From Slumdog Millionaire to 127 Hours, we sit down with the composer of more than 145 film soundtracks (2024)

For someone with an Oscar, Golden Globe, Grammy and BAFTA, A.R. Rahman is still passionate about creating innovative art.

The renowned songwriter and music composer has amassed a large catalogue of hits across Tamil and Hindi cinema, reaching South Asians all over the world. He's also composed for big western films, too, including Slumdog Millionaire and Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

He's also branched out into directing and producing, experimenting with technology that expands the audience experience. This month, he arrives in Melbourne for the world premiere of Headhunting to Beatboxing at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.

As a producer and presenter, Rahman dives into the story of the Naga tribe in Nagaland, north-east India. After years of violence related to the fight for independence, the community has found hope and healing through music.

Culture critic Vyshnavee Wijekumar chats to him about the film, as well as his inspirations and influences.

How did you find out about the music community in Nagaland?

India is a very big country … nobody knows about Nagaland … [located in the] far north-east.

We heard stories: 'Oh, they are head hunters; It's very dangerous.' And then suddenly, I get this invitation for the Hornbill Festival [in the region].

From Slumdog Millionaire to 127 Hours, we sit down with the composer of more than 145 film soundtracks (1)

The past 20 years, they've been into music, and every street has kids with a guitar, and they're singing … in a very mountainous, picturesque and beautiful place in Kohima.

And so I called one of my friends Rohit [Gupta, director of Headhunting to Beatboxing], who had done The Creative Indians, and [said] 'hey, come here and, and take some visuals'. And so, this whole thing became like, let's do a little documentary.

Why do you think it was such an important story to be told?

I'm a big fan of Mahatma Gandhi and his Ahimsa [meaning nonviolence].

Here you see a very violent past … and how they have changed themselves into artists, musicians, songwriters.

It's a natural thing to get attracted to something which is evolving, something which is transformational, so that it inspires other states and other people in the world.

Your film soundtracks incorporate such a diversity in tone and style. Where do you draw your inspiration from?

My inspiration comes from the directors whom I work with, they are extraordinary artists and storytellers, and they come here because they get inspired by my work.

I listen to them, what they really like about me, because there are different parts of me. And then, I take clue from there and start taking the story, the narrative, from them.

And it's a teamwork, actually. So, the burden is not entirely on me.

From Slumdog Millionaire to 127 Hours, we sit down with the composer of more than 145 film soundtracks (2)

How important has it been to cross cultural borders with your work?

I find that divisions are man-made, and if you understand cultures, understand people's lifestyle, understand the truth, understand their love, we can all enjoy, appreciate and complement each other … and that only comes from sharing culture first, sharing music first.

And so, I was interested in adapting many kinds of styles. Whether you find Celtic influence, Bulgarian influence, African influence. They're all extensions of the basic foundation of what I am — from India.

You're a creator that goes beyond the bounds of established paths. Do audiences or critics sometimes misunderstand your work?

No, they don't misunderstand — I'm evolving. I get bored with things very fast. I've been … a professional musician for the past 43 years. How you fight the boredom is to keep your engine passionate. And you do something which makes you like a child, discovering things.

[In the past] 10 years, we've been evolving into things which are very cool. Like Le Musk is a movie which I've directed and it's on virtual reality … it's got haptics and scent … and it premiered on Cannes XR. Give something new. I didn't want to get into the commercial production yet. I was trying to do the cooler things.

From Slumdog Millionaire to 127 Hours, we sit down with the composer of more than 145 film soundtracks (3)

Even [in] my troop, we have young people. I learn from them, they get the experience thing from me, and that way we are having fun.

I am an educator too. The conservatory we have [KM Conservatory] … can consolidate extraordinary talents together. We're thinking of greater ideas, rather than just getting stuck with just movies and songs and dance. What else can you do other than commercial cinema? What is the void? And how can you fill it up? That's my thing.

What do you think about the future of music and technology?

Water takes the shape of the vessel, right? And humanity will … find ways to … beat anything. Because as humans, [we] are the originals … and we create something … that can't take over us.

When they were selling cassettes and CDs, suddenly Napster came in and … destroyed the music industry; but the music is still surviving.

There are many things human beings are doing, [which] AI can do. But the one thing it can't do is physically be present in a place, and having the excellence and the flaws together to making it human, and feeling the soul-to-soul connection for a viewer.

What do you hope people will gain from Headhunting to Beatboxing?

