Filmmaker Subhash Ghai has paid tribute to music composer AR Rahman, recalling how the maestro fundamentally reshaped Mumbai's music culture through landmark films such as 'Lagaan', 'Rang De Basanti', and 'Rockstar'. Ghai shared his reflections in a heartfelt Instagram post, describing Rahman as a 'blessed talent from our universe.'

Ghai's Initial Nerves Over 'Taal'

Recounting how their collaboration began, Ghai admitted he was hesitant when he first approached Rahman for his 1999 musical drama 'Taal'. His concern stemmed from the fact that Rahman was not deeply familiar with Hindi lyrics or the conventions of Hindi cinema at the time. 'I was really nervous when I offered him my film TAAL,' Ghai wrote, using his own words. His apprehension lifted when Rahman mentioned that he used to play the Hero flute — a detail that reassured Ghai about their creative compatibility.

'I was relaxed. N entered into his style of music. N u know TAAL till now,' Ghai wrote in his post, letting the film's enduring popularity speak for itself.

Rahman's Cultural Transformation of Hindi Film Music

Beyond 'Taal', Ghai credited Rahman with a broader cultural shift in the way Mumbai approached film music. In his post, he noted that Rahman 'changed the music culture in Mumbai with Lagaan n Rang De Basanti or Rockstar.' He highlighted Rahman's Academy Award win for the song 'Jai Ho' — a composition in Hindi that brought the Oscar to Indian film music for the first time — as a defining marker of the composer's global stature.

Ghai further praised Rahman's versatility, writing that he 'can learn n turn into any sound of any land n culture into music' and that he 'responds to every kind of film n director anywhere.' This adaptability, Ghai argued, is what sets Rahman apart in an industry crowded with accomplished composers.

Three Films, A Lasting Creative Bond

Ghai and Rahman have collaborated on three feature films: 'Taal' (1999), 'Kisna: The Warrior Poet' (2005), and 'Yuvvraaj' (2008). Their debut project together, 'Taal', starred Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Akshaye Khanna, and remains widely celebrated for its soundtrack. The film's music is considered one of the more successful crossover experiments of that era, blending classical Indian influences with Rahman's signature electronic textures.

Ghai's Closing Tribute

Closing his note with warmth, Ghai wrote that Rahman 'will go on giving surprises to music lovers n will live for a long,' adding, 'My all blessings to his talent n happiness always.' The post was accompanied by a photograph of the two, underscoring the personal dimension of a collaboration that spans nearly three decades. Ghai's public tribute arrives at a time when Rahman's legacy continues to be a touchstone in conversations about the global reach of Indian cinema.