It’s time for some music on South Asia Wired. Starting today, SAW begins with its first season of South Asia Beat- a musical radio show featuring raga, fusion and folk rock. It’s going to be a musically packed show where we’ll get you the best of Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Nepali, Bangladeshi and Afghani rock bands, singers and other musicians.
On our first edition of South Asia Beat, we’re featuring one of the most acclaimed musician from the subcontinent: A. R. Rahman.
Rahman’s musical journey began while he was still a child. He started training early mastering Indian instruments like the harmonium as well as western ones such as guitar and piano. Growing up, he worked under many South Indian music directors as a keyboard player. And in his spare time, he converted his backyard into a small recording studio where he produced jingles and scores for short documentaries.
But it was that one jingle he brewed for a south Indian filter coffee advertisement, which got him his big break into the Indian film industry. He shot to fame in 1992, with his first film score Roja; and since then there’s been no looking back.
Rahman’s compositions however were not limited to Bollywood. The Airtel’s ring tone (the Indian Mobile network) and many Indian television channels like NDTV India feature the maestro’s signature tunes. His remixed versions of the freedom song Vande Materam and the Indian National anthem became instant classics.
He also composed and sang the song, Pray for me brother: an anti-poverty anthem, highlighting the UN millennium goals in 2007. And most recently, he’s composed the Tamil Anthem for the World Tamil classical conference held in June this year.
Jai Ho: the song from the film Slum Dog Millionaire won Rahman the Oscars and opened the doors to Hollywood. These days he’s performing to packed concerts on his world tour: Jai Ho Concert. More details here: http://www.arrahmanlive.com/concert/
Click on the link below and find out what 7-year-old Rahman junior -Ameen - is singing to Daddy’s groovy Afro-Caribbean rhythm. That’s on our first edition of South Asia Beat.
on Jul 16th, 2010 at 11:21 am
hi…
South Asians can hear their music stories from the “voice” of Europe
on Jul 22nd, 2010 at 2:39 pm
Hoh!
Welcome to RNW’s “South Asia’s (Heart) Beat”. Expecting real aroma of hearing & Taste of grooming. “The First Heart Beating”, is by the “Maestro” Mr.A.R.Rahman, & the Junior A.R.R.Ameen. Advance congratulations & Thanks too.
K.Jameel Ahmed, Vizhuppuram, Tamizhnaadu, India.