His journey began 25 years ago when he composed music for Mani Ratnam’s ‘Roja’. Ever since, the duo often got together and created masterpieces. Mani Ratnam with his brilliant screen play and AR Rahman with his soulful music is one combination you should never miss.
Never do we get to see a music director receive both the Filmfare award and a National award for his first movie. Rahman did just that and blew the records with his first and yet marvelous creation- ‘Roja’.
‘Roja’ was more than just a masterpiece. It was a beautiful work of art. It is no wonder Rahman’s work in Roja was amongst the Top 10 Soundtracks of all time listed by Time magazine. Our “Chinna Chinna Aasai”s got fulfilled hearing Rahman’s “Pudhu Velai Mazhai” and “Rukumani Rukumani.” Love was taken to a whole new level with the somber love song, “Kadhal Rojave.” However, ‘Roja’ was just the first stop for the Rahman-Ratnam freight train.
‘Thiruda Thiruda’ was their next movie together in 1993. Though it did not strike as well as ‘Roja’, it still had some lovely songs like ‘Virapaandi Kotaiyile’ and ‘Chandralekha’.
Bombay came up later in 1995 and saw a huge level of success. It earned lots of awards not only for the amazing soundtrack, but also for the beautiful story. Featuring songs like ‘Kannalane’ and ‘Uyire’ the movie became everyone’s favourite.
Their next movie together was ‘Iruvar’ which was Aishwarya Rai’s first film. The movie featured the lovely composition, ‘Narumugaye’. Dil Se which released in 1998 was another spectacular hit of the duo. The movie had a compelling story line and Rahman’s music went along with it perfectly. ‘Dil Se’ was originally Hindi and was also dubbed into Tamil and Telugu.
It was in 2002, India saw the greatest movie ever to be created, ‘Alaipayuthe’. The beautiful movie appealed to all the romantics within us. Alaipayuthe was an epitome of simplicity and elegance. The movie had a unique freshness in it and attracted everyone with its magic. Songs like ‘Pachai Nirame’, ‘Snehithane’ and ‘Kadhal Sadugudu’ drew us all in.
Since then the road was pure success. Their rawness within them. Kannathil Muthamital released in 2002 was one such example. “Other directors tell me to add something when I offer a simple tune. With Mani, I can do what I like. ‘Vellai Pookal’, with just a guitar and a voice, is one example,” said Rahman in an interview.
Movies like Ayutha Ezhuthu, Guru, Raavanan and Kadal came in the following years. They all held the same Rahman-Ratnam spark in them. Every single minute of the movies and every single song they had was a treat. They had a strong visual appeal and were filled with entrancing songs.
In the recent two years, we saw a rather different Rahman-Ratnam combination. O Kadhal Kanmani, released in 2015 was yet another romance film of Ratnam’s with a modern edge. The movie was made to capture the youths. O Kadhal Kanmani sported a modern relationship and beautiful songs like “Mental Manadhil,” “Parandhu Sellava” and “Aye Sinamika.” Nobody could get over the cuteness of Dulquer Salman and Nithya Menon amidst the Rahman-Ratnam magic. Once again this year, the duo made the daring Kaatru Veliyidai and blew everyone’s minds. Another fresh couple and breezy songs like “Azhagiye Marry Me” and “Saarattu Vandiyila” made us all go weak in the knees.
The world can never again find a great pair like Mani Ratnam and AR Rahman. When the two join together, art is created. Neither one of them overpowers their role in their movies and is the perfect complimentary for each other. Rahman once said, “I wasn’t sure myself why I accepted Roja. I was offered ₹25,000 (US$390) for it, a sum that I could make in three days composing ad jingles. I think it was the prospect of working with Mani that enticed me.” Well, aren’t we all very thankful that he did take up the offer?