The maestro says that today he works with young minds as much as possible because they help him learn and grow
AR Rahman’s almost 30-year long career which started with Roja in 1992 has been exemplary. And six National Film Awards, two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award later, the quest to do better still remains as strong as his first project. “I never look at music as the second option. For me, it is the only option I keep talking about how my mother made the choice for me to be a composer. Every three years people come and say music is going to end with other things coming up. There is a fear that something will come and destroy your livelihood. It has always been there,” he shares.
But Rahman is confident that music is always going to be there. “It is going to evolve. It is something beautiful, it goes from hand to hand and
AR RAHMAN, singer-composer
traditions. Things are getting updated and same ragas are being played by younger people and they bring in their own flavour,” he explains.
Another reason why the 54-year-old believes that music is irreplaceable and will also live on is because of the young talents that are coming up. “We have extraordinary musicians now and sometimes an eightyear-old goes to a level of expertise that even a 50-yearold can’t match up to. And I have seen those talented kids. Music can’t be stopped and nobody owns it. It can go to anybody and that is fascinating. That also keeps you open minded and you keep looking at things which are evolving and you embrace it. Sometimes, you just have to appreciate it. You see so many extraordinary talents and they reaffirm the faith in music for all of us,” says the maestro.
On if there is any advice that he would like to share with young and upcoming musicians, Rahman says it is he who needs it from them.
“I like to talk to younger musicians because they are the ones who listen to new music. My team is young and I look at the enthusiasm in their faces and their actions. They inspire me. That’s the mutual respect that we need. I respect what they do and they respect me. All older and younger musicians should practice this taking and giving back,” he concludes.