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Q&A: AR Rahman

The Mozart of Madras on winning awards, recording ‘We Are the World 25 for Haiti’ and producing for Nicole Scherzinger

Aug 10, 2010

Jason Kempin/Getty Images Entertainment

AR Rahman wrapped up the first leg of his Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour last month. After a short break this month, he gets back on the road in September to complete the tour that will see him go across over 16 cities in the US and Europe. He will also head to London in October to accept an Asian Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music for 2010. Before embarking upon the tour, Rahman spoke to us about his awards, collaborations and more.

You’ve been on a roll this last one year or so. It’s been really huge for you, with the biggest international honours anybody could ask for. What was going through your mind those few minutes right before they announced you as the winner at the Grammies or even the Oscars last year?

The Grammies was different. At the Grammies I didn’t know whether I was going to get it. And I just walked in when they announced the first category, so I didn’t know how to react. And then as I was just walking out again, they announced the second category, so I didn’t even have time to speak or think. At the Oscars, of course, I was more prepared and more worried about my performance rather than the awards. I knew millions of people were going to watch that and I wanted to be good, sing right and all that.

How does it feel like, standing there on that stage? That’s probably the biggest stage for any musician”¦

I think when you go there, you realise that you are a part of that community also. When you go there, suddenly you feel that. Also, from three months of sitting in Los Angeles, I got used to the whole atmosphere. I became calmer than how anybody who suddenly would go to that stage would react. So that was controlled.

Did you imagine, when you started off on this project, say two years back, that it would turn out to be so successful?

Not even a little tiny bit, no. And that’s the way to do music. Never have all this baggage attached to it. Just do it for the sake of doing music. Then, when [success] comes in, it’s a pleasure. When you want all that and you do it, and [if you] don’t get it, you get disappointed. And that destroys you.

You’ve also got many more awards. Time magazine declared you one of the 100 most influential people, you got the Padma Bhushan. Does all this get a bit overwhelming? I especially ask this because you are known to be very reticent, and averse to attention.

Well, I used all that [recognition] to start a school and do other things in life. I could benefit my foundation through that. So all these things are great for that. If I were not into all that and were only into music, I would feel that I just wanted to go and do my music. All these things are giving that little extra recognition for the [AR Rahman] Foundation and the school.

Could you tell us a bit about the Foundation?

The Foundation is based on education, supporting education”¦

Music education?

Yes, music education. Normal education too. And most of the stuff is funded by me, doing endorsements and other stuff.

Who are the beneficiaries? I mean, who are the students it’s supporting?

They are from all over the world, and India too. We’ve been supporting the [KM Music] Conservatory also, through some of the stuff that comes up to support the Foundation.

How’s the Conservatory going? Is it on in full swing?

Yeah, it is. And today, there’s a meeting to tie-up with Middlesex University for two courses, so that you will get a degree programme and all that. The second batch is in right now.

Coming back to the music part”¦ You were also part of ”˜We Are the World 25 for Haiti’. How did that come about?

I just got a call. My agent got a call saying, “Is AR in town?” And he said, “Yes, he is.” They said, “Oh, we thought he’s not there. Can he please come and support the Haiti thing?” [smiles]

And how was that experience, singing with some of the best musicians ever?

Yeah, it took a while to sink in actually [laughs]. At first I was feeling a bit uncomfortable, so I quietly walked off at about 8 o’clock. We went at 3 o’clock”¦ we had rehearsals. Quincy Jones came in. There was a talk about Haiti victims and all that stuff. Then Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett and all of them were there. At the same place that Michael [Jackson] recorded the original version, same spot, same studio, the Henson Recording Studios [in Los Angeles]. So it was good to be part of history.

And of all these people, I’m sure at least a few of them, you would have looked up to, idolised perhaps”¦

Yeah, like Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett. [Carlos] Santana was there. Many other people I couldn’t recognise. Miley Cyrus was in front of me; Pink was next to me; Akon was next to me. So it was great.

You have another collaboration coming up with Celine Dion”¦

No, that’s not the right news. It may happen, but there’s nothing fixed as yet.

But are there any other collaborations that you can tell us about?

The collaboration that I had with Michael Jackson never happened unfortunately. It was about to happen but”¦

So will that not see the light of day now?

I don’t know”¦ Yeah, but that was a disappointment last year definitely. But I’m trying to produce for other people, other artists. These could be British artists or American artists”¦

And these will be non-film soundtrack pieces?

Yeah”¦

What do you look for, when a project comes your way? What is it that makes you want to pick it up? Is there anything you look for in particular?

Sometimes it’s the director, sometimes it’s the interest of what he wants from me. And I get charged up if the whole project demands something new, challenging and if it’s in a direction that’s not been there before. Those kind of things interest me. And they will also interest the listeners. [It’s important] to see a different perspective of things. The implementation of music in films has to change in a way. And if somebody does that, then I’m very interested. [Usually] in movies, it’s always the same things”¦ six songs, or the background scores. So that’s a bit limiting.

Are there any dream projects you would want to be on, or any dream collaborator you would want to work with?

No, I am actually living the dream. I’m living the dream. ”˜We Are the World’ is as high as anybody could go. It’s for a great cause. It’s strange that Michael wanted me to do another ”˜We Are the World’ kind of a song and then I had to be in a ”˜We Are the World’ which he [originally] did. It’s irony. But it’s all good. But yes, I want to see more Indian producers or Indian artists pushing that boundary and reaching out, doing something better than what those guys do there. And also contribute to that pop culture.

In a way, contribute to international pop culture, you mean, than just Indian?

Yeah”¦

And do you think it’s becoming easier now because of your achievements?

Yeah. Because you don’t have to go to a big studio to do a song anymore. You can do it at home. It’s just the ideas and how you put it together and what kind of talent there is that matters. So in a way, there’s democracy in it. Initially to get a sound, you needed to go to an expensive studio, work for weeks and months to get something. Now you can have a demo on your laptop. And it can sound great. People just have to use their mind and focus.

Before this last year and your Oscars and your Golden Globes and your Grammies, people would probably never have imagined that there would be somebody from India who wins the Grammys and the Oscars. So you have actually kind of opened up the possibility. A lot more Indians are thinking that ”˜Yes, it is actually possibly.’

For India, it’s a big statement. The next step is very important again, by anybody, be it me or any other Indian. And we have to be careful. Consistency is important.

If we were to talk about your films, you did ”˜Couples Retreat,’ you have ”˜Street Dancing’”¦

Street Dancing is not confirmed”¦ my role is not defined yet.

Then you have ”˜19 Steps’”¦ you have a couple of multilingual projects”¦

That’s gone again”¦ dropped”¦

So what are the other international projects you are working on right now?

I am not doing much of international projects. I’m doing a world tour. And I’m producing these songs for some artists, like Nicole Scherzinger. It’s yet to be decided which other artists.

Any plans of coming out with an album of your own, a non-film album?

I might”¦

So as of right now, you are saying you are kind of holding back on the film projects”¦

Yeah”¦

Is that true only for Hollywood, or Bollywood too? You did ”˜Blue.’ That was your last Hindi film that came out.

Now I think 1-800-Love, and Raavan will be coming out in a bit. Raavan is [by] Mani Ratnam, 1-800-Love is [by] Abbas [Tyrewala]. So these are the two main ones.

So the rumours that you are not doing any more Bollywood is not true?

No no”¦ I’m finishing stuff right now. I am just not doing any new projects yet.

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