I am grateful for the love from people of Bangladesh:AR Rahman

Oscar-winning celebrated Indian music composer-director-singer AR Rahman has innumerable listeners and fans all over the world. Bangladesh is no exception. So far, his fans and admirers in Bangladesh have had to be satisfied with AR Rahman’s songs and music made in Hindi and other foreign languages. But, for the first time, AR Rahman has composed and sung two songs exclusively made for Bangladesh. Moreover, one of the songs is in Bangla. For the fans and listeners of Bangladesh, it’s like a windfall. Both the songs - titled ‘Bolo Joy Bangabandhu’ and ‘Joy Bangladesh’ - are written by National Award-winning Bangladeshi lyricist and journalist Zulfiqer Russell.

The Hindi song titled ‘Bolo Joy Bangabandhu’ was played during the closing ceremony of 10-day grand celebration titled ‘Mujib Chiranton’ at the National Parade Ground on March 26 in presence of the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and India. Marking the 50th independence anniversary of Bangladesh, the performance of AR Rahman was dedicated to the Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In a recent interview with Sheriff Al Sire, AR Rahman shared his thoughts and views on working on the songs and also about Bangla songs in general. The following is the excerpts from the conversation:

Please share your feelings about composing two theme songs on the celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary.

AR Rahman: I think it was a great honour that they thought about me and came all the way to India to do this. India and Bangladesh have always had a very special relationship. We share the language — Bengali. We share a bond, a culture.

Which aspect did you focus on while doing this work?

AR Rahman: The aspect I focused on was trying to be more sensitive towards what instrument I’m using, which melody I’m choosing. Especially when singing in Bengali, there were a lot of back and forth iterations on pronunciation. So, we wanted to make sure that we did it right.

How did you coordinate with the lyricist Zulfiqer Russell?

AR Rahman: Zulfiqer came to Chennai. He was here for a week. We met and it was nice to have him in Chennai for the recording so that we could share the stuff and respond to it.

You sang a theme song also in Bangla Language. How did you work in the linguistic space while doing this?

AR Rahman: We all know from history that so many of our thinkers and intellectuals have come from the region of Bengal. I studied some of them in Islam and we all share a common bond between the cultures. And singing in Bengali... I think the sound of the language is very sweet. Like people call it the French of India; how French is very sweet. Bengali has got a beautiful flavour and any song sounds sweeter. I am very grateful for the love I have always received from the people of Bangladesh and the least I can do is make a song that they can all cherish. I hope they like it.