An evening with A.R. Rahman

MULTI-award-winning Indian composer A.R. Rahman has returned to Malaysia after a 11-year hiatus, to once again give his fans here a concert to remember.
His three-hour A.R. Rahman Infinite Love concert is set for this Saturday at Stadium Merdeka. It will feature his latest compositions and is expected to be as good or even better than his concert here in 2003.
"I get so much support from my fans in Malaysia," says Rahman, who is known for his worldwide hit Jai-Ho (from Slum Dog Millionaire).
In an exclusive interview with theSun, the singer, composer and musician from Chennai said he is excited to perform his latest creation for his fans here.
He is here fresh from his latest film project. He has just finished composing for the Disney film, Million Dollar Arm. "I took the project because it is based on a true story," he says.
Million Dollar Arm centres on American sports agent J.B. Bernstein who goes to India in 2008 to stage a televised nationwide competition called Million Dollar Arm. The winners will share a US$1 million prize and the chance to become a pitcher for a major baseball league team in the United States.
The eventual winners, 18-year-old Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, went on to become the first Indian nationals to sign a contract with a major American sports club.
The movie stars Mad Men's Jon Hamm as Bernstein, while Suraj Sharma (of Life of Pi) plays Rinku and Madhur Mittal (Slumdog Millionaire) is Dinesh.
Rahman has also finished composing for a 3D animated Tamil film, Kochadaiyaan, directed by Soundarya R. Ashwin, the daughter of Tamil film superstar Rajnikanth. Kochadaiyaan is due to be released in cinemas next month.
Despite winning a slew of top awards including the Grammy, Bafta, Golden Globe and Oscar, Rahman has remained true to himself.
Known for his humility, the composer says: "My success comes from God."
But his road to success did not come easy. At the young age of nine, Rahman lost his father, R.K. Shekhar, a film music composer. His family had to rent out his father's musical instruments as a source of income.
At 11, Rahman started playing musical instruments in an orchestra under the tutelage of composer M.K. Arjunan, a close friend of his father.
His big break came in 1992 when film director Mani Ratnam offered him the job of composing the soundtrack for his film, Roja. Rahman's innovative compositions for the film won both critical acclaim and commercial success. Since then, he has gone on to compose countless soundtracks for many Indian films.
Among his many hits are Chinna Chinna Asai from Roja, Chaiya Chaiya from Dil Se, and Radha Kaise Na Jale deom Lagaan.
In 2003, Rahman ventured out of Indian cinema to compose tracks for the Chinese action adventure film, Warriors of Heaven and Earth, directed by China's He Ping.
He also composed the music for a Bollywood-themed musical, Bombay Dreams, for London theatre, produced by the famous Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Four years later, in 2007, he did his first Hollywood soundtrack for the film, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, followed by Couples Retreat and Slumdog Millionaire.
The latter earned him a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards.
In his Oscar-acceptance speech, Rahman said: "I want to tell something in Tamil which I normally say after every award, which is, 'Ella puhazhum iraivanukke' (All praise to God)."
Like any artiste, he has his set of critics who insist that the composer is rehashing his tunes. However, the soft-spoken and ever-diplomatic Rahman prefers to let his music and hits speak for themselves.
Rahman believes that an artiste must learn to accept criticisms as well. "Only when you have critics, can you improve," he said.
Well said Rahman! What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
theSun's pick of A.R. Rahman's top 12 soundtracks
1. Maryan (Tamil)
Must Listen Track: Enga Pona Raasaa
2. Endhiran ( Tamil)
Must Listen Track: Kilimanjaro
3. Kadal (Tamil)
Must Listen Track: Nenjukkule

4. Slumdog Millionaire ( Hollywood)
Must Listen Track: Jai Ho
5. 127 Hours (Hollywood)
Must Listen Track: Touch of the Sun

6. Warriors of Heaven and Earth (Mandarin)
Must Listen Track: Warriors in Peace
7. Ellizabeth: The Golden Age (Hollywood)
Must Listen Track: Storm
8. Taal (Hindi)
Must Listen Track: Taal Se Taal
9. Lagaan (Hindi)
Must Listen Track: Radha Kaise Na Jale
10. Boys (Tamil)
Must Listen Track: Ale Ale
11. Dil Se (Hindi)
Must Listen Track: Chaiyya Chaiyya
12. Roja (Tamil)
Must Listen Track: Chinna Chinna Aasai (Rahman's first hit song)