Vishal Bhardwaj: Rahman changed scenario of Indian music

A. R. Rahman and Vishal Bhardwaj

Director-music composer Vishal Bhardwaj says that he is a big fan of popular music composer A. R. Rahman who changed the country's music scenario.

A. R. Rahman and Vishal Bhardwaj

"He inspires so much with his music. With Rahman's actually the scenario of Indian music completely changed when he came in. I remember when the music of 'Roja' was introduced, that sound completely changed the whole country's perspective towards music," he said at the music launch of film 'Jugni' directed by Shefali Bhushan. Rahman was also present on the occasion.

The music of the film has been composed by singer-composer Clinton Cerejo, who has previously sung for both of them in numerous films and also worked as a music producer in Bhardwaj's films.

Bhardwaj, who himself is one of the finest music composers continued his praise for Rahman. "He got the Oscar later but I think his sound brought us to the international standard, way back in 1990s," he said.

'Roja' was the debut work of Rahman, which fetched him numerous awards such as the National Film Award for Best Music Direction.

Rahman had earlier said that he was big fan of Bhardwaj and liked his film "Omkara" and his music in "Maachis", but Bhardwaj retorted that he was a bigger fan of the Oscar winner.

Bhardwaj has sung for a composer other than himself for the first time in "Jugni". And Rahman's song is one he sings along with his spiritual teacher Kashif, who had written the lyrics of his song "Khwaja Mere Khwaja", and decided to give it to the co-producer of the film, Karan Grover.