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Before I start elaborating, I wish to thank Gurucharan Das for having written such an enlightening book and the bar is raised quite high for this article for being its namesake. I admit copying it shamelessly for its sheer awesomeness and its ability to attract some attention and thus readership.Also,the title seemed quite apt for what I intend to write though the theme is highly contrasting. I hope to address another interpretation of it. To assess through a person's exceptional achievements, how difficult it would have been to have gone that far.
To live in this subcontinent would imply a chaste devotion towards some remarkable human beings who se uncanny ability to enchant us is incessant. Of the many, I, with my very modest recollection shall name A.R.Rehman, Sachin Tendulkar, Kamal Hasan , MS Subbalakhsmi as a few among the many. While I had began jotting down I was quite taken aback to see how Chennai and Mumbai have spawned most of the best talents of my time! So much for geographical and cultural diversity; I crave for a greater diversity in Human Talent and with about 20% of the world’s population, I don’t think my splendid desires are too farfetched. Its a travesty to consider them splendid!
Before I drift away from my premise, though I strongly believe it cannot be conveyed through this short commentary, I atleast hope to address a minor aspect of it by taking the case of A.R.Rehman.
With a country where there is never a famine of news, replete with a zillion new channels in as many languages, using their media vans generously to capture something as ‘wacky’ as ‘the trauma of a bitch ( in its literal meaning) which was raped by a drunkard in his HIGH-ness’ , to dedicate their precious Sunday afternoon time(when the whole family tunes in) to muse over the musical journey of a pious and introverted musician, much after him receiving his highest honor and with none of his works set to release in the near future, that person must be undoubtedly GOOD!
To capture the hearts of crores, across divergent cultures and a glut of rigid notions and expectations, it is indeed very difficult to enthrall and even more so to be consistent at that. It is also equally tasking to be churning out melodies across amply different genres. In the retrospect , I would have to slap myself real hard to make believe that it is indeed the same person who has composed ‘Arziyan’(Dilli6),’Fanaa’(Yuva),’RDB’(RDB),’Jaane tu- Jazz Version’(Jaane Tu Ya Jane Na), ‘Vande Maataram’ (His maiden album) and ‘Chanda Re’(Sapney). My point seems substantiated in spite of citing only a few. Though, to appeal to all my friends across the nation, I have chosen only his Hindi renditions, his Tamil compositions resonate my eardrums even more gracefully. Now, when I reflect on the timeline, it’s quite endearing to learn how he has molded his music to appeal to every generation and throughout he has maintained the loyalty of both the young and old alike.
Personally, my love for the Indian Railways is thanks to ‘Chikku Bukku Rayile’ from Gentleman. He introduced me to the ‘Indian Micheal Jackson’ and the world of break dance through ‘Mukkala’ from Kadhalan/Premikudu/Hum se hai Muqabla. If I can atleast shake a leg today and yet safely escape becoming the subject of the day’s jokes, I owe it to him. The first and last time I ever danced was to ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ from DilSe, at a function in school. This song also is credited for introducing ‘Munni’-The Undisputed Indian Item Song Queen’. To sing ‘Masakalli’ as they scatter from the minarets of mosques during namaz, ‘Mustafa Mustafa’ defined friendship, ‘Paathshala’ fueled the rebel against the institution and the this list is endless.
Our national anthem never really sparked any patriotism in me for it only seemed to be a ritual testing one’s ability to stand in perfect attention for 52 seconds to prove his fidelity to the nation. Much less with Tagore’s poem having questionable origins. And then came from this man, Rehman, a song which would coax me out of my slumber to stand and pledge my allegiance to India and for the first time it instilled in me the emotions such as love for Big Momma-India and a insatiable thirst to Wave her Flag to establish her unique identity in this world. ( By unique here , I am referring to a completely opposite kind of distinction as against what my country is known for today in the world- Corruption). Walter Scott once said, “Breathes there the man with soul so dead, who never to himself hath said, this is my own, my native land.” I would be fooling myself if I don’t acknowledge AR’s role in resurrecting the Indian in me. Even today, I consider ‘Vande Mataram’ (both Bakim Chandra’s and Rehman’s) as the true Nation Anthem!
I deem myself very fortunate to have grown up in the age where every memory is intertwined with a remarkable tune from AR. If the life of any Indian of my generation makes it to the silver screen, then such a musical would impromptu have an OST by AR Rehman!
It is also worth mentioning on this note the ‘elite lists’ in which his works find mention. This is besides all the filmfares and national awards they have won him. Lagaan is ranked at 44 on Amazon.com's "The 100 Greatest World Music Albums of All Time"."Chaiyya Chaiyya" was 9th in BBC World Service top 10 songs of all time. "Kehna Hi Kya" listed in The Guardian 's "1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear". In fact Bombay is listed in The Guardian 's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die”. Roja is listed in TIME's "10 Best Soundtracks" of all time in 2005.
Though he more than deserves an Oscar and it was long overdue, it is hard to digest that he won it for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and for ‘Jai Ho’. With all due respect, that is overrated and quite below his usual standards. It is like remembering Edison for loony inventions like ‘Tattoo Machine’ and ‘Electric Pen’ over path breaking ones such as the incandescent lamp, telegraph, phonograph, etc. Bad Timing!
He had his share of ups and downs and a few disappointing albums namely Puli(Telugu), Enakku 20 Unakku 18,One 2 Ka 4,etc. But they were largely overshadowed by booming successes elsewhere.
What is his secret? Well in his own words, “Mere paas Maa Hai!” he said and as he was showered by praises he also added ‘"Ella pughazhum iraivanukke"(All the praises dedicated to God) hinting the hand of Almighty in his success. Well almost all Indians have loving Mommas and are god fearing (Most of them have even contributed generously to Balaji’s fundraiser to clear his arrears with Kubera).Yet to be as Good as Rehman is Difficult!
I was born 8 years after John Lennon had died. Yet at his 70th birth anniversary last December, I fondly remembered him like one of those fanatic fans of his who had been to all his concerts. (On YouTube in my case!). I played his songs all day, advising everybody at work who even faintly listens to English music to download his music and get a life.
Today, if I have to choose an Indian musician whose music I suspect my great grandchild would pick up and go crazy listening to on a futuristic nanotechnology and quantum computing based ‘Micro Audio Player’, I would put all my money on the ‘Mozart of Madras’ aka AR Rehman!
Truly how difficult must it be to be so GOOD.
I signout on this note as my Windows Media Player begins to play ‘Chinnamma Chilakamma’. As they say, save the best for the Last!
