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How a Drunk Guitarist’s Remark Redefined AR Rahman’s Musical Journey

by Madonna

AR Rahman, the globally acclaimed music icon, recently shared a profound incident from his early career that played a crucial role in shaping his musical identity. Known for his groundbreaking contributions to music, Rahman revealed how a drunk guitarist’s offhand remark in the mid-1980s became a turning point in his journey, one that took him seven years to fully overcome.

At just 19 years old, Rahman was already part of a band and working with various composers. He recalled one night when a guitarist, under the influence, questioned his abilities. Speaking about the incident, Rahman recounted:

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“I went through a phase where I was playing for a couple of composers and was in a band. This one time, when I was young, the guitarist in the band was drunk and he turned to me and said, ‘What are you playing? You are playing film music.’ He made a very condescending comment about my playing.”

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Initially, Rahman didn’t fully grasp the weight of the remark. However, as weeks passed, the guitarist’s words began to resonate. Reflecting on the experience, Rahman admitted:

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“At the moment, I didn’t realise what he meant, but weeks later, it hit me. I realised that whatever he said was right. When I thought deeply about his remark, I realised I was getting influenced by the composers I was playing for. After this, I consciously began to move away from it. And my mental journey of identifying ‘what will be my style’ began.”

Though the criticism stung, it sparked a journey of self-reflection and transformation. Determined to establish his own identity, Rahman spent nearly seven years consciously breaking away from the influences of others. He focused on crafting a distinct style that would define his music.

“It took me about seven years, and I completely moved away from the influences. Sometimes, certain remarks imprint in your heart so much that it becomes a positive influence to move away from that stuff. This helped me learn to move away from my own influence… I revive the soul of my music but move away from the packaging.”

Today, AR Rahman’s story stands as a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and reinvention. The harsh comment that once unsettled him ultimately became a catalyst for his evolution into one of the most celebrated music composers in the world. What once seemed like a painful critique has now transformed into a pivotal chapter in Rahman’s inspiring journey.

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