A R Rehman - Wikipedia

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Allah Rakha Rahman Tamil: ஏ.ஆர்.ரஹ்மான்)(Malayalam: എ. ആര്‍ റഹ്മാന്‍, (born on January 6, 1966 as A. S. Dileep Kumar in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India), is a critically acclaimed award-winning composer, record producer and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Indian film composers ever, and his career is considered a turning point in the history of Indian film music. Many credit him with having single-handedly revolutionized the standards of film music composition in India. He is also credited with re-energizing the popularity of Indian film music the world over.

In a career spanning over a decade, Rahman, by 2003, had sold more than one hundred million records of his film scores and soundtracks world-wide,^[1] and sold over 200 million cassettes^[2]all-time top selling recording artists; he is the only person of Indian descent on the list. making him one of the world's top 25

Contents [hide] 1 Biography 1.1 Early life and influences 2 Summary of career 2.1 Film scoring and soundtracks 2.2 Other works 2.3 Music style 3 Filmography (as composer) 3.1 Film scores 4 Awards 5 Philanthropy 6 External links 7 References

Biography

Early life and influences

A. R. Rahman was born to R. K. Shekhar, a composer, arranger and conductor for Malayalam-language films. His father died when Rahman was nine years old, and his family rented out musical equipment as a source of income. Rahman is an adherent of Sufism.

During these early years, Rahman served as a keyboard player and an arranger in bands such as "Roots" and "Nemesis Avenue" with friends including Sivamani, embracing numerous music genres. He played the keyboard and piano, in addition to, among others, the synthesizer, the harmonium and the guitar. His curiosity in the synthesizer in particular increased because, he says, it was the “ideal combination of music and technology.”^[3] He began early training in music under Master Dhanraj. At the age of 11, he joined, as a keyboardist, the troupe of Ilaiyaraaja,^[3] one of many composers to whom musical instruments belonging to Rahman's father were rented to. Rahman later played in the orchestra of M. S. Viswanathan and Ramesh Naidu, accompanied Zakir Hussain, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and L. Shankar on world tours and obtained a scholarship to Trinity College of Music in London, where he graduated with a degree in Western classical music.^[4]

Summary of career

Film scoring and soundtracks

In 1991, Rahman began his own music recording and mixing studio, attached to backyard of his house, called the Panchathan Record Inn. He initially composed music jingles for advertisements, Indian Television channels and music scores in documentaries, among other projects. In 1992, he was approached by film director Mani Ratnam to compose the score and soundtrack for Ratnam's Tamil film Roja. The debut led Rahman to receive the Rajat KamalNational Film Awards, the first time ever by a first-time film composer. Rahman has since then gone on to win the award three more times (for his scores for Minsaara Kanavu (Electric Dreams, Tamil) in 1997, Lagaan (Tax, Hindi) in 2002, Kannathil Muthamittal (If Kissed on the Cheek, Tamil) in 2003), the most ever by any composer.^[5] award for Best Music Director at the

Roja's score met with high sales and acclaim, in its original and dubbed versions, bringing about an effective transformation in film music at the time, and Rahman followed this with scores for films including, among others, Bombay, Kadhalan, Indira, Minsaara Kanavu, MuthuLove Birds, which gained him notice. His soundtracks gained him recognition in the Tamil film industry and across the country for his versatality in classical, folk, jazz, reggae, soft rockRangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, marked Rahman's debut in Hindi films. Many popular and superhit scores for films including Dil Se and Taal and and other styles in his pieces. followed. The sales of these albums prompted several film producers to take film music more seriously.

Rahman's work is also unique in the fact that his collaborations with some film directors have always resulted in successful soundtracks. In particular, he has worked with Mani Ratnam on ten films until 2006, all of which have been musical hits. Also notable is his collaboration with the director S. Shankar in the films Gentleman, Kadhalan, Indian, Jeans, Mudhalvan, Nayak, Boys and Sivaji.

