A Walk Down Rahman Lane by Loges

 If you are here for the first time, please read this post.

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Every time I hear the name A R Rahman, my mind usually goes to the peppy ‘Urvasi’, the joyful ‘Petta Rap’, the romantic ‘Ennavale’, the enthusiastic ‘Vande Maatharam’ or sometimes the emotional ‘Mustafa’. Every album had one such song that I had in my mind as the identity of the album. As a fan of Tamil cinematic universe, I always went behind the popular ones in most of the albums. One such album is Sangamam in which I thought the heroic ‘Mazhaithuli’ was the best of the lot until I recently unearthed this magic ‘Sowkiyama Kanne’.

When the movie Sangamam released, I was very little that I didn’t even remember the existence of this song(what a shame?!). Thankfully, youtube’s autoplay landed me in this song which was performed in a ARR concert. There was something in this song that held me in a loop. I had this misconception that ARR was always about western music in his filmography. Like the umpteen times that he surprised me before, he did again with this Carnatic classical.

Before even Nithyashree asks us “Sowkiyama kanne!”(are you doing good darling?), ARR makes us ‘Sowkiyam’(well and good) with his orchestration of chorus and mridangam. The amazement lived throughout the song with ARR’s trademark control over percussion. I was clinging back to this song after hearing it for the first time. It was playing in a loop both in my mind and my speakers. I was playing this song in my in-ear headphones, over-the-ear headphones, my speakers and tv too. I just couldn’t get enough of it. Every time Nithyashree went “En Kaatril swasam illai”, I went breathless. Even today, I get excited when this song comes in my play queue.

This made me revisit the collaborations of ARR and Nithyashree like ‘Kannodu Kanbodhellam’, ‘Minsara kanna’ but this time with a more curious mindset. I ended up wanting more classicals from ARR. Probably, I am still not aware of his greater works. Whatsoever, my love for him seems to grow more and more everyday. Because, music is pure love! ******************************************************
About Loges Loges is an author who's published a collection of short stories in Tamizh. He loves to travel and is a photographer as well. Music is Loges' companion during his travel, and at work. Loges writes in Tamizh and in English on his blog . Thank you, Loges for sharing your favourite memory of a Rahman song. Say hello to Loges here, here and here.

A Walk Down Rahman Lane by LKS

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I started living on my own in 2005 in Tampa, FL. My first few months in the US were fun, but there was definitely a feeling of being away from home and family and more importantly, managing personal finances and such. And to add to that there are usual/typical concerns on a day to day basis ("Will I get a part time job or get an assistantship? Will I burnt food again? When it is my cooking turn tonight?" etc.)

On most days, I used to walk from college to my apartment which was a 30 minute walk. It was during this time that I became a huge fan of Aararai Kodi song in Ah Aah.

The movie was terrible and I still wonder why Rahman composed that song for that movie. I digress, but it was awesome to listen to Rahman's voice everyday on my walk home. The song definitely helped me become calm and made me feel that things will get better. Even now, when I listen to this song, I remember my first six months in the US and feel nostalgic at how long ago it seems. I still listen to this song when I feel overwhelmed with work or things happening in my life.

P.S: Please do not put a SJ Suryah photo for this 
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About LKS

LKS. (not to be confused with PKS played by the guest blogger's favourite actor) a.k.a Karthik Sriram a.k.a Shri is a Business planning professional based out of the US.
He is your 'extraordinarily ordinary' Pakkathu veetu Madras payyan who loves Tamizh movies, ThalaRoxxx, Tamizh music and cricket.
My very first pullayar suzhi based blogger friend from 2007, (and we have thankfully, tolerated each other & not unfollowed, being an outrage aatha and all that), LKS is the friend one can call anytime, to discuss vetti stuff like Tamizh Bigg Boss news, Rajini's political entry, latest S J Suryah films and productive stuff like ThalaivARR's music.

Say Hi to LKS here. 

A Walk Down Rahman Lane by Pattukkaaran

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ARR is an integral part of every 90's kid’s childhood. He played a vital role in tuning my ears to music of different kinds. Both I & Rahman were introduced to the world at right about the same time. I was born 5 months before his debut, in a small town in South Tamil Nadu. 

