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What should I write about a person about whom nothing has been written before? What new information can be gained about a person whose career has been discussed, taking into account every tiniest detail? What should you do now that everyone knows everything there is to know about him? What else can you add to what has already been said about AR Rahman? It turns out there are many. On his 56th birthday, we had a conversation with Vishal Chandrashekhar, the brilliant album composer of Sita Ramam and Jil Jung Jak, who is also a student at AR Rahman's KM Music Conservatory. The taciturn, era-defining musician has been quietly giving back to society.
The conservatory's pilot class included Vishal Chandrashekhar. The conservatory opened in 2008. Vishal had been writing songs before joining AR Rahman's class, but he took the one-year course to learn more about music. My teacher was AR Rahman. In terms of music theory and everything else, he provided us with a wonderful setting and faculty that allowed us to excel. Students with varying degrees of strengths can be found in KM. Even though I had been writing music, my time there as a student helped me get better at it.
According to Vishal, the moment he presented his research to Rahman was one of his life's high points. This took place following my KM graduation. As I worked on my research paper, I realized how well Rahman had organized the course because it helped me with my work. So, when I emailed him at 11.50 p.m. to tell him what I had done, he said "it's good" at 11.55 p.m.—in less than five minutes. His action stood out most of all because it was his way of giving back to society. That response is still dear to Vishal.
Vishal Chandrashekhar responds, "See, it is something not anyone can imagine doing," when asked to elaborate on how the conservatory is AR Rahman's means of "giving back to society." For instance, I am recording with numerous violinists. Additionally, they are all older than 45. As musicians, we have come to the realization that the current generation of string players is gradually disappearing. He is bringing in a lot of low-income students who have a good musical sense and teaching them for free with KM. Very few people are aware. Because I was there, I know.
"We won't feel the impact of all of this now," he continues. However, in the future, say in ten years, we will realize it. He is creating an orchestra similar to any Budapest or Macedonian one that can compete with international orchestras. I had the opportunity to record Sita Ramam in Budapest and Chennai. We and they have drastically different musical understandings. By developing new talents who are well-suited to both Indian and Western music, Rahman is bridging that gap. After a decade, you can see a lot more of what he has been doing. He has already created so many opportunities for musicians here.
“We say Ilaiyaraaja and AR Rahman are all like a vast sea, but after my research and working experience, they are like the ocean,” says Vishal as he concludes. Their music is so much more than we know.