When AR Rahman broke all myths and misconceptions with his music for Rangeela

Academy award winning music director AR Rahman celebrates his 57th birthday today. The composer who made his debut with the Mani Ratnam 1992 film Roja in 1992, went on to establish his dominance in the Indian film music in the coming decade with albums like Bombay, Kadhalan, Dil Se, Taal and Lagaan. However, it took the Hindi film industry a couple of years to warm up to Rahman’s style. Infact, in Rahman’s early years in the industry, despite Roja’s gigantic success in Hindi dub version as well, not many people were willing to sign Rahman in Hindi film industry. At such a time, one rising filmmaker put his money where his mouth was. The film was Rangeela, and the director was Ram Gopal Varma.

No Bollywood producer had signed Rahman

After Roja, which had multiple superhit songs, Rahman delivered popular albums like Bombay, Kadhalan and Thiruda Thiruda, all of which were dubbed in Hindi and released. The albums of Bombay and Kadhalan (Hindi film title: Humse Hai Muqabla) found resounding success across the country, in all segments of music-listeners. Despite such success, Rahman did not have any Hindi films in his kitty. Rumours also go that the bigwigs of Hindi film industry thought of Rahman’s success as fluke, and did not believe his track record will sustain for Hindi films. However, Rangeela broke all myths and misconceptions about A.R.Rahman in Bollywood.

The album had a total of 8 tracks, including an instrumental title ‘Spirit of Rangeela.’ Rangeela proved to be a pathbreaking soundtrack in many ways, especially with its songs like Mangta Hai Kya and Hai Rama which were received very well for their originality and innovative rhythm. Additionally, the album also revived the career of an old-time legend like Asha Bhonsle, who suddenly found a new fanbase in young music-lovers for her peppy, youthful rendition for the song Rangeela Re and Tanha Tanha.

Rangeela won multiple awards and nominations

At the Filmfare Awards for that year, AR Rahman expectedly won the award for Best Music for Rangeela. Lyricist Mehboob bagged two nominations for the songs Tanha Tanha and Kya Kare Kya Na Kare. Additionally, the album also fetched nominations for three of its playback singers - Swarnalatha, Kavita Krishnamurthy, and Shweta Shetty.

But more importantly, Rangeela opened new doors for AR Rahman. In the next four years, AR Rahman delivered two more pan-India superhit albums for the movies Dil Se and Taal in the years 1998 and 1999 respectively. And in 2001, The composer achieved global fame and recognition as he composed for the Oscar-nominated film Lagaan.

From Lagaan onwards, Rahman only grew in a global status and popularity. However, it all arguably started because a filmmaker in Bombay decided to sign AR Rahman against all odds, back in 1994.