Despite AI, creating a tune still needs a human heart and philosophical mind

Two or three decades ago, it would have been unthinkable to get A.R. Rahman to agree to a quick interview, let alone have a leisurely chat after work.

- POOJA BIRAIA

He was the musical genius who was heard more than seen, with his public interactions limited to a smile and a brief “thank you”. Today, though, Rahman is a skilled conversationalist—sharing his feelings, explaining his thoughts, and cracking jokes and laughing heartily. He has also become skilled at posing for photos, adept at finding the right angles that show himself exactly how he wants to be seen. “Yes, I am getting better at it. Part of the job, right?” he smiles.

Our interview begins late at night and stretches past midnight. His assistant tells me this is when Rahman is at his best, mentally and physically. Throughout the day, he is busy with recordings, events and meetings with film producers. Yet, as his SUV pulls into the studio, which also doubles as his multi-storey bungalow in Chennai, he looks as though his day has just begun.

Right next to the studio is a simple pet corner with a green mat, a small toy slide, a ball and a food bowl for the cats that frequent the space.

We grab mugs of hot black coffee before sitting down for our chat. Piping-hot biryani, ordered from a nearby restaurant, awaits us for dinner. “This interview has become as long as a Hollywood film,” he quips.

Our conversation flows freely, without inhibitions, covering the Oscar-winning musician’s life—from the intense ambitions of the 1990s and early 2000s to the more perceptive composer he has become in the last two decades, to the tech innovator he is evolving to be. Despite his accolades, Rahman does not write “Oscar-winning musician” on his X bio—he simply updates it with his current project. “That was my past, but I live in the moment,” he explains.