Introducing A. R. Rahman
Encyclopedia
Introducing A. R. Rahman is a compilation album
of score and songs composed by Chennai film
composer A. R. Rahman
. It was released in 2006 on Times Square Records. It includes excerpts from soundtracks spanning 1993–2001 that changed the face of Tamil film music and the cinema of India. Introducing A. R. Rahman features twenty-five tracks compiled by Iain Scott, taken from seventeen pictures in Tamil cinema.
Indian compositional forms, instrumentation, with train whistles, bells, looped bee–like vocals and dramatic percussion are coupled with orchestral sweeps and Carnatic accents with veena, pullanguzhal and chanting employed on the tracks.
writing for AllMusic felt that the net grouping of tracks "by intention or design is not to establish an identifiable style, but to demonstrate Rahman's versatility," saying it was a contrast to the "stereotypes many viewers have of the flashy, sometimes cheesy music heard in much Indian cinema, the material here is thoughtfully assembled and dignified."
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
of score and songs composed by Chennai film
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
composer A. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman
Allah Rakha Rahman is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and philanthropist. Described as the world's most prominent and prolific film composer by Time, his works are notable for integrating eastern classical music with electronic music sounds, world music genres and...
. It was released in 2006 on Times Square Records. It includes excerpts from soundtracks spanning 1993–2001 that changed the face of Tamil film music and the cinema of India. Introducing A. R. Rahman features twenty-five tracks compiled by Iain Scott, taken from seventeen pictures in Tamil cinema.
Indian compositional forms, instrumentation, with train whistles, bells, looped bee–like vocals and dramatic percussion are coupled with orchestral sweeps and Carnatic accents with veena, pullanguzhal and chanting employed on the tracks.
Reception
Richie UnterbergerRichie Unterberger
Richie Unterberger is a US author and journalist whose focus is popular music and travel writing.-Life and writing:Having worked as a DJ at WXPN in Philadelphia, he started reviewing records for Op magazine in 1983...
writing for AllMusic felt that the net grouping of tracks "by intention or design is not to establish an identifiable style, but to demonstrate Rahman's versatility," saying it was a contrast to the "stereotypes many viewers have of the flashy, sometimes cheesy music heard in much Indian cinema, the material here is thoughtfully assembled and dignified."
Disc 1
- "Bombay Theme Music" (from BombayBombay (film)Bombay is a critically acclaimed and national award-winning 1995 Tamil film directed by Mani Ratnam, starring Arvind Swamy and Manisha Koirala, with music composed by A. R. Rahman...
) (Instrumental) — 5:15 - "Chinna Chinna Aasai" (from RojaRojaRoja is a 1992 Tamil political drama, romance film directed by Mani Ratnam. The film was subsequently dubbed in Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam and Telugu....
) — 4:55 - "Kannaalaney" (from Bombay) — 5:52
- "Mettuppodu" (from DuetDuet (film)Duet is a 1994 Tamil musical film directed by K. Balachander, starring Prabhu, Meenakshi Seshadri, Ramesh Aravind and Prakashraj. The film's score and soundtrack is composed by A. R. Rahman...
) — 6:50 - "Ennavale Adi Ennavaley" (from KadhalanKadhalanKadhalan is a Tamil film released in 1994, written and directed by S. Shankar. The film's score and soundtrack were composed by A. R. Rahman. The film stars Prabhu Deva and Nagma in the lead roles. Actor Vikram has dubbed his voice for Prabhu Deva...
) — 5:12 - "Anbe Anbe" from Jeans) — 5:32
- "Rasika" (from Star) — 7:07
- "Yaro Yarodi" (from AlaipayutheyAlaipayutheyAlaipayuthey is a 2000 Tamil romantic drama film directed by Mani Ratnam, starring Madhavan and Shalini, the film explores the tensions of married life and the maturing of love. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by A. R...
