AR Rahman opens up about his friend’s circle; says ‘it’s just solitude’

Music maestro AR Rahman opened up about his friend’s circle in a recent interview and shared that his close friends are people who work with him, but he doesn’t want them to be around forever.

Rahman told Suryan FM, ‘My close friend is my driver… It’s people who work with me. However, I don’t want them to be around forever. I keep telling them to move on with their life to do better things. Or else what’s the point? If I find someone is getting comfortable and not pushing it, I tell them I am going to let them go. So, I don’t have anyone that I can call a friend… it’s just solitude.’

Talking about parenting, the musician said, ‘They don’t follow what you say. You have to show them by doing it. He is going to do what I do saying, ‘Look that’s what Dad is doing.’ So, you are their mirror. They take after you. All sons want to live at least 10 per cent as their fathers. I keep hearing people say how my dad helped them financially. Even recently L Subramaniam (renowned violinist) told me how my dad offered help to pursue an education in music. I tear up when I hear such things. He later died after severe suffering. As the son of such a great person, I believe my purpose is to emulate my father’s deed.’

When asked whether AI and technology will replace musicians, Rahman said, ‘When I first bought a computer in 1984, everyone got scared. ‘Ayyayo, this boy is bringing in some small thing… he will not call us for work.’ But I started using it, and Raja sir reached out. We collaborated for Punnagai Mannan, that was our first collaboration. We programmed music for it. The human work gets better. I brought in an instrument from Singapore, which could even produce strings. But the work for string musicians went high after that because… if the instrument can produce this good music, imagine what real musicians can do with the same composition.’

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