* Rahman’s first authorized conversational biography written by Nasreen Munni Kabir
MUMBAI: Music maestro and two-time Oscar winner AR Rahman launched his biography, AR Rahman: The Spirit of Music, here in the presence of his family and film makers, Mani Ratnam, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Ram Gopal Verma, Subhash Ghai, Imtiaz Ali, Govind Nilhani and from music industry T-Series’s Bhushan Kumar, Javed Akhtar, Udit Narayan, and Sivamani on Wednesday.
This conversational biography, written by Nasreen Munni Kabir and published by Om Books International, provides insights into Rahman’s private life and his music. It also has photographs from Rahman’s personal archives as well as a CD of music composed by AR Rahman for free distribution with the first edition.
Related Post
Nasreen Munni Kabir has made over 80 documentaries on Indian cinema for channel 4 TV, UK. In 2005, she produced a two-part documentary on Shahrukh Khan, The Inner and Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan. She has also recently published a coffee table book called In Search of Lata Mangeshkar, based on a series of interviews she did with the legendary playback singer.
During the launch, a nostalgic Rahman revealed, I can never forget the time when I had no money to buy any equipment. I needed four lakh rupees and I didn’t have that money. But my mother immediately sold off my sister’s jewellery and gave me the money…. Rahman added, I appreciate Munni for having the patience to sit with me and for wanting to do this….
Nasreen said, The idea of writing this book was to find a way of creating a conversational biography that would record Rehman’s thinking, an account of his life until now, and some understanding of his craft and his personality.”
Nasreen said, I chose Rahman not because he is famous, but because he is talented and more than that, a good human being. Having known Rahman for all these years, I have realized that he has a lot of pressures and tremendous success, but he wears his success lightly — he is still very humble about it and the people he respected and regarded then are the same people he respects and regards even now….
Mani Ratnam, who gave Rahman his break with Roja in 1991, which immediately established the young musical genius in the world of film music direction, and whom Rahman still addresses as Mani Sir…, said, I have known Rahman for many years now, and I am very happy that this book has been written, particularly because Rahman himself is a man of few words….
It is indeed a rare honour to publish this book,… said Ajay Mago, Publisher, Om Books International. AR Rahman’s journey, like that of a great artist, is one that moves and inspires. Nasreen Munni Kabir has recorded this journey over the last eight years….
