A prescription from our boss

Sufism and Scottish pipes are AR Rahman’s musical recipe for his students

If you have heard the score of Jodhaa Akbar at the dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer, you will know why AR Rahman has named his new music institute, KM Music Conservatory. It has been named after the great mystic.

The institution is not intended to cater to the needs of the film industry, though this may be its first objective. The conservatory is also expected to add a new dimension to popular Indian music.

The composer wants this music to acquire a global dimension with the help of a host of world-renowned mentors he has lined up to teach in his school with a difference. Also a devotee of the Sufi saint of Nagore, Kandoori Meeran Baba, Rahman is hoping to weave the magic of mysticism and music not only for his Indian following but also for his worldwide fans.

“We are a nation of more than one billion people. India is great in cricket, in IT (information technology), but what is our world standing in music?” he asked.

India, he noted ruefully, accounted for just 0.6 per cent of the world’s popular music sales.

India’s music industry is worth Rs 7 billion and has suffered losses of up to Rs.20 billion over the past five years. 
Rahman asked, “We are a great musical nation, but do we look at music as a profession?” Unveiling the plans for the conservatory, he answered his own question, “No, not yet.”

Article Courtesy: DNAINDIA

Forerunner to a world university?

'If music be the food of love, play on', said the bard. The music wizard of India A R Rahman has decided to play on. This music Director and Composer is taking a new role, that of a Founder and Principal of a Music Conservatory, KM. He declines to clarify as to what these two alphabets stood for. He simply says this close to his heart. For him music is the passion flowing endlessly from his heart.

India has been, from time immemorial, the nurturing home of music. However, we are inward looking. The time has now come for us to open up. Already, Musicians like Dr L Subramaniam have been deeply involved in fusion music an amalgam of Indian and Western music. A new form of music is already evolving in the world arena.

It is a pity that we don't have a symphony orchestra at home. Rehmans and Ilayarajas are compelled to go abroad to create orchestras of high quality. When the world is shrinking and music is becoming more and more universal in its appeal across cultures, in its language, in melody, in harmony, in rhythm, we have to boost the level of musical proficiency which the emerging wider culture demands.

Let's hope that A R Rahman's KM Music conservatory will substantially contribute to this end and who knows it might be a percusser toa World University. Let's wait to listen to that new melody. After all, Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter.