Whoever said time doesn’t wait for anyone wasn’t present at Narada Gana Sabha on the 11th day of February. Time paused for me. I saw A R Rahman. After 15 years of adoring, praising, writing, reading, mailing, drooling (over his music), getting lost in it, wondering how he could come up with that, admiring and sometimes just amazed into silence, here I come face to face with A R Rahman.
The function was slated to start at 6PM but after waiting for the chief guest A R Rahman for sometime, they started at 6.45PM without him. But I was waiting outside the function hall to catch a glimpse of the man. He came in at around 7.15PM as the time stamp indicates. And he rushed in.
That’s him and that’s his Innova. There were lot of people who stood next to that car and clicked photos while Rahman’s driver looked on amused! I have made a mental note of the car’s registration number. From now on every Toyota Innova will be an object of respect because I would have lowered my eyes to first check if the registration number matches 1771!! :))
In the ensuing melee, I forgot to take another pic and by then he was almost into the auditorium.
Don’t bother trying to spot him out here. He ain’t visible. Only a part of his shirt’s collar is visible. Don’t shout at me now. I was so dumbstruck that I was just standing with the camera in my hand not knowing whether to move along with him or just stand where I was and look at him. Even before I could think he was inside the auditorium.
This was what Rahman had come to grace as the chief guest. It was the release of Ganesh-Kumaresh’s new album – ‘Carnatic Chills’! (By the way, that is!)
And then it was the release function as soon as Rahman arrived.
This function was a short and sweet one. Not like the usual ‘you scratch my back, I scratch yours’. No one scratches Rahman’s back – because when he says “Ganesh-Kumaresh’s music should be heard across India”, there is nothing you can offer back to that man. He has seen it all. And is just 40 years old! Think about it!
Now, coming to my most favourite photograph of the lot.
As my brother says, “GOD!”. God of music he sure is! (Please don’t spoil the comments section now by saying how you think he is human. I know. I love exaggeration!)
And then there was some long speech on their album by Ganesh. While that was going on, all of us – Rahman fans – gathered around the stage and started clicking till our cameras ran out of battery.
Even Rahman looks disinterested in this photo. But he seems to be a too nice a man to even get ‘disinterested’.
Once Ganesh ended his longish reading of the concept behind the album, the release was done. A R Rahman handed over the first copy of the album to Vikku Vinayakaramam.
And that was it. My camera ran out of battery and had to be recharged to start clicking again. But I was recharged like never before! This man has something to him that we can never understand.
On his way out of the auditorium, he was almost mobbed. The crowd cried, “We love you Rahman”. And he also found time in between to sign a few autographs. Those who got his snaps in that ‘almost stampede’ kind of a rush are the luckiest of the day I would say.
I went back home with probably memories of my best ever day in Chennai locked inside me forever. Time came to a halt and I am having a tough time changing the inertial forces! :)
I’m a fan of Rahman too, but am also a big fan of GK. JUst chanced upon this post.
Am curious to know how the show itself was. Did Rahman play the keyboards? I read somewhere that GK had composed two pieces for this function, how were they?
PS:
Welcome!
Rahman did not play anything on the keyboard. He came, he spoke, he left. Nothing else.
GK played a few pieces out of their album and they were very good. I remember one piece particularly which they said was being played for the the software professional who comes back home through bad traffic after sitting in front of the computer, coding and coding and coding. And that was one of the most refreshing pieces I have heard from the duo in contemporary music. The drums guy was hell bent on spoiling the rhythm of the tune. Kumaresh had to stop him in his tracks twice! It was Raag Hamsadhwani if I am not mistaken. Amazing to say the least!
u are a super duper lucky idiot ra….
i remember a couple of months of back u telling me that u will meet GOD at one day or the other….and here u go..god granted your request so soon……
am sure u still not able to digest things around…all i can say is “just enjoy mesmerizing those great moments yaar!!!”
“This man has something to him that we can never understand.”
This is 100% right, i accept everything what u have said… it was truly an unforgettable experience…I was lucky enough to have met him for the first time. :)
superb photos and i was also one of the lucky person to speak, take autograph and photo with him
Sathya
VamC:
There you go! Let’s hope I have another meeting with him in the near future. Face-to-face in person with the man himself. I will get you his autograph and is there anything else you would need? huh? (Muhahahaha….!!!)
