Make way for Rahman ...

Indian movies are known for their song and dance routines, which usually have no relation to the plot. Usually a movie features 3-4 love songs, so dont even bother to look for the love theme or any other theme for that matter. By early 90s, due to lack of good composers and innovation in movie scores, the music featured either mundane 'indian' music or disco-culture, borrowed from hollywood. But with A.R.Rahman's arrival, it was all about to changed.
Rahman is the FIRST composer who made me sit up and take notice of orchestral music. He combines Indian classical music with western music, not just in instrumentation but in compositions too, providing a fresh sound. Here I present the journey of Rahman scores over the years with themes written for various movies. Breaking away from the usual sounds of film music, classically trained Rahman, provides refreshing classical-based contemporary music for his movies.

01 - 1992 Yeh Haseen Vadiyan (Instrumental) [Roja]
The first cue is an instrumental version of the song "Yeh Haseen Vadiyan" from the movie, Roja. Though Roja didnt contain any theme/instrumental track, the songs formed integral part of the narrative, driving the story further. This love song, within seconds transports you to the mystical himalayas and soars with the love theme. This is the first cue which made me notice instrumental music and thus needs a special place on the compliation.

02 - 1995 Theme [Bombay]
This is and probably will remain the best composition of Rahman. The only theme track released on the "Bombay" album, opens the main theme with soft flute backed by tingling bells, but soon the strings section raises the emotional theme to new heights. The theme has been used in other movies too, like, "Fire" and more recently in "Lord of War".

03 - 1997 Vande Mataram Revival [Maa Tujhe Salaam]
Having made a special place in music industry for himself, Rahman released his first album, "Vande Mataram" to honour the national song and 50 yrs of Independence. The classical piece got a complete makeover with saxophone, guitars and etheral choral performing the national song with angelic beauty.

04 - 1998 Theme [1947 Earth]
Deepa Mehta, the controverisal movie directional, used the "Bombay theme" for her movie "Fire", but asked Rahman to provide original score for her second movie, "1947: Earth" in her trilogy. Hence, leading to this stiring piece. Later, Rahaman and Mychael Danna would work on "Water", the last movie of the trilogy.

05 - 1999 Beats of Passion [Taal]
"Taal" can said to be the most successful commerial movie score by Rahman. The movie required traditional folk music as well as modern contemprary music to trace the musical journey of the main character. As usual, Rahman excelled with class here too. The cue provided here is the percussion based cue used as the main title for the movie.

06 - 2001 Once upon a time in India [Lagaan]
"Lagaan", the only Indian movie, other than "Mother India" (1957), nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign-Language Film category, featured some grt compositions to represent the British era in Indian. The cue featuring French horns, strings, bass, percussion, sitar and chorus perfectly reflect the struggle of the villagers.

07 - 2001 Waltz for a romance [Lagaan]
Another delightful track from "Lagaan". A waltz based on western classical music, featuring the usual suspects: strings, bass and flute.

08 - 2002 Bombay Awakes [Bombay Dreams]
Andrew Lloyd Webber impressed by Rahman's unique style, hired him to compose his maiden stage production "Bombay Dreams". The play was well received in England and opened him to new vistas in Hollywood. Rahman, along with the Finnish folk music band Värttinä, went on to composed the music for "The Lord of the Rings theatre production", which opened in Toronto in 2006.

09 - 2003 Main Titles [Warriors Of Heaven And Earth]
Chinese director He Ping, tapped on Rahman's influence in Asia and gave him the scoring duties for the Chinese film "Warriors of Heaven and Earth". The impressive ethnically charged music performed on chinese, indian and arabic instruments, expanded Rahman's global influnce. A great composition indeed.

10 - 2004 Cyclist's Rhythm [Meenaxi; Tale of 3 Cities]
11 - 2004 Potter's Village [Meenaxi; Tale of 3 Cities]
Noted painter M.F.Hussain's film "Meenaxi: Tale of 3 Cities" is a creative, artistic love story of a woman, set in three cities Hyderabad (India), Jaisalmer (India) and Prague (Italy). The creative movie was well scored by Rahman, but the album featured only two tracks, which can be seen as an exercise in percussion.

13 - 2005 Main Theme [Kisna; The Warrior Poet]
"Kisna: The Warrior Poet", set in the India of the tumultuous 1930's, drew inspiration from various epic love stories from hollywood and that of Indian God, Krishna. In true hollywood fashion, Rahman was asked to provide the main theme, background score and the theme songs (two of them, one each for Indian and international audience!!) The movie failed on many levels, but Rahman's music wasnt one of them. The gorgeous theme is introduced on flute here.

14 - 2005 Age Of Innocence (Piano vs. Flute) [Kisna; The Warrior Poet]
This cue underscores the budding friendship between the lead pair with the flute representing the village boy, Kisna and the piano representing Catherine, daugter of the British Governor. The cue balances Indian and Western sensiblities better than the whole movie!!

15 - 2005 Kisna Theme on Flute [Kisna; The Warrior Poet]
16 - 2005 Kisna Theme for Chorus [Kisna; The Warrior Poet]
The theme attains full power when chorus and percussion kick in. A highly hummable memorable tune, excellently done.

17 - 2005 Netaji Theme [Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose; The Forgotten Hero]
18 - 2005 Afghanistan Theme [Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose; The Forgotten Hero]
19 - 2005 Afghanistan Theme (alternate) [Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose; The Forgotten Hero]
20 - 2005 Emilie [Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose; The Forgotten Hero]
21 - 2005 Hitler, Germany [Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose; The Forgotten Hero]
22 - 2005 U-Boat, Underwater Battle [Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose; The Forgotten Hero]
23 - 2005 Emilie's Theme [Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose; The Forgotten Hero]
24 - 2005 March of the Army (Kadam Kadam) [Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose; The Forgotten Hero]
25 - 2005 War [Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose; The Forgotten Hero]
26 - 2005 Desh Ki Mitti [Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose; The Forgotten Hero]
27 - 2005 Bose [Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose; The Forgotten Hero]
Over years of writing only the main theme, finally, "Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero" provided the chance for Rahman to write a full fledge orchestral score. Rahman gave excellent themes for various characters (Netaji, Emili) and places (Afganistan, Germany) along with scoring the battle sequences (war, underwater battle). The actual marching song of Bose's army, 'Kadam Kadam Barhayae Ja' gets a thrilling orchestal work out in 'March of the Army (Kadam Kadam)'. 'Desh Ki Mitti' and 'Bose' are cues adapted from the songs composed for the movie by Rahman himself. These cues conclude the excellent album with exceptional emotional beauty.

Please note that this album is my own compliation of my favourite Rahman cues, the names of few of them have been tampered with ;). As a Indian composer, he has written many great themes but they are stuck forever in the excellent songs. I can only hope that the Indian Movie Music grows up to produce and release future scores and re-recorded the ones which started it all.

To Rahman !!