Rahman's soft heart speaks out

Friday, April 20, 2007
Not many are aware that AR Rahman's soft heart is the background for his having created such an album. There are moving frames such as a poor lady looking up at magnificent high rise buildings, a child from Ethiopia looking with longing eyes, a young man afflicted by war...

These scenes reappear time and again in the song 'Pray for me, brother' and the voice that sings these words touches one's heart. Filmed in vertical cinemascope, the magnitude of each scene makes an impact on the viewer.

"Poverty, disease, war and religious fanatics are destroying the human race. Respect for human life is decreasing. More and more, man is becoming his own enemy. In this situation, what should I do?"

These questions that arose in Rahman's mind resulted in the outcome of the song 'Pray for me, brother.'

Art should create concern for other human beings around you. For an artist to say that he does not belong to this world, that he belongs to the world of music and crowns himself as god, is not service to art.

"The amount spent by countries on weapons is 736 billion dollars. If they put this money to good use, everyone can have enough money and necessities for a decent life. If my album makes people sit up and take notice of this thought, that itself will be an achievement," says AR Rahman.

Using his talent to create universal awareness is definitely something to be admired!