A R Rahman: A musical genius or an over rated music composer?

This is my second day here and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I was shattered by the continuous work for the last 24 hours, I didn't get to sleep, was working all day and night, but I am back here thanks to the near by pizzeria where I ate my favourite chicken and chips and special thanks to my friend, who gave me a glass of yummy strawberry milkshake that rejuvenated me.

Last week I was watching TV and in every news channel there was only one person who was making headlines as he became the first Indian to win a Golden Globe Award. He then later on went on to win the prestigious BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television awards). Does he need any other introduction, he is one of the most celebrated Indian music composers of all time, AR Rahman. Rahman started his musical career at the age of 11 when he joined music maestro Illairaja's group as a keyboard player. He then started his own music company and got his first break in Hindi movies at the age of 25 for which he won the national award becoming the first Indian music composer to win a national award on debut. The film was Roja that was released in 1992, and from here, there was no looking back for this musical genius.

As I was watching the TV various thoughts crippled in my mind, is he the best indian music composer of all time or is he an over rated composer. The next day I had an arguement with my sister Amrita who is a very big fan of Rahman, and I termed this musical genius as an over rated composer.   

I don't want to snatch any credit from Rahman and going by his awards, he can be rated as the best music composer of all time. The only reason why I said that he is over rated because there were lots and lots of other music composers who never won an international award or got global recognition but were simply outstanding. The calmness and soothe in the music of SD Burman, Shankar Jaikishan, OP Nayyar, Madan Mohan to name a few was such that even today the songs composed by them are hummed by millions across the world. The music was real and original instruments without any modulations were used and were based on Indian Ragas. Those composers used traditional Indian music instruments such as flute, Sitar, Tabla etc that gave their music a touch of innocence. During the 70's western influence was felt all over the Indian music. This was the time when the composers like RD Burman, Bappi Lahri and others brought an element of rock, hip hop and Jazz to Indian music. RD burmann, one of the best music composers of all time had multiple dimensions to his music and was very versatile. His music was at one end very calm and at peace and on the other it was heavy. He used instruments like drums and guitars to an extent that singers had to raise their voices to be heard. He also charted out music for ghazals, thumris, classical, hip hop, techno etc.

In the modern day also, there are some very good contemporaries of Rahman like Vishal Shekhar, Jatin-Lalit, Anu Malik to name a few. What makes Rahman different from these lot of music composers is the element of fusion that he brings to his music which is very global. He uses percussion instruments, keyboards, violin and a range of other modern and traditional instruments to make his music. One of the best thing about Rahman is that he fuses classical Indian music, Carnatic music along with western music and that makes him special and one of the main reasons for his global reognition as he relates to the global audience.

Another major reason why only Rahman won global recognition is that the veteran music directors did not get the global exposure as the present composers do get. India got independance in 1947 and till 90's it was virtually a closed economy. After the 90's India started to make its presence felt in every field and in the last five year or so has become a global super power which has led to more and more Indian movies premiered in foreign locations like US, UK, South Africa, Europe etc. UK is considered to be the biggest market for Indian Cinemas and as the music is an integral part of Indian film, Indian film music is also gaining lots of acclaim worldwide.

But saying all  this I must admit that Rahman is a musical genius, he is the find of the last decade as far as Bollywood and its music is concerned. If one listens to his music, at first one may be repelled, but the best thing about Rahman's music is that it grows. Apart from his music, I admire Rahman because of his humbleness and unpretentiousness. He is one of the few Indians along with Sachin Tendulkar (for the same reason of humbleness in behavior) whenever speaks my hair rises and I feel proud to be an Indian. I can't forget his speech at the Golden Globe award night where he dedicated his award to a billion Indians. He has an incredible aura surrounding him that attracts people from across the globe towards him and they like him as much as they like his music. He has achieved in his decade long career what no Indian music composer has achieved and he has still a long way to go. Next week is Oscars week and he is again nominated for best music for his music in the British film Slumdog Millionnaire. May he win the prestigious Oscar statue and make all of us proud again. He has along way to go and I wish he becomes the best Indian composer of all time, for he is one of the best human beings in the egoist Indian film industry.  

Three cheers to my favourite Mr. A.R. Rahman!!!!!!