One love, one world, one sound

LONDON: As he celebrates 25 years in the music industry, Oscar- and Grammy-winning Indian musician AR Rahman says his religious beliefs helped define and shape his career.

Rahman’s latest tour, which starts at Wembley Arena in London today, takes his fans on a journey through his music for the last quarter of a century. Rahman, who converted to Islam in his twenties, said his interpretation of the Muslim faith meant living a life that was simple and in which humility was key.

“Islam is an ocean, it has different sects. More than 70. So I follow the Sufi kind of philosophy which is about love,” Rahman said. “I am what I am because of the philosophy I’m following, my family is following. And, of course, many things are happening, and I feel it’s mostly political.”

Steeped in folklore, poetry and spiritualism, Sufism is a form of Islam based on hypnotic rituals and reflects the religion’s mystical side.

The 50- year- old artist, who has won two Oscars, two Grammys and a Golden Globe, has more than 160 film soundtracks to his name, including the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire and Bollywood films like Lagaan and Taal.

He sings, writes, plays instruments and composes music and has teamed up with other global artists including Mick Jagger, Sarah Brightman and the Pussycat Dolls.

The softly spoken artist, who nevertheless has a powerful stage presence, said he still had more to achieve and hoped music would help bring more people together.

“If you take an orchestra, you have the underprivileged and the privileged, playing together. We have different races playing together. We have different religions playing together. But one sound comes out,” he said.

“You work towards one harmony.” – Reuters