Oscar and Grammy Award-winning composer and Bollywood music director A R ( Allah Raakha) Rehman, film story writer Abbas Tyrewalla, director of the feature Film “Blue” Anthony D’Souza, Naresh Iyer who sang “Happy Days”, the title song, lyricist of “Slumdog Millionaire” song “Ringa Ringa” Raqeeb Alam and their family members visited Ameen Peer Dargah in Kadapa around Monday midnight and offered prayers.

Their visit coincided with the Hazrath Khwaja Syed Sha Ameenullah Hussaini Urs, which commenced late on Monday night. Rahman’s wife Saira Banu, mother Mallika, his sister Fathima and brother-in-law Talat accompanied the composer who uplift the popularity of Tamil Nadu all over the world through won Oscar. They stayed in the Pedda Dargah from midnight to about 4.45 a.m.

The film personalities and their family members reached the Dargah, popularly known as “Pedda Dargah” around midnight. They presented a flower chaddhar on Ameenullah Mailk’s tomb and offered prayers. They took the blessings of the Dargah’s 11th Sajjad-e-Nasheen Hazrath Khwaja Syed Sha Arifullah Mohammed-ul Huissaini Quadri.

The Sajjad-e-Nasheen took them round the Dargah and explained its religious and historical background. Tehleel would be performed on February 16, he said. Fakirs displayed feats such as wielding swords, piercing needles, and so forth, enthralling the large number of Muslim men and burqa-clad women and children.

- Asian Tribune -

March 5, 2010 by SouthDreamZ  
Filed under Movies, Music, Tamil

This is going to be the best combo of season as the most happening stars are set to gear up for a big project. If what we heard from our sources is believed to be true, then Gautham Menon’s next untitled film with Ajith Kumar will have A.R. Rahman scoring music in it. Gautham Menon’s yet-to-release Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya has great melodies by A.R. Rahman and the songs have already become chartbusters. To be precise, Vinnaithandi Varuvaaya has gone on to be a raging success with a sold out even on online stores.

Even Ajith Kumar has become fond of A.R. Rahman for his award winning music. In the recent times, the actor cannot stop signing praises of the Mozart of Madras and has been showing keen interest in with working with him. Previously, Ajith Kumar and Rahman have come up with some commendable films- Kandukondain Kandukondain and Varalaaru. When approached the sources of both Ajith and Gautham, they mentioned the technical crew hasn’t been finalized yet and they’ve been into the deep discussion about picking the best technical team with producer Dayanidhi Azhagiri

Thaindian News

March 13, 2010 (Sampurn Wire):India’s most celebrated music director, Oscar and Grammy Award winner A R Rahman, has planned a music tour to salute Bollywood and Indian music. He has reportedly teamed up with producer Deepak Gattani and creative director Amy Tinkham, who is famous for creating live musical concerts for Britney Spears, Back Street Boys and Mariah Carey.

According to Rahman’s spokesperson, The A.R. Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour, will be a modern presentation of traditions of India in a theatrical format. It is said to be a musical as well as visual extravaganza with large images on LED screens and will have a magnificent cast of musicians and dancers from across the globe, making the concert a “theatrical experience utilizing new technologies”, according to a recent press release.

Rahman had most recently participated in the 2010 remake of “We Are The World” to benefit Haiti, and it is important to note that the concert will feature music that Rahman was working on with the late “king of pop”, Michael Jackson, before his unfortunate death last summer.

Other performances will include songs from “Slumdog Millionaire” as well as the Indian films “Lagaan,” “Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na,” “Dil Se,” “Rang De Basanti” and “Roja’”. The first show of the tour will take place on 11th June at the Nassau Coliseum in New York, and will continue on to over 20 different arenas, all over the world.

Composer A.R. Rahman plans to be out of India for the longest period for a series of world concerts and says he is not thinking about any other work for the next few months.

“It’s a very tough schedule for me this year. I’ll be out of the country for five months, which I’ve kept aside completely for the word tour,” Rahman told IANS.

The concerts will take Rahman to places he has never been before.

“I essentially need time for my music, spirituality and family. Everything else is secondary. We’ll be going to remote places in Europe, the Far East and America. I’ll be touring from this month (March 2010). This would be my longest tour ever and I’m not thinking of any other work,” said the composer.

Rahman admits time management is a problem.

“But you have to prioritise your time and do what you must. For example, I know I’ve to be away for five months this year. So it’d be foolish of me to commit myself to anything until I finish my concerts.”

Rahman says it’s a blessing to work out of his home.

“My family is always around me. I think that’s what keeps me creatively charged. When I travel, I crave to return. My kids are growing up. It’s important that they see their father regularly. Or they’ll soon start calling me uncle.”

Rahman has just done a soundtrack for a Tamil film directed by Gautam Menon.

“Then I’ve Mani Ratnam’s Raavan and Abbas Tyrewala’s 1-800-Love Also Shekhar Kapoor’s Paani, which is a very important film. But with the world tour on, will I have the time?”

Clarifying doubts about his age, he said: “I was born in 1967, so it’s my 43rd birthday (in January this year). I am an old man now. Do I feel older? It’s a good feeling. I’m heading towards the place where all of us are destined to. You are born and then one day you die. So my policy in life is to do what I want to do today, not tomorrow. If I want to do good things in life I better do them now.”

AR Rahman will be felicitated by the Delhi Tamil Sangam (DTS) on March 31. The Academy Award winner will be honored along with Prathap Chandra Reddy, the Chairman of Apollo Group, D R Karthikeyan – former CBI Director and J R Krishnamurthy, the renowned Siddha doctor.