) — 5:44 - "Maargazhi" (from SangamamSangamamSangamam is a Tamil musical romance film directed by Suresh Krishna. Actor Rahman, the co-brother of A.R. Rahman was the hero of the film. Vindhya made her debut playing the daughter of the rich classical father played by Vijayakumar. The film's music was composed by A. R. Rahman...
) — 6:58 - "Swasamae" (from ThenaliThenaliThenali is a 2000 Tamil feature film directed and produced by K. S. Ravikumar and written by Crazy Mohan. The film featured Kamal Haasan playing the title role, and also starred Jayaram, Devayani and Jyothika. The film's music was composed by A. R. Rahman, whilst cinematography was handled by Priyan...
) — 5:49 - "Thirakkaatha" (from En Swasa Kaatre) — 7:10
- "Minsara Kanna" (from PadayappaPadayappaPadayappa is a 1999 Tamil drama film written and directed by K. S. Ravikumar. The film features Rajinikanth, Soundarya and Ramya Krishnan playing lead roles, whilst Sivaji Ganesan, Lakshmi and Nassar play pivotal supporting roles. With soundtrack composed by A. R...
) — 6:15
Disc 2
- "Alai Payuthey" (from Alaipayuthey) — 3:42
- "Varaaga Nathi" (from Sangamam) — 6:19
- "Idhu Manmatha Maadham" (from Parthale ParavasamParthale ParavasamThe soundtrack for the film was composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Vaali, Vairamuthu and Na. Muthukumar. The soundtrack featured nine songs with most of them remained chart-toppers for many months. Guitarist Rashid Ali had his debut as a vocalist through this film...
) — 4:47 - "Sowkkiyamma" (from Sangamam) — 5:55
- "Thom Karuvil Irunthom" (from Star) — 5:37
- "Kannodu" (from Jeans) — 5:10
- "Uyire Uyire" (from Bombay) — 7:16
- "Kulichaa Kutthalam" (from Duet) — 4:48
- "Anbendra" (from Minsara Kanavu) — 3:37
- "Kannamuchi" (from Kandukondain KandukondainKandukondain KandukondainKandukondain Kandukondain is a 2000 Tamil musical and romantic film based on Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility. Directed and co-written by Rajiv Menon, the film features an ensemble cast of Ajith Kumar, Mammootty, Tabu, Aishwarya Rai and Abbas in the lead roles...
) — 5:11 - "Usilampatti Penkutti" (from GentlemanGentleman (film)Gentleman is a 1993 Tamil film directed by S. Shankar, produced K. T. Kunjumon. The film marked S. Shankar's debut in film, and with the highest budget for an Indian film in that year, became a blockbuster upon release. It stars Arjun and Madhoo in the lead roles...
) — 4:40 - "Poraalae 2" (from KaruththammaKaruththammaKaruthamma is a Tamil feature film directed by Bharathiraja. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by A. R. Rahman. The film was noticed as a milestone in the Tamil Film Industry. Bharathiraja even told that this film is the finest one that he ever done...
) — 6:21 - "Nathiyae Nathiyae" (from RhythmRhythm (film)Rhythm is a 2000 Tamil film directed by Vasanth. The film stars Arjun, Meena and Manivannan in lead roles and Ramesh Aravind and Jyothika in supporting roles. The music is by A. R. Rahman, while cinematography was handled by P.S. Vinod and Arthur A. Wilson...
) — 6:52
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World World World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth.... |
May 23, 2006 | Times Square | CD | 9053 |
| India India India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... |
SaReGaMa | CD | 1587889 | |
| Beatscience | CD | |||
| Peace/Beat | CD | 74415872 |
Personnel
- All music composed and arranged – A. R. Rahman
- Disc 1 – Vocals
- MinminiMinminiMinmini is a South Indian film playback singer. She is remembered especially for the song "Chinna Chinna Aasai" from Roja, the debut work of film composer A. R. Rahman. Though she is from Kerala, most of her memorable songs are in Tamil, most of them composed by Ilaiyaraaja and A. R. Rahman...
