‘AR Rahman is chotta school ka bacha', says Anuradha Paudwal, recalls his teaching approach: ‘Aap aisa gaa rahi hain…

Indian Express

5 days ago

Legendary artistes AR Rahman and Anuradha Paudwal have collaborated on just two songs, and they went on to become cult classics. Their tracks 'Kissa Hum Likhenge' and 'Pa Jaye Kismat Se Tum Humko Mile Ho' from the film Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1998) are remembered till date. In a recent interview with O2 India, Anuradha spoke highly of the Oscar-winning music composer. She also recalled Rahman's approach of teaching music to his students.
During the candid conversation, Anuradha shared that in her eyes, AR Rahman is one of the 'finest music directors' we have. 'Music is like light – when you switch it on, then every corner brightens. I have seen that in Rahman ji. It is not about only his own work, he wants people around him also to prosper. They should also do well in music,' she said.
Recalling how he was teaching a student, the singer revealed, 'I was in his studio once and I saw a very young girl was in his recording session. She was singing beautifully, with every expression and note. He was telling the girl, 'Ma'am aap aisa gaa rahi hain, aur aisa chahiye.' That's a very big art.'
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She added, 'To be able to tell you what they want and what you are not doing, people are not able to express that. Yeh theek nahi aaraha hai, yeh bolte hain, but theek kya nahi hai? Singer can correct only if you tell exactly what is going wrong. That is a very rare quality I saw in his studio.'
Doli Saja Ke Rakhna marked the first collaboration of AR Rahman and Anuradha Podwal. Srinidhi and Hiral Viradia, who are trained singers, also joined Rahman in the studio. Talking about the same, Anuradha said, 'That's unusual. In my entire experience, she was the only recordist who I saw was singing alongside. When I asked her, she said that I like singing but I am not a singer. She was so professional. He nurtures everyone so painstakingly. People need to know this side of AR Rahman.'
She continued, 'The children who qualify from his school have another level of preparation. Normal people don't know all this. He is a very nice and humble person. He has touched such heights, in spite of that, ek chotta innocent school ke bachche ki tarah hain. Very down to earth, no hanky panky or manipulation. He is very simple, which is so rare. This quality mirrors in the compositions that he does. That's why the general public immediately connects to his songs.'