Bollywood movies feature an average of seven songs - which means that the Indian film industry churns out about 4,800 numbers a year. But there's only one man who has consistently claimed the No 1 spot on the music charts.
Indian composer Allah Rakha Rahman (A.R.Rahman), has been credited with "changing the face of Indian music" (India Today). His song Roobaroo, from the film Rang De Basanti (Paint It Yellow), has occupied the top spot on the Mumbai charts since its release four weeks ago.
"Rahman is the biggest representative of Indian music," says Bollywood movie mogul Subhash Ghai. "He's an example for future generations. He's the best fusion of art and science in music."
Singer Hariharan, who will visit Hong kong as part of Rahman's troupe this weekend, met the composer when he was working on a cosmetics commercial and says Rahman helped his career.
"After the commercial, he asked me to record a song for the movie Roja [Rose, 1992]," says Hariharan. "Then, in 1994, the film Bombay was released and my song Tu Hi Re became a big hit. It was as if Rahman exhibited my voice and gave it a huge commercial perspective."
A steady stream of hits led Rahman from the mean streets of Chennai to the lavish sets of London musical Bombay Dreams - the first time British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber invited another composer to write for him.
"I think he has an incredible voice," Lloyd Webber has said. "I've seen many Bollywood films, but what he manages to do is unique. He keeps it very much Indian. As a westerner, I can always recognise his music because it has a voice of its own. It's definitely Indian, yet it has an appeal which will go right across the world.
"He will hit the west in an amazing kind of way - that is, if he's led in the right way. He's the most extraordinary composer who is still true to his cultural roots, and deserves to be heard by an international public."
For those familiar with the average length of an Indian movie, it should come as no surprise that the concert at the Convention and Exhibition Centre will run for three and half to four hours.
Rahman will play keyboards and sing, accompanied by Alka Yagnik, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan, BlaaZe, Kailash Kher, Madhushree and Sadhana sargam and a full orchestra.
Media-shy Rahman is popular among so-called playback singers, whose songs are pre-recorded for use in films. The singer records, and the actors lip sync for the cameras. He's also popular with Bollywood stars, who often fly from Mumbai to Chennai to record at his studio.
"His strength is the way he designs sound," says Hariharan. "He has revolutionised film music. He's perpetually on a quest to get the best out of you and make you feel at ease. I have sung some of my best songs for him."
Singer Alka Yagnik agrees. "He's a one-man show. Once he's taught you the song, he gives you a free hand. He lets you sing it the way you want to."
For the local audiences unfamiliar with Bombay Dreams, Rahman's work can be found closer to home: he was responsible for the haunting background score for mainland action/adventure epic warriors of Heaven and Earth (2003).
Thursday, February 16, 2006
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