Some inventive partnerships are the epitome of excellence. That is how AR Rahman and Shyam Benegal’s affiliation turned out in unforgettable motion pictures like Zubeidaa and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero. After the veteran filmmaker handed away right this moment, Filmfare spoke to AR Rahman who was heartbroken however he nonetheless managed to articulate his ideas as an ode to Shyam Benegal. Excerpts…
There are some individuals who take artwork a notch greater by their filmmaking, their lyrics or simply their ideas. Shyam ji was one among them. I bear in mind researching for his movies be it Zubeidaa (2001) and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2005) – each interval items. He wasn’t very exacting. He was simple to work with. I recall Javed saab having discussions with him after which Javed saab and I engaged on the songs collectively.
In contrast to the standard format of tune sittings with the director he was all the time proud of no matter tune I got here up with. He’d all the time say, “good good”. And I might marvel, does he really prefer it that a lot? I typically requested him, do you prefer it? And he would reply, “Oh! I’ve already picturised the tune.”
I recall the Zubeidaa album was so good that the producer bought it for thrice the quantity promised to the music firm. Shyam ji has a particular place in my coronary heart. All the great individuals are going away.