A. R. Rahman Quotes

A. R. Rahman is a renowned musician and composer, particularly known for his contributions to the Indian film industry. His exceptional talent and innovative approach to music have earned him numerous accolades, including Academy Awards and Grammy Awards. Rahman's compositions blend diverse musical elements, showcasing his versatility and cultural influence.

I usually work on a film soundtrack for two years, turning in a song every few months, and that keeps my creative energy high, because I'm constantly rotating projects. The trick is to make sure I don't work too hard and get exhausted.

The demand in India is to have a hit, which becomes a promotion for the movie and makes people come to the theater. You have five songs and different promotions based on those. But when I do Western films, the need for originality is greater. Then I become very conscious about the writing.

I compose music for films, and by the grace of God... -A. R. Rahman

I compose music for films, and by the grace of God, I've got a few awards. That's it.

When you do something with a lot of honesty, appetite and commitment, the input reflects in the output.

Beautiful film music can be made relevant to any p... -A. R. Rahman

Beautiful film music can be made relevant to any period.

Discovering the context

Well-crafted and emotionally evocative film music possesses a timeless quality that can resonate with audiences across different historical periods and settings.

My music is mostly for the music. And it gives the liberty to do anything which I want. And nobody limits me to one genre of music. But I learn from life and I try to give back to life, in a way, whether it's the thought of the song or whether it's the approach to the arrangement or anything.

I grew up on Bach and Beethoven, and now I'm listening to more modern composers who I can't even name. But since I'm constantly doing music, it's difficult to have that quality time to listen to music and do classical stuff.

I divide criticism into two categories - one coming from those who understand music, who are worthy of being critical because they are knowledgeable about what they are saying; and then there is another category of people who would criticise you anyway, whether your work is good or bad.

Compared with other Indian film composers, I only write about six movies a year. Others write up to 60.

Wisdom comes from within. Knowledge is acquired an... -A. R. Rahman

Wisdom comes from within. Knowledge is acquired and can sometimes put a screen on your wisdom.

A good film demands its own score, and if you are a musician, your conscience will never allow you to do something mediocre for a good film.

After a point of time, when you get success and fame, money and everything, the purpose of life has to be redefined. For me, I think that purpose is to build bridges. Artists can do that very easily, more than politicians.

While my mother wanted me to be a musician, I want... -A. R. Rahman

While my mother wanted me to be a musician, I wanted to become an electronic engineer.

Bollywood music is definitely a big part of Indian music and can be a great way to introduce people to the sound. But I hope to continue to incorporate other types of Indian music into my work.

I don't want to expose my personal life. It's best that people know me for my work. My family doesn't want to be surrounded by cameras. We want to live like any other family.

I believe that whatever comes at a particular time... -A. R. Rahman

I believe that whatever comes at a particular time is a blessing from God.

Discovering the context

This quote reflects a belief in the divine providence and the notion that whatever events or circumstances occur in one's life, they are considered blessings from God. It underscores the faith in God's guidance and the acceptance of life's experiences as part of a higher plan.

I basically love classical music. I love a lot of musicians playing together and the whole culture of that, whether it's Indian or it's Western.

I think I can get away, sometimes, with walking in the streets and not getting noticed. I like that. I want my work to get noticed, not me. And it's slowly getting there, which is good.

So long as you do it truthfully, music is not to b... -A. R. Rahman

So long as you do it truthfully, music is not to be judged.

Discovering the context

The quote suggests that music should be appreciated and valued for its authenticity and genuine expression, rather than subjecting it to superficial judgments based on personal preferences or biases.

For me, there is no day or night for music. I often work through the night - without phone calls disturbing me.

If there is no criticism, you become lazy. But it should be constructive, and it should be the truth. If it's biased and there's no truth in it, then I don't care about it. If it's true, it helps me grow.

Comedy is a universal language. I grew up watching Nagesh, Surilirajan, Thenga Srinivasan and S.V. Shekhar's comedies. And, of course, Charlie Chaplin! These artists are so blessed: they can make other people happy.

I love great lyrics, and I love the way it could shape a tune into a very unpredictable one, and I also like taking a great melody and putting lyrics into it.

I feel blessed and humbled that people have loved my music. Nothing would be possible without their acceptance.

When I travel with my kids abroad, I am not myself, but I'm more a father who wants to protect them. Sometimes, I am even aggressive about certain things and get surprised seeing myself like that: for instance, when people want to take pictures of them. I am fine if they want to take my pictures, but they are not public property.

I think music, in my opinion, is not about motivation in the way it's - it's not a running base. It's art. And my whole philosophy of music is different. It's almost like cooking and serving to people, seeing them smile and enjoying the food, really.

It's like driving your car. If you drive too fast on the highway, you will topple, so you better maintain your speed. Life is similar to that, and that's the way you have to control your head.

I like to see a film and then start scoring it in my mind while doing something unrelated. You just grasp a film and start working, and something unpredictable comes out from a third element. The mind, the more active it is, the more productive it is.

I joined the Madras Christian College but dropped out after three months. Telugu music director Ramesh Naidu asked me to assist him, and I did so for over a year. I did think of rejoining college, but by then, I was discovering the musician in me. I worked with Illaya Raja and Raj Koti and soon shifted to commercials. This led to movie offers.

I follow a simple formula when I compose. I ask myself, 'What would the audience want to hear?' and 'Why would they buy my CDs?' And the process of answering these questions through music follows. Sometimes, it works. Sometimes, it backfires.

A. R. Rahman Quotes

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