day FYI Every slumdog has his
WHAT
A.R. Rahman Infinite Love Live
WHEN
April 30, 7.30pm
WHERE
The Meadow, Gardens By The Bay
TICKETS
$98 to $598 from www.dmllive.com
Indian composer-songwriter A.R. Rahman had a taste of the Hollywood dream - as well as international fame - when he won Oscars, Grammys and various other awards for the soundtrack of 2008 movie Slumdog Millionaire.
But his dream was to meet the King of Pop for a chat.
In 2009, just a few months before Michael Jackson's death, arrangements between both sides were made with the US superstar agreeing to a tete-a-tete which was then held at his Holmby Hills home in Los Angeles.
Rahman, who was in town to promote his upcoming gig, told The New Paper during an interview on Thursday: "It was very surreal. I wanted to meet him because I'm a big fan (of his) and so are my kids.
"I'm glad he obliged. We sat and purely talked about life,"
Rahman was last in Singapore in 2011 for his Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour held at The Grand Theater at Marina Bay Sands.
The 47-year-old added about Jackson's situation at the time: "It was too much pressure for a man to go through. He was 50 and at that age, your body needs a lot more rest."
Although he never got the opportunity to collaborate with his idol, Rahman has worked with others in the mainstream US music scene, like hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar on a track from the soundtrack of Million Dollar Arm, starring Jon Hamm and Lake Bell.
He is also struck by rising Kiwi singer Lorde.
When asked if he found her recent performance of Royals at last month's Grammy Awards a little weird and out of the ordinary, Rahman said: "That's exactly why I like it... a lot."
On the possibility of working with big K-pop acts such as Big Bang and 2NE1, he responded with a laugh: "Who?"
Rahman then jokingly picked out the most popular K-pop artist he knew: "Maybe Psy?"
He added: "I've worked with Jolin Tsai, but she's Taiwanese."
NO PRIOR PLANNING
Rahman revealed that his collaborations are not planned in advance.
He said: "I'm a very content person, especially with the opportunities I have, so I spend more time appreciating what I do get and not regretting stuff that I don't.
"When I work with artists, I don't plan on who I work with, it just happens when it happens."
On whether he'll score his third Danny Boyle film after Slumdog Millionaire and 2010's 127 Hours, Rahman - who has amassed "about 100" awards throughout his illustrious career - said: "So far, there is nothing yet.
"However, we continuously keep in touch and communicate to see if there are any other projects that we can do together."
WHO IS A.R. RAHMAN?
l He is married to Bollywood actress Saira Banu and they have two daughters, Khatija and Rahima, and a son, Ameen.
l An atheist through much of his childhood, he converted to Islam, the religion of his mother's family, in 1989 at the age of 23
after his younger sister fell severely ill in 1984.
l His Slumdog Millionaire score
has won him over 20 awards.
l His passion for music started at the age of 11 when he started playing musical instruments.
l In 2012
, he composed a Punjabi song for the London Olympics opening ceremony organised by English film director Danny Boyle.
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