With the year coming to an end, the year’s-best lists have been invariably sprouting in every field. So I present here my list of top 10 songs by A R Rahman this year. It has been a crazy year for Rahmaniacs. Rahman, who gives just around 10 songs every year, has provided us with more than five dozen tracks that we can even hold an album countdown. Well, anyway, here is my top 10.

Ones that missed by an inch: Behka (Ghajini), Jiya Se Jiya (Connections), Yaar Di Deedar Di (Big Band Theme), Inn Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein (Jodhaa Akbar) and Kahin To (Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na). And now…

10. Dil Ka Rishta (Yuvvraaj)

Rahman gives a slap to all those “simple orchestrations” and “peppy numbers”. You know what you are in for right from the initial chorus of “Passion and Aggression”. Vintage Rahman.

9. Taxi Taxi (Sakkarakatti)

At last, Kollywood has a Pathshaala of its own. Let’s face it. Which other song has had the guts to mix four languages and at the same time provide absolutely new sounds? 


8. Main Boloon… Tu Bole (Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na)

I know I’m going against the popular opinion of Aditi, but Rahman’s rendition of the best jazz in some time is but a revelation. And the instruments, the instruments… 

7. Ishq Ada Hai (Male version) (Ada)

Cranky, non-conforming and avant-garde. Rashid Ali’s unconventionality interspersed with Nino Rota-esque interludes has enough fuel to propel it to the top 10 of the year.

6. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Theme

This sleeper may not find its way to many Top 10’s but you know you have been immediately struck once you hear “Aasamaan…” following the fascinating low-key chorus.  

5. Mausam & Escape (Slumdog Millionaire)

“O, Saya” may be a miracle on the screen, but my pick of the album remains Mausam & Escape. This is probably the only instrumental in my list, but its instrumentation speaks much more than words.  

4. Marhaba Ya Mustapha (Al Risalah)

Rahman’s single for the album is perhaps the most underrated song of the year. More spiritual than any of his Sufi songs, Marhaba Ya Mustapha is a simple, unadorned gem where you instantly realize how Rahman has sung it “Dil Se…”

3. Manmohini (Yuvvraaj)

Rahman re-creates the magic of “Dheem Ta Daare” (Thakshak) and Vijay Prakash’s masterful crooning is just what the album required. The last minute of the song has to be heard to be believed.

2. Meherbaan (Ada)

Vellai Pookkal for the new generation. Least spoken song of the year, primarily due to the film’s dormancy. One of the few Rahman songs that is an instant classic. This is one song I wish I can sing properly. 

1. Khwaja Mere Khwaja (Jodhaa Akbar)

Make way for the Raja, Make way for the Khwaja. Striking early in the year, Khwaja Mere Khwaja has crept into my arcane Rahman Top 10 and has possibly even dethroned Piya Haji Ali. Special mention for the transcendental instrumental version that just sweeps you off your feet. Magic written all over. More than a song – an experience.

I am writing this after being painfully prevented from listening to a Rahman song fully for longer than I could bear. I am not begging the readers to buy me an Ipod. I am just asking you to patiently read on what follows.

We all know that mobile phones have transformed from a status symbol to a bare necessity. No complaints about that! And we also know that, despite the growth in mobile phone consumers, the mobile phone etiquette is lagging far behind. It is not about that too. It is about the ring tones that jolt people around more than the owner, as planned by the manufacturer. I am addressing only a part of the bigger issue. All social workers and responsible intellectuals excuse me for blowing matters out of proportion. I am a sincere advocate of no Rahman compositions for ring tones. The reason is simple. All compositions of his are divine and enchanting. These mobile phone buggers totally disregard the surrounding listeners/fan and just cut it short by picking the call. Worse of the lot are those who have missed-call friends, who cut the call short from the other end and mind you they dont stop it with one attempt!! By laws of freedom in any politically free country, using ones belongings is ones own wish. I respect this, and agree with them till this point. My humble request, is “please change the damn ringtone!”

I am circumspect about the reach of my blog and the credibility people associate with it. So, I plan the first phase of this movement to have a humble beginning here. At the next phase I ‘ll coerce some friends to put a lot of links and references to increase popularity. I hope all Rahmaniacs unite!

