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Interview: Ego Is 'Edging God Out': AR Rahman
He is one of the few Indians to have won two Grammy awards and two Academy Awards, yet he retains the humility of a common man. Celebrated Indian singer-composer AR Rahman, also known by the sobriquet 'Mozart of Madras', says he can never let stardom consume him.
"I was a common man and I will always remain a common man. No amount of stardom will ever consume my soul. Money comes, money goes. Fame comes, fame goes. I believe every human being is a celebrity in their own right," the 46-year-old told IANS in an email interview.
The music maestro made history when he became the first Indian to win two Oscars in a year, 2009, for Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, the rags-to-riches story of a Mumbai slum-dweller. Rahman had also bagged two awards at the 52nd Annual Grammy for his song 'Jai ho' from the same film.
The success has not gone to his head. "To be successful, it is also very important to be humble and never let fame or money travel to your head. Ego is 'Edging God Out'. Success is important, but it doesn't always drive creativity. The integrity and passion of music is what ultimately drives me, with the unconditional blessing from the Almighty of course," he said.
His Career Kick Started...
Rahman started his journey by composing scores for documentaries and TV shows before he got his first movie break with 1992 release Roja. Since then, he has composed soul-rendering music in films like Rangeela, Taal, Dil Se, Jodhaa Akbar, Swades, Rang De Basanti, Rockstar, Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Raanjhanaa.
International Break
He got his first international break when Andrew Lloyd Webber invited him to compose music for the Broadway musical Bombay Dreams, which won him immense fame. He also composed for the stage adaptation of JRR. Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings that premiered in Canada in 2006 and in London in 2007.
Credits His Success To Family
Rahman
also
credits
his
success
to
his
family,
which
always
stood
by
him
and
helped
him
stay
rooted.
"My
wife
(Saira
Banu)
and
my
children
are
my
roots
who
keep
me
grounded
at
all
times,"
said
the
musician,
who
considers
himself
"like
a
boat
without
an
oar".
I Know Only My Work And God: Rahman
"I
let
life
take
its
own
course.
I
know
only
my
work
and
god.
I
pray
a
lot.
You
get
dejected
if
you
plan
something
and
it
does
not
happen,"
he
said.
His
family,
he
said,
has
been
"my
pillar
of
stimulus
and
given
me
infinite
love
and
support
without
ever
expecting
anything
in
return"
throughout
his
journey.
Rahman Attributes His Success To His Mother
"Today, even though I have so much I will never be able to repay the emotional debt," he added. He also attributes his success to his mother. After the death of his father, it was his mother who encouraged him to take his passion for music to another level. Today, he is making the country proud with his art.
I Owe My Success To Mother
"My mother is the person I owe my success to. Till five years after my father died, my mother would rent out his musical instruments to run the house after which she was advised to sell the equipment and live with the interest. But she refused saying, 'No, I have my son and he will take care of it'," he said.
'Rahmanishq' India Tour
"Spiritually, she is much higher than me in the way she functions. For instance, her decision of making me take up music was really an intuitive one. She made me leave school in Class XI and take up music and it was her conviction that music is the line for me," he added. Rahman is currently serenading his fans with his 'Rahmanishq' India tour.
