A.R. Rahman announces a tie-up of 'Ada' with Nokia & Big Music

Earlier this week, Nokia in association with Big Music came up with an innovative way to promote the music of director Tanvir Ahmed's forthcoming film Ada-a way of life. The film's music has been composed by music maestro A.R. Rahman and die-hard Rahman fans not just have a chance to enjoy his music but also play around with it.

Yes, you heard it right for the first time ever Nokia along with Big Music and A.R. Rahman gives listeners a chance to remix two tracks from this film. The winner of this contest (who will be chosen by the music legend himself) gets a chance to spend one day with him and remix two of the songs of Ada in Rahman's studio.

Gallery :

Complete Interview of ARR on Radio City ( with Download Link)

Here is the link for ARR's interview which was broadcast on 28th April on Radio City Chennai.

http://www.mediafir e.com/?r51mb1tsz xz

Thanks Aravind ( from arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com) for recording this in a high quality.

The Transcript of interview is below :
(Hope it will benefit non-tamil fans)

Q :- Rahman always means technology. Actually, he has brought a lot of technical aspects into Music. Do you feel that technology is a must in current day Music ?

ARR :- I think, nowadays a Musician cannot be a musician alone. He needs to be know technology. Nowadays, people owing a type writer have started owing a computer. So its a necessity. Whetever we type goes into the computer, and not by its own. So in music also, there are automatic generating Software, but melody cannot be done with that. I think its a small step. Just like driving a pig; a car. What you need is to take care that you dictate it, and not get dictated by it. If we do music out of the limitation that exists from th software, we would also become limited. So we need to change stuff, whatever it takes us to.

Q :- if we listen to a line from a music, we are able to grasp the fact that its an A.R. Rahman Music. There is an unique speciality about it. Is this a planned effort ?

ARR :-No. I used to keep playing in Film Industry in the beginning. At that time, I wanted to do an album. I had something in my mind , that I should do something non- filmy, out of the film arena. The Filmy stuff started boring me. So, when I returned back to the filmy music, instead of doing it seperately, I thought of using it in film music. So those influences came into Filmy Music.

Q :- Rahman. Sometimes, when we turn the chapters of life, it astonishes us, and that too, your life has been a miracle altogether. Today, the ful world knows A.R. Rahman. There are a lot of people, who have been driven mad by your music. Did you ever think, your life would have been this much succesful. ??

ARR :- NO. ( Straight away replies ) . Basically what happened was, I went into a spiritual phase of life, where I met this Murshad, who blessed our family. He said, that " You are your family are going to see something amazing". At that time, I was thinking he was just telling lies ( ARR uses very local tamil word " Peela" for lies. ). But with due respect, when things changed, we started believing. he said something, and its happening. Its a blessing from him. After that, it went step by step. I always take the situation little by little. That makes life more easy. Then , after Bombay Dreams, I could have made up by mind that I am not going to do any more regional Films, as I have been recognised in the West. But, I do respect all the fans from the South. or North, Indians all through. , who supportd my music. Thats one of the reasons to do the stuff. I did do some silly pictures in between, just to keep the thing going.

Q :- ( A personal Question ) Right from the time, you came to the Film Industry, till now, you have always stayed young. Hows that possible. ?

ARR :- ha ha ha . I think most of the musicians look young. Because they cannot have two things in their mind. It is Spiritual and Music. hatred and jealousy. If you have all that and worries, you become old. You just have to take all that off, and live life at that moment. Think Good.

Q :- Rahman , I should not ask any Music Director this question, but still. Which song is very close to your heart ?.

ARR :- Only when you listen to it back. Some days back, I was listening to the song , " Sowkiyamaa " from Sangamam. Then I realised, thats its a good song. Because, we forget the song, after finishing it. Otherwise, you cant go. If you take a luggage with you alwaysm you cant go anywhere, and you would not know whats ahead of you. Whats the new sound. So to do all that, you need to forget the stuff. and go, Keep watching.

Q :- Your Thai Manne Vanakkam was a scintillating song. Today, you are famous world wide. Whever you go, your roots are in Chennai. So, what does Chennai mean to you ?

ARR :- Its where I was born. So, there is an attachment. Chennai is a part of me, and my music also. So, you cant deny that. We invested so much of money for the studio here. , which gives more the reason to stay here. All the kids love here.

