Music is magical and unpredictable

The last time AR Rahman created music for filmmaker Imtiaaz Ali was in Ranbir Kapoor starrer ‘Rockstar’. Rahman and Ali teamed up again for ‘Highway’ which released on Friday. Excerpts of the conversation:

Are you really as unsocial as everyone makes you out to be?

I’m shy, not unsocial. I have my close group of friends with whom I let my hair down. My work calls me to meet all kinds of people and I’m used to interacting with strangers but how I deal with them depends entirely on my mood and circumstances.

Everyone who comes into contact with you describes you in superlatives. What is you assessment of self?

I deliver my best but it is not fair to give me all the credit for my tunes. My team works equally hard and so does the director who projects my creation into a visual medium. My assessment of my work stems from their responses and from the approval of my filmmakers.

And how do you select your filmmakers?

It’s very tough and it’s becoming increasingly difficult with time. Earlier it was easier because I was not well-known and could rely on my instinct. Now, there are greater expectations from me so one is perpetually frightened of making a wrong choice. The easiest way out is to continue working with people you’ve already worked so there is a comfort zone like in the case of Mani Ratnam and now Ashutosh Gowariker and now Imtiaaz Ali.

Your compositions have an unmistakable stamp. Is that an asset?

I have to admit that it is not deliberate but if it still exists, I take it as my identity. As long as my identity does not come in the way of my versatility I’m okay. There is a difference in being characteristic and in being typecast.

What inspires you?

From life, from faith...I don’t know. I don’t think about it and don’t want to analyse too much. Sometimes reflection takes away from the natural process of journey. I guess it’s about faith and my faith stems from my religion. Nothing is possible without His will... neither my talent nor my innumerable compositions.

You seek peace in religion?

I surrender to my religion. It believes in one God. That is why I converted to Islam. Those were turbulent times for the family. My mother and I were seeking an anchor and we found it in Allah. By embracing a new religion I felt I had acquired a new identity.

Subhash Ghai once referred to you as mercury. Do you agree with the description?

I’m not sure what Subhashji was thinking when he said that. This must have been during ‘Taal’. He could not be referring to my temperament because I’m very calm and far from mercurial. He probably meant someone you cannot hold on to in which case he is right because even I don’t know why I do things and when.

They say you are terribly inaccessible, is this true?

Well, I’m attending this music release and I’m also talking to you right now, so I’m accessible (Laughs).

Producers say that if you want to work with Rahman you should be able to do two things: Park yourself in Chennai and be able to stay awake all night.

I’m not forcing anyone to work with me but if I live in Chennai, that’s where they will have to come. About keeping awake, I’m comfortable working in the nights but that does not mean that the filmmakers have to stay awake as well. Shyam

Benegal didn’t during Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose or even during ‘Zubeida’. He would be in the studios till midnight and then arrive next morning to listen to the compositions. But Subhash Ghai, because he is a music lover, wanted to wait and watch the creative process during ‘Taal’. So it’s their individual choice.

And how do you manage to catch up on your sleep?

I work through the night, starting at dusk and ending at dawn. The five o’ clock namaaz is a precious time. If I sleep at regular hours there is no way I’d be able to wake up for the morning namaz so I prefer to wrap up my recording at 5 am, offer my prayers and then retire to bed peacefully.