Introducing A. R. Rahman

Introducing A. R. Rahman is a compilation album of score and songs composed by Chennai film composer A. R. Rahman. It was released in 2006 on Times Square Records. It includes excerpts from soundtracks spanning 1993–2001 that changed the face of Tamil film music and the cinema of India. Introducing A. R. Rahman features twenty-five tracks compiled by Iain Scott, taken from seventeen pictures in Tamil cinema.

Indian compositional forms, instrumentation, with train whistles, bells, looped bee–like vocals and dramatic percussion are coupled with orchestral sweeps and Carnatic accents with veena, pullanguzhal and chanting employed on the tracks.

Reception

Richie Unterberger writing for AllMusic felt that the net grouping of tracks "by intention or design is not to establish an identifiable style, but to demonstrate Rahman's versatility," saying it was a contrast to the "stereotypes many viewers have of the flashy, sometimes cheesy music heard in much Indian cinema, the material here is thoughtfully assembled and dignified."

Track listing

Disc 1

  1. "Bombay Theme Music" (from Bombay) (Instrumental) — 5:15
  2. "Chinna Chinna Aasai" (from Roja) — 4:55
  3. "Kannaalaney" (from Bombay) — 5:52
  4. "Mettuppodu" (from Duet) — 6:50
  5. "Ennavale Adi Ennavaley" (from Kadhalan) — 5:12
  6. "Anbe Anbe" from Jeans) — 5:32
  7. "Rasika" (from Star) — 7:07
  8. "Yaro Yarodi" (from Alaipayuthey) — 5:44
  9. "Maargazhi" (from Sangamam) — 6:58
  10. "Swasamae" (from Thenali) — 5:49
  11. "Thirakkaatha" (from En Swasa Kaatre) — 7:10
  12. "Minsara Kanna" (from Padayappa) — 6:15

Disc 2

  1. "Alai Payuthey" (from Alaipayuthey) — 3:42
  2. "Varaaga Nathi" (from Sangamam) — 6:19
  3. "Idhu Manmatha Maadham" (from Parthale Paravasam) — 4:47
  4. "Sowkkiyamma" (from Sangamam) — 5:55
  5. "Thom Karuvil Irunthom" (from Star) — 5:37
  6. "Kannodu" (from Jeans) — 5:10
  7. "Uyire Uyire" (from Bombay) — 7:16
  8. "Kulichaa Kutthalam" (from Duet) — 4:48
  9. "Anbendra" (from Minsara Kanavu) — 3:37
  10. "Kannamuchi" (from Kandukondain Kandukondain) — 5:11
  11. "Usilampatti Penkutti" (from Gentleman) — 4:40
  12. "Poraalae 2" (from Karuththamma) — 6:21
  13. "Nathiyae Nathiyae" (from Rhythm) — 6:52

Release history

Region

Date

Label

Format

Catalog

World

May 23, 2006

Times Square

CD

9053

India

SaReGaMa

CD

1587889

Beatscience

CD

Peace/Beat

CD

74415872

Personnel

  • All music composed and arranged – A. R. Rahman
  • Disc 1 – Vocals
    • Minmini (track 2)
    • K. S. Chitra (track 3, 11)
    • Unnikrishnan (track 5, 9, 11)
    • Hariharan (track 6)
    • S. Janaki (track 9)
    • Mahalaxmi Iyer, Vaishali, Richa Sharma (track 8)
    • S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (track 4, 10)
    • Sadhana Sargam (track 10)
    • Nithyasree Mahadevan (track 12)
    • Anuradha Sriram (track 6)
    • P. Susheela (track 4)
  • Disc 2 – Vocals
    • Kalyani Menon, Harini, Neyveli Ramalakshmi Krishna (track 1)
    • Shankar Mahadevan (track 2, 3, 5)
    • Nithyasree Mahadevan (track 3, 4, 6)
    • Hariharan (track 7)
    • K. S. Chithra (track 7, 10)
    • S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (track 8)
    • Anuradha Sriram (track 9)
    • Shahul Hameed (track 11)
    • Swarnalatha (track 1, 11, 12)
    • Unni Menon (track 13)
  • Release Coordinator – Yusuf Gandhi
  • Liner Notes, Compilation – Iain Scott