When the capital city was engrossed in the visit of Sultan Bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the Emir of Sharjah, another Sultan, but this time of music, quietly made a quick trip to the city on Monday. We are talking about none other than A.R. Rahman, the Mozart of Madras. Rahman made his way to Manderlay, a stately house at Poojappura, when he came visiting his close friend and former bandmate John Antony of Karnatriix.
All is hush hush on what the visit was about but music must have been on their mind when they tuned in after a long time as John says in his Facebook post: ‘Catching up after quite some time and had lots to catch’ [up with each other]. The ace guitarist also put up a photo on his wall of the two men in black exchanging notes in his garden.
Sivamani, A.R. Rahman, the late Jo Joo and John had formed a band, Roots, which had rocked Chennai when it was formed in the Eighties. They jammed with all kinds of musicians, including Carnatic musicians like T.V. Gopalakrishnan and Kadri Gopalnath. But once Rahman, then Dileep, got his first movie, the band moved on to a new groove.
As always, it is learnt that Rahman prayed at Beemapally mosque before leaving the city on the same day. Some photographs that found their way to Facebook are the only signs of the maestro’s visit to the city!
