Rahman - Over The Years

Edit: Updated on Jan 6, 2015 - the master's 49th birthday.

This is a Smart Playlist that I made highlighting the top rated A. R. Rahman songs in my collection.

It's not authoritative; I would have underrated some songs and hence they don't show up on this list and overrated some that are on the list. Worse, I don't have some even in my collection.

Putting that aside, the list just goes show how he has produced brilliant music consistently over the years.


Today is his birthday. Hope he continues to delight us ad infinitum!

P.S. : I would love to discuss additions and omissions, what should have been there and what shouldn't :)

Image taken from here.

Sadda Haq - Telugu lo

For the Telugu people who felt the lyrics of Rockstar were lost in translation (to English), here's an attempt at a Telugu translation.

The lyrics themselves are not very out of the ordinary, but they have this pop angst that make them catchy.

Sadda Haq from Rockstar (2011)

Singer: Mohit Chauhan

Composer: A R Rahman

Lyrics: Irshad Kamil

మీ ఈ లోకంలో
మనుషులు చేసే ప్రతీది తప్పే?
నేను కరెక్ట్ అనుకొని ఏది చేసినా మీరు తప్పంటారు. నేను తప్పైతే మరెవరు కరెక్ట్?
నచ్చినట్టు బతకడానికి కూడా మీ అందరినీ పర్మిషన్ అడగాలా?
అంటే, మీ అందరికి నా మీద నాకంటే ఎక్కువ హక్కుందా?

ఇది నా హక్కు, ఇక్కడే ఉంచు.

ఇలా పదే పదే మీరు నా బతికే అలవాటును ఎందుకు చంపుతున్నారు?
మర్యాదలు తెలియని వాడ్ని, ఆ గల్లీ వాడ్ని, సిగ్గు శరం లేనివాడని (అంటూ)..
మనసంటోంది ఈ పద్ధతులన్నీ బతకడానికి శిస్తు లాంటివి,
ఈ లోకం నీ శతృవు, ఎవ్వరు నీ వాళ్ళు కాదు, వీళ్ళని తగలబెట్టెయ్ అని
మనసంటోంది మనసుతో బతకాలి లేకపోతే చావాలి అని

ఓ ఎకో-ఫ్రెండ్లీ, nature ని రక్షించడానికి కంకణం కట్టుకున్నోడా!
నేను కూడా nature (కాదా?)
ఈ ఆచారాలతో, సమాజాలతో.. ఎందుకు నన్ను దూరం చేస్తావ్?
ఎందుకు నన్నిలా ముక్కలు చేస్తావ్?
నిజాయితీ గురించి పాఠాలు చెప్తావే? నువ్వు నిజం వినడానికి కూడా సిద్ధంగా లేనప్పుడు
ఎవడైనా నిజం చెప్తే న్యాయం, చట్టం అని మాట్లాడతావ్

నీ భయం
నీ ప్రేమ
నీ పొగడ్తలు
నువ్వే ఉంచుకో

ఇది (బతకడం) నా హక్కు, (దాన్ని) ఇక్కడే ఉంచు.

Thoughts on Rockstar

Karthik of Milliblog wrote that Aur Ho reminds him of Dil Se Re, it reminds me of the film (Dil Se) alright, but a different song, Satrangi Re. I like Satrangi more though (that wicked middle-eastern hook that plays throughout is unforgettable).

Rahman's voice is really suited to some songs, people say. To Naadaan Parindey, definitely. He really shines singing the chorus "Naadaa(n) Parindey ghar aaja" in that trance-like semi-monotonic voice. The layered guitar + percussion buildup from 2:30 ending at 2:52 (comes once more in the song, 4:12 to 4:41) ROCKS. The portions right after, sung by Mohit Chauhan, especially 4:55 to 5:10 are saccharine, for the lack of a better word. They remind me of some old song, can't remember which.

Tum Ko, and Tum Ho, as Karthik said, remind me of Yuvvraaj definitely- the mild percussions of Tu Hi Mera Dost and the violins of Dil Ka Rishta. I didn't like Tum Ko much, but Tum Ho because of the very haunting hum 'Ooo oohohoo.. Tum Ho'. Mohit Chauhan really nails it.

Like everyone, I thought Sadda Haq would be anthemic after addictedly listening to the promo, with a lot of verses that go with 'O eco-friendly' and 'Kyun sach ka sabak'. But it turned out to be anthemic in a different way, by being free-flowing, completely unstructured, with no verse-chorus-verse template except for the Sadda Haq part (which builds up amazingly each time!) and power guitars by Orianthi (what the hell does her name mean?).  Phani Kalyan (a composer and ARR fan) and me had this discussion about the same.

Having fallen deep in love with Aaromale, I wished and wished and wished - why won't Rahman produce ten more like these? Prayers answered. Jo Bhi Main is one. Start to end psychedelic. What I like in the song:

• The roving guitars which kick in with the percussion at 0:48 and lurk far in the background, only revealing themselves when listened to intently (preferably in headphones).
• The simple yet haunting tune
• The flawless lead guitar
• The "O yeah yeah" chant that lends the song its psychedelia.

I was certain I was going to dislike Kattiya Karoon right from the time I heard it in the promo. It had no business being in a film with rock in its title. After a couple of listens, I changed my mind. The last variation of the 'Sari ratein kattiya karoon' was nice, and when the guitar kicks in, the song takes a turn to goodness.

I didn't like Sheheir Mein initially as songs that try to be funny/satirical/cool generally suck tunewise. This one too didn't seem to be any different, with Karthik trying to be overtly 'correct' and Mohit Chauhan trying to sound cool and rebellious. But it has grown on me.

Kun Faya Kun is fine and gets better when the guitar kicks in. Hawa Hawa and Phir Se Ud Chala are, well, ok. Suresh here explains why he loves the latter.

All said, the killer tracks for me are Jo Bhi Main, Sadda Haq and Naadaan Parindey. They make the album.

- Dhruv

Rahman Song of the Year

I was listening to Aaromale a while ago and was thinking.. "This is clearly the Rahman song of the year for me.. What was it last year? Dil Gira Dafatan by far.. What was it the year before?".. and I decided to put together a tiny list - my favorite Rahman song each year since 1992. Here we go.

1992 - Paruvam Vaanagaa (Roja)

1993 - Chiku Buku Raile (Gentleman)

1994 - Andamaina Premarani (Premikudu)

1995 - Urike Chilaka (Bombay) 

1996 - Hello Doctor (Prema Desam)

1997 - Only You (Vande Mataram)

1998 - Dil Se (Dil Se)

1999 - Valu Kanuladaana (Premikula Roju)

2000 - Sakhiya (Sakhi)
2001 - Mitwa (Lagaan) /

2002 - Desh Mere (The Legend of Bhagat Singh)

2003 - Maro Maro (Boys

2004 - Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera (Swades) / Jana Gana Mana (Yuva)

2005 - Mayiliragae (Anbe Aaruyire)

2006 - Roobaroo (Rang De Basanti)

2007 - Ponmagal Vandaal (Azhagiya Tamizh Magan)

2008 - Azeem O Shaan (Jodhaa Akbar) / O Saya (Slumdog Millionaire)

2009 - Dil Gira Dafatan (Delhi 6)

2010 - Aaromale (Ye Maaya Chesave)

It's a cruel list.