Kirthana:
Yes. We were all so lucky! :)
Keyboardsathya:
The child prodigy?! Welcome Sathya! welcome!
Yeah I know you also took photos and all that. I saw your website. Very nice! :) Keep it up!
ever been to chinmayi’s blog? there is always a mention or two of “rehman sir” :-).
rehman or srk? *let me run fast before mysorean aims anything (other than a camera) at me*
- s.b.
I’m …. One more Luck Person….Hahahaha…
It is amazing to read all those experience… i was sitting and taking photo very close to him…
I taken 173 photos…and displayed 103 photos avilable in my page!
chcek out…
http://www.pyarilal.com/images/carnatic_chills/
join all my newly started…Music Guru ARR fans
forum
http://www.orkut.com/Community.aspx?cmm=27710663
BRAVO!!!!
Wish the earlier pics were clearer. We get a lot of Rahman on stage pics…the other ones would have been more interesting… :D
..drooling (over his music)
hehe, good that you clarified
btw he must have woken late.. his “day-time” starts in the evening..
S.b.:
Welcome back! :) Where were you all this while?
And yeah I know about Chinmayi’s blog. “Rahman Sir” always finds a mention. And Chinmayi has outdone herself in Guru. Amazing work by Rahman on her voice too. Like she says she herself jumped on listening to the song first time! :) I guess Rahman wanted to surprise her too!
Rahman or SRK? That’s like choosing between your favourite person and someone-else-who-doesn’t-matter! If only you had asked me this question when you were in front of me! I would have thrown the kitchen sink at you! LOL!
Pyarilal:
We must have seen each other then!
I saw your entire 103 photos yesterday. You seemed to have been in an unique position to get yourself so many photos! Lucky us! :)
Viky:
Even I used to see a lot of Rahman pics while on stage etc. But this time:
- I was in the auditorium when he was on the stage.
- I was near the stage when he was on it.
- I was standing right next to him when he went into the auditorium.
-And I actually believe(!) he gave me a glance for a fraction of a second when he was leaving the auditorium.
adella hoTTe urisakke!
To sum it up, I agree it would have been more interesting to have those photos clearer! :p
Pavan:
Hehehe…
This reminds me of one incident that happened while we were waiting for THE arrival.
We were all leaning on various cars and generally discussing weather, cricket, traffic, world cup, tea, coffee, dosa, etc. The topic that came up for discussion was, “Why would Rahman be late whereas he was actually a very humble, professional and down-to-earth person?”. The untold agenda was, “doesn’t it mean he is arrogant by turning up late for a function he has promised to come at a certain time?”. The reasons discussed varied again from busy schedule to traffic jams but nobody ever dared to point a finger at Rahman’s attitude. That apart I just butted in with my answer, “He must have just got up and I guess he must be brushing right now”. It was 6.15PM then. People, who didn’t know Rahman to the level we know, looked at me strangely. Others nodded acknowledging that I had a point. You know that knowledgeable great point kind of a nod
I kept mum for the rest of the evening having made my point! :)
Lucky you!!!
Sudhakar:
Heh heh! :)
I asked Rahman in my dreams abotu why 1771 was the number of his car. He gave me a candid answer… he replied ‘Mozart…’
Maybe there is a connect. What do you say?
No hoTTe urkoLing…cos I brushed shoulders with Zakir Hussain (Wah Taj boliye) at Heathrow, while I was receiving a colleague !!!
Hi Ramanan….
Where and When you asked this question?
“1771″ it is very interesting info from you!
thanks a lot Ramanan….
please check this link
http://www.mozart2006.net/eng/id/15780/direktlink.html
Ramanan:
You are great! Take a bow! :)
Viky:
Even I have seen Zakir Hussain! Charismatic personality!
Pyarilal:
Even I hit the same page after searching on the net! Very very interesting!
“Rahman or SRK? That’s like choosing between your favourite person and someone-else-who-doesn’t-matter! If only you had asked me this question when you were in front of me! I would have thrown the kitchen sink at you! LOL!”
here – now you can keep your kitchen sink to yourself.
“Welcome back! :) Where were you all this while? ”
thank you; i was in india for a majority of the recent past and was not lucky enough to get fast internet access.
- s.b.
