Latest news with #ARrahman
Khaleej Times
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Fahadh Faasil, Vadivelu's 'Maareesan' locks its release date
The Tamil comedy drama Maareesan, starring Malayalam star Fahadh Faasil and the veteran comedian Vadivelu, has set tongues wagging, and the beloved actors returning together on screen a second time might just be one of the reasons. Faasil, the Malayalam actor with a penchant for taking up unconventional roles, and Vadivelu, a leading comedian in Tamil cinema for over three decades, faced off in Mamannan, a searing take on the influence of caste and class in Indian politics. While Faasil won laurels for his portrayal as the antagonist, Vadivelu, used to generating laughs on-screen, made heads turn with a sobering role as the legislator seeking to carve a path of his own amid great odds. The movie, directed by Maari Selvaraj, had Academy Award winner AR Rahman as its music composer and was a hit at the box office. Scheduled to release on July 25, Maareesan has the duo in equally unconventional roles. The movie's teaser, which dropped recently, sees them as professionals, ostensibly salesmen, who travel across picturesque rural Tamil Nadu on a two-wheeler. In the one-and-half minute teaser, set in the backdrop of the melodious song Aaha inba nilavinile, from the 1957 classic Maya Bazaar, Faasil and Vadivelu get to display various emotions. The men walk through lush green fields, queue up outside ATMs, share a chai at a roadside stall and ultimately into an argument and fisticuffs, revealing mood shifts and plot twists. Comedienne Kovai Sarala, who formed a hit pair with Vadivelu through the 90s and 2000s, unites with him in Maareesan, directed by theTamil and Malayalam filmmaker Sudheesh Sankar and produced by RB Choudhary under his Super Good Films banner. Yuvan Shankar Raja is its music director. The film has cinematography by Kalaiselvan Sivaji and editing by Sreejith Sarang. Vivek Prasanna, best known for his roles in the rom-com Meyaadha Maan, Vikram Vedha and Sethupathi, film producer-turned-actor PL Thenappan and Livingston round off the film's cast. Faasil was last seen in the blockbusters Pushpa 2: The Rule and the Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Vettaiyan. Vadivelu's last role was in the action comedy Gangers, which saw him unite with director C Sundar after 15 years.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"The Most Important Thing About Art is Freedom," says AR Rahman at IGF London 2025
Oscar-winning composer on scent cinema, AI, and the reinvention of Indian music culture LONDON, June 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a deeply personal and expansive conversation at the final day of India Global Forum London 2025 at Taj St. James' Court, Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman urged artists, institutions, and governments alike to nurture creative freedom and cultural innovation. "In cinema for over 40 years now, I was bored with the same rectangle form," Rahman confessed. "It's just seeing and hearing—what else can we do?" That question sparked Le Musk, Rahman's pioneering immersive project which brings scent, touch, and narrative together. "The idea came from my ex-wife who loved perfumes. I thought, why not create a theatre experience with perfume and haptics?" Now coming to London for a year, Le Musk is more than a film—it's an artistic manifesto, showcasing Rahman's continued defiance of convention. The fireside chat turned from personal to philosophical, as Rahman explored the urgent need to preserve traditional Indian music, asking: "Where is the next shehnai player? Where is the next Bismillah Khan Sahib? Unless we find them, recognize them, and let the world see them—they'll vanish. That's where the inspiration for JHAALA came in." JHAALA, Rahman's initiative to platform and preserve Indian classical arts, seeks to make the invisible visible—through technology, talent discovery, and global exposure. On artificial intelligence, Rahman struck a balanced note of caution and curiosity: "AI is like Frankenstein—it just steals from human experiences, human knowledge, human art, and then puts together multiple thoughts. It's copied from us. And now it gets faster, because we feel with emotion—and it just runs on data." "We should use it for what it is—for speeding up the mundane. Don't fear it, use it." Beyond technology, Rahman called for a national cultural renaissance: "If you look at South Korea and K-pop, it emerged in the last 10 years because of government involvement and economic growth. It was a collective movement. That needs to happen with Indian music too. We need to reinvent the wheel." Throughout the session, one sentiment rang clear: true art is unbound by formats, expectations, or institutions. "The most important thing about art is freedom," Rahman stated. "You can't do that with a film studio." He ended with a reminder of music's enduring universality: "Music transcends religion. It heals. It connects. It's a shared soul." IGF London 2025's closing conversations made one thing certain: in a world fractured by algorithms and agendas, it is artists like Rahman who restore harmony—not just in sound, but in society. The forum forms part of IGF London 2025. With over 100+ speakers, 1000 participants, and events across iconic venues in London, IGF London 2025 encompasses a spectrum of topics - from technology and trade to culture and commerce. This year's edition marks a powerful milestone - a decade since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's landmark 2015 visit to the UK, and the two nations have finalised the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement. IGF London is the first major international platform to celebrate and analyse this historic achievement, unlock new opportunities that emerge from its conclusion, and shape the next phase of UK-India collaboration. About India Global ForumIndia Global Forum tells the story of contemporary India. The pace of change and growth India has set itself is an opportunity for the world. IGF is the gateway for businesses and nations to help seize that opportunity. To know more, click here Social Media Handles & Hashtag to Follow Twitter: @IGFUpdates & @manojladwaLinkedIn: India Global Forum#IGFLondon Photo - - View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNA
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
World's first multi-sensory VR experience launches in Singapore
Indian music legend AR Rahman makes his directorial debut with Le Musk, a short film set to transform virtual reality. Launching on Sunday (May 11) in Singapore, it's the world's first multi-sensory VR experience, blending sight, scent, and touch.