'Kanne Kalaimaane' was my lullaby, Pettai Rap was my dance number, but Rahman “happened” to me through 'Oliyum Oliyum’. I was fascinated to see the glass bus in ‘Urvasi Urvasi’ I grew up listening to ‘Mukkala Mukkabla’, ‘Romeo Aatam Potaal’ etc. But no, I'm not gonna talk about those songs. 

I'm here to share about "Alaipayuthey" - the 1st cassette I owned, the 1st cassette I played in loop. I noticed Rahman's name in the cassette, little did I know that that meant that he was the magician behind those songs. I knew Alaipayuthey songs by heart. The 1st song in Side A, the 2nd song in Side B. I knew the lyrics, the time between each song in the cassette, the number of oscillations I had to do with the pencil to reach a specific song.. EVERYTHING! I used to sit near the speakers when the album played and keenly watched the vibration of my speakers! :P I played that cassette until it started jarring at one point and I had to get another copy. I have the cassette safe with me till date.

It always amazes me that this man keeps reinventing himself, every album. He keeps learning. He listens and keeps himself updated. Thank you sir, your smile calms me like your music does. I do go back to your old interviews when I feel low. You are AMAZING. Stay the same.

Btw, I love Rahman's Insta feed. Forget the copy posts, whatever he does on his own, has soo much life! :)

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About Pattukkaran

Pattukkaran (not to be confused with the famous milkman from the '80s) is a music industry professional and is supremely passionate about what-else-but-music. An avid consumer of music across languages and genres, he writes about the songs that moved him, on this blog. Don't miss my favourite post, 'Songs of Hope'.

Do follow this music addict, here and here, right away!

A Walk Down Rahman Lane by Govind Vasantha

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One of my most favourite songs of ARR is Oru Deivam Thantha Poove from Kannathil Muthamittal. 

image from the video

I was in school when it released. And it struck me like a lightning because of the wild nature of the melody and orchestration. The rhythm pattern was very organic and unlike anything I have ever heard before and it almost sounded like thunder to me. And the best part is , it's not just a wild random tune that you find hard to connect to, instead it touches you so deeply that it  makes you cry. I even get scared listening to it. It was the first time I experienced all these emotions all in one song.

The shift of notes flows smoothly like a river. And of course Chinmayi just elevated the poignancy of the song to a level that will push you to stay away from the song.. oh the irony!

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About Govind Vasantha

Thaikkudam bridge's founding member, violinist and vocalist, Govind Vasantha's filmography as a composer includes North 24 Kaatham, 100 days of Love, Seethakathi, 96, Jaanu amongst others. This versatile musician switches from being an independent musician to a film composer, carving a niche in both.

We cannot wait for a Govind Vasantha song in ThalaivARR's voice. Thank you for writing this, Govind.

Say hello to Govind here and here .

PS - Special thanks to Santhosh Kumar for making this possible.

A Walk Down Rahman Lane by Sangeetha Devi

If you are here for the first time, please read this post.

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Once upon a school excursion

A song that makes me smile and recall the fun I had in school is ‘Rukkumani Rukkumani from Roja (1992), A R Rahman’s debut film. 

I was in Class 10, studying in Coimbatore. We had two kinds of school excursions conducted simultaneously - we could choose between a one-day trip to Yercaud and a three-day trip to Madurai-Kodaikanal. My parents were overprotective and didn’t let me go on the three-day excursion; I went to Yercaud. That’s a different story.

When we all returned from our respective excursions, my friends from the Madurai-Kodaikanal excursion group had tales to tell, which came with spurts of laughter even before the morning Assembly.

Their bus had a breakdown in Madurai and soon it was clear that they would have to wait several

hours. The journey to Kodai had to be called off; to kill time, they persuaded the teachers to book tickets for Roja. Mani Ratnam film. No questions asked. All was well when the film began. The new handsome hero (Arvind Swamy) was worth a lot of gushing (which the girls tried to do discreetly), Madhu was gorgeous and ‘Chinna Chinna Aasai’ was mesmerising. 

