A.R. Rahman: The Spirit Of Music

by Nasreen Munni Kabir

When composer A.R. Rahman's first film Roja was released in 1992, his astonishing music with its other-worldly melodies, tonal texture, pulsating rhythms made an instant impact in India. His abundantly flowing talent has given life to the score of over a hundred films, including Dil Se, Bombay, Lagaan, Warriors of Heaven and Earth, 127 Hours and Jodhaa Akbar. According to a recent estimate by the BBC, 150 million Copies of his albums have sold worldwide. A.R. Rahman has won a host of awards, together with a Golden Globe, a Bafta, two Oscars and two Grammys for his score in Slumdog Millionaire. In 2010, he received the Padma Bhusan, the third civilian honour, awarded by the Government of India. Despite all his great success, Rahman remains a deeply private person, shying away from the glitz and glamour of show business. A.R. Rahman, The Spirit of Music is in the form of biographical conversations between the composer and Nasreen Munni Kabir in which we hear of Rahman's amazing journey from modest beginning to an assured place in world music history.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Music

215 pages, Hardcover

First published March 29, 2011

About the author

Born in India, Nasreen Munni Kabir is a renowned UK-based documentary film-maker who has produced and directed over 80 TV programmes on Hindi cinema for Channel 4 TV, UK, including the series Movie Mahal, In Search of Guru Dutt, Lata in Her Own Voice, and the two-part documentary The Inner and Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan. She has also directed a profile on Ustad Bismillah Khan and on the making of Bombay Dreams, the musical produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber for BBC Television, UK. She continues to curate Channel 4’s annual Indian film seasons.

Author of 16 books on Hindi cinema, Nasreen has served on the board of the British Film Institute for a six-year term. She enjoys subtitling, and has has subtitled over 500 Hindi films. Her last book was Conversations with Waheeda Rehman. She is most remembered for her Guru Dutt biography, titled Guru Dutt: A Life in Cinema (OUP, 1996). Nasreen continues live in London.

Reviews

[Dhruv Joshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When people ask me what’s the best way to compose a song, I tell them, a song has to come to you like the breeze.

In South India we talk of the breeze that blows through the leaves of the coconut tree. It has a natural feel and makes the leaves rustle gently. It isn’t the same thing if you shake the tree violently." Journey of a maestro from a struggling childhood, composing ad jingles to a successful music director!

[Ahmed Faiq · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great quality, an awesome blessing to be able to create music, such great worldly music like the ones produced by A.R Rahman, and in music like most arts you must achieve high levels of understanding, high levels of spirituality, to be great, of simply how to live; so you also can expect this awesome musician how to speak, how to narrate parts of his childhood and memories, how he started to love music and how he found himself years later to be a wanted composer all over the world with fans over the continents.... I was not at all disappointed, as this book was an extraordinary journey with this rare diamond named A.R...

[dunkdaft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost a decade old, but still these conversations are made as immersive as NMK always have. She knows her guest very well and how to hold matters in a way, the reader - don't feel isolated. While reading, you think 'hope she has asked about this or that' - and in further pages you actually read about those things. Talking with the Mozart here, you get nostalgic moments when Rahman discusses his early days. Maa tujhe salaam, Roja, Bombay and more. Though I felt there is a large chunk of focus on Jai ho (but obviously), you don't feel like complaining. Add to that, the pictures (in crisp clarity and good quality of paper) are a fanboy material. Especially the one where he is in trance while singing Khwaja mere Khwaja. (Goosebumps by a picture!). Wish this could've been longer and talk about his iconic soundtracks at length. (Well, now I am eager to pick up Notes of a Dream from my tbr).

[Sahil Khurana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book feels like a transcript of a very regular interview of A R Rahman. Any book of famous musician should give detailed accounts of how he was feeling when composing a particular piece of music - what led him to chose one singer over another or one musical instrument over other.
His collaborations, specially with Mani Ratnam, Subhash Ghai and Imtiaz Ali left me asking for more and gave nothing new which a fan already didn't know.
This interview in video format would have been better IMO.

[Anuz Kulung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book

[Abhishek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dull questions and wasted opportunity to interview a living genius. The author has brushed upon his craft and spiritual practice in a shallow manner. Hardly anything of insight was captured and as one amazon reviewer pointed out: this could have easily been a video interview than a whole book.

The author seems to be enamoured by the presence of AR Rahman rather than be objective about the interview.

The edition I read had an additional chapter to catch up on the present times. That chapter is even worse than the whole book. A whole two questions were dedicated to AR’s usage of Facebook and how many posts you puts up.

It’s a shame someone so under qualified was allowed to waste this opportunity.

[Alagu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Rahman's humility and talent. Key factoids from this book:

- AR didn't know Hindi. He learnt after he started composing
- He had self-doubts and even suicidal thoughts
- He believes if he asks someone that he wants to compose for them, it will get jinxed :-p It has to come to him. Inbound > Outbound
- He is very grounded throughout.
- He didn't actually study at Trinity College London
- At 13, he was in a Podigai TV programme playing Keyboard.
- His name Rahman was given by a Hindu Astrolger.
- His wife doesn't speak Tamil.

Overall an easy read as it is a converstaion between Nasreen and AR. Amazing photographs as well.

I ended up listening again to several songs while reading this book.

[Gokul Sasidhar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book for AR fans and those who like to know AR better. In recent interviews in youtube, he is open about the things which already told in this book... so, I think its better to watch his interviews in youtube.

[Jaiganesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good conversation!

