Here’s why AR Rahman is impressed with musicians of Manipur, Sikkim

Mumbai, Aug 7, 2018: 

Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman has expressed his admiration and respect for the musicians of Manipur and Sikkim and lauded them for keeping some old traditions alive, meeting the expectation of their fathers by playing the music.

"On the other hand, I met musicians from these regions who are told not to take it professionally because music is something very spiritual. They are doing it for the love of it. These qualities are lost in the mainstream. And that impressed me," Rahman said.

"These musicians are keeping some old traditions alive, meeting the expectation of their fathers by playing the music. When we play music professionally, there are certain things that we do — there is a competitive spirit, things like who is playing something faster than the other," added the  Oscar-winning composer.

Rahman said this while promoting the Amazon Prime Video show "Harmony With A.R. Rahman", which features musicians from four parts of India – Maharashtra, Kerala, Sikkim and Manipur. He is hosting the show, which will go live on August 15.

He says the four places were chosen as "these are some of the ignored areas of our country and people do not care much about their music, people and culture".

"They are connected somewhere to make our country, culturally a diverse one," said Rahman.

He believes that human stories always connect people along with the music. When he went to these places and got to know the stories behind people's musical journey, he was fascinated.

Inputs: IANS

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