Rahman changed Indian music: Vishal Bhardwaj

Composer lauded by film-maker for his 1992 song ‘Roja’ saying it reshaped country’s perspective

MUMBAI: Director Vishal Bhardwaj said he is a big fan of music composer AR Rahman, who changed India’s music scenario entirely. “He inspires so much with his music. Actually, the scenario of Indian music changed completely when he came in. I remember when the music of Roja was introduced, its sound redefined the whole country’s perspective towards music,” Bhardwaj said at the music launch of Shefali Bhushan’s directorial venture Jugni.

Rahman was also present at the occasion. The music of the film has been put together by singer-composer Clinton Cerejo, who has previously sung for both Bhardwaj and Rahman for numerous films and has also worked as a music producer in Bhardwaj’s movies.

Himself a fine music director, Bhardwaj continued his praise for Rahman. “He got the Oscar later on. I think his sound brought us to the international standard way back in the 1990s,” he said. Roja was Rahman’s debut work, which fetched him numerous awards and accolades, such as the National Film Award for Best Music Direction.



Also speaking at the occasion, Rahman said he himself is a big fan of Bhardwaj and liked his film Omkara and his music in Maachis. Bhardwaj interrupted Rahman in the process, claiming he is a bigger fan of the Oscar-winner.

Bhardwaj, who is known for his Shakespearean adaptations, has sung for a composer other than himself for the first time in Jugni. He has won several National Film Awards for his work in Haider, Godmother, The Blue Umbrella and Omkara.



On the other hand, Rahman’s song in the film is one he sings along with his spiritual teacher Kashif, who had written the lyrics of his Jodhaa Akbar song Khwaja Mere Khwaja.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2015.

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