Then came ‘Rukkumani Rukkumani’. Imagine a big group of adolescent girls struggling to hide their smiles while watching it with frowning and disapproving teachers, which included Nuns.

My friends laughed, recalling the teachers’ comments and chides (for egging them on to book tickets for the movie).

By lunch hour, word had spread about the movie experience in the staff room.  

The Tamil teacher walked in later for her class. Her classes were partly moral science sessions. It wouldn’t take much for her to digress and talk about how the world was going to dogs and we are doomed. 

She didn’t watch movies (or maybe she did, who knows), and had heard about the Madurai ordeal. Fellow teachers had told her that they liked the film, barring a song sequence. 

In between explaining a Tamil ‘Seyyul’ (literary poem), she paused and said something like how poetry/songs are awful today - and said she had heard about Roja, in which elderly women sang and danced to ‘Rukkumani rukkumani’ with eroticism.  Most of my friends remained poker faced. I giggled. She threw me a sharp glance and said she didn’t expect it from me. I laughed some more and then said sorry. After the class we all laughed, again.

For many of us who were (I still am) huge Ilaiyaraaja fans, the early 90s was about being stunned by a strikingly new world of Tamil film music, thanks to ARR. 

My dad and I had a go-to music store in Coimbatore - Saraswathi Stores - where we would buy cassettes of Raaja sir’s music by the dozen. We bought Roja. And slowly our Raaja-centric personal collection of film music began to have many ARR albums as well. ******************************************* About Sangeetha Devi A journalist with The Hindu, Sangeetha writes on varied topics including films, art and culture. During this lockdown, Sangeetha is busy filling notebooks, jotting down notes from all the telephonic interviews. You can read this amateur photographer's articles here. Don't forget to say hello to Sangeetha here.

A Walk Down Rahman Lane by Sharanya

 If you are here for the first time, please read this post.

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Very early on in my relationship with this one boy- he spoke to me about how much he was moved by Dil Se. The Gujarati in him hadn't obviously watched the Tamizh version.  Just like he hadn't watched any of his Mani Ratnam favorites in the language it was originally meant to be watched in-my mother tongue, Tamizh. 

Growing up so far away from the home to the language- music became the fastest way for my Bombay waala Bhelpuri Tamil to look at nuance and truly appreciate the 'roots'. "'Rahman is universal, you can't stake claim on him," he would laugh at my being territorial of the same tune in its original form.

Years later, we would be in a dark movie theatre- him passing his ultimate test- sitting between Amma and me-watching his first ever Tamizh padam- for nothing but ARR in all his glory. My mother was impressed.

Months later, my entire extended family was. Five years later, on afternoons when I don't even notice him- I catch him singing - Mana mana mental Manadhil. The original.

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About Sharanya

Sakalakalavalli Sharanya is a singer, radio host, screenplay writer and is a Studio head.
When not planning her next solo holiday, she's busy writing award winning shorts and mentoring a bunch of young creative writers in the team.

Always bubbling with ideas and enthusiasm, this Lockdown period has been quite a busy one for their studio what with releasing back to back shorts on their YouTube channel.


Meet Shar here & here.

A Walk Down Rahman Lane by M Suganth

If you are here for the first time, please read this post

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My first memory of A R Rahman and his music is, of course, Roja, but at that time, I was a bit young (and naive) to appreciate what a game changer the album was. I did love Kadhal Rojave (because SPB) and Tamizha Tamizha (patriotism FTW!), though. And even when Gentleman released, and Rahman became Kollywood's most-wanted man, I distinctly remember boasting to my friend in school (I think I was in Class 5 then) that many Rahmans may come and go, but Ilaiyaraaja would still be on top. Little did I know that in the very next year, Rahman would deliver the album that would make me a convert — a lifelong fanboy, at that! No humble pie that I've been served has been ever sweeter!

So, to cut the suspense short, the album I'm talking about is Duet . My aunt's house had cable TV, so I would catch the songs on Sun TV and liked them a lot. Mettu Podu instantly wormed its way into me. But the moment when I truly fell head-first in love was when I borrowed home the audio cassette from my uncle, and started listening to it frequently. Pretty soon, everything about the album became so familiar and loveable, from the song order to the singers and even the musicians and Panchathan Record Inn, thanks to the credits in the cassette (with a cute pic of ThalaivARR with his keyboard). Needless to say, I never returned the cassette!

