Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; June 14, 2020)

Over the past few months, A R Rahman has been collaborating with artistes across the globe, raising funds for those affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. In a chat with BT, he talks about his recent single penned by Prasoon Joshi, which released last month, how his music stems from his spirituality and how he is spellbound by the talent in India. Excerpts...

Anyone listening to your music, even without a deep knowledge of music, can identify with it. What do you think makes it so distinct?
The most important thing is to develop a character (in your music), and that depends on the choices we make. However, these choices are not deliberate — they come from within, from a person’s intellectual and spiritual self.

Tell us what inspired you to make your recent single, Hum Haar Nahi Maanenge…
Working on the track, Hum Haar Nahi Maanenge, made all of us feel positive. Even the making of the song was very therapeutic. These days, a lot of people are feeling low. And you know, they say that when we give goodness, we receive it, too. When we try to do something, we might fail or succeed — that’s subjective, but the process is great and it benefits a lot of people. I believe in constantly aiming for goodness, kindness and giving people a reason to be hopeful.

There’s always so much to talk to you about your music, but you rarely talk about the other side of your life, which you fiercely guard — your personal life. Tell us something about AR Rahman the son, the husband, the father...
My family — my sisters, my mom, my wife and my kids — has guarded me from everything, so that I could concentrate on my music. To me, all those working with me are also like my family, because I spend more time with them. Their joy is my joy and their pain is my pain. As a father, I never had enough time for my children. It is only in the last 10 years (after winning the Oscars in 2009) that I have had the luxury of spending time with my kids. I did less work intentionally, so that I could study for the next phase of my life — learn new things, and also try and be a good father.

Almost every musician wants to collaborate with you. Who are you excited to collaborate with?
I am proud of the diverse talent in India. There are nine-year-olds singing very complex harkats in classical music. There are also exceptional talents like Lydian Nadhaswaram (piano prodigy), who surprised the world. There is so much talent in our villages as well, sometimes you get to see it on social media. Gone are the days when we waited for a chance to come on a platform. Things have become democratised now. People are taking initiative on their own now. The dedication and passion among budding talents is impressive. It’s not about the number of views, but your unconditional dedication to music. So, the bar is being set very high now. And it’s important to recognise the people, who are raising the bar. Having said that, there’s also junk coming out, which confuses people and they wonder, ‘Is this music?’ So, it is our duty to pull out the real gems and showcase the real beauty of music.

Today, the country is coming out of the lockdown mode. How did you spend the past couple of months?
It was mostly spent eating and sleeping (laughs!). I also worked on a few songs, including Hum Haar Nahi Maanenge, Hands Around The World project, the digital concert, I For India, and the Shikara OST.