His first movie album Roja was listed in TIME's "Top 10 Movie Soundtracks of All Time" in 2005.^[6] Rahman continued to record frequently in his studio, the Panchathan Record Inn. In 2005, a newly developed recording studio, attatched to the Inn called A.M. Studios was opened. It is considered to be the most developed, equipped and high tech studio of Asia. In 2006, Rahman launched his own music label, KM Musiq. It's first release was his soundtrack to the film Sillunu Oru Kaadhal which it released worldwide, in August 2006. His latest work includes Rang De Basanti, Sillunu Oru Kaadhal, Guru, Varalaru - The History of the Godfather, Sivaji: The Boss, Azhagiya Tamil Magan, and Jodhaa Akbar . Rahman has scored the movie Provoked, co-scored Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and is working on Chamki Chameli to be released in 2008 and Hindi version of Tamil blockbuster Ghajini. He is a recipient of the Padma Shri.

Other works

Rahman has been involved in several projects aside from film. He made an album Vande Mataram (1997) on India's 50th anniversary of independence to immense success. He followed it up with an album called Jana gana mana, a conglomeration of performances by many leading exponents/artists of Indian classical music. In addition to writing jingles for ads, he has composed several orchestrations for athletic events and T.V. and internet media publications, documentaries and short films.

In 2002, he composed his maiden stage production Bombay Dreams (2002) following a commission from famous musical theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Furthermore, Rahman, along with the Finnish folk music band Värttinä, composed the music for The Lord of the Rings theatre production. He composed the piece "Raga's Dance" for Vanessa-Mae's album Choreography (2004).

In the last six years, he has performed in three successful world tours of his concerts to audiences in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, UK, Canada, the US (Hollywood Bowl and 3d tour) and India.^[5] A two-disc soundtrack, Introducing A. R. Rahman, (2006) featuring 25 pieces he composed from his Tamil film scores was released in May 2006.

Music style

Rahman's interest in the works of Classical and Romantic period composers, Carnatic composers, early film composers and predecessors K. V. Mahadevan and Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy of the film industry of Tamil Nadu and others continued through his late teens. He further explored and trained in Carnatic music, Western classical, Hindustani music and the Qawwali style of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, in addition to numerous other styles. His interest and outlook in music is said to stem from his love of experimentation.^[4][7] As a result, his scores have alternated from songs and themes composed covering a variety of genres, with unconventionally-grouped instruments, and different vocal styles being used and combined together in some of his film soundtracks, to more traditional orchestral themes with leitmotif techniques composed in others. Rahman's works often feature a mix of minimalist songs and evocative, thematic pieces, building on his differing chord progressions and rhythms. He has written scores and songs with new and varied melodic and percussive sounds from instruments of different music systems.

Filmography (as composer)

Main article: A. R. Rahman discography

Film scores

Roja (1992) Yodha (1992) Uzhavan (1993) Thiruda Thiruda (1993) Pudhiya Mugam (1993) Gentleman (1993) Vandicholai Chinnaraasu (1994) Super Police (1994) Pudhiya Mannargal (1994) Pavithra (1994) May Madham (1994) Kizhakku Cheemayile (1994) Karuththamma (1994) Kadhalan (1994) Duet (1994) Manitha Manitha (1994) Gangmaster (1994) Indira (1995) Rangeela (1995) Muthu (1995) Bombay (1995) Love Birds (1996) Indian (1996) Kadhal Desam (1996) Fire (1996) Mr. Romeo (1996) Anthimantharai (1996) Minsaara Kanavu (1997) Iruvar (1997) Daud: Fun On The Run (1997) Ratchagan (1997) Mona Lisa (1997) Vishwa Vidhaata (1997) Jeans (1998) Dil Se… (1998)

Earth (1998) Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1998) Kabhi Na Kabhi (1998) En Swasa Kaatre (1999) Jodi (1999) Padayappa (1999) Taal (1999) Takshak (1999) Kadhalar Dhinam (1999) Pukar (1999) Sangamam (1999) Mudhalvan (1999) Taj Mahal (2000) Alaipayuthey (2000) Fiza (2000) (1 song) Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000) Rhythm (2000) Thenali (2000) Zubeidaa (2000) One 2 Ka 4 (2001) Nayak: The Real Hero (2001) Love You Hamesha (2001) Star (2001) Lagaan (2001) Parthale Paravasam (2001) Alli Arjuna (2001) Kannathil Muthamittal (2002) The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002) Baba (2002) Kadhal Virus (2002) Saathiya (2002) Udhaya (2003) Parasuram (2003)