(image from Suganth)

If you are a true ARR fan, you know that your favourite in an album will keep changing for quite some time until you discover that one song which you realise you cannot live without. And for me, Naan Paadum Sandham became that song. Right from the prelude, which gushes like a river, to the terrific duet between a godly SPB and Kadri's divine sax, this was (it still is) pure bliss. And the fact that it did not have a proper music video (though it does play over a montage in the film) made it personal for me as I could imagine whatever visuals I wanted to go with it. In the early days, I'd often wish that it should have been a longer song, but over the years, I've warmed up to the fact that good things come in small packages. It is now the third song that I play when I buy a new music system/earphone (of course, the first two are also ThalaivARR songs), but as they say, the first one is always special, right?

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About M Suganth

A journalist based out of Madras, Suganth writes the most balanced movie reviews, according to me. I have most often found myself nodding in agreement, reading his reviews. This writeup on his favourite ARR album memory is no exception. I had similar MemoiARRies playing Duet on rererepeat during holidays.

A father of two and a husband of one (adhe!), Suganth's culinary experiments can be found under #PondatiOorukkuPoita on his Instagramam .  Say hello to Suganth here.

A Walk Down Rahman Lane by Rekha Bala

 If you are here for the first time, please read this post.

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It was August 1992. I was hosting a walk-in music talent show as part of some youth group (whose name I don’t remember now). The show had started at 6pm and even though it was 8pm already, there was no sign of people backing off. Most of the talent was good, with an interesting array of songs I loved.

I didn’t have to do much, just announce the name of the singer/performer, name of the song/composition and say some encouraging words at the end. But beyond 8pm was getting a bit too much for me. I would have to ask one of the boys to walk me home. It was small-town Kochi after all, broken streetlights at most places, with incessant rain, and even though I had called home to say I would be late, there would be some displeasure at the end of it.

 

Before I would let the organisers know I was not staying on until eternity (which was where the show was heading), I was thrust a chit of paper by a young man. It said, “Kaadhal Rojave, A R Rahman”.

“Eh, What is this, Who is this? Why have I never heard of this song and music director before?” I thought. After all, my neighbourhood cassette shop would always alert my brother and I, the moment something new released. “Wait till I get to that Gujju tomorrow!” was my first reaction.

 

I had no choice but to let that young man go on stage. Didn’t have to blabber much as I had no clue who ARR was, or how colourful his Kaadhal was. When he went on stage, I stood by in the wings, and waited till the end, mesmerised.

 

“Thendral ennai theendinaal selai theendum nyaabagam

China pookkal paarkaiyil dhegam paartha nyaabagam

Velli odai pesinaal sonna vaarthai nyaabagam

Megam rendum sergaiyil mogam konda nyaabagam…”

 

Wait, what was this magic. And why can’t I move? When the song finished, there was an uproar. They had all become ARR fan-actics like me.

 

The next day, I went to the cassette shop, berated Sunilbhai and proceeded to play Roja on loop on our Philips Powerhouse till the entire neighbourhood started playing along. In college, where I was doing my second-year degree, we were humming either Chinna Chinna Aasai or Kaadhal Rojave in the corridors or the lawns and very often, groups would break out into ‘Sol, Sol’. By the time, the movie had released, and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

The only regret I have is my bff pipping me to interview ARR during a show in Muscat. I was in India during that time, missed both an interview and a show. But as they say, if it’s GOAT, good things will be come to those who wait.

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About Rekha Bala

Rekha is a journalist who moved from Kochi to Bengaluru via Muscat. A huge music buff, Rekha reached out to me on twitter and shared her MemoiARR.
Thank you, Rekha and I hope the fellow ARR fan-atic in your family, your son, writes his MemoiARRs as well. Oh yes, Rekha, please do say Hello to ARR when you interview him soon.

Say hello to Rekha here.

A Walk Down Rahman Lane by Latha

 If you are here for the first time, please read this post.

