Tag Archives: Ghajini

A.R.Rahman as Godfather for Young talent!!

Every singers dream is to work with Maestro A.R.Rahman. Raja Hasan all throughout sung many songs of A.R.Rahman during the Saregamapa 2007 contest. A.R.Rahman songs are not easy to be performed live but Raja did it with perfection and I think Maestro watched that and now Raja Hasan is performing with the Maestro and has even recorded a song for him for a private album. We hope he gets more and more opportunites from the Maestro since one hit song for the Maestro changes the life of the artist. Here is an article how opportunity from A.R.Rahman made these artists stars:

Rahman is indisputably the best music composer around we all know how Rahman has given breaks to many new talent whom he has spotted at events and shows. StarBoxOffice takes a look at the new talent whom he has given a much needed break to in the music industry.

Karthik

Karthik

Karthik

If you remember Shano Shano from Yuvraaj, Behka Re Behka from Ghajini – they are sung by Karthik. Ever since he was a boy, Karthik dreamt of becoming a singer. He has even learnt Carnatic music in his early years but had to abandon it midway for family issues. “Since my school days, I have been a great fan of A R Rahman. Singer Shrinivas happens to be my friend’s cousin, and I realised the only way I could meet Rahman was through him. So I thought, ‘Why not meet him?’

When Rahman and I met, he asked me to sing a few lines. After hearing me sing, he appreciated my talented and suggested that I pursue a career in singing. I was completely shocked to hear that from him. His statement changed my life; I began taking classical lessons again. At one point of time, Rahman wanted a fresh voice so Shrinivas called me and I recorded for the song’s chorus. That is how my career began.” Rahman seems to chosen the correct gem.

Blaze:

Blaze

Blaze

One of the first rappers in Bollywood, Blaaze was brought up in Zambia and the UK before he moved to Mumbai. Starting off as a radio jockey with Mumbai’s Radio station, he quit the day Rahman summoned him to Chennai for an urgent recording. And as he rightly says, that day changed the course of his life.

He has come a long way from the time he worked on East or West, India is the Best with Anu Malik on Judwaa (1994). But Rahman then picked him up and made his career. “ I came to Mumbai in December 1999 and picked up one of his CDs that had his studio address printed on the cover. I mailed him a letter and a demo. A year passed but nothing happened. I then met Louis Banks, who is like my godfather because he introduced me to many musicians. He also introduced me to Sivamani, who introduced me to Rahman at his Mumbai studio.”

“When I spoke to Rahman, he told me that we would do something together but another year passed and I joined Radio City. Then my wife came down to India and was working in Chennai when she met Rahman. She reminded him about me and the amazing thing is that he remembered. The same day he called me to Chennai to record urgently.”

Opportunities like these beckon once in a lifetime so I had to make a choice quickly. The same day I quit my job and flew down to Chennai. Today, I am what I am because of what I decided on that day.”

Raqueeb Alam

Raqueeb Alam

Raqueeb Alam (Lyricist)

As Slumdog Millionaire enjoys its dream run across the world, one man from Bihar who always harboured dreams of being a singer is pleasantly surprised.

Rahman picked up Raqueeb and give a break how? Raqueeb says “I am grateful to late P K Mishra for introducing me to Rahman. Mr Mishra wrote lyrics for the film Roja, and introduced me to Rahman as a singer. At that time, I would just sing a few lines for different songs. I had sung a few lines for Columbu Columbus for the movie Jeans as well.”

“My first proper offer as a lyricist was for Deepa Mehta’s film Water. Rahman asked me if I could write. I told him I would try to do my best. In that one night, I wrote ten mukhdas. Out of those, one song was for Holi. Deepa Mehta selected that one and it was decided that I would sing it along with Surjo Bhattacharya and Richa Sharma. The next day, we recorded Shyam Rang Bhar Do.