P.S:  This movement only aims at misuse of Rahman ringtones, as perceived by the author and other like-minded people. Mobile users can continue downloading tones (legally), and listening to it whenever they feel like.

P.P.S: All readers can choose to take this blog lightly and have a laugh at the author’s obsession. But please keep away from Rahman for ringtones.

“Who is your role model?”.A typical teacher-to-class question.We were asked this question too and almost the whole class chorused with perfect coherence “Mahatma Gandhi” or “Sachin Tendulkar” (A typical class-to-teacher answer. I mean nobody would dare to deviate and say “Mumtaz” or “Mallika Sherawat” ie) be truthful). Personally I liked Gandhiji and Sachin very much. But were they actually my role models? I wasn’t sure. So till recent times I was that “spoilt brat” sans an idol.

Well,as a teenager living in Tamil Nadu meant I would hear a lot of AR Rahman on TV and radio. Most songs was awesome and all of us enjoyed it. The best aspect of his music was variety. Naturally he became my favorite. He dominated Indian music throughout the decade and even now. An indisputable champ even now to say the least. I didn’t know much about this Genius till about a couple of years ago. It was through orkut that I came to know about his early life. How tragedy struck their family when he was about 9years old, how and why he converted to Islam,what made him pursue music as a career.

We’ve heard of so many rags-to-riches stories, all very inspiring. But a more serious insight into this one made me wonder how many of us when in such financial crisis would pursue our true passion, what we love,what we desire?? Rahman could have easily become one of those infinite engineers or doctors and led an ordinary secure life. How many of us would risk studying music in Oxford under such family circumstances? Whether it was his commitment, talent or religious ways in life that made him what he is now, he seems tireless and humble to the core. One never gets tired of his music even those 1992 ones.

So finally, I can safely say I found myself a role model a differnet one and I’m proud to be his fan. Hail Rahman!

The wait is over. Huge start to the project, lots of opposition from historians, religious controversies, strenuous shoot, massacre at the editing table…It has finally seen the light of the day. And how? Released on the Valentine’s day, the theme of the day blends with the theme of the movie. After having seen how inconsistent Ashutosh Gowariker’s pacing can be in Swades, I started the movie with, I must confess, low expectations. At the end, I had got more than I thought I would.

The theme of Jodhaa Akbar, as one might be tempted to think, is not of Akbar’s ambitions and heritage. Rather, it’s about his softer side that made him fall in love with a totally alien princess and the consequent changes in his political outlook. People tend to equate length to boredom. Gowariker has known this truly and woven a script with Haider Ali that never sags for most part of the movie. Lots of convoluted subplots that are characteristic of the Mughal era definitely aid the movie’s pacing. Special mention should be made to the lyrics and dialogues that not only keep Hindi and Urdu in their native form, but also are made accessible to the common man.

Cinematography for a historic film, obviously needs to be grand and Kiiran Deohans takes care of that. He manages to capture the might of war as well as the strained relationship between the lead pair with utmost care. Gowariker has borrowed cinematic tools from Kurosawa and has used it well especially early on in the movie. However, the editing of the movie leaves a lot to be desired. The editing not only avoids us from sinking into some scenes but also fails in covering up some weak shots especially the fencing scenes. A R Rahman has already delivered the album of the year with Khwaja Mere Khwaja and Inn Lamho Ke Daman Mein being the picks of the album.

Hrithik Roshan, the Leonardo Di Caprio of Bollywood breathes life into Jalaluddin Mohammad and has matured from a being lover boy into a semi-veteran who can play characters with panache. This person is going to be “up there” in the years to come. Aishwarya Rai may not have equaled Hrithik but definitely has done what she was asked to do. The chemistry between these two carries the movie providing both comic relief and script pace. Sonu Sood too has done a wonderful job.

The movie has its own shortcomings with a “too-cinematic” last 20 minutes and weak stunt choreography. Probably the better versions are out there on the cutting table! Jodhaa Akbar is definitely no Mughal-e-Azam, but it does manage to capture the attention of the new millennium.

Verdict: