Jakarta, IO – “I was deeply moved when, two decades ago, the prestigious Time magazine in the first week of May 2004 called him the Mozart of Madras,” said Anas Alimi, founder of Prambanan Jazz Festival and Rajawali Indonesia.
“In my teenage years, to me, India was like the Bronx, filled with news of violence, natural disasters, a chaotic government and poverty,” he continued.
“Compare that with what Time described A.R. Rahman as. Just like Gershwin, Lennon, and McCartney, A.R. Rahman is an embodiment of harmony, quality, energy, and humility—a voice that is both personal and universal, devouring old forms and turning them into something very new,” Anas added.
Such powerful statements. Filled with optimism. And, of course, an accolade. Not some rusty expression, a wreckage, or faded hopes.
“Rahman is not the India that I know. His musical arrangement represents a totally different India. India that I know is the north India that is nowhere similar to Rahman’s India,” explained Anas.
Chennai, as Madras is referred to by Time, is dubbed the safest and most comfortable city to live in. A city that offers the best library and thousands of cinemas.
This city in southern India contributes the best quality of human resources.
If you hear of an Indian becoming the CEO of a prestigious technology company in the world, you may trace their genealogy up to the axis of Madras-Bangalore.
Bangalore is an area dubbed India’s Silicon Valley, another face of India. Like Bombay, like Madras. In such a city, a young, talented man from a Sufi Muslim family was born and grew up with the beautiful name Allah Rakha Rahman or AR Rahman.
Have you not heard of Rahman up until now? It indeed takes a person to listen to his composition before we realize the astonishing, deep work of A.R. Rahman.
Let’s name one. Chaiyya Chaiyya. Everyone would know this musical work. A composition that shook American Broadway and Europe. A masterpiece that was brought to life in a very popular Bollywood-style film, Dil Se, starring Shahrukh Khan.
No Broadway show features an unexpectedly engaging musical scene, performed attractively atop a swiftly moving train. But this is Bollywood, my friend!
Chaiyya Chaiyya is a Rahman (left to right) Tovic Raharja, Anis Alimi, and Dimas Ganjar Ramadhan. The fifth Porsche Destination Charging at Pullman Jakarta Central Park. composition that he has been dreaming of since he was very young. In the mind of a young Rahman, he would create a work that goes beyond language and culture. The song was written in Tamil, but it penetrated the world’s cultures and languages.
Chaiyya Chaiyya proves that. Despite the use of the Tamil language, the world enjoyed it.
Quoting Time, Rahman is an embodiment of Mozart’s brilliance, contributed by India. Rahman has achieved everything a musician could dream of. He nailed a Grammy Award for his monumental “Jai Ho.” At the same time, Rahman proudly secured an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
You heard that right! “Jai Ho,” the main soundtrack of the box office hit film “Slumdog Millionaire,” which triumphed in America and the UK, is Rahman’s work, one that clearly demonstrates his skill and genius. His brilliant musical sense has been with him since childhood, allowing him to study music at Oxford.
He devoured his skills into enticing musical artwork after his return from England. Entering the Indian film industry also means becoming a lyricist and composer and creating scores equally well.
“Having A.R. Rahman on the Prambanan Jazz stage is a dream come true—not just a music performance but also a significant cultural event,” explained Anas Alimi.
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This year’s Prambanan Jazz Festival will present Rahman’s talent and genius. Performing Asia’s bright light on stage against Indonesia’s historical masterpiece, Prambanan Temple, as the backdrop.
The CEO of PT TWC & Co. Promotor Prambanan Jazz, Febrina Intan, stated that having A.R. Rahman, with his distinctive musical characteristics, will undoubtedly enrich the cultural diversity displayed at Prambanan Temple.
Prambanan Temple is known as a UNESCO World Heritage cultural destination and a manifestation of Indonesia’s blend of cultures, especially for Yogyakarta and its surroundings. Combining the elements of Hindi and Javanese cultures upholds the values of conservation and education in developing tourism destinations, adding a unique charm for visitors. (des/ast)