A R Rahman Was Not Composer of Critically Accredited Song ‘Jai Ho’, Reveals Ram Gopal Varma
A R Rahman Was Not Composer of Critically Accredited Song ‘Jai Ho’, Reveals Ram Gopal Varma
The hit song ‘Jai Ho’ and the main score of Slumdog Millionaire has earned the composer A.R. Rahman as many as 2 Academy Awards.
20 April 2024
By Khushi Maheshwari
Director and film writer Ram Gopal Varma recalled an incident concerning director Subhash Ghai, during an interview with Film Companion. The latter did not find ‘Jai Ho’ to be a suitable fit for ‘Yuvvraaj’, a film starring actors Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif.
Varma revealed how Rahman sought assistance from Sukhwinder to create the tune or melody for Jai Ho because director Subhash Ghai wanted the song as soon as possible.
When Yuvvraaj did not pan out, Rahman used ‘Jai Ho’ in Slumdog Millionaire. Upon hearing about this incident, Ghai confronted A.R. Rahman and asked him why he was making Sukhwinder work on the composition when it was Rahman who was being paid so much money. He added that if he wanted Sukhwinder to do the composition he would’ve signed him up and not Rahman.
To this, Rahman had quite an iconic reply; according to Ram Gopal Varma, it was one of the greatest things he had heard. A.R. Rahman told Ghai that he was being paid for his name and the brand value that it carries rather than the work he is supposed to do — anything under his name will be an ARR musical. Rahman further questioned Ghai about how he would ever know who has composed his music; he said that for all Ghai knows, Rahman’s driver could have given him his “taal music”.
Apart from the Oscar, the song has earned the composer other glorious accolades including a Golden Globe, Grammy and BAFTA, and has skyrocketed his career to new heights.
The revelation that the song was not composed by the musical maestro and instead an all-rounder singer Sukhwinder Singh, is quite surprising and really reflects the onus of big names in the film industry. The recognition of authentic and genuine hard work remains negligible in the face of things like fame, net worth and the brand value of a person.
