A.R.Rahman's Jana Gana Mana given clean chit

The controversy surrounding the Jana Gana Mana album by A.R.Rahman came to an end today, with the Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice Jyothimani dismissing the petition to ban the album. According to the petitioner, Mohanraj, General Secretary of Jebamani Janata Party, the music director’s intention to release the album was to cash in on the national anthem.

Moreover, he alleged that the national anthem should be sung within stipulated seconds but Rahman has sung it for over seven minutes.

The judges, while dismissing the petition on both counts, said that it is the right of the citizens to sing the national anthem and it cannot be deemed as an act of disrespect. Also they gave the verdict that there is no such rule as to the stipulated time.

A R Rahman is thrilled to score music for the animated movie Sultan The Warrior

A R Rahman is thrilled to score music for the animated movie Sultan The Warrior that would feature Rajnikanth.

Says Rahman, ' composing music for an animated movie is no easy joke. It is very demanding. Everything is artificial in an animated film, but the music plays a prominent film.Music is no doubt a character in such movies. I am excited to work in the project that features Rajnikanth'.

Rahman has been assigned to work for Golden Age, an English film, to be directed by Sheker Kapur. 'I know Shekher for over 10 years. We had worked for a advertisement commercial before. To be part of his movie is a great joy,' says Rahman. Grammy award- winner Craig Armstrong is also working with Rahman for the movie.

A.R. Rahman released new patriotic album Jana Gana Mana

A decade after Rahman sang the ‘Vande Mataram’ in a tune reflective of the mood of a nation that was 50 years young, Allah Rakha Rahman aka A R Rahman Saturday released Jana Gana Mana, his musical score of India’s National Anthem, in Chennai.

The album was released in Sathyam Cinemas as part of the celebration of the country’s 60th year of independence. It was also promoted at Music World, Spencers Plaza, Chennai.

With some of the big names of Indian music industry, ranging from D K Pattammal to SP Balasubramanium and Balamuralikrishna to Lata Mangeshkar lending their voices, the album is a yet another venture from the Bharatbala-Rahman duo that came out with Vande Mataram in 1997.

Rahman said it was of great value to score music for the national anthem.

Responding to a query, he said he could not single out any particular singer as his favourite from a collection of 35 soundtracks. “Everybody is so impressive,” he said. The DVD has 25 film strips shot in different locations in India.

The man, who is now tasting success at the international arena, has not given any solo number and declined to comment on why it was so.

Bharatbala, the producer of Jana Gana Mana, appreciated Rahman for his support for the venture.