AR Rahman criticizes song remakes, emphasizing the importance of obtaining permission before reimagining someone else’s work
AR Rahman recently gave an interview to The Week where he expressed his disapproval of modern filmmakers remaking old songs and labeling them as reimaginings.
During the interview, AR Rahman said, “I believe in always following certain ethics. You can’t take a song from a movie and use it in another movie six years later, claiming you are reimagining it. You can’t reimagine people’s work without their permission.”
He also mentioned how people can use remade tracks and share them on social media but should not make them mainstream. Additionally, he criticized the misuse of AI by filmmakers, which could lead to bigger issues in the future.
AR Rahman emphasized that using AI means not paying the original composers whose style is being borrowed for new creations. This, according to him, raises ethical concerns that could result in job losses.
The music composer acknowledged that AI can assist in the mastering process of songs, but stressed the importance of a human touch and philosophical approach when creating music. He believes that in the future, audiences will appreciate authentic musicians who perform live with minimal technology, valuing imperfections.
Furthermore, AR Rahman shared why he utilized AI to replicate the voices of late singers Bamba Bakya and Shahul Hameed. He mentioned collaborating with Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth for a folk song in Lal Salaam, where he desired a voice similar to Shahul’s. They sought permission from the singers’ families and fairly compensated them for using their voices.
AR Rahman’s recent work includes composing tracks for Dhanush’s film Raayan, with upcoming projects like Genie, Thug Life, Kadhalikka Neramillai, and Suriya 45 in Tamil. He will also be involved in movies such as Chhaava, Tere Ishk Mein, RC16 starring Ram Charan, and Ramayana starring Ranbir Kapoor.
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