Revolution in Indian Music

Hello Readers.

I talked a lot about revolution and bringing the change. Today,I dedicate this post to my favorite music composer of all time. Dr. A R Rahman.

He is not just A music composer but a revolutionary. He brought in India such genres and instruments which one would have hardly thought of tasting. From his first album 'Roja', all his work is pure magic.

And his latest album 'Rockstar' has compelled me to write this post. He is the master of all genres of music. Every album of his is a surprise pack. You listen to a very soulful sufi song and the very next song would be a rock, a romantic number, a jazz..u never know! It's like eating a Jalebi after a Pizza :)

He is one of the first to use Electronic Keyboard in India, Bringing the 'digital music' or 'computer music' as many called, First to bring the rap to India. And some instruments you cant even name...'Continuum' being one of them.

He went beyond the rules. He broke the rules. He worked as a Music arranger for many music composers from tamil music industry like Sir Illayaraja in his early stages. Then Jingles for ads and Finally he got such breakthrough and he never looked back after the success of 'Roja'. He did exactly what he wanted to do. Not following any rules or tradition that was popular then. He gave freedom to the musicians and singers working for him. Not following the same old musical arrangements like the trend and made his own new trends. Instead of making a playback singer sing for a particular actor, he imported singers from all over India. Otherwise who would have heard singers like Udit Narayan or Adnan Sami sing a tamil song?

But, as they say Music has no language. Music is always true. It's above all the words. Because Words may lie, music will never.

Though many of the veteran singers hated that. But the Mozart of Chennai didn't care. He did what he wanted and now there is hardly anybody who hates his work. People kept talking and he flew and reached the sky. But the sky is limitless and so is his talent. Limitless.

Rangeela, his first hindi album made him more popular in Hindi film industry. Gave a new definition to patriotism through his song 'Maa tujhe salaam'... And then came a row of music albums. which not only made him popular in India but then the world knew him. He won Grammys and Oscars for his work in his album Slumdog Millionaire. And today he is one musician in the world who has touched nearly all the genres from across the world.

And a special mention to his beautiful creation 'dil se'. This album was a benchmark.

Maestro's priority had always been sound over lyrics. this is one reason that while composing the music some of his self improvised words/ hummings are often used and become catch lines of his compositions. Humma Humma!

Khwaja mere khwaja a song that connects you to a divine power. It's like angels sing together with it. Takes you to a all new world. One song that made my eyes wet.

And then he researched over all the world genres and offered the Indian Audience/ Music freaks something beyond their imagination. here are a few examples to prove that...
Western classical in Yuvvraaj... Indian Classical in most of his albums like Water, Kannathil Muthamittal...actually you find Indian classical mixed with other genres at lots of places...which brings us to fusion...Sufi and qawwalis...the soulful tracks like khwaja, piya haji ali, kun faaya, arziyan are unbeatable. They for sure take you to the parallel world :) Bombay, Lagaan, swades, 1947 earth, jodhaa akbar gave us the sound of indian instruments ..Youth frenzy soundtracks in jaane tu..., rang de basanti. And there were some albums which were Multi cuisine Delhi 6, Taal, Yuvraaj and the latest ROCKSTAR offer us variety. Each song telling us a new story. Each song having different elements which make you go GaGa.

And I hope this Journey goes on...

I really feel proud to be born in his era and lucky enough to have been gifted with a pair of ears through which i m able to listen to his divine Music...

Thanks for reading.
Em off to my headphones. Rockstar is waiting.
See ya!