Boys (2003) Enakku 20 Unakku 18 (2003) Kangalal Kaithu Sei (2003) Tehzeeb (2003) Warriors of Heaven and Earth (2004) Lakeer - Forbidden Lines (2004) Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities (2004) Aayitha Ezhuthu / Yuva (2004) New / Nani (2004) Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa (2004) (3 songs) Swades (2004) Kisna - The Warrior Poet (2004) (1 song) Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2005) The Rising - Ballad of Mangal Pandey (2005) Anbe Aaruyire (2005) Aa Aah (2005) Water (2005) (5 songs) Rang De Basanti (2006) Sillunu Oru Kaadhal (2006) Varalaru - The History of the Godfather (2006) Guru (2007) Provoked (2007) Sajni (2007) Sivaji: The Boss (2007) Azhagiya Thamizh Magan (2007) Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) (with Craig Armstrong) Jodhaa Akbar (2008) Robot (2009) Marma Yogi (2010)

Awards

Main article: List of A. R. Rahman awards

Manichitrathazhu

Philanthropy

In addition to composing themes for charity media features and events, Rahman has set up the "A. R. Rahman Foundation" with a goal to eradicate poverty globally. This includes setting up and partnering with educational institutions across India to provide education to children who do not have easy access to schools or funds. In 2004, he was appointed as the Global Ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership, a project by WHO.^[5] He has shown support to charities including Save the Children, India, and worked with Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam for his song "Indian Ocean" . The song featured a-ha keyboard player Magne Furuholmen and TravisNeil Primrose. The proceeds of the song went towards helping orphans in Banda Aceh, one of the areas worst affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Memento

I have planned to see this film after heard that this was the base of mega hit Tamil movie 'Ghajini' a Surya starrer.

I have seen this Memento on 17-04-2008. Wow Its wonderful movie. I have to admit that Memento is in comparable with the Commercial shit 'Ghajini'. Surya did nothing but overact with sex bomb Asin and Item Number Nayanthara.

I admired to the story of Memento, screenplay and the twist. This is a complex story to tell because the color scenes are told in reverse chronological order while the black and white scenes are done in chronological order

I just given below the extract review of this wonderful movie from rottentomato.com and this film got 94% mark.

Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) wears expensive, European tailored suits, drives a late model Jaguar sedan, but lives in cheap, anonymous motels, paying his way with thick wads of cash. Although he looks like a successful businessman, his only work is the pursuit of vengeance: tracking and punishing the man who raped and murdered his wife. His suspicions dismissed by the police, Leonard's life has become an all-consuming quest for justice. The difficulty, however, of locating his wife's killer is compounded by the fact that Leonard suffers from a rare, untreatable form of memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his "accident", Leonard can't remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he is, where he's going or why. A former insurance investigator, Leonard is keenly aware of his handicap. Moreover, he's got the discipline to compensate as well as the motivation-the cruel memory of his beloved wife's last moments. Haunted by what he's lost, he's re-built his life out of index cards, photographs, file folders, charts, tattoos and obsessive habits that stand in for memory, fixing him in space and time and connecting him to his mission. Out of necessity, Leonard must rely on others despite being thoroughly ill-equipped to assess either their motives or basic decency. Leonard remembers his past-up to a point. But just who has Leonard become since losing the ability to hold together the fragments of himself? "Memento" mines this psychological terrain, using non-linear film narrative to mirror Leonard's own effort to interpret the random pieces of evidence he hoards. The murder, rewound in the opening frames, we discover, is logically the endpoint of Leonard's story. What we learn comes from a point earlier in time, a few moments and a few sentences prior to what we've already been shown. As Leonard's story unfolds, the meaning of events changes. Allies, enemies, victims, victimizers swap place almost kaleidoscopically.

This review is from IMDB

This is a complex story to tell because the color scenes are told in reverse chronological order while the black and white scenes are done in chronological order. Both the color and black and white scenes are alternately interspersed throughout the movie in a set pattern. This is done by director Christopher Nolan and his crew in order to confuse and bewilder the audience. He states it is to put the viewer in the shoes of Memento's protagonist Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) and experience what he is going through. He crafts the film such that new bits and pieces of information are given out with each color and b&w scene until their time lines meet.

