Music maestro A R Rahman’s contribution to Hindi film music is enormous, yet over the past few years, he appears to have cut back on work in Bollywood films. The Oscar-winning composer says he is rather content with the kind of work that he associates himself with now.

“I think I am pretty happy with the amount of movies I am doing now. I work with people from whom I get a good vibe. That is why I keep working with the same people again and again. I didn’t care to accept many offers because you need to concentrate on quality,” shares Rahman, whose recent Hindi film albums include Shikara and Dil Bechara, both last year.

Along with a rich discography, the musician also has a number of awards to his name — six National Film Awards, two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award. Talking about whether such laurels spell doom for someone’s career, he says, “As long as somebody has a neutral mind and you don’t get carried away by awards… The quest for learning keeps going on. My first film (Roja, 1992) won a National Award and, people said, ‘You won the National Award, do you need to continue? You can stop now’.”

The 54-year-old, who recently adapted one of his old songs for a web series, says he has never been driven b y awards. “Awards are important but it is not the only destination. Music cannot be judged in one hearing and the intention of the music is much more than the creator. It is about how people take it. The joy of composing and performing is only limited by your physical health, nothing else,” he adds.

Almost 30 years old in the industry now, Rahman is one of the most successful music composers in the country today. So what does he attribute this long successful ever growing career to?

“Everything, all my success is a blessing for me. I am always a learner. At every stage of your life when you feel you have done enough, every three to four years there is a shift that happens. There are new needs, new sound, the society changes and you need to embrace and not complain that ‘Oh those days we did this’. One needs to get rid of that. We have to respect everybody’s needs,” he concludes.