AR Rahman Speaks Candidly About His Bollywood Journey and Recent Challenges
Legendary music composer AR Rahman has made a startling admission about his career in the Hindi film industry. He reveals experiencing a significant reduction in work opportunities over the past eight years. Rahman suggests this decline might stem from a power shift within Bollywood, where individuals lacking creative vision now hold influence. He also hints at possible communal factors playing a role, though he emphasizes these issues are not directly confrontational in his experience.
The Struggle to Feel at Home in Hindi Cinema
Despite his monumental success, AR Rahman confesses he felt like an outsider in Bollywood for many years. His debut came with Mani Ratnam's 1991 film Roja, followed by the acclaimed trilogy including Bombay (1995) and Dil Se.. (1998). The 1995 film Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, further showcased his versatility. Yet, Rahman states he only began to feel integrated with the 1999 romantic drama Taal, directed by Subhash Ghai.
"Actually, I was still an outsider with these three films, but Taal became a household album," Rahman explained in an interview. "It entered the kitchens of everybody. Even now, most North Indians still have it in their blood because it blends Punjabi, Hindi, and mountain music."
Overcoming Language Barriers and Expanding Horizons
Rahman attributes his initial outsider status to not speaking Hindi. "It's very difficult for a Tamil person to speak Hindi because we have such attachment to our language," he noted. Subhash Ghai advised him to learn Hindi to sustain his career, prompting Rahman to study Urdu, which he considers the foundation of Hindi music from the 1960s and 1970s.
His linguistic journey continued with Arabic, due to its phonetic similarity to Urdu. Later, Punjabi influences entered his work through singer Sukhwinder Singh, whom a friend recommended. This collaboration produced iconic tracks like "Chaiyya Chaiyya" from Dil Se.., "Ramta Jogi" from Taal, and the Oscar-winning "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire.
Other memorable songs from Taal, featuring stars like Aishwarya Rai and Anil Kapoor, solidified Rahman's fame. Tracks such as "Taal Se Taal", "Nahin Saamne Tu", and "Ishq Bina" became nationwide hits.
Addressing Industry Prejudices and Work Philosophy
When questioned about potential prejudice against Tamil communities in Bollywood, Rahman responded thoughtfully. "Maybe I never get to know of this, maybe it was concealed, but I didn't feel any of this directly," he said. However, he observed changes in the past eight years. "A power shift has happened, and people who are not creative have the power now. It might be a communal thing also... but it is not in my face."
He shared instances of hearing through whispers about missed opportunities, where music companies chose multiple composers over him. Rahman maintains a philosophical outlook. "I say good, I have more time to chill with my family. I am not in search for work. I want work to come to me through my sincerity. Whatever I deserve, I get."
Shifting Focus to Original Hindi Productions
In a previous revelation, Rahman explained his move towards more Hindi-oriented films rather than dubbed versions. After successes like Dil Se and Roja, he noticed literal translations of Tamil songs receiving harsh criticism. "It was humiliating for me to see bad comments like, 'This Hindi lyrics sucks, I would rather listen to the Tamil version,'" he told NDTV. This feedback motivated him to prioritize original Hindi projects to ensure lyrical quality and cultural resonance.
AR Rahman's reflections offer a rare glimpse into the evolving dynamics of Bollywood. His experiences highlight both personal adaptation and broader industry shifts affecting creative professionals.
