Rahman Se

Without Rahman

What turns a prolific film composer into a restrained one? From dozens of new soundtracks every year over two decades, to a single new score annually is a dramatic change of pace.

I sense panic among some fans. It will be a long wait for that one A.R. Rahman score, but it needn’t be an agonising one. Just think of the time you will finally have to revisit the Maestro’s lesser-known compositions. His output over two decades is immense. There is bound to be new music hidden away in a background score, or in new interpretations, or in new improvisations at numerous live performances of the past.

Here’s an example. The 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Concert featured Mausam & Escape as you have never heard before, with Strings, Clarinet and Rahman on the Grand Piano. How is this not new? How is this not as good as a new soundtrack?

I can’t imagine a year without Rahman’s music. But if this will free Rahman to re-imagine his earlier compositions and explore new avenues, I will gladly wait for that one annual score.

Our Mother Tongue is Music

A live rendition in three languages: “Anjali Anjali” in Telugu, “Dheeme Dheeme” and “Kal Nahin Ta” in Hindi, “Netru Illada” and “Katre” in Tamil, and Rahman all the way on his grand piano.

He Improvises

A glimpse of Rahman composing for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bombay Dreams.

Jaa Re Ud Jaa Re

It hurts knowing that the best song of Raavan isn’t in the soundtrack. A day after the music hit the stores, A. R. Rahman took to the stage with Gulzar at the film’s music launch function and surprised us all with a live rendition of an as-yet unreleased track, titled ‘Jaa Re Ud Jaa Re’:

Rahman later explained how this song came to be:

The song was a very last minute addition. I saw the movie and felt like adding a song to a particular situation in the film. The lyrics of the song were ready for a while, however I had yet to compose the tune. Meanwhile, we had already planned our music release for the 24th of April, so we didn’t want to delay or postpone that because of one song. The song may be later added to the album; however it will feature in the film.

I dearly hope this track will get released. As it stands, the soundtrack has life, but it lacks soul without ‘Jaa Re Ud Jaa Re’.

Lyrics and English Translation

My friend, Prateek Rungta, helped translate the lyrics for me because my Hindi is weak.

Jaa Re Ud Jaa Re (Go on, fly away)
Aye Ud Jaa Re (Go, fly away)
Rut Beet Gayi (The season has passed.)

Ab Is Shareer Ke Sire Khol De (Now open up (the ends of) this body)
Aur Goongi Aatma Ko Bol De (and ask (or speak to ) that deaf soul)
Wo Aasma Khula Hai Kyon? (Why is the sky open?)
Kyon Zameen Dang Hai? (Why is the earth so dull?)

Tune Toh Kaha Tha Ye (It was you who told me…)
Dono Ek Rang Hai (That they’re both of the same colour.)

Jaa Re Ud Jaa Re (Go on, fly away)
Aye Ud Jaa Re (Go, fly away)
Rut Beet Gayi (The season has passed.)