Lyricist Sameer Anjaan recently shared an unforgettable tale about working with music maestro AR Rahman, detailing a bizarre 3 am jungle meeting where other famous personalities were found sleeping while waiting for the composer.
AR Rahman’s Unique Work Style
AR Rahman is renowned not just for his groundbreaking music, but also for his unconventional working habits. It’s no secret that the Oscar-winning composer prefers to work late into the night, often keeping filmmakers, lyricists, and fellow musicians waiting for hours.
These legendary late-night sessions are part of his creative process, though they can certainly test the patience of his collaborators. Many industry veterans have stories about adapting to Rahman’s nocturnal schedule.
The Fateful 3 AM Call
Lyricist Sameer Anjaan, known for his prolific work in Bollywood, recounted his experience while collaborating on the 2002 film, “The Legend of Bhagat Singh.” He, along with director Rajkumar Santoshi and producer Ramesh Taurani, were scheduled for a music session with Rahman.
Initially planned for 11 pm, the meeting kept getting postponed. Finally, at 3 am, the trio received the call to come to Rahman’s house. What they found upon arrival was already quite a scene.
A House Full of Sleeping Legends
When Sameer and his colleagues reached Rahman’s residence, they discovered other notable personalities already there, patiently waiting. Or rather, not so patiently.
Film director Ram Gopal Varma was found fast asleep on the stairs. Subhash Ghai, another veteran filmmaker, was passed out on a swing in the lawn. Inside, legendary singer Asha Bhosle was still singing, while Udit Narayan was “talking nonsense” upstairs, according to Sameer.
Despite this star-studded waiting room, AR Rahman himself was nowhere to be found.
A Mysterious Journey into the Jungle
Since the maestro wasn’t at his home, Rahman’s assistant instructed Sameer, Santoshi, and Taurani to follow another car to a different location. This journey took an unexpected turn.
They were led off the highway, deep into what Sameer described as a “dense jungle.” A man holding a lantern guided their car through the darkness, making the experience feel more like a scene from a horror film than a music session.
Finally, The Maestro’s Den
After this bizarre and adventurous drive, they finally arrived at their destination. Deep within the jungle, they found AR Rahman inside a small cottage. He was seated at his keyboard, completely engrossed in his music, wearing headphones.
It was in this secluded hut that Rahman unveiled the tunes he had composed for “The Legend of Bhagat Singh.” The unique setting certainly made for an unforgettable listening session.
Sameer’s Vow
The entire experience – from the late-night wait with sleeping legends to the eerie jungle trek – left a lasting impression on Sameer. He humorously recalled vowing never to attend another midnight session with AR Rahman after that night.
This anecdote only adds to the mystique surrounding AR Rahman’s creative genius and his truly unique approach to making music.
- AR Rahman is known for his unconventional late-night music sessions.
- Lyricist Sameer Anjaan experienced a 3 am call for a session that led him to a jungle.
- Other famous personalities like Ram Gopal Varma and Subhash Ghai were found sleeping while waiting for Rahman.
- The unique session with Rahman took place in a remote cottage in the middle of a dense jungle.
