Hindustan Times
Rehman’s CWG score lacks spunk
I have always maintained that AR Rehman is a greatly overrated composer and even though he has won an Oscar for the Slumdog Millionaire score, his compositions are more or less similar or have a very limited range. In any case, he is not in the same class as some of great maestros of yesteryears whose melodies continue to rule even now. Rehman in his limited range has achieved excellence and has thrived because there are not too many composers of his limited caliber who are also around. It would have been interesting to have observed Rehman had he lived and competed with the likes of Naushad, Shankar Jaikishen, SD Burman, Hemant Kumar, Roshan, Madan Mohan, OP Nayyar, Sajjad, Khayyam, Ravi, Salil Chaudhury, C Ramchandra, Anil Biswas, Hansraj Behal, SN Tripathi and even Lakshmikant Pyarelal, Kalyanji Anandji and RD Burman.
It is no wonder that his theme song for the Commonwealth Games has not gone down too well with the people and he is being accused of giving a mediocre number after charging Rs five crores for his troupe. CWG Chairman, Suresh Kalmadi clarified that Rehman had not accepted any money for himself and the amount was meant for the total performance carried out by the musical troupe accompanying him. Even though Kalmadi has liked the song, most people I know have been extremely critical of the whole composition. Their view is that the music is not catchy, it lacks Indian ness, it has poor lyrics and Rehman is perhaps a worse singer than most in this country. Without being rude, I share the view that any composition, which is meant for mass audiences and is going to be the theme song for an event like the Commonwealth Games must catch the imagination of all. One cannot certainly say that the composer’s freedom to compose anything gives him a license to create a sub standard tune, which is for mass consumption. If Rehman and his troupe alone were to hear it, the justification of composer’s freedom would have been okay. But here it will be sung and played out before an international audience of millions all around the world. If the song lacks the spunk and fails to generate enthusiasm, it is a failing of the composer. He should have played it before an objective audience before pushing it as the CWG theme song.
I do acknowledge that he has given good scores in many movies in his limited range but he has failed to be convincing when he has gone in for mass numbers. Nearly a decade ago, he had done a new version of Vande Matram. But than one could not help making comparisons with Hemant Kumar’s evergreen Vande Matram number for Anandmath, which was picturised on Geeta Bali and sung by Lata Mangeshkar. Hemant Da’s number scores in every sense of the word and till date no version of the national song has come any where near it.
I do not know what the CWG organizers can do at this late stage but people are already unfairly comparing Shakira’s livelier Waka Waka at this year’s Soccer World Cup to Rehman’s composition. It is for Rehman to figure out how best he can make amends. Otherwise the song could have generated enthusiasm to lift up the sagging spirits due to the pathetic preparations in the run up to the Games. What it has achieved is that it has spoilt the mood of music lovers further. Rehman must realize his limitations and accordingly take up future projects.
(51 votes, average: 2.73 out of 5)
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Well said MR. Pankaj Vora,
Rahman is an over rated music director.
Forget about comparing him with the earlier generation music directors,
I sometimes get a feeling that you can't even compare him with some of the present generation music directors like Jatin-Lalit, Shankar-Ehsan-Loy .
Bestowing Oscar to him was a it too much, & that too for Jai-Ho which was outrightly a bewlo average song.
Rahman is indeed talented but there are better people in business.
CWG theme can be considered as his test.
I think there was a motive of the west to give Rahman oscar, it was to get indian audiences for their movies so that that will help their economy and also that there will be some jealously between rahman & other music directors since he got oscar for an average score.
These are personally my views and i don't want to hurt anybody's feelings.
If anybody does ot like my views then simply read this post & forget it.
Thanks,
Manna
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Baxk11 Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
gandu ,bahdwe tera baap gata hai kya reha man jaisa,u ******* northindian basted
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KM Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 9:08 pm
u have disclosed ur smartness…
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Rajiv Dua Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 11:43 pm
Uncouth fans like you, personify A R Rahman's talent !
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Mozzo Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 1:24 am
Hey Manna,
I agree with you on some points. Rahman is just someone who knows how to use the software. These days composing a tune has become really easy. All his songs are composed on software. So he's probably a good sound engineer or software user. But not a composer at all!
Thanks
Mozzo
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Just a fraud!That is what Rehman is.I heard him in sing in Sydney and thought he had a sore throat!!he is one more addition to the misery and shame that cwg2010 is going to bring to the country!
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Please note Rehman was a simple keyboard player in the group of the great Ilaiya Raja of South India . Ilaiya Raja is the real talented musician with solid western music back ground too. Why there is no mention about him .
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Rishi Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 11:32 pm
yes I agree Iiiaiya Raja is a talented Musician…not Rehaman all you can here is keyoard from his music!
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Aa Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 10:13 am
dude if you dont like Rahman music dont listen, why do you care if he gets oscar or makes bad music
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Mr Vohra is a jealous,uncultured north indian .He has again downplayed the achievements of Mr Rehman ,who is a genious.Mr Vohra is Hindu Talibn north Indian,who is comparing rehman with older generation singers.Rehman is Mr rehman and ur are as usual jealous Mr Vohra.People from North Indian are uncultured , who pee and shit on the roads in Bombay .Do u have any opinion about that Mr Vohra.
All people responsible for dirty behaviour in India are from Bihar ,UP ,MP,Gujrat and Punjab,and these are the people getting beaten up in Australia ,due to there Sarso da smell.So Mr Vohra ,I sugest u F OFF
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KM Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 9:10 pm
Rehmaan was super flop in his Jai Ho tour last July in NY…only because of his over singing. He is excellent music composer but horrible singer
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Shekarmani1 Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
hey you racist prick
you conform to all what they say about the m%#@fuckers with an attitude. cannot write, cannot think,cannot **** and can be easily mistaken for a sickly sloth bear waking up only to rank bad south indian movies and some mind-blowingly hideous songs.
rehman needs to go back to a good music school and relearn all his fundamentals or else he will only be left with dumb ***-holes like yourself as his fans! i personally like that guy. he has done it hard and achieved well. thanks to his hardcore bollywood fans. but music connoisseurs or those who understand a semblance of good music will find his offerings staid, repetitive as Vohra correctly points out and lacks depth. Lucky Rehamn for getting the Grammy. The euphoria of Slumdog got the panel all soft and thus the outcome.
And you the bumbling buffoon ( by the way, I'm a south indian myself), get yourself an english tutor before you learn to appreciate good music.
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Bau Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Mr Vohhara is a punjabi Hindu Brahmin, as usual these ***** from BJP ,want to Talibanise India ,There gene are similar to **** Punjabi Tailban,so his ***** mindset
How the hell does hindustan times allow such dickhead to write,u cannot degrade a guy and clearly its seen u idiot ,get out of North India and go to central Asia u ****.its our Draviadian land u get out ,
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Aakash Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Take the north/south racism goggles you are wearing. Get to the issue and don't take things personal. Grow up you frog. The well you are staying in is not the world.
Srini Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:27 am
BAU,
I am a tamilian and I am disgusted by your post. Don't you think that you speak for all Tamilians when you use the word “Dravidian”. I think you should wake up and realize that Aryan Invasion theory is a myth perpetrated on India by Britishers. Besides, just shouting from the roof top without articulating your points shows how mature you are. I think you should STFU and stop posting here as you are not doing any favors to the Tamilians who you are trying to defend. Shame on you!!!
Classical Reply:
September 12th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
srirni,
how do you know if BAU is not a muslim having fun at your expense… anybody can type those things'try to ignore
i think you have good sense of history and india. let's just ignore this chap.