Memento is presented here in chronological order for simplification: Leonard Shelby wakes up in an motel room puzzled why he is there. The phone rings and he begins to have a conversation with an unknown caller. He starts telling the story of one Sammy Jankis (Stephen Tobolowsky). Shelby says Jankis was a man who claimed to suffer from short-term memory loss or anterograde amnesia. Any new memories and experiences are forgotten within a few minutes.

Leonard was a former insurance investigator assigned to determine if Jankis' condition would be covered under his insurance policy. After testing, Leonard concluded that Jankis' condition was psychological and his claim was denied. Sammy's wife (Harriet Sansom Harris) is a diabetic who was convinced by Leonard (in trying to placate her), that Sammy could indeed make new memories. Afterwards, she tested Sammy to see if he could remember. But he repeatedly gave her insulin injections and she lapsed into a coma and died from overdose. It was a form of suicide because she could not deal with his condition anymore. Poor Sammy was confined to a mental institution not even able to remember his wife's death.

Next, Leonard recounts how his wife Catherine Shelby (Jorja Fox) died. One night, two men broke into their home and raped and murdered Catherine. Leonard shot one intruder dead but a second man ambushed him from behind and forced his head into a mirror. It was with such great force that Leonard developed anterograde amnesia. His last permanent memory was seeing his wife dying on the bathroom floor. Lenny wants revenge for Catherine's death and becomes determined to find and kill the second intruder.

He develops a system to help compensate for his condition. This involves getting important facts and messages tattooed on his body, taking Polaroid photographs, and writing notes to himself. Avenging his wife's death becomes the prime directive in his life whenever he wakes up or forgets what he is going to do. Apparently one can condition themselves to cope with the memory loss by repetition and thus be able to function in daily routines. Lenny has "remember Sammy Jankis" tatooed on his hand to remind him of his condition. There are also tatooed clues to the second intruder's identity such as "drug dealer," "male," "white", his name is "John or James G_______."

We find out later it is Teddy (Joe Pantoliano) who is the mysterious caller. He tells Lenny that the murderer is a drug dealer, and that he can be found at an abandoned warehouse. Lenny goes to the rundown building and kills a man named Jimmy Grants (Larry Holden).

A few minutes later, Teddy arrives at the building, and Lenny discovers he has been tricked. Jimmy Grants was indeed a drug dealer but did not have anything to do with his wife's killing. Teddy reveals that Leonard's wife survived the robbers' attack, but she died from an insulin overdose administered by Leonard.

According to Teddy, Sammy Jankis was a fraud who was not even married. Teddy claims to be police officer John Gammel. He says he took pity on Leonard and helped him track down and kill the real John G. more than a year ago. Teddy thought that killing the second man would regain Leonard's memory back. However, Leonard forgot this happened and began searching for John G. again. Teddy finally admits to manipulating Leonard to kill Jimmy for the $200,000 in the drug dealer's car. He had set Jimmy up to bring money by falsely claiming to have drugs.

Before Lenny can forget Teddy's revelations, he sets himself up to kill Teddy. He records Teddy's license plate number as John G's, leaving himself a note reminding him to have the car's license number "SG137IU" tattooed. Leonard takes Jimmy's clothing and Jaguar car and drives to a tattoo parlor. He ditches Teddy by throwing his car keys into some tall weeds. At the parlor, Leonard finds a note in his pocket from Jimmy's girlfriend Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss).

Forgetting that he is wearing Jimmy's clothes, he thinks the note is for him and goes to the bar where Natalie works. After meeting her, he tells her about his condition. Natalie offers to help Leonard, but she later tricks him into going after a man named Dodd (Callum Keith Rennie), who has been harassing Natalie for the money from Jimmy's prior drug deals. After confronting Dodd, Lenny forces him to leave town.

After getting rid of Dodd for Natalie, she in return has John G's license plate traced. She gives Leonard a copy of John Edward Gammel's driver's license, and he matches it to his photo of Teddy. He concludes Teddy is the "John G" who he has been looking for and is the man who raped and killed his wife. All the other John or James Gs Lenny has killed have been forgotten. He takes Teddy to the abandoned building where Jimmy Grants was killed a few days before, and shoots him in the head.