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Chinna Chinna Aasai .. Siragadikkum Aasai.. Muthu Muthu Aasai ..

 

When we listen to this song, Arvindswamy, Madhu, that beautiful village and everything beautiful about that song will run in our minds.  Isaippuyal’s first movie and this song was a chartbuster for a very long time.

For me this song is not just a song.  It was HOPE for me.  Whenever I was feeling a bit low in life, I used to listen to this song and it gave me a streak of positivity and made me wait for the next sun rise. 

Don’t know if it was the music or lyrics or the colourful picturization it just gave me hope to keep me afloat.  Thanks a lot A R R for this and every other awesome song you have given us.

(images are from the song's video on YouTube)
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About Latha

A Kalakkal copywriter, an Asatthal Actor and a Mega Model - Latha a.k.a Ji is an Ideas Sironmani when it comes to advertising and copywriting. Ideating campaigns exclusively for the Tamizh market is her forte and she is the brain behind some of the excellent local ads and characters, on Radio.

According to grapevine, KJo, after watching a.k.a Latha's impressive performance in Pushpavalli as the 'Amma' , is signing her opposite the Big B in a mega budget multi-lingual film. You heard it first here.
I'd strongly urge Netflix to consider casting Latha for the Tamizh version of 'Sima Didi from Mumbai'. Audition ready .

Please queue up and get your autographs here before she parandufyes to some foreign country filming for Dharma Productions.

A Walk Down Rahman Lane by Vinitha Vijayakumar

If you are here for the first time, please read this post.
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Not so long ago, a Saturday evening turned horrendous because I had to watch this disaster called 'Imaikka Nodigal' in cinemas. Uff! Even now my body and mind is aching thinking about it. The next morning I was in that hangover and so I did this and that to get out of the “meh” feeling. 

Thankfully, when I was browsing through my library in Apple Music I landed up at 'New' one among the most famous albums of ARR. It was an instant energy booster and I felt so fresh after listening to the entire album. I wrote the below as an fb post as well. 

“Imagine yourself on a drive on a highway! The car is moving at 120 and suddenly a song of full energy starts playing to give you the indescribable energy that you were craving the most! To get over my Imaikka Nodigal hangover,  I am doing all I can, and this album 'New' is super helpful in the process! A 2005 release still as fresh as any contemporary album. ARR is timeless! I think this was the era, we got the best Intro songs. And this album was unique in its own way to comprise of songs those were stand-alone hits! Irrespective of the content of the movie, I think 'New' as an album is quite a good one! "If you wanna" song broke the stereotype of heroine character intro songs sung by Aparna, Anupama, and Chinmayi. Some Girl power there, you know!

  

Nobody expected Nithyashree would pull off a "Markandeya"! An experiment that clicked big time! 'Sakkarai..' became the best addition in the list of Rahman's folkish dance duets like "Nee kattum selai", "Usilampatty" "Anjadhe jeeva" and "Gopala Gopala"! 'Thottal Poo Malarum' created a new formula for remixes! "Kalayil dhinamum" for all the melody lovers, 'Spiderman', a definition of seductive ecstasy and "NEW NEW", is a powerhouse! Blaaze, Karthik, Vijay Prakash, Sunitha Sarathy and Tanvi Sha - What a combination! The rap portion is out of the world! And our own Vaalee Sir innovating the lyrical part with titles of MGR movies. If possible listen to the song and find them out! :)”

I grew up listening to ARR, so all my stories have all his songs. Thought of sharing the above as it happened recently 😀
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About Vinitha Vijayakumar
(that's an 'i' after the first 'V' not 'a' for those startled ;-))

RJ, Copywriter, Travel enthusiast...Vinitha Vijayakumar is your true Tamizh music buff who has all the metadata and information on TMU aka our Tamizh Music Universe. It's said that people with good work ethic are worth their weight in gold, and Vinitha is one such dependable, enthusiastic and dedicated professional. I had the good fortune of working with her briefly. Thank you, Vinitha for sharing your MemoiARRs.