Q :- Everyone says, " A.R. Rahman is down to earth; down to earth". We also know that well. We realised that, when you came to our studios, as we were tensed that there was a delay in the lift. But you were very cool. How did this character come to you ?

ARR :- Down to earth Down to earth..... I have been in earth only since beginning... .....We need to be absorbing. Its like a camera. Just take the good things, and leave the bad things. So that is a part of I think, learning. and even in music, its like that. You have to wait for good music to come to you. Wait for that particular state of mind. Need patiennce for everything. So thats very important.

Q :- You have been part of a great movement of taking Indian Music to International Arena. whats our Future plan regarding this ?

ARR :- I think , to develop something very unique. Nowadays we are always switched on and aware about technology, youngness , freshness and everything. That will be very intersting to see a unique piece of music. Music becoming the leader for the full world. we could do that, if we all put our minds together.

Q :- Whats your message to Radio City Listeners ?

ARR :- Thank you all Radio City Listeners. For being a part of my music, and also part of my life so far. And I hope you continue to that so.

( Transcription prepared by Vithur, from arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com)

Remix A.R. Rahman's ADA on your Nokia mobile

As a part of its endeavour to connect people to their passions, mobile phone major Nokia has joined hands with A.R. Rahman to give young Indians a chance to remix two tracks from the maestro's forthcoming film "Ada... A way of life".

click here to enlarge

The announcement at a press conference Monday marks the first time the composer is allowing listeners to remix his creations.

As a part of this initiative, Nokia and leading music house BIG Music will run a month-long contest where participants can remix the two "Ada" soundtracks - "Gulfisha" and "Gum Sum" on Nokia's newly launched Nokia XpressMusic mixer application.

This is an online music mixer available on www.nokia.co.in/XpressMusic that has pre-loaded "Ada" tunes.
More information in http://www.remixrahmansada.com/

Users can remix the soundtracks by clicking on their favourite music genre such as Jazz, Folk, Punjabi, Hip-Hop and Rock amongst others. Participants also have the option to download the Ada tracks from the Nokia XpressMusic website and remix with their own professional music equipment.

The winner, to be chosen by Rahman, will get an opportunity to spend a day with the music legend and compose the remix soundtrack with him at his studio.

This remix would be released through a music video that would profile the winner and Rahman along with the top 10 finalists.

Elaborating on the concept, Rahman said: "India full of talented young people and this contest is my way of unleashing their creativity.

"Nokia and BIG Music have come up with a very interesting concept and I am looking forward to see how the listeners interpret my music and give it a new form," he added.

According to Raghuvesh Sarup, head of programme portfolio of Nokia India, "we share a very special and long-term association with Mr. Rahman and we treasure this relationship.

"We are very grateful to him for agreeing to this initiative and giving youngsters an opportunity to express themselves through music," he added.

Bombay Dreams to be staged in Pakistan

An adaptation of "Bombay Dreams", Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical that unravelled the romantic Bollywood to the world on Broadway, will be staged in Pakistan next week.

Directed by Sharabeel Shah, the musical extravaganza is believed to have cost Rs 3 million, making it the most expensive stage show put together in Pakistan. The play, which had a run for a select audience in the federal capital last year, will be staged at the Alhamra Art Council in Lahore during April 6-20.

"Bombay Dreams", which comprises a huge cast of 75 Pakistani actors, is expected to run to full houses in the country's cultural capital.

"The play has been coloured in a local fashion to make it look real. Though the play is in English, it proceeds in a fashion that a person not familiar with English can very well understand it. The actors have been working hard and we hope to have a big crowd," Sharabeel told the Daily Times.

The original Broadway musical starred London-based actors Preeya Kalidas, Raza Jaffrey, Raj Ghatak, Ayesha Dharker and Dalip Tahil. The music was scored by India's A R Rahman.

"The play is known for its rhythmic tones composed by A R Rahman and will definitely cheer the audience," Sharabeel said.

The story revolves around an ambitious young guide, Aakash, who is brought up by his mother and lives in the slums. He fantasises about being a Bollywood star. A young lawyer's fianc offers him a shot in Bollywood and takes him to Mumbai, where he experiences a side of the city he had never imagined.

For the Pakistani version, actors have been drawn from various elite educational institutions of Lahore.

Source : The Hindu News Update