A R Rahman, the celebrated Indian composer, singer, and philanthropist, has once again captivated audiences—this time in Melbourne. His documentary, Headhunting to Beatboxing: A Musical Renaissance, premiered on Saturday at the ongoing Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) to much acclaim.
The documentary, produced and presented by Rahman and directed by Rohit Gupta, also won the Excellence in Cinema Award at a star-studded IFFM Awards night ceremony on Friday.
Rahman has described the documentary as “an inspiring story for a world that is increasingly divided”. The idea for the film came to him during a visit to the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland, a remote region in Northeast India, at the invitation of the state government.
Contrary to warnings about the region being dangerous, Rahman found a vibrant culture where people of all ages gathered in the streets with their guitars, singing and celebrating life. “It felt like a dreamland,” he said. “This is something the world needs to see, as even India doesn’t know this.”
Rahman’s connection to Nagaland goes beyond the documentary. He has adopted an orphanage in the region, where he is teaching the children classical music, fostering an exchange of cultural and musical knowledge. The artists featured in the documentary will be mentored by Rahman, and he hopes to feature them at a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, a plan that was delayed by the pandemic but remains close to his heart.
On Saturday, Rahman engaged in a conversation with fellow composer Ram Sampath at The Edge in Federation Square, where he spoke about his illustrious career. Reflecting on his early days in the 1980s, he recalled singing a jingle for ₹2000 (about 20 AUD) and later setting high standards for himself from the very beginning. “You will be judged by your worst work,” he remarked, emphasising the importance of consistency in his craft.
Rahman started his film-scoring career in the early 1990s with the Tamil film Roja. He then created music for many Tamil films like Bombay, Kadhalan, and Gentleman. His first Hollywood score was for Couples Retreat (2009), which won a BMI Award. His work on Slumdog Millionaire (2008) earned him Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for “Jai Ho,” as well as two Grammy Awards in 2010.
In 2010, the Indian government also honoured him with the Padma Bhushan, the nation’s third-highest civilian award.
Looking ahead, Rahman is set to collaborate with Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart on the upcoming feature film Ebony McQueen. Directed by Shekhar Kapur, the film is a coming-of-age story inspired by Stewart’s youth in 1960s and ‘70s North East England. Rahman and Stewart will jointly create the film’s score and soundtrack, promising a vibrant musical experience.
With his latest achievements, Rahman continues to bridge cultures and inspire audiences worldwide, proving that music truly knows no boundaries.
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne is on till 25 August.
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