Rahman, from the heart

Chennai-based writer Krishna Trilok is the authorised biographer of musical maestro AR Rahman.The book, tentatively titled AR Rahman: The Man in the Music, is nearing completion and will be released in 2018

CHENNAI: In April, an ‘unplanned’ email by 24-year-old city-based writer Krishna Trilok, son of filmmakers Sharada and Trilok Nair, to the Oscar recipient AR Rahman, changed the course of his life. The young author who previously came out with a fantasy novel Sharikrida is now the authorised biographer of the music maestro and, in a tete-a-tete he walks us through the journey, about the book tentatively titled AR Rahman: The Man in the Music. Excerpts follow.

What prompted you to write this biography and how did he react to the idea?
It was very sudden. I admire him and have grown up listening to his music. I sent him a mail about how he was now getting into producing and directing movies (He has turned writer and producer for the musical 99 Songs and has also stepped into direction with a virtual reality film, Le Musk) and becoming something more than a musician. His life has always been about turning points and this was yet another one. So, I posed the idea — to focus on this phase of his life, compare it with things that have happened before and also about where he was going next. He said he loved the idea and was on board!

While numerous interviews and few biographies have already been written about him, what fresh insights and new facets do you plan to bring in the book?
Yes, there are existing pieces on his life and career. We use the term biography to simplify it. But, it’s a lot more than that. He is always seen as a person with an extraordinary persona, but, what is in the heart of the person behind all these music, awards and phenomenal talent is what I wanted to explore. His views and thoughts on several relevant things, how despite being an extraordinary person, he is as ‘regular’ as anyone, and how this has been a key to his success, is something I wanted to bring to the fore.

How did you manage to catch up with him amid his hectic schedule?
I didn’t have to travel with him to concerts. I met him in his studio in Chennai, travelled along with him to Mumbai, had meals with him, spoke to people he has been associated with, and had conversations when he was most relaxed. I tried not to ask questions that have been asked to him probably a thousand times. It was more of conversations, learning from him and knowing more about him. Did you know that he has an amazing sense of humour? And his one liners are extremely funny! You don’t expect AR Rahman to crack you up with one liners. He also watches comedy clips while travelling in his car and takes brilliant photographs. When he’s travelling, he randomly stops the car, takes pictures of something he sees and edits it in his phone. So, my journey in meeting him and talking to him has been staggered. It kept happening in bits and pieces, but I have learnt so much!

Since your parents have been acquainted with him for so long, did those unofficial conversations come handy?
Well yes, though I wasn’t acquainted directly with him, I have heard about him and his works from my parents. So, there was a sense of familiarity of that and of also being a Rahman fan. Also, it’s my understanding that he wanted someone other than a journalist or a ‘biographer’ to interview him. There are attributes like humble, spiritual and calm that people associate him to. But, I wanted to get to the root of it.

Were your interactions with people associated with Rahman planned?
Some were purely serendipitous. I would be in his studio and there will be a swirl of activity. People would come and go and that’s where I got a lot of interesting anecdotes. And of course some were planned. People like Bharat Bala, Rajeev Menon, Mani Ratnam, Sharda and Trilok Nair, his sisters Raihana and Fathima, his sound engineers, people who worked with him in his jingles, everyone had something to share.  Rajeev Menon mentioned this: ‘His retaining capacity is like a sponge,’ he said. And I have personally observed this during the time I spent with him. His ability to learn, remember and retain things is incredible.

Was it hard to make him open up?
Initially, yes. But, when he becomes comfortable with a person, it doesn’t stop with the question posed. It’s more of a conversation and jamming session.
How excited is he about the biography and what would you say is the main aim of the book?
(Laughs) When I accompanied him to his studio in Mumbai, several of the top directors used to visit him. So, he introduced me and said that I was writing a book on him. So, I guess he was excited enough to mention about it to them! My aim is not to write about event A,B,C in his life. That has been touched upon. It’s to bring out more of him as a person, his persona and to inspire people when they read his story through his eyes, events and of people who have known him. But, with a narration that has never been told before (smiles).

What’s next?
Surprisingly I have been approached by a few from the film industry to pen a biography about them. But, nothing has materialised yet. I have my own stories to tell. I might venture into writing a love or mystery story next.

The book is nearing completion and will be released in 2018