Ilayaraja hails Rahman as “phenomenal”

Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 17:14 [IST]
Musician A R Rahman, who won the Oscar award for his score in Slumdog Millionaire, said that God's blessings not only helped him win the award but also collect them on behalf of his fellow Indian musicians.

Speaking at a felicitation function organised by the Cine Musicians Union and Trust in Chennai, Rahman said that his parents had sown the seed and that he has only reaped the harvest by winning the Oscars for Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire.

'Its the aspiration of all (the musicians)... God has selected me to collect the award on their behalf," Rahman said.

He repeated "Ella Pugazhum iraivanuke" (All glories go to the Almighty), which he has uttered at the Oscar awards ceremony. Rahman said that he had composed the music amidst a tight schedule and had finished his part in three weeks.

According to him, "The music has some impact in the movie and the Americans start smiling when they hear it."

He also commented that he wondered a few years back why Indian talent, albeit great, such as Ilayaraja, MSV, Naushad and others were not recognised at the Oscars. However he also said that they do not require such an award.

"But, God was seeing all this and so selected me to collect the award (this time)."

Urging websites not to compare between musicians like Ilayaraja and himself, Rahman said, "music–lovers should stop making such comments and using abusive languages."

Heaping laurels on Rahman, maestro Ilayaraja said that there are only a few who possess immense talent and go on to make it big. Rahman is a phenomenal musician. He added, "If MSV is Athara Sruthi, me and Rahman are Panchamams."

He added that Rahman has made every Tamilian proud by winning two Oscars in one year.

On his part, veteran director K Balachander, who had first introduced Rahman in his home production Roja, directed by Maniratnam remarked, "Rahman is a rare genius. When other music composers make castles with their music, Rahman builds monuments'.

Earlier veteran music composers M S Viswanathan, producer A V M Saravanan and playback singer S Janaki spoke on the occassion. Ilayaraja presented Rahman with a golden chain while popular director Harris Jayaraj presented a golden ring to the Mozart of Madras. The function was hosted by by S A Rajkumar and Abu Gabriel of the musicians trust.

Among those who took part included Shankar Ganesh, Deva, Srikanth Deva, Yuvanshankar Raja, Karthik Raja, Vijay Anthony, D Imman, T M Soundararajan, L R Eswari, Karthi, Chinmayi, Thippu, Chitra, Swarnalatha, Mano and drummer Shivamani.
User Comments
Ezhil 23 Mar 2009 11:22 pm
Enna Koduma Sir Idhu. Raja sir is ocean. Any how this appretiation is more than Oscar's.
Sathya 18 Mar 2009 04:10 pm
Atleast if someone cannot bare the success of ARR, let them not hurt others.He made our nation proud and he is so humble sometimes I cannot imagine if he is a Human with blood and bones, ARR answers his critics with his music.His credibility has reached out of proportion still people hate him ( same people were he has come from)when rest of world gives him standing ovation.Is this scarcity mentality?
Sathya 18 Mar 2009 04:01 pm
I don't understand why some of us always fill the blogs with hatred.Even after someone like ARR made it a point not to.You may love Illayaraja that dosent mean someone has to hate ARR, its just someone who is a retard does this.
Rodger 16 Mar 2009 10:22 am
You people have no other work other than comparison... Just get lost and appreciate good music who ever performs.. Everybody accepts that Illayaraja is amestro..@ the same time ARR is also a genius in himself for another generation of music lovers...so u just get lost with u r guru shishyan tatuvam and mind u r business..
Jhon Rego 12 Mar 2009 11:37 am
Raja sir when ever we liston ur musicu really we forget ourself feel like we are already reached in the heaven ur sooo great sir. Raja sir u must be in this tamil film industriss for 100 more years waht ever comes in the world noting like u sir sir always we respect u sir ur music is like its god has given u all the power to u direct ur blessed from god ... Raja sir we respect u sir
Jhon Rego 11 Mar 2009 11:58 am
What ever award A R Rahamn gets also its nothing like Illayaraja's music .. Illayaraja always great... all Illayaraja fans must know this Illayaraja is like a sea...... but in that rahman is like a boat any time the sea can drink a boat so so plss rahman sir we know all that waht u have in u that all u have taken from the great Illayaraja so Illayaraja is not ur boss ... he is ur father may be more then that so always u bow ur head on his feet... Raja sir ur always great gold always gold raja sir ur always gold
NARAYANAN 09 Mar 2009 09:37 am
RAJA SAID, MSV IS ADHARA SHADJAM, AM THE PANCHAMAM AND RAHMAN IS THE 'MEL SHADJAM' OR UPPER SHADJAM. MEANING U CANT GO TO UPPER SHADJAM WITHOUT BASE SHADJAM AND PANCHAM
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