Layers of sound

A R Rehman’s compositions are like designs created in Photoshop. A million layers of sound, voices, melodies and beats come together and blend seamlessly; some of them in perfect synchrony creating complete harmony and some clashing in apparent discord… creating that unexpected element of surprise making you wonder, “Did I really hear that?” Think back to the title song of Rang De Basanti where a bass guitar makes an appearance at intervals… felt like stumbling on pieces of silver in a green field waving with corn stalks!

Or Goodbye Nanba/Khuda Hafiz from Yuva where intoxicating piano notes jive with outright techno-trance sounds… the effect is giddy, psychedelic. There is no need for any visuals of any sort; the voices have a drunkenness to them, an air of mystery provided by the smooth piano notes. Almost announcing, ‘Here is a day-night like none other and a lifetime was lived in these 24 hours. Blink and you missed it. Pass and you’ve lost it….’