Tanvi Shah

Tanvi Shah

Tanvi Shah

The sensational voice of Tanvi Shah who has sung Jai Ho the female voice, Delhi 6 title track and many more now . Even Tanvi got a break in the music industry through Rahman. “I met him through one of our common friends in the Tamil film industry during the making of Mani Ratnam’s Aayutha Ezhuthu. That movie was later remade in Hindi as Yuva, and Fanaa came to be my break as a playback singer.”

Naresh Iyer

Naresh Iyer

Naresh Iyer

Naresh Iyer made everyone sit up and take notice of his vocals as soon as one heard the first two words – Aye Saala! – from his Bollywood debut in Rang De Basanti. While artistes long for years to get that call from musical genius A.R.Rahman’s office, Naresh Iyer got a chance to perform before the maestro himself in a talent hunt show. And Rahman being the expert at spotting talent didn’t waste any time in presenting yet another gifted artiste before the audiences. “I had participated in Super Singer Contest on Channel V. And although I didn’t win the show, I did get a chance to make an impression. I got a chance to perform in front of Rahman sir and when I came back from that event his secretary called me to say that Rahman sir wanted to meet me, I just packed my bags and went to Chennai. On meeting me, Rahman sir he told me which songs I should sing as per my voice, which he said was very good. And then I got a break in Tamil song called Mayilirage.

Link to the article:

http://www.starboxoffice.com/gallery/sbogallery.aspx?aid=590

An interview with Benny Dayal!!

Raja Hasan and Benny Dayal

Raja Hasan and Benny Dayal

Here is a beautiful interview with Benny Dayal who has now become a blueeyed boy for Maestro A.R.Rahman. Lets hope Raja Hasan also becomes a blueeyed boy for Maestro A.R.Rahman and get many opportunies to sing for the Maestro:

Benny Dayal is a name which many not ring a bell instantly, but once you hear him sing, you will immediately recollect that his is the voice behind chartbusters such as ‘Pappu Can’t Dance Saala’, ‘Tu Hi Meri Dost Hai’, and ‘Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gayee’. Benny is music maestro A.R. Rahman’s blue-eyed boy these days and a voice you are likely to hear a lot in the days to come. From doing a mundane job as a HR professional to singing for the biggest of stars, Benny has come a long way. In this special edition of ‘Musically Yours’, Benny opens up like never before and reveals his musical journey. After this casual interaction we are convinced that irrespective of whether Pappu can Dance or not, Benny can certainly sing.

Claim to fame

‘Pappu Can’t Dance Saala’ from Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na.

The Early Days

I am basically from Kerala but was born and brought up in the Gulf. I came to Chennai to do my college. Music has always been my first and foremost love and ever since I can remember I dreamt about being a playback singer. Right since my childhood, even during my days in the Gulf, I was taking training in music. When I came to Chennai, I couldn’t learn any music but I did start listening to different genres of music during my college days. I even took part in a lot of inter-collegiate competitions. During this time, I participated in a talent hunt for a Tamil pop band. This was on the lines of Channel V’s Popstars (Aasma and VIVA). To my good fortune, 5 of us were selected including me, and we created the band called S5. We shot a music video, released an album and even featured in a Malayalam film. That was my first professional venture in the field of singing.

The Meeting with the Maestro- A .R. Rahman

After being busy with the band S5 for a while, I was looking to get into playback singing but unfortunately nothing really was coming my way. I got so sick and tired of waiting for the right break that I took up as a job as an HR professional in Chennai. While I was working, I came in touch with Mr. A.R.Rahman. One of his sound engineers told me that Rahman was looking for chorus singers and I went to meet him. When I met him, he remembered me as Rahman sir was the person who had inaugurated the S5 album. He asked me what I was doing these days. I told him that I was working as a HR professional. He just asked me to record a few chorus portions and said he will get back to me.

The Turning Point

A month later I got a call from Rahman sir’s office saying that Rahman is looking out for a singer who can sing in Arabic. Apparently, someone had told him that I sing in different languages and genres. When I went and met him, he asked me to sing something in Arabic. I hummed a few lines and Rahman sir was pretty impressed. He kept making me sing for sometime and then said, “Wow…you have a very good accent and diction”. He immediately asked me to sing the final take.

