A. R. Rahman: Quotes about music

“I think musicians here [India] get ripped off. Music production houses take good care of artists abroad and though the upfront signing amount is much less than what I get here, the royalty takes care of future returns.”

A. R. Rahman

In A R Rahman: Composing a winning score, 21 September 2002, 16 December 2013, Rediff.com http://www.rediff.com/money/2002/sep/21bizsp.htm,

Music , Thinking , Future , Housing

“Musical theater had become very predictable. I think Andrew felt that Bollywood musicals could be a new treat for the Western audience.”

A. R. Rahman

Original Score

Music , Thinking

“The reason I love 'Slumdog' is because the music is all world cultures, all celebrating. In India, I know people feel other film scores [of mine] are closer to their hearts. But when you are doing a film, it's very important to make the film look like one full piece of artwork. I think scoring 'Slumdog' with every kind of music possible, from Chinese to hip-hop to M. I. A.... was really fresh ground for me.”

A. R. Rahman

Quoted in Slumdog' Composer Competes for Oscars, 19 February 2009, 16 December 2013, Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/18/AR2009021803790.html,

Love , People , World , Music

“I had been doing the same kind of stuff for 15-16 years and was desperately seeking a change. But there was no opportunity to reinterpret Indian music. With Roja, we wanted to strike a new note. Mani's amazing visuals, Mutthu's romantic lyrics, relatively unknown singers… we wanted to impart to Roja an international flavour — and we succeeded.”

A. R. Rahman

A R Rahman: In tune with life

Music , Change

“Jazz was my passion for a little while. I felt that all other kinds of music were stupid when I was into jazz. But I got over the addiction very soon”

A. R. Rahman

The A R Rahman Chat

Stupidity , Music , Passion

“The trend in the north is more Punjabi folk and simple music. But, in the past, people like Naushad experimented with Hindustani classical music which I think has been completely forgotten. People don't experiment anymore and think that Hindustani classical music won't work. For me, coming from the south, it was just a little step to learn Punjabi music. The nuances are louder in Punjabi music. Songs like Mukkala muqqabla or Humma humma had more of the Tamil folk music in it.”

A. R. Rahman

The A R Rahman Chat

People , Music , Thinking , Learning

“We didn’t know what kind of music we’d make, we didn’t know if it would be any good, but we hoped we’d have fun. He brings so much musical knowledge, amazing musicianship, melody and singing power from a different culture.”

A. R. Rahman

Mick Jagger’s views Superheavy, 16 December 2013, Official website of ARRahman http://www.arrahman.com/superheavy.aspx,

Singing , Hope , Music , Knowledge

“Commended, multi-talented and innovative Rahman for bringing East and West closer through music and for making the world look at Indian film music more seriously. Diversity of his styles and themes was appealing to different sections of the society.”

A. R. Rahman

Rajan Zed in “Hollywood calling Rehman”.

World , Making love , Music