S.b.:
I went through the link. Pardon my dumbness, but I didn’t understand! :)
What is “fast” internet access according to you?
u r so lucky 2 have met him…n he is our GOD!!!
Hehehe.. I have very perceptive dreams. Isn’t he called the Mozart of India ?
This was a good one, both your visit & the post…
I know how exciting it is to meet somebody you like.. specially the celebrities… We are so crazy alv a ?
Do you know that ARRahman has given music to kannada movie, which is yet to be released ? nice alva .. The kannada movie name is ‘Sajani’.. heard the music is too good!
did you not read the last line, next to a picture? i quote:
“Speaking of handsome Muslims, what, in Allah’s name, went wrong here? ”
fast internet, i.e., not dial up. my folks don’t live in bengalooru :-).
- s.b.
Nivi:
Thanks! :)
Ramanan:
You are so damned right! I totally agree with you! And that’s a super discovery! :)
Veena:
Very true! We are crazy! And I am head over heels crazy about Rahman! And I don’t know why! That’s the best part! I am so irrationally crazy about him! To the extent that one of my friends would always joke, “Thank God Rahman is not female. Otherwise Adi wouldn’t have married!”
“Sajani” nalli yavdu hosa songs illa. They are all recycled from “Doli Sajake Rakhna” which was recycled into “Jodi”. Same songs! Obviously ‘too good’ aagi irlebeku! That’s Rahman! And that’s my craze about him!
S.b.:
Since you referred to the entire post, I was wondering what it was. I actually fwded the link to one of my friends who loves SRK just to point out that one part! :) Needless to say war of words over email ensued and some ‘broadband’ ISP benefitted from it all! ;)
Dial-up is bad. I agree!
Its a dream comes true for you know!! Nice snaps, glad you had a nice time with the release of album by AR and experience of taking him in your camera.
I too will check with this Inova’s number if i see any:)
I heard one song, JaaNa o jaaNa, it sounded like familiar.. Doli sajaake rakna yaava movie unable to recall. Otherwise also, i know his base notes , even if you dont tell me the music is from whom & I get to hear some tunes.. I can make out.. Thats what ARR’s style..
astondu craze yaake ? adu craze alla.. ondu obsession.. ayyo kathe…
Hey guys its nice to see somuch info collected, Debated and distibuted with such great spirits. Good work buddy, keep it going. I dont wanna dampen your spirits, but would like to give my frank perspective of ARR music. As a matter of fact i also saw him in person some time back in LA. It was also a thrilling experiance.
Overall i am pretty dissapointed about ARRs music the reason behind that is his copying of music from cross lingual movies and his underperformance in relatively low profile movies. I know i am expecting too much of the great musician, like i expect a hundered from sachin in every match. But judging only by their potential they actuall can live upto the expectations more or less.
I know many of you might detest my comments, but what would happen to world if averyone thinks alike. Want to write much more, but just am stopping at this point as the wrath gained is enough already.
Wanted to add another point to the above statement. When Torentino met John Travolta for the audition of Pulp Fiction, Torentino mentined that whatever he has done till then was not what he must have done and he would make him a bigger star. This is a significant comment Considering Torentino was doing his Third movie and already a well established SUPER STAR. And as the legend goes Travolta became a legend after PULP FICTION. So my point here is every great artist has a much greater enexplored potential.
I see you had a real good time clicking away. If you dont know it already I can give you the address of his Recording studio in Chennai. You can have all to yourself if you catch him there !!!
By the way, was amused with your friends’ comment “Adi wouldnt have married if Rehman were a female!”
Devru, shock inda eddra?
adi:
time has moved on, and looks like you have come to the half. come on now, it is world cup time, how about some expert analysis?
- s.b.
No new articles!
It seems;even your life came to a halt!
I’ve also posted another comment on Don.Check it!
WOW….
Mysorean…Am really late for the post..But hey! Thanx a lot for taking the PLEASUREFUL PAIN & clicking these snaps & sharing here with us…
:) Hm..You sure must have had the BEST DAY!! … Hm…only i wish i was there….
Btw, why r the first 2 snaps so blurred ;) Were u that shaky ? ;) I mean thrilled…:)
You are one lucky person!! :) To get a glimpse of ARR & his car :D Number..ini en kannum 1771 ;) thedum..:)
Jeevan:
Thanks! :)
Veena:
Eno ondu! Yavaga hogutto nodbeku! :)
Sundeep:
That’s a good original comment with an excellent follow-up! Thanks!
