The Score Magazine - Archive April 2009 issue! | Page 9

Cover Story
9
H
e has begun to loom in the music world
as one who comprehends global trends in
music. Rejecting formalism with experi-
ments in sound and texture, he has pro-
duced music that speaks to the masses and is true
to their sensibilities. At the KM Music Conservatory
that he founded in 2008, he says: “I try to bring out
something unique in the general spirit of the situ-
ation without benefit of experience from the past,
so that each piece is a piece in perspective; new,
different, free and without outside interference.”
It would perhaps be appropriate to quote the great
Urdu poet Behjad Lakhnavi on his aspirations and
their gratification.
Aye jazba-e-dil gar main chaahoon, har cheez
muqabil aa jaye
manzil ke liye duo gaam chaloon aur samne manzil
aa jaye
Passion can see the realization of a dream
Two measured steps and the goal is reached.
Rahman has composed several pieces on political
themes. From his wildly powerful Vande Mataram
to the haunting music in Bombay, his music liber-
ates, but also provokes his millions-wide audience
to feel and think along different lines. Rahman firmly
believes that a career in music is a viable option. It
is in this context that the intermediate courses in
technology have b een conceived at the KM Music
Conservatory. According to his students, the courses
are tailor-made to fit the needs of the music indus-
try. As to where they visualize themselves in ten
years’ time, they are utterly devoted to their guru,
reminding me of the famous lines of Zauk (with
apologies to Zauk): kaun jaye Zauk, yeh Rahman ki
galian chhod kar. Who will forsake the street where
Rahman lives?
Rahman has a predictably astute understanding of
market forces and notes the recurrent phenom-
ena of unemployment in India’s music industry. The
KMMC, he holds, is a “small step” in addressing this
problem. “It is not enough to start an institution.
Success is measured by the yard-stick of satisfaction
and the teaching must reflect and address that con-
cern.” Nearer home he has adopted the MGR Corpo-
ration School children and gives them lessons three
times a week on the cello, violin and the viola. These
children belong to the same street in Kodambakkam
where he lives and get the same education and ex-
posure to concerts that the enrolled students at the
Conservatory receive. But Rahman does not wish
to publicize this, feeling the Conservatory needs to
do more first. It’s basic goal itself, according to Mr.
Selvakumar, its CEO, is the establishment of an or-
chestra.
Of Rahman’s father, the composer Mr R.K. Sekar, his
daughter Raihanah says that he worked for 22 hours
a day under 12 music directors at the same time.
“He saw to each and every detail from recording to
arranging and just as he was on his maiden indepen-
dent venture Chotinikkara Bhagawathi, he passed
away.” Since then the image of Rahman’s vitality and
the dream have taken on further meaning.
Rahman comes forth as a disciplined man – measur-
ing to strict and stringent standards. Apart from the
piety and prayers of his mother, he has the silent
support of his beautiful wife Saira who believes she
is his best critic and like a fan, has an instinctive re-
sponse to his numbers. She remembers a particular
composition from the Oscar winning film Slumdog
Millionaire fondly, “We were in London when O Saya
was being created. It is my favourite track. Time has
come to a standstill for me, in relation to this song. If
I can be poetic, it is like a moment arrested in eter-
nity. I am told that the song is an ode to me.”
As to how she visualizes the music of her children,
she replies matter-of-factly, “It is too early to say
about the little ones; the elder girl Khatija has a
sweet voice and is training.”
Saira is a picture of serenity and conscious of the
prayers of millions all over the world. She recog-
nizes their role in his success. “Their prayers were
answered along with his hard work.” Rahman has
revolutionized music and taken it to great heights.
His adventurous spirit of enquiry and experiments in
music eminently suit the new temperament of our
age.
The SCORE Magazine | April 2009
Students of the MGR Corporation School, spending time at the KM conservatory