Bau Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
That is why u dickhead even in Bombay u guys are beaten for peeing on streets of Bombay .U GET IT MR VOHARA U PUNJABI RASCAL
U GUYS ARE BEATEN IN AUSTRALIA ALSO
SO NO CAN THINK GOOD BEHAVIOR FROM U ,U BJP TALIBAN ,ALQEDA GUY
RAJ THACKERAY IS A GREAT GUY FOR KICKING U GUYS OUT
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Anubhav Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
What's wrong with you Bau. You need a doctor.
Rajiv Dua Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
not just a doctor. U need a Vet Bau.
Sachin Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 6:16 am
Raj's Uncle Bal Thackray Kicked Ur ancesstors out calling them Lungiwalas.
Ask from your father Kid…..
Anubhavv Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 11:18 pm
KAO. Grow up you frog and come out of your well.
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Amit Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 1:56 am
And you are so cultured that you poop in the open & don't wash your a ss
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The author has 'limited vocabulary' he has used limited word as many times as possible. Well, he has listed many composers but just for your info. Rehman is the only music composer who is popular and known in both south and north and of course abroad. No body knows about the composer listed in the south and south composer in the north. And of course nobody knows even one of them abroad.
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Mr Vohra is punjabi Hindu ,similar to muslim Punjabi taliban in Pakistan,so u guy know his mindset
The whole of India till Kashmir is the territory of South Indian dravidian u ,guy came from central ASIA Mr Vohra u go back there and swim in sands,dont bring ur dirty mind here,u scoundrel jealous punjabi
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Aakash Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
BACK there is more to life than being a north or south indian. Grow up people.
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Rajiv Dua Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
dream on, Mr Sourhern Pride!
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Amit Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 1:55 am
You're the definition of 'moron'. Read history, read 'bout King Ashoka The Great.
Throughout history, South India has been confined to 4 states – TN, Andhra, Kerala & Karnataka.
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Satya Mishra Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:31 am
Dear Amit, I am from the eastern part of India so no bias. Actaually, whether you like SRINI'S comments or not, reading good history books is never a bad thing. But pls understand history books are also packed with bias, something we need to remember. Tamils have given us so many greats that I cannot count them. And we are all blood brothers why fight. Rahman could be an average musician. Why bring north or sourth? We as Indians need to be more responsible for what we say about each other. Remember the whole world is watching us as a nation. JAI HIND.
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Anon Reply:
September 21st, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Oh yeah! What about Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Lahore, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Laos, Vietnam, Korea? South India was a predominantly large kingdom spanning the whole of South-east Asia!!! Where did the Hinduism and Buddhism in these regions come from? From South India!!! Do you north indian a****** know that the famous Buddhist monk Nagarjuna came from Andhra Pradesh!!! At least, we conquered South East Asia including Sri Lanka making them bastions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity now. Guess in the same time what did you do?? You people have not invaded any country and did not spread your culture and religion and yet have the temerity to taunt us. You know this character of yours to taunt others is the sign of defeated people. Defeated in this world. Never mind the other world. In the same time South India conquered these above countries. What did you all do?? Preached a religion which said that victory and defeat are delusions and only through death shall delusions be overcome!!!
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Sachin Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 6:09 am
Don't shout. Fight it if u claim it or if you can't fight , just don't utter this Nonsense Mr/Miss/or whatever BACT
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Pankaj Vohra Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
I hate to call you an Idiot but that is what you are. The blog is about Rehman and his commonwealth composition. Where do Dravidians and other races come in. Music is about creativity and not about languages or regions. I do feel that Rehman is overated and I do respect musicians who hail from the South. There is no question of any North vs south element in the blog and that has never been my intention. Unfortunately fanatic elements are posting all kinds of rubbish in the comments with the aim of creating larger mischief. I hope sanity prevails. My comments are my observations on Rehman. If anyone does not agree with them, let it be so.
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Arshad Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
We are just stressing the fct that your observations are completely wrong and biased and the very fact that you spell Rahman as Rehman underscores your whole knowledge of the musical genius called A R Rahman…….Shame on Vohra
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Anon Reply:
September 21st, 2010 at 1:56 pm
I absolutely like to call you a nincompoop because that is what you are.However, in the same case, I do feel Mohd Rafi and Manna Dey's compositions are more or less similar or have a very limited range. In any case, they are not in the same class as some of great maestros of yesteryears in Tamil Cinema whose melodies continue to rule even now. Mohd Rafi and Manna Dey in their limited range has achieved excellence and has thrived because there are not too many composers of their limited caliber who are also around. And Do you know what?
1000 years of Muslim rule has dented your Hindu Sensibility and transformed them to be similar to those despicable monotheists – Sunni Islamic adherents. With the change in sentiments, has also come an vicious tongue lashing ability. Surely North Indians are more brash an in-your-face in a hateful kind of way. But thanks to the Vijayanagar kingdom, we still retain that old-world Hindu sensibility and today a predominant Christian force to back us up. Guess then all Punjabi Hindus are turncoat muslims
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I don't think its an issue of North or South, Rehman is great composer, everybody knows it. How can the writer forget music in Taal, Dil Se, Roja, Guru, Rangeela, ghajini, Saathiya, Bombay and so on, most of the above composers the writer mentioned could only have 1-2 hits in a movie album, Rehman music is like a slow poison, it eventually catches up with all the songs of the album.
On one side the writer says that Jai Ho was overrated and was average score, so how this average score could apeal so much to international audience that Jai Ho song is now in almost every international language. If we assume that Jai Ho was average from musical standpoint, it could definitely appeal the masses, internationally, so its incorrect to say that Rehman's music doesn't catch the masses.
Also, all the past music directors were highly 'inspired' by western music, a lot of tunes were simply copied from western or middle eastern music. Rehman's music is most original.
You should better use his genre of music than limited range, like Beatles were specialized in Rock and Roll, M Jackson in Pop Music and so on.
From a North Indian.
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Also to add one thing, if CWG song is ordinary that doesn't mean Rehman's whole music is ordinary, after all its just one song!
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You all do not surprise me. I am and Indian. from North, but foremost an Indian. I cannot imagine how someones review of AR Rehman can stir up such cheap remarks from some of the people here. I believe we all belong to the largest democracy in the world but its is unbelievable how much hatred we spew at each other. North Indians vs Maharastrians etc. By the way Gujarat is part of Western India and not North India as pointed out by some smartass below. Stick to the point you morons.
1- Does the CWG song suck? YES. I think we could have done so much better. AR Reham should not be singing.
2- Does AR Rehman suck? NO. He has produced some of the finest scores. He is definitely one of the best composers out there who just does not know his limitations (singing being one).
3- Was his Slumdog Jai ho worthy of Oscar? – NO. Oscars are known to compensate when calamities happen. In this case it was the Mumbai Attacks. There were definitely better songs out there. Also, this was a hindi song which the english speaking population does not understand. Winning this award made no sense at all.
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Anejaraj Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
you should view the music of slumdog millionaire as a whole and not just the song Jai Ho. I though Jai Ho was average too, but the background score in the movie is what probably got him an oscar. A definite plus point that lifed the movie to a whole new level.
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Sachin Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 5:57 am
Movie Could have won Oscar if AR Rahman acted in that , directed it and wrote dialogues for it. Anejaraj wants to say this only
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Anubhav Reply:
September 8th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Punu011, appreciate your objective assessment.
Honestly don't understand why people take things personally. The comments which people have made below only suggest their limited mindset.
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arr_raghu Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:17 am
If what you said was right..Rahman wd get only one Oscar..Why 2? Everybody kept talking about how jaiho does not deserve oscar and what not.. but how come you never talk about the score of the movie for which he won a 2nd oscar?.. are you saying that they gave 2 oscars and 2 grammies just as compensation?
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Punu101 Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:53 am
Yes he did win the second award for original score and yes i think he deserved that one. The reason I omitted this was because their seems to be an argument on the blog about Jai Ho. Sorry about the omission.