You can listen to Vinitha's thought bubbles here and share your thoughts with her, here

A Walk Down Rahman Lane by Sachu

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ARR (not Suganda Paaku😂) brings not just memories of people to me, he brings back situations and all that happened right before my eyes. Be it the song that my first boyfriend played for me (though I have forgotten the BF but still remember the song😂)....

...or the song that I sang to my children ...

....or the song I wanted my husband to dedicate to me. ARR has touched every part of my life. 

I started my fan journey listening to Roja songs, a little doubtful about its success. But the songs just grew on me and before I knew it, I was humming them. What is even more astonishing about ARR part from his music is his modesty and generosity. He was always grounded and put India on the Oscar map🙏🙏 

May he continue to spread cheer with his music and get more accolades for India and her people 🥰🥰🥰

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About Sachu

Sara née Sachu a.k.a Sach is a Singer, Fashionista and a Saree influenza who is yet to utilise her "influenzaness" fully. With Kollywood in her blood and now Korean Series in her naadi narambu, Sachu is one element in her truest element that I miss, from the '90s world of mine. Half of my college life was spent at her house, listening to May Maadham and watching Sun Music.
A wonderful mother and a superb human being, Sach intends to resume her higher education to equip herself to work with children with Special needs.
I truly wish she takes up singing full time, after finishing her jewellery design and sareefication duties.
Meet my dearest fashionista  here. 

A Walk Down Rahman Lane by Unni

If you are here for the first time, please read this post.

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My first memory of A R Rahman (of course, at that time I had no clue) was Kadhalan. I still remember getting the cassette and listening to this one song over and over again - Pettai Rap. 

I discovered the album quite late, probably in my 7th standard, by which time the movie was maybe 3 years old. It was a hand-me-down tape from my sister and I remember rewinding back after the song and trying to write down all the lyrics. Of course, I still remember most of the song lyrics even now (I had to show off). 

But once I was done with that song, the rest of the music captivated me. It was like nothing I had heard before; granted I was 11 years old but how this music could be so unique and yet sound complete as an album baffled me.

Image courtesy - Arvind on twitter

Every time I hear this song, I remember that trusted old Sony cassette player that was passed on from my grandfather to my father and then to my sister and me. It had a CD playing option as well, quite rare in those days.  That player introduced me to the world of Rahman and of course, Prabhu Deva.

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About Unni

Unni and I (Blogeswari), were the Kadhalan Prabhudeva and Vadivelu (Yes, respectively) at office where we sang Pettai Rap and other vetti Tamizh songs together when not working.

Unni, when not singing or belting Venu Biriyani, or watching TR videos... produces wonderful podcasts for a streaming platform.

You can ask him for recommendations on good podcasts, music and biriyani , here 

A Walk Down Rahman Lane

Isaippuyal A.R.Rahman completes 28 yeARRs in the film industry on the 15th of August 2020.

To celebrate the Legend's Work Anniversary in the film industry, presenting 'A Walk Down Rahman Lane', a series on the blog where avid music lovers share that one personal memory associated with a particular track of ARR's.

I'm inviting music lovers to write about one strong personal memory associated with one A.R.Rahman song. I know what you’re thinking... “...but we have so many!”

I understand. Just that this series is likely to have quite a few friends writing about it (hopefully) and hence that "one song".

Image courtesy - A.R.Rahman's instagram 

I've written my favourite memories of Rahman's songs here, here and here. 

• Did you sing an ARR song at a college culturals where He was one of the judges(Ahem)? 
• Did you spend an entire day/ week/ month listening to one ARR song?
• Did you dedicate an ARR song on Pepsi Ungal Choice as a surprise for your favourite person?
• Was there an ARR favourite song of someone in your family who is no longer around? And you remember them every time you hear it?

I invite you, dear readers, to tell me your favourite memory of a Rahman song, in a paragraph or two along with a song - Hindi, Tamil, English, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam...It’s your choice!

Do mail your memories to blogeswari(at)gmail(dot)com. I'd prefer it if you could write a separate post than sharing your memory in the comments section. You could reach out to me on instagram or on twitter. Join me on this beautiful walk down Rahman lane.

Edited to add, on 15th August 2020: We've stopped accepting guest posts due to the overwhelming response. Thank you.

PS - Comments are moderated.