14 August 2019
Hello Rahman,
Last night, I tried to explain your music to a couple of Russians in St. Petersburg. It came up because my partner tried to explain how religion had influenced your music so. We argued mildly about which should be the first song of yours we play to introduce you to these two people. I suggested Kun Faaya Kun, keeping with the mood. He said Arziyan. Then I said Nenjukulle, then he said let’s go to the beginning of it all. Roja. I thought about Chinna Chinna Aasai, but played Pudhu Vellai Mazhai instead. As the music began, it sounded as fresh as it had in 1992, when the country was stunned by the distinctiveness of the whole album. My heart swelled with pride and it was all I could do to not burst into tears in that kitchen in that 1880s apartment in Vladmirskaya in St. Petersburg.
Now I’m on a train on my way to Moscow, and I have reached out to my iPod and I’m skipping every other song that plays that’s not yours. I only want to listen to your magic. I think I’m on an emotional rollercoaster due to a cold and cough that’s left me tired and that kept me in bed for nearly 2 out of my 4 days in St Petersburg. I silently wipe tears as the playfulness of Kannum Kannum Kollaiadithal gives way to the 1947 Earth piano theme which moves to the ebullient Naan Paadum Santham. Over and over the thought that comes into my mind is “How could I possibly explain this music to someone? How could I ever explain what this music means to me?!”
And so I have put together a list of ten songs to send to the two people in St Petersburg. Every song of yours that I listen to on my iPod, though, I want to add to that list. Rasathi, because surely they should know the wonder you created Acapella? Jillendru Oru Kadhal, because they’ve to see how you fit jazz into Tamil? Sotta Sotta from Taj Mahal, because the guitar is like a naughty child that rears its head even though you asked it to stay out of sight? Thigu Thigu because it’s wistful and sensuous? That background music in Swades, when Mohan and Gayatri meet again in the village, whose sister tune is my ringtone?
Just going through this exercise is brain wracking but immensely joyful. Having started it struggling to hold back tears I’m now a weird, coughing but widely smiling Indian woman in a train to Moscow.
Thousands of miles away from homeland, where I first heard your music, I send you all the health and happiness – and gratitude – my self can muster.
Anyway, my final list of songs in “Rahman for St Petersburg” is (in no particular order):
1. Hello Mister Ethirkatchi
2. Rehna Tu
3. O Saya
4. Chaiyya Chaiyya
5. Anjali Anjali
6. Nenjukulle
7. Bombay theme
8. Kaara Attakara
9. Pudhu Vellai Mazhai
10. Kun Faaya Kun