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Tipu Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
“Was his Slumdog Jai ho worthy of Oscar? – NO” What is the song which was worthy of an Oscar? What is the worth of an Oscar? Without knowing the answers to any of these questions how can you conclude whether his song was worthy or not? Determine a standard before you start measuring the value, buddy!
“There were definitely better songs out there” – so you have absolutely no clue what the exact better songs were.. funny!! Its like me trying to correct a French exam paper without knowing the language of French!
“Also, this was a hindi song which the english speaking population does not understand. Winning this award made no sense at all.” – This statement alone is enough to understand why that song deserved all the applause. How many times do you come across something like this… a cross-border phenomenon… isnt that worthy of the recognition!
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Boylondon90 Reply:
September 10th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
this is an official invitation to Mr TIPU to be a part of oscar judging panel so that the commite can never go wrong .the oscar comitte lacks good judges so better u be ther so that one jealous indian can be avioded na hi hih i
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Classical Reply:
September 12th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
hi tipu
am north indian and love south music… indian music in general. go through my posts above…
but i also don't think arr had to be given an award for jai ho and slumdog… its not bad but surely not the best. do listen to the other nominees and also those from bafta and other festivals.
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Boylondon90 Reply:
September 10th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
punnuuuu love u u realy rockksssss do mail me i have found out the medicine for jealosy u really need it urget orlese u are going to !!!!
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Like the author says, Rahman is an overrated musician. Few years ago, he conducted (!!!) an orchestra in Birmingham, England — the audience and the musicians walked out. Conducting is NOT playing on the synthesizer, he realized. Some vested interests called him Mozart from Madras — this is only half true. Sure, he is from Madras, but most certainly not he is not a Mozart — not in thousand years!
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Pyare Lal from Luxmi Kant Pyare Lal's Team, would have done wonderful job. Nobody can come close to Luxmi Kant's music, they were the best in Indian film industry, song should have been written by somebody like Anand Bakshi, like he wrote the song for movie TAL, I LOVE MY INDIA, it is shame we have lobby in new delhi for everything, lot's of writer and poets were recognize for good work but nobdoy ever recognize Anand Bakshi for his good work, this guy died with bitterness in his heart.
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Mr Vohra has spoken truth in a nation that hates genuine criticism . His comments about Mr A R Rehman and the new composition for CWG are totally correct . Hope there were more options available and a voice of lata or equal available to sing on this important occasion. anyway there is a chance , the authorities should ask some else rather than Mr A R Rehman to sing the same composition.
Ashraf Wali
Saudi Arabia
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Rehmans music takes a few listenings before you start liking it. I have been following Rehman for 15 yeras now and this is the same with every single song of his. Over time these become chart busters. And we havent yet seen the video yet, the video will make it better as well. I think he is one the greatest musicians in the world currently, even greats like Michael Jackson only has two hit albums to his credit and Rehman has 100's of hits. His best songs though are in Tamil.
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Dear Sir, you are correct AR Rehman is over rated and his skills are limited. Most of his music sound the same. Aa far as his voice is concerned I am sure some Indian Idol kid could do it better.
For all those Tamilians who have taken offence it just shows how 3rd rate narrow low life you are!!
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Srini Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 12:04 am
Rishi, Where are you from? You call all “Tamilians 3rd rate narrow low life”. That shows your fairness(?), mental maturity and your contemptible attitude towards fellow indians. You should be proud of yourself. Don't blame the Tamilians if they act in unison when one of their pillars is assaulted, because you are showcasing the anti tamil behaviour that is making them behave like that in the first place.
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Mahabali Shaka Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 12:42 am
@Srini. Illayaraj's Hindi scores are nothing short of pathetic and anyways Tamils have done nothing for the country. Can you name one Tamilian freedom fighter?
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srini Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 1:45 am
Wow. Just because you don't know history, please don't cast aspersion on an entire group of people. In the days of google you have all the tools you need to learn about indian freedom fighters including Tamils. This is an attrocious myth perpetrated by Indians on fellow Indians and it is shameful to say the least. It is a strawman waiting to be knocked down. But even that strawman doesn't justify your argument though.It is even more shameful and pathetic. Read yourself and see if this is how you want to treat fellow Indians. Absolutely despicable beaviour exhibited by some non-Tamilians (certainly not all of them, as I don't want to generalize like you do). Grow up and that is the best advise I can give you. Good luck!!!
BAU Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:13 am
mahabali are u related to Phoolan, dirty north Indian, they have destroyed the name of iNDIA WORLD WIDE, DIRTY SMELL LIKE SARSO KA TELL , WHEN U SEE THEM JUST STAY AWAY
Rahul Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 3:32 am
Not Sure which one smells better … Sarso Ka Tell or Nariyal ka Tell
Each to his own taste. No point getting personal here. Why don't you people stick to the point? The writer has expressed his opinion, you may not like it and someone else might like it…. everyone grow up and express your reaction in a civilised adult manner.
Boylondon90 Reply:
September 10th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Mr mahabali better u go under the mud that we have done to u before in kerala ask some malayalee ther he will explain MAHABALI THAMPURANEEE VANAKAM
Shan Reply:
September 12th, 2010 at 3:28 am
“Tamils have done nothing for the country”
What an insightful comment!!! LOL!!!
Many tamils have done the country proud. CV Raman, till date, is the only Indian to win a Nobel Prize for Science (please note that while 3 people of Indian origin have won it – Chandrasekar, Khurana and, more recently, Venkataraman Ramakrishnan (the first and third are tamils by the way:-), they were US citizens when they won the prize). Heard of Abdul Kalam, MS Swaminathan, Ramanujam, Mayilsami Annadurai, VO Chidambaram, Kamaraj, Viswanathan Anand.
Guestify Reply:
September 12th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
are you out of your mind
why don't you find out for yourself
it's true then, people in India, the hindus, don't know about their own country and hinduism.
Bau Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:10 am
yup 3rd rate narrow life is better than smelling like sarso ka tell and being beaten in Bombay and havi ng a mindset of Taliban
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Tamilan Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 5:36 am
yuck u fk
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Boylondon90 Reply:
September 10th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Mr Rishi please do contact me i will give the medicine for jealusly i think u love pritam thats why we can understand dont worry u are great
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This article came to my attention only because I've subscribed to HT news feeds. Although everyone has a right to opinion, the credibility is what makes the difference. In this case Mr Vohra has displayed his utter ignorance for anything music. Anyone who criticizes A R Rahman's Vande Mataram has to be musically impaired. This article is the perfect example of a wannabe criticizing someone Great just to get some attention. I'm disappointed with HT to the extent that I'm considering un-subscribing their news feed; I expected better than letting some wannabe write such a pathetic article from HT. Shame on HT.
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Sachin Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 6:04 am
hey ashwin , Go ahead and unsubscribe HT. they are not analysts . They will not give you news . they will only give u english and ill-rsearched articles. Don't go for TOI either
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Classical Reply:
September 12th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
“Anyone who criticizes A R Rahman's Vande Mataram has to be musically impaired. “
oh, then I am…
though i like some of his music and also that of ilayaraja
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Rehman is a medicore music composer whose claim to fame lies in one sone “Jai Ho” in a film deingrating India. Needless to say that was welcome news to the Indian elite and Westerners. There are fare better music composers in India but they were not given a chance. This is a matter of regret for a country with perhaps the world's richest musical heritage. .
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Ashwin Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 12:25 am
hahahahahaha …………dude i think u don't even reside on this planet………..Kindly update u r IQ before posting…….
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Ashwinisastupid Reply:
September 16th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Shut up… you moron
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Anon Reply:
September 21st, 2010 at 2:54 pm
F”TripleStar” you M(11(*))
Anon Reply:
September 21st, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Seriously, Are you a hillbilly or a redneck? Who refuses to see the world beyond his nose?
