaL. Who’s in a mood to sleep now when all one wants to do is listen to Rahman’s songs again and again and again

More pics of Rahman here.

For those who haven’t listened to the full song yet, here it is:

I am sure once you start listening to this song, you won’t have the heart to stop listening to it.

It always feels great watching/reading old interviews of A R Rahman. These days, there are so many websites and you keep finding interviews in one site or the other often. But, the disadvantage of having so many sites is the questions are often repeated! Thanks to Bhagavathi Mohan, member of The A R Rahman Fan Club for a very old interview of Rahman in the Doordarshan programme, Surabhi. Check it out here in case you already haven’t. I am posting the link here very late thanks to my forgetfulness!

After watching the interview again today, I am now listening to the instrumental version of the songs of Roja non-stop.

Rains have started in Chennai and celebrating the rains, here is a post on some of my favourite rain songs. The list of songs is in no particular order.

Barso Re – Guru

Let me start with a Rahman’s song. Barso Re is the first song that I first watched/ listened to from Guru. The first look of the song made me fall in love with it immediately. The rains, the locations, Shreya Goshal’s voice and more importantly Rahman’s music were all so fresh. In the first listening itself, one can decide that this song is the one that you will want to listen to if you want to celebrate something! The way the song starts with Aishwarya Rai tapping her hands on the walls for the beats and rain drops fall is so nice. Though I felt that everything about the song was perfect when I watched the song full-length in theatre, my opinion has changed now. I don’t like Aishwarya Rai’s dance sequences that much. I feel it could have been better.

Then Maerkku Paruva Kaatru – Karutthamma

This song too starts with wonderful fast beats! When you watch the video of the song, the fast pace of the song is matched by the intensity with which the rain pours. Good choice of singers too.

Maegam Vandhadho – Mouna Raagam

Only Mani Ratnam can make a girl, who is under so much tension with the burden of lost love in her mind and the thought of a guy sitting in her house waiting to get married to her in all probability, dance with joy along with her friends in the rain. (Oops have I started writing serious stuff here? ) This is a typical Ilayaraja song, nice song though. Not great picturization but. Earlier, I often used to get this song mixed up with Vaan Maegam song from Punnagai Mannan maybe because both had Revathy dancing in the rain wearing a similar dark-coloured costume.

Koi Ladki Hai – Dil To Pagal Hai

One of Udit Narayan’s best! Those were the times when one can listen to a song just for his voice alone! I like watching Madhuri, Sharukh and Karishma happily dancing in the rains.

Saawan Barse Tarse Dil – Dahek

I don’t really know why I like this song. It doesn’t have great music or extraordinary picturization! But, I never get tired of watching it. This is a bit slow song. Akshay Kanna and Sonali Bendre getting all dressed up, buying gifts for each other and all and fighting the rains to meet each other and when they finally do meet each other, you can feel the love in the air. Hariharan is the perfect singer for any kind of song and this song is no exception. Maybe that’s what made me start listening to this song in the first place. This song is so slow and soft that you can clearly listen to its lyrics and the lyrics perfectly matches the mood of the song.

Chinna Chinna Mazhai ThuLigaL – En Swaasa Kaatre

The picturization of this song is not that good. It’s boring to see Isha Kopikkar standing in the rains and staring at Arvind Samy sing the song. But, the music! Is anything even needed to be said about it when the music director in question is Rahman? I like the opening music of the song with the words ‘Oru thuLi vizhudhu’ following it.

Jo Haal Dil Ka – Sarfarosh

This is surely one of Jatin-Lalit’s best. Again, those were the times when a lot of Hindi film songs were superb. But, look at the present quality of Hindi songs! Sigh! Talking about the song, I love the beats that run throughout the song in the background. Shot completely in rain, I like the use of bright-coloured costumes for Aamir Khan and Sonali in this song. Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik would have sung this song so well! Incidentally, Kumar Sanu is one singer whose voice I don’t like much. This song and a few others are an exception.

There are lots more beautiful songs shot in rain. Now, let’s hear from you all what your favourite rain songs are.

is what I am currently listening to again and again and again! Wherever you go, you find something written about the one and only SUPERSTAR/ SIVAJI! (Why should my blog alone be an exception? ) Being the Superstar fan that I am (of course, not as much of a fan as I am of you-know-who-all ), I too can’t wait to watch the movie in theatre soon! The more I watch/read anything about Sivaji, the more excited I am becoming! Maybe in another 10 days, I will watch it if I get the tickets, of course.

Rajni and Rahman are the only reasons I want to watch the movie. I have never liked Shankar’s movies much. I have found only parts of his movies good.

Back to Athiradee, still my favourite song from the movie! Speakers apart, volume as high as possible, song in repeat mode is how I am listening to it! Do that and you won’t feel like pressing the stop button. The guitar interludes and Rahman’s voice have not stopped amazing me yet! Sudhish Kamath calls this the best picturized Rajni song! Can’t wait to watch the song in theatre! What with the excellent sound effects in theatre, this song must be a treat to the ears! (Not sure though how much one can hear on top of the fans’ excited whistling and applause) Athiradee rocks!!!! And needless to say, Rahman & Superstar rock too!