The Editor of Dinamani K Vaidhyanathan, Secretary of the Delhi Tamil Sangam Sakthi Perumal and Patron Nalli Kuppuswamy Chetti will be felicitating the awardees.

- Sampurn Wire

Expectations? Now either one can come up with 50 statements detailing the expectations that one has from the music of this film which brings together Mani Ratnam, A.R. Rahman, Gulzar, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan. Or instead, one can just state that it would be nothing less than sacrilege for this team to present listeners with something which is less than being excellent. The choice, it at all there ever was, is non-existent. So without much ado, let's play on one of the most anticipated albums of the year and check out what this elite team has to offer.

Music

It's a folksy-tribal beginning to 'Beera Beera' which appears to be the introduction song of the character played by Abhishek Bachchan Raavan. In a routine scenario a song belonging to this genre would have immediately fallen into Sukhwinder Singh's lap. However, expect Rahman to do something different in each of his outings as he instead ropes in Kirti Sagathia and Vijay Prakash to come up with a cracker of a song which is a chartbuster in the first 60 seconds itself. Whether it's the lyrics, a massive orchestra, vociferous rendition by both the singers, or the overall spirit that 'Beera' carries, there is no looking back once one moves ahead in the album after this quick 3 minutes outing.

What follows next is relatively subtle, in fact almost oriental in appeal, as a beautiful amalgamation of different sounds come together to make 'Behene De'. Once Karthik comes on scene behind the mike, it is crystal clear that 'Behene De' has a trademark A.R. Rahman stamp all over it. The song sees many variations when it comes to its flow right through its six minutes duration as Karthik sings for a character which has a desire to break free and live life on its own terms. Situational, yet the kind of song which should make a very good impression on screen.

However, for those who were looking at yet another catchy number, there is 'Thok De Killi' which instantly reminds one of the spirited encounter that listeners had in Yuva. Sukhwinder Singh puts all stops as he brings in his characteristic singing style that differentiates him from the rest. Watch out for Gulzar's lyrics here, they are truly different and something that one has never heard before in a Hindi film parlance. Rahman too just lets himself loose in making this number orchestra heavy and ensures that audience would be glued to screen once this fast paced song plays in all its fervour.

Just when one had thought that this team had reached its peak with 'Thok De Killi' comes 'Ranjha Ranjha'. A number which is not just the best in the album (or even the best of the month), 'Ranjha Ranjha' will clearly stand out as one of the best that 2010 had to offer this year. Clearly, even Subhash Ghai would be proud of this song which reminds one of many a terrific song that his Taal has boasted of years back. This song by the trio of Rekha Bhardwaj, Javed Ali and Anuradha Sriram is a killer to say the least and has all in it to reach the top of the charts within a fortnight of the release. With a folksy base to it, 'Ranjha Ranjha' is energetic, sensual and exciting.

Reena Bhardwaj, who has sung primarily with Rahman during her limited singing career so far, is sweetness personified in 'Khilli Re' where she gets an opportunity to go solo. Presumably picturised on Aishwarya Rai, the genre of the song may limit its popularity due to its situational appeal but isn't a bad fit at all in the album. A poetic track which yet again clearly belongs to Rahman's background, 'Khilli Re' is almost devotional in appeal and is extremely soothing in appeal, hence creating a good balance in the album.

The ending of the album is vociferous though with a grand chorus coming together to sing 'Kata Kata'. A song which is about a man getting married and a bunch of friends teasing him on his last night of bachelorhood, 'Kata Kata' sees Ila Arun, Sapna Awasthi and Kunal Ganjawala coming together. In a way, the song is an antithesis of Rahman's first big hit, 'Rukmani Rukmani' [Roja] which was about an interaction amongst friends post the first night. A good situational track which should find good prominence coming its way if the film succeeds at the box office.

Overall

Raavan delivers as expected. Now that's a good sign in itself since to begin with, the expectations were huge in any case. There are number of gems in the album, most notably being 'Ranjha Ranjha', 'Beera Beera' and 'Thok De Killi'. Go for it, this one is not to be missed as it has Rahman coming up with one of his best soundtracks in recent times.

Our Pick 

'Ranjha Ranjha', 'Beera Beera', and 'Thok De Killi'

Courtesy: Bollywood Hungama

By SUNIL Sonkar

Mumbai, April 24 — The much awaited music of Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ravana’ was released on Saturday in Mumbai with the live performance of Oscar Award winner A.R. Rahman in the presence of legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan and his wife Jaya Bachchan in the launching ceremony.

Film ‘Ravana’ is a modern presentation of the epic Ramayana where real life couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Bachchan plays the role of Ravana and Sita. Vikram, star of south plays the role of Ram in this Mani Ratnam’s portrayal of Ramayana characters.

The soundtrack of the movie is given by A.R. Rahman and the lyrics are by Gulzar. The music of Rahman in the movie is expected to create wonders, both in Hindi as well as Tamil. Asha Bhosle has also sung a song for the movie in the Tamil version.

The tracklist of seven songs of the movie is out and the titled song ‘Veera Veera’ is sung by Rahman himself along with Kailash Kher. The song ‘Kata Kata’, which is already creating a buzz for being cast with 500 characters, is sung by the famous folk singer Ila Arun, Malgudi Subha and Sonu Nigam. Shreya Ghosal has also sung a song ‘Kaadhale’. The song Madhuvanam has been sung by Asha Bhosle and Chitra Sivaraman. Karthik has sung ‘