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well to be honest after observing this article, I feel like taking a vacation from reading any so called genuine articles. The fact that you contiune to add the word “limited” around Rahman's name illustrates all except genuineness in your obervations. I do not intend to lambast your origins or culture (like some have in their responses), but would like to associate the word “limited” to your critical article writing abilities. If a composer of Vande Matram, Dil Se and Roja (the list goes on…) posseses limited ability, I do not know where you stand. Thus in this matter I would rather take the opinion of Lata Mangeshkar or Javed Akhtar. I hope you get the message.
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Sorry Mr. Pankah Vohra. That is pure bile and your bias shows!!! The fact that you did not mention Ilayaraja in your article shows how biased you are against Tamil film Industry. Ilayaraja, by far is the greatest composer in Indian film industry throughout its entire history bar none and if you didn't know it then you are obviously not qualified to comment on matters related to music. That is enough for me not to read any further. Rahman is certainly not in the level of Ilayaraja, but he is not as incapable as you paint him to be.Your bias shows and shame on you!!!
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Amit Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 1:45 am
There's no bias, my friend, each one has his own taste. People from the north won't rate Tamil musicians highly, one of the reasons being they can't understand the language.
You Tamils are just too sensitive and just can't take criticism.
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srini Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:01 am
Really! But you expect people from south to rate the blatantly copied (inspired I guess) unoriginal Hindi music (and movies) highly! Only people without knowledge of music can ignore the genius such as Ilayaraja. Let me correct myself. Only people with hearing loss can ignore the genius such as Ilayaraja. Why should Tamil take criticism, especially when it icomes from ignaramous like Pakaj Vohra and the likes? I think you guys are too sensitive when people try to defend what is theirs. I guess some people have nothing to be proud of and when Tamils are proud of what it theirs, they cannot take it.
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Amit Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:05 am
You're a frog who dwells in a well & think that's the whole world. What do you have to be proud of, other than silly nothings?
I've never heard Illayaraja & I never will. Tamil music sucks, just like stupid Rajnikanth. Take it!
Srini Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:14 am
I guess it is better than a monkey who copies others and think it is the real deal…
Venkat Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:48 am
Its the pot calling the kettle black,check out the number of movies starring Rajnikant copied from those of Amithabh's. The racist in you shud limit yourself to whether the CWG song sucks or not.
srini Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
But it is not about Amithabh vs Rajini. I personally think they both suck and both are overrated, both cannot act and both have idiots for fans.However, this is about Music and not mentioning Illayaraja, the maestro, either confirms the authors ignorance about music or betrays his bias. Since he has thrown so much bile at ARR, I tend to think that he is biased.
classical Reply:
September 12th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
how do you know it's a north indian replying and say… not a pakistani or a malaysian … why can't we be civil and less bothered. they are just some comments and not national policy.
Bau Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:08 am
Ya amit Take critism from a guy, who smell like sarso ka oil , and is brutal and dirty like the **** punjabi taliban isnt it
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Guestify Reply:
September 12th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
am from north. and i know my music. i don't know the language but if you'd care you can listen and understand the music. do some study friend.
manram vantha (cheeni kum), putham pudhu, en keladi, the ost of hey ram… neele neele ambar pe, all sadma songs… it's ilayaraja. am not criticizing arr but ilayaraja is a class.
i think it's good tamils are sensitive, at least it helps preserve some forms of classical music.
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Martin_795 Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 1:49 am
First of all, this is the first time I am hearing about a composer called Illyaraja. He might be a great one in south but I am sorry I never heard of him. About AR Rahman, ofcourse he is one great musician. Am I happy about CWG theme… NO! Disappointed. Finally, @Srini how come you managed to stir anti-Tamilian issue?? The problem is not Mr. Pankaj Vohra's critical review its in your mind. So shut the *** up.
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BAU Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:06 am
hey martin where u from , somalia, or Bihar ,UP or Punjab or MP ,WELL THEN WE ARE NOT SURPRISED ,U,ARE ILLINFORMED
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Abhi Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 3:29 am
And you must be from Tamil Nadu? But then your English is pathetic, so you could be from Somalia as well. Your point? Stop playing around the discrimination against South/North card every time in India and do us all a favour and stay quiet.
Sammy_dis Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 4:13 am
BAU, what do u mean by Bihar, Up, Punjab, MP……….etc. We all belong to India hence would request you not to mention such specific names. It feels as though u r a member of MNS. Respect everyone.
Sachin Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 5:50 am
people like Bau and some others have misconception that they are the only ones who are well-informed , well educates. Rest are fools. rest can't do scams like Telecom scams, they can't be dictator like their state govts.
classical Reply:
September 12th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
ilayaraja rules!!!
am from north if you care
srini Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:20 am
Martin, I am sure you have not heard of him. But I bet you have heard atleast 25 of his songs in Hindi, because the music directors there have generously copied his works over the past 2 decades. Please google to find the details. In Indian music industry, if there are 2 composers with a lot of originality, then I can bet that both of them are from Tamil Industry and their name will be Ilayaraja and ARR. Just google a little bit (copied hindi songs from Ilayaraja or something like that) and your eyes will open.
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Rajeeva Reply:
September 16th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
that's the problem with you pusedo ” Frog in the well” northies you dont know S**** beyond your back yard . The world is bigger than your Naushad, Shankar Jaikishen, SD Burman, Hemant Kumar, Roshan, Madan Mohan, OP Nayyar, Sajjad, Khayyam, Ravi, Salil Chaudhury, C Ramchandra, Anil Biswas, Hansraj Behal, SN Tripathi and even Lakshmikant Pyarelal, Kalyanji Anandji and RD Burman. Seems Mr. Vohra seems to think that Hindustani classical is the begining and end of Music . Blo******* Bigoted Dellhiiite !!!!!!!!!
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Srikanth Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:42 am
Srini,
Pankaj has a right to his opinion how much ever ridiculous it is. In matter of music it is up to the listeners and the investors (people who puts money where the mouth is). If people are willing to pay money, Mr. A.R. Rahman will continue to compose the best he can. Obviously Pankaj doesn't like his style of music, but that doesnt make ARR any less capable or less original. As per one estimate, I read that ARR has over 1 billion fans all over the world. 1 billion people cannot be wrong Mr. Pankaj. I know you have a forum. You have to be more responsible and consider that you could be wrong for a minute, before pouring out. As Srini pointed, out missing Ilayaraja is a big no, no. Ask any of the music directors that you have listed in your piece and I bet everyone of them (atleast the current ones) will tell that they have copied atleast one or 2 of his songs. They may use the word inspired though…Disappointing piece in my humble opinion and not well thought out.
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Diogfuherg Reply:
September 16th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Hah… that's stupid… so if ARR has 1 billion fans so it simply gets translated that he is great…. no way… man there are all kinds of people in the world…. the wise people, average people, strange people, hypocritic people and then there are also FOOL people… and the number of letter seems to be higher then the rest… so besides the number the quality of the fans also matters… and it is not wise to say that ARR is great…
Cause most of his fans are not smart enough… you know mostly they belong to middle class families, have got average type of education(like B.Com of B.A.) and they support ARR just bcs you know they think it's COOL to support someone who has got Oscar Award for INDIA and no matter how pathetic he/she may be but to fight for him like this on blogs to the end just bcs it is a moral duty as pathetic stupid middle class citizen to get indulge in to each and every thing without any knowledge and even try to proove yr arguments by faking like “Oh I am a expert in music and hardcore music lover”(even if in real life they dont care about music much more)….
