There is hardly a music fan who would not know the name AR Rahman or his music, but not many will know the man behind the music. Now here’s a book that fans of Rahman will love to read since it allows a peek into his life. Come August, Notes of a Dream: The Authorized Biography of A.R. Rahman by Krishna Trilok, will tell the story of the maestro who is a national pride and winner of National Film Awards, Academy Awards, Grammys and hearts.
Through the book, Rahman allows fans a glimpse into his mind and his philosophies. Its a tale of hope, perseverance, positivity and love and features intimate details provided by Rahman himself, as well as anecdotes from key people close to him. AR Rahman says, ‘There is no composition greater or more beautiful than life. Life is a song we compose through our choices and what we give. All these years, you’ve known me through my music. Now I look forward to you reading about who I am, and the story of where I am going.’ Meru Gokhale, Editor-in-Chief, Literary Publishing, For Penguin Random House India, says, ‘This is a coup for Penguin Random House, the first authorised biography of India’s musical superstar, and we are delighted to be the publishers of this book.’
From his early days as a composer of advertisement jingles to his first big break into feature films, from his keenness to integrate new technology with a good old-fashioned music to the founding of his music school, from his resounding entry on the international stage to his directorial debut, from his philanthropy to his inner life, Notes of a Dream aims to capture the nostalgia, the drama and the extraordinary success story of AR Rahman.
Danny Boyle who has penned the foreword to the book writes, ‘His talent is matched by his appetite, his modesty and his generosity. All surrendered to the troubadour mentality; we are at the service of the music.’
For Chennai based biographer Krishna Trilok, also the author of a fantasy novel Sharikrida, this is his first non-fiction book. He says, ‘We all dream of living a life that will in some way touch the world around us positively. And we constantly look to those who have done this for guidance. It is my honour to share the life story of one of India’s biggest stars—a story that is graceful and inspiring proof of the power of love, talent and hard work.’
Manasi Subramaniam, Senior Commissioning Editor, Penguin Random House India, says, ‘When I read the first draft of this manuscript, I put on my headphones and started listening to my favourite Rahman songs. From Rahman’s early days to his big break to his leap into international stardom, Krishna Trilok captures it all with the rhythm and melody, the ups and downs, of a terrific soundtrack by the man himself. This book is somehow a combination of a nostalgia trip, a musical journey and a warm, affectionate glimpse into the mind and heart of one of the greatest virtuosos of our time.
