A. R. Rahman's music

I wonder if it is just me or everyone else faces the problem of not 'getting' his music directly! The latest addition in a long list is the soundtrack of Guru... The first time I heard it, it sounded average at best. Sometime later, I found myself humming this really enchanting tune, which I later realized is from 'Tere bina' from the same soundtrack. Next up, I see the song 'Barso Re' on TV (with Sir Mani Ratnam's unmistakable and brilliant touch) and my iPod saw the song joining the first one with 5-stars. Barely a week has passed, and I seem to be 'discovering' the rest of the tracks one by one...

I was wondering why this has been happening to me through 'Dil Se', 'Yuva', 'Rangeela', 'Roja', 'Rang De Basanti', 'Swades', 'Lagaan' and almost any other soundtrack churned out by who I consider to be the best composer in India, miles ahead of anyone else. Then it struck me - a distinct pattern among all the hit soundtracks - there's absolutely no pattern, no repetition, no particular genre with which you can club any of his efforts. There is no 'formula'. It is innovation every single time. As with any other form of innovation, it takes time getting used to... Also like any successful innovation, it leaves an indelible mark.

Admittedly, this is not the only method by which one can make eminently lovable music. The trio of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy are doing a great job with the soundtrack of 'Salaam-e-ishq' destined to join their other bestsellers like 'Kal Ho Na Ho', 'Dil Chahta Hai', and the likes. But there is a quite easily discernible pattern to their work. With A. R. Rahman, you have the work of a master, each effort unique. This is not to say he cannot adapt his style - with the title track RDB, he managed to prove he can bhangra better than any north-Indian composer worth his salt! But to support my point, I'll cite some works which exemplify the innovation:

1. Satrangi Re from Dil Se - this has to be one of the prime examples... Name one song which can come even close!
   
2. Anjaana Anjaani from Yuva
3. Humma from Bombay
   
4. Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera from Swades
5. Chandralekha from Chor Chor
6. Our National Anthem!
   

This brief list is only indicative and nowhere close to being comprehensive! I'll stick my neck out by saying that there is an element of innovation in every song composed by him (with the only probable exception being the soundtrack of 'Doli Saja Ke Rakhna', which is the sole disappointing example I can think of in this regard and otherwise - was there a connection?)

I'll go back to discovering the 'Guru' soundtrack now... :)