Well just one things to those morons… F**K the indian elements for a second… Think about let's say Shakira's “Waka Waka” for a second and compare ARR's theme song with that…. Do you think that it anywhere catchy… cool .. or mindblowing compared to Shakira's song(If you think it is.. then you must have got hurt something to your head very seriously)… The FIFA was held in SA and even the Shakira's song what was mindblowing it DID contained elements of african culture(yeah if you listen to the song carefuly)… but about ARR's song… man WHAT KIND OF SHIT IS THIS?… I mean the song makes me more feel like sleeping instead of kicking my mind… this aint about singing a simple stupid song… this is about creating a masterpeace that the whole world would remember even when the event gets over… And quite contrast to the indians… the foreigners(perticularly westerners) judge the power, the advancement, the discipline of a nation by these things which rather seems unimportent to many of us… Would you even believe people would love to here this song again and again??? Hell no… and even if you express such things they would laugh at us… that's the point Mr.Pankaj is trying to explain…
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Kseg2007 Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 3:25 am
u sound like Rehman writing as Srini
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Srini Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
I guess he has better thing to do than scour crappy opinion pieces such as this and reply to ignorant scumbags.
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Sachin Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 5:34 am
@Srini – I tell you why he has not taken a name. Because Most of south film industry and people from deep south are haapy to live in their land , their language and the region. Any Tamil person (esp Tamil) will like to settle in Tamil Nadu then bothering to go to any other part of North or central India. Now when one set of people are happy to live in their own group , feeling their group , their music is greatest and not mixing with other people; TELL ME HOW the other people will try to include them or remember them.
Now just ask urself or your friends , will they listen any criticism about ARR, Rajni or any other very good Person from South. The problem lies in too much adulation and thinking Tamil , tamils and anything that belong to this region or any connection is Godly. This makes others not to accept …..
THINK ABOUT A BIT although its difficult to come out of comfort zone. Take analogy as Congress attributing each development to Gandhis . So it creates negativity
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srini Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Mr. Sachin, How do you know what they think sir? I think it is a mental image you have made up about Tamils. I think it started when Hindi was forced on Tamil by unintelligent people who failed to realize what Tamil meant to a certain group of people. In their misguided attempt to somehow make a homogeneous population, they failed to realize that the biggest strength of India is “Unity in Diversity”. When Tamils reacted with force, people (I guess most of India) were taken aback. The reaction ranged from “Tamils were not patrioric” to “Tamils were hostile to Northies”. Unfortunately, none of it is true. Tamils are as patriotic or sometimes even more patriotic than the rest of India. Also, Tamils historically welcome anyone who comes to live amidst them. But the negative image has struck in the minds of rest of India. If you ask me, it is the rest of India that needs to correct its perception and not the Tamils.
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Shan Reply:
September 12th, 2010 at 3:21 am
“Also, Tamils historically welcome anyone who comes to live amidst them”
Absolutely. Ask Rajnikanth. And, tamils also accept leaders who have a different language as their mother tongue (MGR, Vaiko, Vijaykanth). Anyway, let us not make it a north vs south debate. The fact that Ilayaraja was left out in the original list of people is shocking; not because he is a tamil but because he is among the best, if not the best, composers in this country.
Proof: 35 years, 900 movies, 5000 songs and counting. A wild guesstimate would say that at least 60% were hits. Proves his prolificity for a long period of time. Name any other composer who has this kind of record. Think about it – not just songs for those 900+ movies but BGM too. He was not just a song maker like many in your list (not that song making is any easy but you ask any composer of worth and he will tell you that scoring BGM is harder than composing a song). He redefined BGM in Indian movies. People started to notice BGMs more only after he started composing.
Not just the musicians in your list. Tamil film music had G Ramamoorthy, KV Mahadevan and MS Viswanathan (and TK Ramamoorthy) as composers before Ilayaraja. All of these gentlemen are legends but Raja is in a league of his own.
Now, when someone says he has never heard and will never hear Ilayaraja, well, sorry to say, but the loss is yours. We, his fans, feel blessed that we are born in the same era.
classical Reply:
September 12th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
i agree with you though i live in the north. understand guys that this competition is healthy (between regions) life would be boring if we didn't have it
Palani M Reply:
September 11th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Maestro Ilayaraja Sir's can't be compared with living composers, considering the quality and speed of his output. Agreed to Srini.
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Mr. Vohra, just for your information, A.R.R. has scored film music based on the following genres: Hindustani, Carnatic, South Indian folk, North Indian folk, Sufi, Middle-eastern, Latin, Pop, Rock, Reggae and Rap. And most of these songs have been both critically and commercially successful. I wonder if you have listened to his entire catalog of songs or only to the few Hindi songs he has scored. I am a big fan of Illayaraja and S.D. Burman, but one has to agree that while those guys are geniuses, A.R.R. is a master alchemist who creates his own sounds and motifs by employing an eclectic method. And all the greats you mentioned will be very proud in their grave that one of the truly deserving musicians from their land has been there at the right time and at the right place to turn the attention of the world to Indian music. It almost like making the chicken tikka masala the national dish of England by including extra creme to suit the western palette. Agreed, he is spread thin these days and there are some serious misses by his own standards. But even the greats like R.D. Burman had lean patches. So please…A.R. Rahman may not have gone into depth in any form of music but he is the master of breadth, and is definitely one of the most massy-classy composer.
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Sujata Anandan Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Music experts will tell you there is a particular synthesiser that has all the western classcal tunes ever written encrypted into it — Rahman's tunes are all based on one or the other of them and Indianised to suit the situation. I agree with Pankaj — Rahman is not so great like the yesteryears musicians who were original and did not have modern day technology to fall back on
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Boylondon90 Reply:
September 10th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
can u please tell me who has composed the original tracks before with due respect to those greats i am telling u that no one but rahman has… thats why he reached this level over 100 million albums .please do check this website http://www.itwofs.com/,and find out your yesterdays super composers who just copy paste and proved their versatalitu LOL!!!!! DO CHECK RAHMAN also
BEST OF LUCK
best of luck
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Boylondon90 Reply:
September 10th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
http://www.itwofs.com/
Ruthen Reply:
October 5th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
It is not the “eclectic method” dear friend. The point is does it make sense to ears. It doesn't. I agree with the original author.
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Dude …get a life …. Calling Rehman as over rated tells me u seriously lack any sense of music. You are like those guys who just dwell in the past…..Live happily in u r dream land buddy….
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I am so amazed to see an article on one of India's finest composer, Rahman, just so wrong from the beginning. The writer I am sure has not heard Kannathil mutham ittal,Karuthamma, Kadhalar Dhinam…just to name some of the few all time great musics ever composed in India. Please research before writing such obnoxious articles. No one can become extraordiarily famous by just ordinary works. Rahman's work will stand the test of time.Sad to say but the truth is that Rahman is one of the only few original composers in India and if author was really concerned of international prescence there is nobody else's work which has crossed boundaries than our own Rahman….who surely is a Bharath Ratna.The music directors the author revers, thier music has not crossed even to South India.
Arshad
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Amit Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 1:48 am
Just like South Indians' music hasn't crossed to the North?
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srini Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 2:12 am
Please tell it to the Oscar!!!
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Arshad Reply:
September 9th, 2010 at 3:26 am
Well Bombay Dreams, Elizabeth and few others have crossed international boundaries if not the “North”
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Very weak argument. You sound like one of those guys who always thinks olden days are better than new. You are supposed to do at least some research on the subject before writing a controversial article like this. The writeup lacks the necessary material and it sounds too eager to jump to a predetermined conclusion.This only shows about how little you know about Rahman and his compositions.. If you do not know..along with those 2 oscars and 2 grammies Rahman also got 4 national awards, 25 filmfares, and hundreds of misc awards..he did not become famous for nothing.
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First of all.. learn his spelling.. Rahman.. not Rehman.
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calling rehman bad is like Mr Vohra saying that his dad is Gay ,hahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh can Mr Vohra agree that,well he cant be because it was his dad sperm that made Vohra the Punjabi brahmin Rascal,who has very smartly , shown his hatred for other people.Mr Vohra f off we dont care a damn , as ur mindset is like Punjabi Taliban , some one will Blow u off.
