Taal Re-release: Aishwarya Rai, Anil Kapoor and Akshaye Khanna starrer helped AR Rahman get recognition beyond ‘South Indian’; ‘I was no longer…’

Taal Re-release: Aishwarya Rai, Anil Kapoor and Akshaye Khanna starrer helped AR Rahman get recognition beyond ‘South Indian’; ‘I was no longer…’

As an ardent admirer of the musical genius A.R. Rahman, I find myself deeply moved by his reminiscent journey through the enchanting world of Taal and its profound impact on his illustrious career. The man’s talent is like a symphony that transcends borders, touching millions of hearts with its melody.


In anticipation of the September 27, 2024 theatrical re-release of the iconic film Taal, esteemed composer A.R. Rahman looked back on how his involvement in Subhash Ghai’s musical love story contributed to his success in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bollywood-focused musical, Bombay Dreams, earning him global recognition and breaking free from being labeled as a ‘South Indian musician specializing only in Tamil music.’

As a lifestyle expert, let me share a fascinating insight: After establishing myself in India with acclaimed films like Roja and Bombay, I found a new connection with a wider audience through Mukul S. Anand’s film. It was the enchanting soundtrack of Taal that caught the attention of Bharat Nalluri, who then presented it to Andrew Lloyd Webber. This exposure led Webber to invite me to collaborate on Bombay Dreams, a project I would have never imagined as just a ‘South Indian’ specializing in Tamil music.

Rahman expressed that while movies such as Roja and Bombay had already made substantial progress, he felt there was still potential for more exploration, and Taal indeed filled that void. He pointed out that Amar Singh Chamkila embodies authentic Punjabi music, and his self-assurance originated from his involvement in all these films, as he expressed during an interview with PTI.

Rahman recounted another story about his journey joining Taal. During the 1990s, he mentioned that whenever he met someone, they would encourage him to work on a Hindi film with Ghai. Rahman’s debut Hindi movie was Rangeela in 1995, directed by Ram Gopal Varma. Then, all of a sudden, there was a fax sent from the man himself. He was astounded, thinking “Wow, he personally sent the fax!” The invitation to Mumbai followed, and they spent time together.

He mentioned various elements of his music and suggested ways for him to improve his Hindi. They had previously worked on a film titled Shikhar, which he launched but that ultimately did not get released. 

In simpler terms, Rahman stated that creating the soundtrack for Taal happened quite swiftly, as he found it a great opportunity to delve into fresh musical realms. He explained that Ghai often communicated specific requests, like asking for a symphony or a mountain ballad, which motivated him to expand his creative horizons. Reflecting on his roots in the South, Rahman expressed eagerness for exploring new avenues within music.

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2024-09-23 17:38