Take by Club Member Nitika Dhingra

The Authorised Biography of A.R. Rahman

Let me start by asking a question. What is the first thing that you're likely to do once you've finished watching a great film? For me, it would be, getting on YouTube and devouring any and every available video of the behind-the-scenes footage. If that's the case with you too, you're going to love the book. It is like watching the "making" or "behind-the-scenes" of every song/movie/concert that ARR has been part of.

Reading this book is a lot like watching a motion picture because you'll know most characters by name and some even by face. It's a story of a young boy and how he became one of the biggest, most loved artists not just in the country but worldwide. What makes him tick, what irks him, what keeps him grounded - all facts, beautifully articulated by the young Krishna Trilok. The book also shatters some myths about him that were hyped by the media. It's an amazing read. The language is simple and it's only 300 pages (with easily readable font). Although, you may feel a tad bit deprived at the end, if like me, you only understand Hindi. Because there's a whole world outside of the Hindi film industry that ARR has contributed to, which we may never be able to fully appreciate because of the language barrier.

P.S. - It took me longer than usual to finish the book (not because it got boring at any point), but because every time there was a mention of a song (which of course happened a lot), I just had to stop and listen to it right away and it's ARR so you can't just stop at 1 song.

If you've read the book, do let me know how you liked it.