I will not argue with you because I know the background you come with. You have more exposure to western music than whatever I have and maybe you have a lot of proof to what you are saying.
But regarding the other point: underperforming in low profile movies – is a very controversial point. There are points to prove the point as well as disprove them. I personally think Rahman is over and above all this!
Sudhu:
Thanks mate! :)
I have been to the studio and to his house too!
Viky:
Swalpa hora deshakke (Nigeria) hogidde. Alli internet connection andre avarige eno chinna kelida hange feeling. So, adakke shock nalle bittbitte blog na! :)
S.b.:
Yes. yes. Coming coming!! :)
Just back from a country where internet connection is available only in 5-star hotels!
Ganesh Kumar:
Right! Life will move on shortly! Thanks for your comments! I have replied to that comment of yours too! :)
Marutham:
No. I wasn’t that thrilled that I shook the camera up! But I had the camera in the ‘night mode’ when it should have been shot in ‘normal mode’. I didn’t know! I am a novice with these digital cameras and the several options that they have! :)
Yes, 1771 is the number to look out for from now on! :)
Adithya,
Read this:
http://www.itwofs.com/tamil-arr.html
He’s even given the songs to listen and compare.And then tell,how great is your ‘Mozart of India’.
Read this too:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105271/trivia
The latter shocked me terribly because I remember enjoying and listening to Roja’s songs atleast 3-4 times a day when I was a kid.
Anna,
Why my comment is awaiting moderation?
S. Ganesh Kumar:
I have gone through the entire list atleast hundred times before and it is the most favourite link of anti-arr fans because that’s the only place that gets close to being atleast partially successful in pointing a finger at ARR.
Yes, I do see that there are a few places where Rahman was inspired but never has he fully lifted any song. If he feels like using some part of some other song he does it in a fairly clever fashion and that is what is necessary. You can either keep searching for inspiration or use such small bits here and there (mind you, in his entire career they have only been able to find 10 bits in various songs with faint similarities to other songs). And I don’t see this as a very serious thing because he hasn’t really infringed on anyone’s rights and am sure even the creator of the original is happy that ARR found another way of using his music! :)
About the moderation, I don’t know yar. Offlate my blog has been behaving slightly wierd. Let’s hope it corrects itself.
Just joking!Ilayaraja and A.R.Rehman are the most ‘original’ composers as far as Tamil cinema is concerned.(Since 1970s)
If you observe them,the copy is just ‘beats’ or some rythm.And for another song,the original composer himself copied a few tunes from Native African sounds!
The actual copycats are Deva and Anu Malik kind of fellows who lift the entire song.(I’ve heard some of them long before I’ve come accross this itwofs site,and some of them are not mentioned in this site.Just a tip of iceberg!)
Success is 90-99% perspiration and 1-10% inspiration.You need to be inspired to overcome the ‘Starting’ or ‘Ending’ problem,while doing any job.So sometimes you get inspired by nature(Like sound of birds,chirping etc.) or some previous composition of yours or someone else’s.(The latter infact will be rather a subconscious one if yours is genuinely inspiration.)
That’s why,very often a few seconds of songs of Ilayaraja have some similarities with his prev. compositions.(This is conscious inspiration!)
Actually,I’ve written that comment only because you guys are exaggerating his image.(Like God etc.)
Adithya,God is flawless and everything originates from Him.While A.R.Rehman is a genius,because he gets inspired to give great music in films like Roja,Bombay,Jeans or Alaiypayuthe(Though I didn’t like the film.).
But,he’s not flawless.He was flawless till 2000. After that he’s been rather inconsistent.He gave
great music for Lagaan,Rang De Basanti, Kannathil Muttamithal and at the same time insipid music for films like Nee Manasu Naaku Telusu(Unakku20 Enakku18 in Tamil),Baba,
Mangal Pandey.
The worst is that fusion kind of thing in those insipid ones.Apart from that,lyrics were inane too say the least.
S. Ganesh Kumar:
“you guys are exaggerating his image”
Quoting from my post:
“Please don’t spoil the comments section now by saying how you think he is human. I know.”