KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 7 ― Even if you are not a fan of Indian cinema, chances are you’ve heard of the legendary music maestro AR Rahman.

He won two Academy Awards in 2008 for Best Original Song (Jai Ho) and Best Original Score (Slumdog Millionaire) but by then he was already a superstar in his home country as well as among the Indian diaspora all over the world.

Rahman, recognised for continuously taking risks to innovate and blending different genres of music, was here to promote his upcoming concert in Malaysia organised by DMY Creation — after 6 years — through a concert titled "AR Rahman — Secret of Success — Live in Kuala Lumpur 2023”.

A hectic 2022

In 2022, Rahman had seven album releases, did a 50-city tour in the US, launched his Firdaus Studio in Dubai, started his own production company named Malar in Canada and also organised his daughter’s wedding.

Yes, the 55-year-old is an accomplished multi-tasker. While on tour in the US, he kept his other projects on schedule via Zoom meetings.

At the same time, he also scored the music for movies like Iravin Nizhal, Cobra, Venthu Thaninthadhu Kaadu and Ponniyin Selvan.

"Everything came... all the interesting stuff and I just nodded yes, yes for some reason and then I realised, ‘Oh My God, there is so much to do’.

"But I think the most incredible task was done in the three months when I was touring. I was doing Ponniyin Selvan I, Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu, Cobra and Heropanti 2.

"We were just performing, setting up in the hotel, working through the Zoom platform and if you ask anybody they will tell you it’s impossible, but we have an amazing team, they are like brothers and sisters... so then you realise the power of being together as a team and collective consciousness.

"I think to be alive you need to be working because all these challenges make you get up, forget the world and drown in work because the world is not inspiring. Inspirational things are hidden and negative things are coming up,” he explained.

Inspiration for ‘Ponniyin Selvan 1’

One of the biggest projects for Rahman was Ponniyin Selvan 1 (PS 1), a movie that was 30 years in the making. The music for the film was one of the key factors that led to its becoming a blockbuster hit.

PS 1 is a Tamil-language epic historical action adventure film directed by Mani Ratnam. The makers have announced a sequel PS 2 is set to be released this April.

Rahman said being away in a foreign land did not affect his sensibility in making such a rooted project.

"The thing about our history, we don’t need to be taught about it. There is always a soul connection between us and our ancestors, especially with Tamilians.

"If you look at Tamil people they’ve gone through so much... their history, past centuries always feel a certain affinity towards the language and the people’s dreams.

"Instead of saying we are great, we are great... show the greatness now. That greatness could come through art, as a human being, as a small act of love, a smile or a tradition.” he said.

"So when this (PS 1) was done ... felt like this is from the Tamil people to the world. Not that other languages are less but I feel like it’s important to show valour, beauty and its tradition to the world. And it’s a collective affair with Mani Ratnam,” he said

Rahman said fans can expect at least one song release from PS 2 by the end of this month.

"It’s coming. I just spoke to Mani Ratnam yesterday. He was concerned not to release it too early but I said the people want it so why not? So we might have a single released in January,” he said.

Preserving artistic integrity in an ever-changing world

"We have to go with the flow. We can’t say that’s bad or this is right, but our integrity as an artist has to be retained. I will always think 10 years from now, would I be proud of the song or 20 years from now... is it good enough? Like the words, thoughts, feel and vibes.

"I don’t jump into a passing stance but you never know after 10 years, Instagram will be gone, or even we have these sources of music now like CDs and LPs everything else in on the Cloud. So I’ve been telling them what if all the servers fail, how many movies will be lost?

"So there are a lot of challenges now, and there are questions that need to be answered in today’s music world,” he shared.

When asked about the latest trend in music that disappears as fast as it comes, Rahman said: "I personally feel like going back to our roots and giving the essence of it in a very different way from today’s world. I feel like if something is cool, everybody jumps on to the next one.

"I feel like there still could be something original that can come in. Like the vibe. Recently if you take Ponniyin Selvan or even Kantara, the rooted things are actually shining better and even the ragas used, even though it sounds not friendly to the ear but it has a sense of magic in it,” he said.

What does Rahman listen to, his fears and what he thinks of his own music when looking back

"Back in the 90s we did not have certain equipment that we have now, so I tend to think I could have given it more using current tech.

"The algorithms have changed, streaming algorithms are different, if you mix it in a certain way it comes out better. Even when you spend days and then you don’t use certain mass string styles, it falls flat. Some other stuff I would definitely love to remix, sound-wise. Dolby Atmos is coming and I’m excited about that...,” he said.

Rahman said he loves to listen to music in Instagram reels, he said it’s where he discovers an artist, an illustrator and actors.

"I think it’s pretty cool... and it’s not defined by boundaries. They can probably hear someone from Lebanon, US, North India or a village from Tamil Nadu. Everybody is equal there (Instagram).”

Rahman said he still gets nervous when pitching a project or music to a stakeholder.

"The best way to handle that is low expectations. You play something and say to yourself, wait for the rejection first and if they liked it, I will be like ‘Oh distribute sweets to everyone, he liked it.’

"So it’s better to keep your expectations low. I always feel a director has to listen to something a thousand times to film it, to imagine it. So if he doesn’t like it, it’s gonna be a torture for him and he’s not going to film it well if he doesn’t like it so better get that tick mark off,” he said.

On ‘Le Musk’

Rahman said he got into making the VR thriller so that people can enjoy what could be next in the entertainment scene.

"Our aim was to elevate a movie experience for the audience, that’s why along with my wife we produced Le Musk.”

He said he wants to bring it to the general masses but it’s still a work in progress.

"There are different ways of releasing this on a stream platform or a vernacular platform but you won’t get the full effect of what we are trying to do. You won’t get the smell, the sound.

"So we are waiting to collaborate with the company to manufacture a special carriage with my brand so that we can get a lower cost, so we can recover the money back. We want more people to experience it. We are actually making a road for future filmmakers who want to do this kind of thing. We formed a company called Malar in Canada, to do this specially there.

"VR will allow you to have your own interpretation. A smell can be very subjective... because a jasmine smell can be a memory from the past for me, but yours will be different.

"Maybe good or bad. So along with the smell, scene, music and visuals, you might experience something very subjective, which is unique. Not everybody will feel the same way.”

He said the movie was not just for the Western market but he launched it there to get the hype going. He said Indian people love to hear from the West first.

"If the West gives it a good review then our folks will go ‘oh they liked it’ and will follow suit,” he said jokingly.

AR Rahman’s Malaysia concert

"Trust what we do and come watch it,” that’s all Rahman had to say to his Malaysian fans.

"I can’t say there is a particular format etc. We always have a set and the sets sometimes change overnight. So my full team will be on their toes and be like, ‘Oh he’s going to change this, he’s gonna change this’”.

"And sometimes it’s instinctive when we are going to change it. I feel like it’s a lot of, ‘let’s do this’ and then we have a team sitting through the night figuring the chords.

"So nobody knows, even I don’t know what it will be,” he said.