I think it's a great inspiration for the rest of the world to see and for Indians to see that there is a place called Nagaland. Half the people don't even know.

I think this film is as a tribute [to] extraordinary change.

Vyshnavee Wijekumar is a writer with a love of film, visual arts, performance and pop culture. When she's not writing and taking care of her daughter, she's working in the arts across marketing, producing, strategy, community engagement and policy work.

Headhunting to Beatboxing is showing as part of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, from 15-25 August.

From Slumdog Millionaire to 127 Hours, we sit down with the composer of more than 145 film soundtracks (2024)

FAQs

From Slumdog Millionaire to 127 Hours, we sit down with the composer of more than 145 film soundtracks? ›

Rahman has composed more than 145 film soundtracks — from Slumdog Millionaire to 127 Hours. For someone with an Oscar, Golden Globe, Grammy and BAFTA, A.R.

Who is the composer of Slumdog Millionaire? ›

The Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman, who planned the score for over two months and completed it in two weeks.

Who did the soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire? ›

Slumdog Millionaire: Music from the Motion Picture is the soundtrack album of the British drama film of the same name, directed by Danny Boyle. The original score and songs were composed by A. R. Rahman, who planned the score in two months and completed it in 20 days, a far shorter time period than usual.

Who did the music for 127 hours? ›

127 Hours: Music from the Motion Picture is the soundtrack to Danny Boyle's 2010 film of the same name. It was composed by Academy Award Winner A. R. Rahman, Boyle's previous collaborator on Slumdog Millionaire.

Who found international fame composing for Hollywood films like Slumdog Millionaire? ›

Rahman bagged two Oscars and Grammys in 2009 for his song Jai Ho from the movie Slumdog Millionaire.

Is Slumdog Millionaire a real story? ›

No, it is entirely fictional. It is based on the novel Q & A (novel), in which the author married two news stories to create the plot. One about someone in the UK caught cheating on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and a story about children breaking down social/technological barriers and becoming internet-savvy.

What happens to Salim in Slumdog Millionaire? ›

Salim kills Javed and is in turn killed by his men, Jamal answers the final question correctly, and Latika meets Jamal at the train station. The final scene, which takes place over the closing credits, is a Bollywood dance number performed to the song “Jai Ho.”

Is 127 Hours real or not? ›

Of the authenticity of 127 Hours, Ralston has said that the film is "so factually accurate it is as close to a documentary as you can get and still be a drama," and he jokingly added that he thought it is "the best film ever made."

Did the 127 Hours guy survive? ›

In April 2003, mountaineer Aron Ralston spent 127 hours pinned by a boulder in Utah's Bluejohn Canyon — until he amputated his own arm and escaped.

What is the message of 127 Hours? ›

The human instinct to remain alive despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles is the central theme of “Slumdog Millionaire” director Danny Boyle's new film “127 Hours.” The movie follows the true story of Aron Ralston (James Franco), an adventurous yet somewhat eccentric extreme sports enthusiast, who explores the ...

Who was the first choice for Slumdog Millionaire? ›

Shah Rukh Khan was the director Danny Boyle's original choice for Slumdog Millionaire, but he rejected the film. In 2009, director Danny Boyle presented his film that went on to impress the audience across the globe.

Who inspired Slumdog Millionaire? ›

The script of the movie is based on the novel, `Q&A`, written by Vikas Swarup who was inspired by NIIT's Hole-in-the-Wall Education Ltd (HiWEL) initiative which provides children in the slums unsupervised access to computers with an internet connection.

Where is Jamal from Slumdog Millionaire? ›

The main character in the film Slumdog Millionaire (2008) directed by Danny Boyle is Jamal Malik. Jamal is eighteen years old and lives in the Juhu slums of Mumbai. He works at a call center for XL5 mobile phones as an assistant who delivers tea.

Why was Slumdog Millionaire controversial? ›

The film Slumdog Millionaire, which won eight Academy Awards in 2009, has been subjected to a number of criticisms, notably regarding how it portrays Indian society and alleged exploitation of some of the actors.

What song won the Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire? ›

"Jai Ho" received widespread acclaim from music critics, who cited it as the best song on the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack. The song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.

What does Jai Ho mean? ›

New Word Suggestion. This Hindi phrase means ''victory to thee''

What makes Ar-Rahman so special? ›

Musical style and influence

Skilled in Carnatic music, Western and Hindustani classical music and the Qawwali style of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahman is noted for film songs amalgamating elements of these and other genres, layering instruments from different musical idioms in an improvisational style.

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