Javed Akhtar remembers AR Rahman's strange but distinctive method: ‘Whenever we entered the music room, he would light a candle…’

The best songs in the Indian music industry have come from the collaboration of Javed Akhtar and AR Rahman. Working with Rahman on films like ‘Lagaan’, ‘Swades’ and ‘Dil Se…’, Javed recently recalled two statements from the Oscar-winning composer that he remembers to date.

During a conversation with O2india, Javed called Rahman an unusual man. Akhtar told O2india, “He is not a usual person. Let me share something unique yet strange. Once we entered the music room. This was when we began working together. There used to be a candle in the room. After entering the room, he used to light the candle. I used to wonder what is the need of the candle when the room is lit? However, I never asked him anything. One day, I think he noticed my curiosity and told me the reason behind his habit of lighting a candle. He said, ‘Everything is mechanical here. Everything is a machine. There should be something that’s not a machine. Something real. This candle is not a machine. Its light is not a machine. It is not a bulb. It makes us realise that there are other things in life which is beyond machines.”

Recalling another incident with Rahman, Javed shared that although the music composer is younger than him, he said something very wise to him that he will never forget. He revealed that they were working together for a producer, who made useless suggestions for a song and as soon as he left, Javed felt irritated and remarked that how the producer talked such nonsense with so much confidence. To which, Rahman replied, ‘No worries. We must listen to them. We should not compromise with our work, but at the same time when we listen to different opinions and try to satisfy them without losing our standard, we will do different kind of work. If we do only what we like, then there will be a similarity in the work. Our work will become monotonous.’ What a wise thing to say? These two statements of Rahman, I will never forget.”