The first song which I sang for him was the Tamil version of the song ‘Chinamma Chilakamma’ for this film called Sakarakatti. I sang the male part of it and later it was converted in a duet. He thought I sing pretty decently and then gave me an opportunity to sing few tracks including ‘Pappu’, ‘Nazrein Milana’ (Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na), ‘Tu Hi Toh Meri Dost Hai’ (Yuvvraaj), ‘Rehna Tu’ (Delhi 6) and ‘Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gayee’ (Ghajini)

Music I love listening to…

When it comes to music, I listen to anything and everything. I just enjoy listening to music of any type. As a musician, I believe one must be well versed with different genres of music across languages

What’s playing on my iPod?

My iPod is a concoction of different types of songs. Right now I am hooked on to songs by Raul Midon. He is this blind, American R&B singer. He plays the guitar and sings a-la Stevie Wonder. He is simply amazing.

Role Models

I would say A.R.Rahman because I started listening to film music seriously only after Rahman sir came onto the scene with Roja, Bombay etc.

*Smiles*

*Smiles*

Favorite contemporary singers…

My favorite singer has to be Shankar Mahadevan. I just respect and adore him too much

I wish I had sung…

‘Dil Se Re’ by Rahman sir is one of my favorite songs. I also wish I had sung ‘Masakali’. It’s a beautiful number and very hatke from the rest.

Singing for Aamir Khan and Imran Khan

When I sang ‘Pappu…’I had no idea how Imran looked. In fact I first saw him only in the promos of Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na. But he is a really cool guy. As for singing for Aamir sir, I was a bit apprehensive whether my voice would suit Aamir Khan. But when I saw the end product after the song was picturised, I was satisfied.

Winning the prestigious Filmfare RD Burman award

It’s a great feeling but it doesn’t stop there. It’s just a first step and I can’t be complacent. I need to strive for a lot more.

What lies ahead?

Well…that’s for you to see; when it comes out you’ll know. I am working on a few Hindi and Tamil numbers but wouldn’t like to divulge much at this stage.

Link to the interview:

http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/slideshow/2009/07/06/432/index1.html

Raja Hasan – The Special Treatment!!

Raja Hasan is miles ahead than many others, when it comes to winning hearts.

After listening to his humble and genuine voice, not only we fans but the Maestro himself seems got very much impressed with Raja Hasan that he preferred to give a special treatment in the Jai Ho, Pune concert. Raja Hasan was only one amongst all the singers who got his name flashed on the screens while performing. Way to go Raja……

This is how one of the die hard fans of Maestro Rahman, who was at the show describes the whole event.

As expected, there was huge young crowd and all Pune roads seemed like flowing towards the Balewadi stadium. But there were aunties and oldies too and even families attending with 2 year olds. Hats off to Pune’s music lovers… they attend Sawai Gandharv and Rehman with equal enthusiasm !
He started with “Jage hai der tak” followed by a Tamil song. I thought ab toh gaya… people will boo him for playing Tamil song. They just waited patiently for next one to come. The patience was paid off very well when he started “Jiya se jiya”. That song has enchanting beats which make it more enjoyable live.

Jaage hai der tak

There was Hariharan singing “Roja janeman”, Rashid Ali singing “Kabhi kabhi aditi”, Sadhana Sargam singing “Chupake Se”… all the Delhi6 songs were sung and so were “Kaise muze tum mil gayee” and “Maiyya Maiyya”. No singers were introduced apart from Raja Hasan whose name flashed across the backstage.

The man himself performed “Dilse”, “Rehna tu” and “Aarziyan”

Aarziyan

My verdict……..Awsome show!!! still have hangover of it. Afterall you dont get to listen Rahman playing piano live with Hariharan singing “Thu hi re”, Roop kumar rathod singing “Roshan sama”"Bhini bhini” everyday.

ARR You ROCK!!!