While many artistes have called off their concerts in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, AR Rahman on going ahead with his tour to show that the country is ‘unstoppable’
AR Rahman’s Wonderment Tour kicks off on May 3 in Mumbai. Pics/Instagram
A music studio is probably where AR Rahman feels most at home, and the stage, a close second. The Mozart of Madras is preparing to take to the stage again with his highly anticipated Wonderment Tour, which kicks off at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on May 3. Even for someone as shy and quiet as him, the composer and singer’s excitement is palpable, when we meet him days ahead of the concert. We begin by asking him if he follows any dos and don’ts before getting on stage. “You need to save energy. You need to save your voice. I shut off. I meditate or try to be silent,” smiles the Oscar winner.
Tension, planning, rehearsals, sound check — all of that happens before. When it’s time to perform, the maestro turns inward, seeking stillness. But outside, it hasn’t been quiet. The country is mourning the loss of innocent lives in the recent Pahalgam attack. While many artistes, including Shreya Ghoshal and Arijit Singh, called off their concerts in the wake of the tragedy, Rahman remains resolute: the music must continue. “Bad people want the country to stop. We don’t want the country to stop. The country is unstoppable. God willing, we will make this a success for WAVES [World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit], for the government of India, the government of Maharashtra, and for all the people buying tickets,” he states.
But there is much noise on the work front too. Last week, the Delhi High Court ordered Rahman and filmmaker Mani Ratnam to pay Rs 2 crore for copyright infringement after their Ponniyin Selvan 2 (2023) song, Veera raja veera, was deemed ‘identical’ to the classical composition, Shiva stuti, by the Junior Dagar Brothers. When releasing the song, Rahman and his team had attributed it to a “traditional composition created by Narayana Panditacharya in the 13th century”. “Even at the risk of getting sued, we gave the credit, and we [got] in trouble for that.
But it was worth it. It gave a new vibe to the movie,” he says, before adding, “Ultimately, we don’t want to deny any credits. If you fear everything, you can’t do good things. You need courage.”
Courage and grace underpin Rahman’s professional life. He displayed grace last year, too, as his personal life came under scrutiny when his now-estranged wife Saira Banu and he announced their separation. Did the attention on his personal life over his work get to him? He reflects, “We are all human. Everybody goes through [difficult phases]. I went through my mother’s death, and my father’s death. It’s all part of life, and everybody has the right to express their views — but be respectful. That’s it.”
Does he ever get angry? The musician breaks into a smile at that, before saying, “Getting angry and not showing it is the art I’m learning slowly. Peace is a choice you make every morning. I want to be peaceful. I don’t want to be angry today.”
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Cities Rahman will travel to across India, US, and Canada with the Wonderment Tour
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