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A R Rahman’s devotion to Khawaja Muinuddin Chishty
Music and Love share a primordial bond. None other than the legendary and a genius of our times Allah Rakah Rahman, better known to the world as A.R. Rahman appreciates it at a much deeper level. The composer who has been honoured by the world and the subcontinent, he is a follower of the Chishty school of Sufism.
After a glorious career path and adding melody to South Asian music, A R Rahman has set up a music conservatory in India dedicated to none other than Khawaja Ghareeb Nawaz of Ajmer. Two letters, K and M, are lucky for Rahman and also reflect his devotion to the great Saint, his teachings and all-encompassing spirituality.
This is perhaps why his latest composition for the film Jodhaa Akbar - Khawaja Meray Khawaja - is a matchless piece. It is subtle and moves at a pace akin to that of a lover’s - slow yet impatient, heavy and full of yearning. It is a separate matter that the film-maker turned it into a nightmare of pop-Sufi icons - whirling dervishes in medieval Ajmer and with fake beards.
Here is the Khwaja Meray Khawaja’s amazing track. Ignore the video - just listen to it. For lyrics and their competent translation.
May God bless AR for his music and search for the path.
My other favourites from A R Rahman are found below:
Kehha hi Kiya
Dil hai chotta sa
Jiya Jale
The list goes on - so more later
March 14th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
To be absolutely honest, I’ve listened to Khwaja Mere Khwaja and failed to be moved too much by it. That could, however, be because I’ve been exposed to better Sufi music in the past.
I, too, like quite a bit.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Oops…I thought I had written that I like Dil hai chhota sa quite a bit.
March 15th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Simply amazing! Thanks for sharing.
March 15th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Sidhu ji
Well, it is a bollywood version of the Sufi music. But the composition is pretty unique and of course original.
Id: thanks for the comment
March 15th, 2008 at 8:11 am
I did a write up on A R REhman just a month ago, read here:
http://zindagi-ki-diary.blogspot.com/2008/02/allah-rakha-rehman.html
March 15th, 2008 at 8:21 am
AR Rahman has “That” in him. It shows in his work. When you do a “good job” it becomes “ibadah”. Fine work.. wherein you put your heart… is easily recognizable from commercial (mundane) work I havent heard the song (nor watched the movie)… but i read the lyrics. For the viewer of 2008, i am sure, it has to be diluted for the common viewer… but Rahman is well versed with the Sufi Beat… or Taal. The title song of Taal which he composed.. is purely.. inspired by SAMA.. “Taal se Taal Mila… Ho-5″. He is a gifted artiste. He has done good work until now.. and will Insha Allah.. continue to do good work. If he is inspired by Khwaja Garib Nawaz., or Peeran-e-Peer Hazrat Ghaus-e-Azam Dastagir Sheikh Abdulkader Geelani.. thats fine. Basically these are scholars… who taught Islam thru their teachings of love and tolerance. What is sufism ? Love + Tolerance.. with a smile on their face. Religion is nothing but HUSN-e-Aqlaaq.. that is the “Sundaram” of Satyam-shivam-sundaram ! Exactly.
March 15th, 2008 at 8:27 am
CHASM-MASTey.. AJABey…
I hope someone would approach Rahman ji.. requesting him to read Amir Khusrau. That is a treasure… there are pearls still unexplored. Amir Khusrau understood the TONGUE and EAR of Indai.
A line in Persian followed by a line in Hindustani.. (urdu/brij/hindi..whatever).. this was a very hit pattern.. To understand the nuance of a word.. you need the ear of Madan-Mohan.. to squeeze its meaning to the bone.
Persian is inevitable in a historic movie ! To keep it light and manage-able is an art.. people should sing it.. Thats the key. What persian phrase to incorporate ? Go to Amir Khusrau..
March 15th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Kehna hi kya is such a cool song. I haven’t heard it in years. thanks for putting it up.
March 16th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Most artists find it difficult to identify which is their favorite song or creation, in the case of Rahman, its his auidence which face that delightful difficulty. I add one more to the list.
Piya Haji Ali -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bo-di95qzU
March 16th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Most artists find it difficult to identify which is their favorite song or creation, in the case of Rahman, its his audience which face that delightful difficulty. I add one more to the list.
Piya Haji Ali -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bo-di95qzU