[Mony Shamim · Rating 3 out of 5]

৭ বছর বয়সে পিতৃহারা হয়ে ১২ বছর বয়সে এসে সংসারের হাল ধরা এ আর রাহমানের অতীত খুব সহজ ছিলনা। একদিকে সকাল থেকে গভীর রাতভর মিউজিক স্টুডিয়োতে হাড় ভাঙা পরিশ্রম আবার বাসায় মলিনমুখে সন্তানের জন্য প্রতীক্ষারত মা, সে এক সময় গেছে বটে এ আর রাহমানের জীবনে। বাবা সুরকার ছিলেন, কিন্তু স্বেচ্ছায় নয় সংগীত জগতে তিনি এসেছেন বাধ্য হয়ে, বাবার মৃত্যুর পর। কলেজে উঠে পড়াশুনা ছাড়তে হয়েছে রুটিরুজির জন্যে। প্রথমে কিবোর্ড বাজাতেন, তারপর হলেন মিউজিক প্রোগ্রামার, সেখান থেকে সুরকার। প্রথম দিকে এক শিফটে কাজ করে পেতেন ২০০ রূপি, সেটি একসময় ১৫০০০ রূপি ছাড়িয়ে গিয়েছিল। প্রথম সুর দিতেন বিজ্ঞাপনের জিঙ্গেলে, তারপর চলচ্চিত্রে। অবেশেষে ১৯৯২ সালে 'রোজা'-য় এসে তিনি জানিয়ে দিলেন তার জয়ধ্বনি।

নাসরিন মুন্নী কবীর এই বইটি লিখতে ৪ বছর সময় নিয়েছিলেন। ২০০৭ থেকে ২০১১। খুব ভালো লাগলো তাঁদের কথোপকথন। মিউজিক ডিরেক্টর হিসেবে রাহমানের প্রোগ্রেস খুব ভালোভাবে ধরা না গেলেও বইটির মধ্যে অনেক মায়া আছে, জীবনের অনেক ছোটখাটো ডিটেইলস আছে, পড়তে ভালো লাগে। রাহমানের জীবন, সংগ্রাম, তার সংগীত ভাবনা, তার পারিবারিক আবহ, তার সাফল্য- এই সব কিছুই বইটিতে ধরা রইলো অনেক আন্তরিকতায়। ভালো লাগলো ভারতীয় ক্লাসিকাল মিউজিক নিয়ে তাঁর ভাবনাগুলি। তারই খানিক-

NMK: What is Indian Music's greatest strength?

ARR: Classical Music. It may be necessary for people to learn more to appreciate it. The same applies to Western Classical. When you know more about it, you learn to appreciate the whole composition and not just the melodies.

There is so much depth and complexity in Indian Classical Music- the Poly rhythm, the Percussion, the variety of Raags - the powerful mood they create. It has many secrets. It's fascinating.

NMK: What do you mean by secrets?

ARR: Classical music in India has such tremendous sophistication. There are many layers to discover. A Raag does not reveal itself instantly. If you listen to Raag Lalit, you will hear many nuances. It evokes a unique kind of imagery. The same applies to Sindhu Bhairavi. Each Raag allows you to experience different emotions.

Indian Classical music is ingrained in us. I believe that's true of my generation. It's very important to study classical music, as it helps giving depth to compositions.

[Ankit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sitting in a cafe when a friend told me that i haven't read non-fiction in a while. That sent a series of strange thoughts in me. Why do I always read fiction? Is there something beyond the marriage between beautiful words and master story-telling. And it was just a chance encounter that I picked up this book that evening.

A.R. Rahman is someone who defines Indian film industry with his beautiful tunes. And as a big fan of Rahman Sir, it was such a delight to read his answers to some of the best question that could have asked. To get more insight into his thought process and his views about various singers/lyricists/directors was such a delight to read. Loved how joyous his tone becomes when he talks of Mani Ratnam and his slight humour which is indicative throughout.

Oh, and the pictures were a great bonus. As he rightly said "A song has to come to you like a breeze"

[Kirty Vedula · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not that great! Takes about 1/2 hour to finish the whole book. Seriously...can do better. I am disappointed. It was just like a transcript of a regular 30-min interview where the discussion was on a selected few movies and compositions. To imagine the huge hoopla before its release, I am really disappointed!

[Madhur Shrimal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty decent book which contains conversations with A.R Rahman basically about his life. This book basically gives the overall journey of Rahman in the music world, with the music world. It describes his experience with other famous music personalities. Overall a good book to read (It can be read in 2-3 hrs).

[Bhaskar Rac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book about one of the best commercial and spiritual composer on earth. Very much recommended to anyone who is into creativity, professionally or non-professional because of his spiritual views that he can transform into his works.
The book is not too long to read and much clearer if you know his works and other professionals in the industry.

[Ram Vasudeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good attempt on the maestro of Chennai. Very little was known about him (in terms of published material) and this book brings it out just in the right sense and the right way.. But, i hope many more writers do write about this wonderfully simple man.

[E.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 short biography ~ 100 pages in form of conversations held over 4 yrs. Although it is short it is quite satisfying n well-rounded. Will be reading one more bio of Rahman and all by d author since I loved d style.

[Vishnu Balakrishnan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A GOOD INTERVIEW

[Geetha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is in the form interview.. jumps from one story to another, some instances seems to repeat some stories..

[Connectunable Torahman · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice

[Prasanna Devi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it's like a q/a session, interesting facts about arr is revealed, for a fan like me overwhelming !!!!!

[Nakul Agrawal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for all the Rahman fans and people who want to make music.

Gives you a good insight on Rahman's thought process and music production process.

[P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

All we wanted to know about A R R :D

Special instances like composition of Luka Chuppi.. you can find it nowhere!
Must read for Rahmaniacs!

[Umesh Kesavan · Rating 3 out of 5]

very less space for Tamil works of Rahman,otherwise a revealing series of conversations.