AR Rahman: Mani Ratnam sir said making a movie is like composing a song

Music maestro Rahman credits long-time collaborator Ratnam for inspiring him to dabble in production with 99 Songs

Movie production can seem like a sharp detour for two-time Academy Award-winning music composer AR Rahman. But look closely, and you realise that filmmaking isn’t really different from composing a melody. This was the lesson Rahman’s long-time collaborator Mani Ratnam taught him, egging him on to develop the script for 99 Songs.

“Mani sir once said to me that making a movie is like composing a song. You have the introduction, the song’s theme, the tune and then you do the background mixing. Then comes the antara, and with it, you have a journey that comes to an end beautifully. That’s when it struck me how [fulfilling] it is to create another art form in your own language,” says Rahman, crediting the auteur for pushing him towards filmmaking. 

His debut production features debutant Ehan Bhat and Edilsy Vargas with musician-director Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy at the helm. The composer-producer knows that the Jio Studios endeavour — a passionate love story with music at its core — is far removed from mainstream offerings. “People’s experience of a movie truly depends on whether the story resonates with them or not. After the pandemic, our sensibilities have changed. 99 Songs is more of an experiential movie. The sound and visuals are an experience unto themselves.”

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