India dirty states Bihar UP,Punjab with there terrorist ,which was brutally suprresed by Indian Army,so F OOFVohra ,u are a devil Taliban , and we will kick u out,that is Dravidian area and u guy came in from outside India ,so f off u dickhead
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There is no doubt CWG themesong is ordinary, his Jai Ho was so mediocre that had it been in Indian movie even the useless Zee Awards would have ignored it, least the Oscars it evenutally won. However, to say he is a overated is not fair. Some of his scores are truly world class and he is pretty much in league of the great composers you have mentioned.
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The CWG does not seemany different from others. Rehman should have realised that.Unless he did it in an indifferent manner,probably putting no importance to the event itself..In any case,to expect rehman to attune his mind to a sporting event and bring out lilting theme that captures the spirit of sport was the big mistake. Rehman has shown that he is not the “jack” of all tunes but only master of a particular kind. Congrats to you for having noticed this weariness in the theme and highlighting it.
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First of all, I would say the comments below reflect the crass parochialism and how divided we Indians are. Secondly, Pankaj Vohra may be a political columnist, and certainly this does not quality him to be a music analyst or music writer. In fact, he is none. Does he understand music, that too classical, and then carnatic and hindustani and leave alone western. He has has half-knowledge or jaundiced-view about music. He only pranks about North Indian cinema musicians – does he know about the Gharanas or traditional music – The Bade Ghulams, Paluskars, Onkar Nath Thakurs, Jasrajs, Mallikarjun Mansurs, Ravi Shankars, Ali Akbar Khans, etc. etc. And there is remote or rare chance for him to know about South Indian music and musicians. The same goes for some people like Martins and Rishis below, who do not even know about Ilayaraja, leave alone Ramanathans, Viswanathans, Ramamurthys, KV Mahadevans, Dakshnamurthys, Bhaskarans, Neelakantan Nairs, etc. For the information of these ignorants, Ilayaraja is the only Indian musician who has been conferred “Maestro” title for his western classical music and who performed with Philharmonic orchestras in Albert Hall, London and who has composed and come out with an exclusive CD on western classical music.
So, PANKAJ VOHRA stop your braggings about music and musicians, and better go back to class room to do home work before you write. Also, a political bragger cannot quality and write about a noble subject like music, just because he is retained by a newspaper for gossip columns!
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Shan Reply:
September 13th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Well said. These guys should hear “How to Name it?” and “Nothing but wind” (also featuring Hariprasad Churasia) and then they would know that, unlike many other film music composers (north or south), Raja does not depend on a great voice (like Lata's) or a great lyricist (like Kannadasan) to make his music appeal to the classes and masses alike. Bach is renowned for his counterpoints. Ilayaraja is the Indian Bach. You should hear his fusion music and then you would be able to understand his depth. Hailing from humble backgrounds, this genius has grown into one of the finest composers in the world. It is rather unfortunate that many people do not know him. Why the rest of the world, even our own Indians only recently recognized him by conferring on him the title of “Padma Bhushan'. Although, I have to say, as fans, we were expecting a “Bharat Ratna” for the maestro.
If there is one composer from India who can be mentioned in the same breath as Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi and Brahms, it is Ilayaraja. He is Indian music's crown jewel.
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HT TIMES KE EDITOR KI MAKI ——————————–
MR VOHRA PUNJABI TALIBAN KE MA BHOS——————————
BJP BAHMAN LOW D KI MAKI ————————————–
ALL HINDU TALIBAN IN INDIA WHO HAVE KILLED MUSLIMS,CHRISTIAN ,TAMIL…….KI MAKI BHOS
MAKI ———————————– CHU HT FOR PUBLISHING THIS ARTICLE
MODI ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; KI MAKI
BAL THAKERAY KI MAKI
SINGAHL KI MAKI
ADVANI KI MAKI
ALL THOSE WHO HAVE HARRASED POOR INDIAN KI MAKI
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I totally agree with Pankaj Vohra regarding AR Rehman being a mediocre music director and I say that with no malice towards anyone. I have a fairly good knowledge of music and if you listen to his songs of last ten years or so the music background, the sounds of instruments is similar or same in all his compositions. Just because he has won an Oscar with a catchy tune does not make him great. He is a good music composer not a great one.
Sorry guys, but that is what I think as well as a lot of music buffs.
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Rehman…0 on creativity index…just like all south Indian dishes must be accompanied by Sambhar..his is sambhar..a self proclaimed over hyped musician who just got lucky..I am glad the error is being noted now.
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Anon Reply:
September 21st, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Just like all north indian dishes must be accompanied by Roti. you are roti (dried).
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Like Vishal Dadlani said, Rahman is only human. We all make BIG mistakes at times and we all have a limit for everything be it talent, creativity etc etc. We all, at least the youth of today have a big taste for electronic music and that's what Rahman caters to. He qalso created SITUATIONAL music, which is not necessarily for listening and enjoying, its made for the scene/movie/situation. Like the songs in Raavan. It was a crazy movie, so the music also had to be a bit crazy. What Vohra said is utter rubbish. If great musicians of yester years created music for us today, they would have been forced to use all these so called 'software’s' too. Tell me who does not use it today. Like one person said below, “Music composition is very easy” – No my friend it is not easy. Everyone loses it after a certain time. Ilayaraja sir, Shakar Ehsaan Loy etc are not at their best too. So I agree CWG anthem or Jai Ho are not so great, but let’s not talk rubbish about a man who has given music lovers in India soo much to live on forever. When I listen to most of his old songs even today, I feel it is God sent. If you can, listen to the song “Missing” from Vande Matharam and that would be enough to shut Vohra’s mouth. If it doesn’t, sorry man, you are not fit to write an article on a musician.
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Mr Pankaj, The only reason why wrote this blog now is that you are just dying for getting publicity… It has happened long back and by criticising Rehman now is just sheer stupidity and absurd. Its really amazing to know that you are judging Rehman's “LIMITED RANGE”. And it is totally foolish to compare yester years composers with the current generation. In that case there is nobody in the current crop of music directors who can be compared with them. So please Please stop writing all this ****…!
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If you dont like his music it could mean that you dont have the mental level to understand his music. Music is not just a few instruments used together and that if he uses similar instruments again that he has got limited range. Problem is you got limited range. Music is beyond that. You are comparing Shakira's music to AR Raman's, that's itself proves my point. No body considers Shakira a A grade singer or musician, she only appeals to youngsters or people again with limited music range, people who just want music to dance to in clubs or play loudly in car. Asha bhosle wife of one of the legends in music has many a times endorsed Rahman's music and so have many other greats. He cant give the best everytime, all the greats listed above have times like that as well.
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While I can understand and appreciate the each one has their personal tastes and opinions especially in the subject of art/music, I cannot condone the utter lack of logic or reason in Pankaj Vohra's article.
This guy clearly doesn't like AR Rahman's music and claims that Rahman neither produced any great music nor did he ever touch the masses in any way; the only reason Rahman is popular is because there aren't any other better composers at this period in time (which essentially is like saying he's the best at this time!!).
So what is CWG supposed to do – not get the best musician of the time to create their music but go for the second or third best?
It would have been some argument if this Vohra guy claimed that Rahman normally composed great music but failed to compose a good one for CWG; or if there are other composers (alive) at this time who are better than Rahman who should have been given the job. He claims no such thing. He merely states that Rahman is not a great composer, and has never composed great music, but somehow both CWG and Rahman need to make amends.
I guess CWG can make amends by bringing some of the dead musicians (that our pal Vohra likes) and task them with the composition; alternatively Rahman needs to go back 20 years in time and relearn and reinvent his musical prowess or worse he 'realize his limitations' and let the second best musician of this time to take on the job.