(track 2) - K. S. ChithraK. S. ChithraK. S. Chithra often credited as Chithra , is an Indian playback singer who has made her mark in the Indian music playback industry. Popularly known as Chinna Kuyil of South India, she has lent her voice to Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Oriya, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Badaga and Punjabi films...
(track 3, 11) - Unnikrishnan (track 5, 9, 11)
- HariharanHariharan (singer)Hariharan , born 3 April 1955) is an Indian playback singer in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Bhojpuri and Telugu movies, an established ghazal singer, and one of the pioneers of Indian fusion music. His melody is strongly appreciated by the film fraternity...
(track 6) - S. JanakiS. JanakiS. Janaki is an Indian female playback singer. Renowned for her voice modulation abilities, she has sung in many Indian languages, most frequently in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Throughout a career spanning more than five decades, she has won four National Film Awards and 35...
(track 9) - Mahalaxmi Iyer, Vaishali, Richa Sharma (track 8)
- S. P. BalasubrahmanyamS. P. BalasubrahmanyamSripathi Panditaradhyula Balasubrahmanyam is a multilingual Indian playback singer, actor, music director, voice actor and a film producer. He is referred to as S. P. B. or Balu by the media. He has won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer six times closely following K. J. Yesudas...
(track 4, 10) - Sadhana SargamSadhana SargamSadhana Sargam is an acclaimed Indian playback singer. She is a recipient of the prestigious National Film Award and Filmfare Awards.Sargam has sung in many Indian languages for films, television serials and music albums. She is well known for her 90s Hindi songs and recent South Indian songs. She...
(track 10) - Nithyasree MahadevanNithyasree MahadevanDr. Nithyasree Mahadevan, also previously referred to as S. Nithyashri, is an eminent Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. Nithyasree's paternal grandmother, D. K. Pattammal, and her granduncle, D. K...
(track 12) - Anuradha SriramAnuradha SriramAnuradha Sriram is an Indian carnatic and playback singer who hails from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. She has sung in many Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi films.- Personal life :...
(track 6) - P. SusheelaP. SusheelaPulapaka Susheela is an Indian playback singer. In a career spanning more than four decades, she has recorded songs in many Indian languages including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi, Bengali, Oriya, Sanskrit, Tulu, Badaga and Sinhalese.-Personal life:She is the daughter of Pulapaka...
(track 4)
- Minmini
- Disc 2 – Vocals
- Kalyani Menon, HariniHariniHarini is an Indian film playback singer and classical singer, who sings mainly in Tamil films. She has also sung in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam language films, whilst working with many leading film composers. She is married to another playback singer, Tippu.-Career:Harini learnt Carnatic...
, Neyveli Ramalakshmi Krishna (track 1) - Shankar MahadevanShankar MahadevanShankar Mahadevan is an Indian music composer and singer. He is a part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio team that composes for Indian films and a playback singer.-Early life:...
(track 2, 3, 5) - Nithyasree MahadevanNithyasree MahadevanDr. Nithyasree Mahadevan, also previously referred to as S. Nithyashri, is an eminent Carnatic musician and playback singer for film songs in many Indian languages. Nithyasree's paternal grandmother, D. K. Pattammal, and her granduncle, D. K...
(track 3, 4, 6) - Hariharan (track 7)
- K. S. Chithra (track 7, 10)
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (track 8)
- Anuradha Sriram (track 9)
- Shahul Hameed (track 11)
- SwarnalathaSwarnalathaSwarnalatha was a Indian playback singer. From 1987 onward, she rendered nearly 7000 songs in many languages including Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Bengali, Oriya, Punjabi and Badaga....
(track 1, 11, 12) - Unni MenonUnni MenonUnni Menon is an Indian film playback singer. He has sung over 3000 songs in South Indian languages like Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. In the early part of his career, he spent many years as a low-profile playback singer. The turning point in his career came when he sang the song "Pudhu...
(track 13)
- Kalyani Menon, Harini
- Release Coordinator – Yusuf Gandhi
- Liner Notes, Compilation – Iain Scott