Mr. Pankaj Vohra – you need lessons both in music and logic (work that left brain and the right brain).
I fricking don't understand what the purpose of his article is
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Pankaj Vohra has his right and liberty to air his views as long as he does not cast aspersions on A.R. Rehman's character. We must respect it because neither has Mr. Vohra brought in parochialism, caste, creed, religion or sex nor has he been personal.
People, even dimwits like me, expect something spectacular from Mr. Rehman each and every time. The expectations were highest because it would showcase India and not a Hollywood/Bollywood films.
Mr. Rehman has disappointed and let us accept that TRUTH.
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may be u can compose for world music
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i agree with you mr. vohra and actually you missed one point the stadium for CWG is not completed because of Mr. A R music fall flat.. what to do
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A pinnacle of idiocy and irrationality of arguments. i guess the writer is over-rated by equally moron-ated hindustan times fellows to be allowed to write such a piece of illogical and insensible article. If Rahman is over-rated the all those yester-years so called maestros no-where are even worthy of any kind of rating.
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All the celebrities have down time and during that every critic says that the celebrity is overrated. It is the time that matters, nothing else. One or more hit, then articles on the amazing talent the person has….
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Well said. It was high time someone in media came up and said what he/she really feels. Rahman surely has some great compositions, but I really think he peaked in Dil Se. Slumdog Millionare was a great case for his good luck that he was at the right place at the right time. I really liked the train theme song though
. His concert in NJ was musically sub-par. I don't think he can really play any instrument in public with dexterity. It is primarily because he does his stuff with s/w sequencers and then hires some musicians to make it sound more real.
Theme songs are different though. I am not sure how good all the folks you mentioned would have been in making theme songs for a game. Laxmi Pyare? I doubt. Khyaiyyam, Ravi? Sorry. Madan Mohan, C Ramachandra? doubtful. Salil, RD or Kalyanji Anandji – possible.
Actually the current breed of composers would do a better job – SEL, VS..even Vishal B would do (and actually are more talented) then Rahman IMHO.
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Hi All those Rahman lovers
Get real. This fellow, Rahman, is not a musician. He is just a sequencer and often gets lucky with his music. Moreso because he is clever enough to understand that his fan following comprises mostly of shallow, low-level, semi-literate, clerks, disadvataged Indians, living a very difficult and depressing existence who love his genre of music as an escape from seething poverty and deplorable circumstances. He is the same idiot who thinks he can sing well when he cannot even play any instrument well enough. True, he appears affable and genial on camera but has little talent by way of music. However, having said all that, the likes of Rahman will thrive in India where the inhabitants know nothing about quality in anything. Getting and Oscar or a Grammy means nothing because the West is devious and knows these fools ( Indians) are stupid consumers and need to be exploited and what better way than give their idol an award and capitalise on their emotions to milk them of their hard-earned savings.
So, you poor Indians, suckers that you are, just take it easy and lend your arse to the West !
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Karthik Reply:
September 10th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Indians are dumb. People who give the Oscars and Grammys are dumb. People who like Rahman's music are semi-literate and low level. No Indian knows about quality in anything.
The only one genius / musician / literate / HIGH level in this world is Globalvision …
… sadly the dumb world will never recognise it
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Shan Reply:
September 13th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Globalvision, I thought you were one of a kind. I am rather surprised that 2 people liked your post (maybe, it is you in disguise). Anyway, I can discuss music at length with you but I do not think you are worth it.
“shallow, low-level, semi-literate, clerks, disadvataged Indians, living a very difficult and depressing existence”. Whoa, whoa, give it a rest bro. Just by throwing in a long list of adjectives to describe Rahman fans, you cannot drive home your point. You should have given more evidences as to why you think Rahman is an ordinary musician. Which genre do you want to pick? Let us argue musically.
Instead, all you do is abuse all Rahman fans and categorize them as idiots. Let me tell you, a person who respects a fellow human is more cultured than a pretentious and pompous fellow like yourself regardless of their status in society. I assume you are an Indian and with your last comment you prove that you lack self-respect as well.
Grow up.
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Its a simple song for crying out loud stop playing the North / South Card. Some people may like the song some wont so people just stop the in-finght
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I quite agree with Mr Pankaj's views on the CWG theme song composed by A R Rehman. The amount of Rs 5 cr is quite unjustified. Bu why blame Rehman. It is Sresh Kalmadi who treated the whole issue as his personal fiefdom. Could not some others be also invited to send in scratch recordings for wider choice.
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The CWG song isnt tat great….agreed……but calling arr over-rated and callin d odr guys much better just shows your lack of music knowledge and class…
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Taste in Music is subjective..I personally do not like all Rehman songs for me Slumdog never worked but at the same time Delhi 6 was awsome! loved every bit of it. I listen to so many foriegn bands it is not necessary that all their songs work for me as a listener.So why all the fuss? Undoubtedly Rehman is a good composer and musicians never aims to make master pieces out of every track produced so if the CWG track is not that great live with it! why talk about Illyaraja or SD Burman? the fact is they haven't produced this track. And to you guys posting comments here chill out! Why drag states into an opinion about a sound track; are you that sensitive? Come on it is so sad to read these racist comments..
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guys… dont fight…if we fight… obv other countries will call us “AH*” .. so… north… south.. shut the **** up… and be together…
peace
djo
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You're stuck in the past buddy. Comparing diffrent musical styles and their exponents is absurd in the creative arts. Its not rahman who's guilty of a limited range of talent/skill, as you keep carping on about (obviously you have not the slightest clue about musical range)…its you, and ppl like you who have a limited range – of vision, patience and perception. Do ppl a favour and speak for yourself, not as the whole country has already written off the song.
Keep an open mind. And ear. Listen to the full song properly, a couple of times – its got all the components of an anthem, and darn, if you don't find it catchy, you need to get your ears cleaned!
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Another 'If it would have been' article?? Ha ha… Are you 70 or older, coz u are still in denial. During Mozart's heydays even he was criticized for being radical.. so its no big thing now since the egos and egg-lashings have only gotten bigger. You say Rahman has a limited sense of musical abilities… that speaks how desperately u want to bring him down. Why did this article not come up when he scored a pathbreaking Delhi-6 or during his Oscar wins last year… Coz nobody would have bothered to read it, since here was a guy who was doing India proud. Now that every one is lashing, you have joined the swamp. Nice going… totally befits you after seeing such an article of personal vendetta. I remember how Sachin was lashed when he just went out of form. But he was genius and he bounced back and people are eating their tongues. If Sachin slumps into another poor form nobodys like you will again start pounding him. The same will happen to Rahman. He is a genius and will bounce back and will face the ungrateful crowd when he fails sometime in the future – thats the part and parcel of being a real genius. People are so fickle and your article is the thesis for that. If you really are a critic dont try to bring an artist down… try to elevate the art which you think will benefit people. Let me also make a statement: Get Real, buddy. Rahman is the best! Enjoy his music while you are still alive, else you will miss history!!!
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No wonder the aussies beat up our men. Look at the hatred among us! In anycase, like it or not Rahman is the best! CWG anthem sounds superb!
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I wonder if Mr. Vohra realizes that a big reason why all those yesteryear music directors had so much range as he claims, was because most of them copied songs left, right, and center from various musicians in the West. If you have a range of musicians to plagiarize from, you will have a nice large range. Rahman doesn't steal his songs, and to say that his music sounds the same is like saying all the Beatles songs sound the same.
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Its funny that people are so angry about 'Jai Ho' getting an Oscar. They say it is not Oscar worthy without having any idea of what song was better that 'Jai Ho' that year which could have won the Oscar. Moreover, all the so angry protesters of 'Jai Ho' are Indians… when the Americans themselves had no problem with it getting their award. Such a classic case of Indians not liking their fellow men to succeed. Hope this country doesn't destroy itself this way. Maybe thats why people want to run away to America than stay in India. They seem to feel at home away from home. What a sad Irony!!!!!!
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If anyone wants to see from where which composer has taken inspiration(?) for their tunes (including Illayaraja and Rehman) go to itwofs.com.
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ha ha silly Indians doesn't know how to appreciate a fellow Indian who has brought Glory to the country on numerous occasion. One thing is very clear in the Post above and the comments below, that the Norths' have no idea about the Souths' talent and the Souths' don't listen to loads of North stuffs. So i assume being a non-desi i ll be a good reviewer for this chaos! lol!
first of all man how can u say Rahman an Overrated composer? if he is overrated is there a better musician in India who can be overrated above him? all those Indian composers mentioned above could be a very Indian sensation ………… did any one of those came out with world quality number? or did they get recognized like ARR? the article is so biased and out of sense shows the very typical Indian behaviour to criticise one without investigating about his background achievements………………Mr Pankaj Vohra u r stupidity and lack of musical knowledge and a out of sense cheap article causing a split in u r country and disgracing the best musical talent from u r own country! pls re-think wht u have posted
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Boylondon90 Reply:
September 10th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
jackson!!! u said it right!!!! jealousyy of north inidans that allll bcoz they dont have any one to showcase like rahman so what to do hmmm
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Limited range!! Wow!! I don't even know how to react to that! I am really curious to know if the author has listened to all ARR compositions before making this remark. Please elaborate what limited range can encompass compositions like Indhira, Thiruda Thiruda, Kannathil Muthamittal, En Swasa Katre, May Madham, Sangamam and countless others. Please enumerate the genres and styles that have been explored in these albums and demonstrate how it supports the “limited range” hypothesis. Please also explain what “limited caliber” can create an acapella and an orchestration with 40 instruments in the same album, both to the same degree of finesse. Or experiment with blending Carnatic, folk and western in the same song, in the most innovative ways!
And yes, I dare say, I find his Vande Mataram more inspiring than the Anandmath version, which is of course a personal choice. Someone else might like the other version better.
And yes, I am NOT a Tamizh, unfortunately I do not even know the language. But listening to Rahman has inspired me to explore the language and Carnatic music. Such is the power of his “limited caliber” music!
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Yet another useless blog from musically ******… yawn.
Pankaj Vohra and other ARR bashers, get a life.
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A. R. Rahman is the most versatile composer this country ever had. I agree he mayn't be a versatile singer, but he song some evergreen songs.
Though composer you have mentioned have given some great compositions, but they are also plagiarists (check http://www.itwofs.org for their achievements).
Composition is not just about making hummable tunes, it is much more than that. I fail to understand how a such a reputed newspaper allow a person with no or very less Music experience to comment on a person like A. R. Rahman.
The truth is that Waka Waka is over-hyped song, even that is copied. As an Indian I am proud that however CWG song is, it's original. Sir, I want to tell you one thing that you can't buy art. It's not something that can be inspected for quality or grade.
Listen to CWG Song for 3-4 times, you will get the feel.
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you must be a ****** idiot.
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Mr. Vohra is not qualified to comment on music. He should limit himself to politics, which is his forte. I believe this article has been written since Mr. Vohra wanted to write something bad about CWG – no matter what.
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The guy who wrote this article is realy jealous. God give him some good medicine or else he will die out of it!!. hih h i LOL . I know u are a part of “N I” jealous crew who hates rahman noT bcoz of the above said reason but bcoz u people cant belive “how rahamn has been delivering back to back super duper hits .Please please before writng this kind of critics do understand do listen the compositon that rahman made in tamil.He is the one who made BGM score such an intresting one that made people buy the CD's of it.at least he didnt use the cramp music that others usualy make(para para dishum dishum music!!!) listen u jealous guys out there he is the only composer in india I repeat the only one who had never copied tracks from hollywood I bet u u can find other composers from in india. think u like jatin lalit,pritam ha ha ha LOL or others copycat who just copy and paste hi arent they ashamed of themself please do critisis them hih hi .he started from ROJA and thats a tourning point in indian film music before roja and after roja do listen to roja audio relesed in 1992 u can feel the diffrence .I feels pitty for this author .no problem i have invented a new medicine for your jealousy i will send u soon….. jai ho RAHMAN and keep rocking I bet u no one will ever make an achive what rahman sir has achieved in his life no one!!!!! similar to our great SACHIN TENDULAKR .and such a simple personality .the only thing hear is CWG is going to be a utter failure so they just want to divert issue on other. shame on you people is the song or the corruption thats go na make the games a hit!!!!! and now media blames rahman as if he the one who MADE it all ha ha ah ah ha ha ah a
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“he lived and competed with the likes of Naushad, Shankar Jaikishen, SD Burman, Hemant Kumar, Roshan, Madan Mohan, OP Nayyar, Sajjad, Khayyam, Ravi, Salil Chaudhury, C Ramchandra, Anil Biswas, Hansraj Behal, SN Tripathi and even Lakshmikant Pyarelal, Kalyanji Anandji and RD Burman.”
I won't comment about Rahman but none in this list here – not one – is as prolific and good as Ilayaraja.
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**** off Pankaj vohra……..if there has been any indian muscician who is worthy to be globaly recognizied it is only rehman. you beter zip up **** off you *** hole.
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when one compares a creative piece of art with other , (as waka waka this time) , i think he is unfit to be a critic. when ur goin to enjoy a piece of music or any kind of art go out with no image or expectation . people who criticize rahman should understand that he is the one who bought indian music from western instruments when western music was played in indian instruments. i bet that someone other than rahman if he had achieved to rahmans extent would never be humble as him . people please stop criticizing maestro like him . art is an art until it is original. rahman gives original music . if u wud want some copied version u better dont approach him. jai ho rahmaan !! u rock as always !!
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Had Laxmikant pyarelal been given such a chance all Indians would have been thrilled.
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totally prejudiced view. may be he has some hidden agenda. rahman is a living legend and has no parallel
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Pankaj:
You know the history. AR Rahman came bursting into popular cinema music when none other than Illaya Raja was reigning supreme in the scene. The Supremes you refer to are all very versatile music composers.. No question about it. But what ARR has achieved in his young age (44 years) is beyond belief: 25 Filmfare awards, 6 State awards, 4 Nationals, 2 Grammys, 2 Oscars, 2 Golden Globes, 1 BAFTA plus numerous other accolades.
None of your idols achieved a small fraction of this. To me with all the limitations you see in him, ARR has climbed all the way to the majestic Everest of World Recognition, when all your present and past idols are standing on sand dunes!
Not all his tunes succeeded. But many are timeless, and are entertaining several hundred million fans worldwide.
Maybe, the CWG tune is not that good. Maybe, it is.
A creative composer needs to be enthused and nurtured to get the best out of him. ARR can earn lot more money than Rs 5 crores he got for his team (remember, the CWG costs more than U$ 2 billions).
ARR is a humble and a simple man. A very good role model for the entire younger generation.
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Yes! India sucks and Pakistan rocks!
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none of u dirty ****** hindis have the right to critcize the great a r rahman. i'm from south malayaleee and south indian music (not telugu and kannada – sucks) is absolutely rocking and melodious unlike the bollywood and punjabi ****. not just a r rahman…..yuvan shankar raja and harris jayaraj ('rehna hai tere dil mein' fame) are unbelievably mindblowing and giving rahman a very tough competition. just try out a couple of their tamil songs and u will agree u ignorant dirty hindis. bollywood is nothing but a piece of shit boolywood music is **** and the actors are trash. how many of them have got the national award. most of the time it gets to the regional actors like malayali or bengali actors…pankaj….after milllions of sperms from ur father..its a pity u ****** came to this world. u r just a waste….jaake mar jaa saale
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