Several tamil newsmagazines reported that Rahman had signed K.Balachander's next to be directed by his assistant Selva inspite of the debacle of Paarthale Paravasam. On January 18th, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy bagged the Screen Award for their peppy score in Dil Chahta Hai beating Rahman who was nominated for Lagaan. In a strange incident the quirky Bal Thackeray announced that he was declaring a ban on synthesisers since it was spoiling Indian culture and music and vented his ire on Rahman describing his music as the sound of washing vessels. Rahman was nominated for the music of Lagaan at the 48th Filmfare Awards on January 17th. Much was expected from the combination and in keeping with the demands of the film Rahman turned out an appropriate score that went down well with his fans but not so much with the masses at large. January 12th marked the first release of the year for Rahman, the much awaited Kannathil Muthamittal, his seventh outing with Mani Ratnam. January 11th saw Rahman taking the Zee Cine Awards for Best Composer for 'Lagaan', the first awards of the year.
Some newer reports spoke of Rahman actually doing Nasser's Popcorn which was supposedly based on the life of Illayaraja.Įven as Parthiban put off 'Yelelo' came in the news that Karunanidhi was writing a song with the Pongal festival as its theme for the film. " Director Pravinkanth took out a huge ad in the newspapers on Rahman's 35th birthday on January and used the opportunity to announce his next film 'Thullal' supposedly with music by Rahman making one seriously question Rahman's wisdom in continuing his association with the director.
You look at the script through their eyes and you know what to do, and what not to do. People like Aamir Khan and director Ashutosh Gowarikar are the kind of people who live a film. And in Lagaan I was involved in every aspect of the film. While composing, the involvement with the script, cast and director makes a lot of difference. I think what has worked about the music of Lagaan is that all the departments-lyrics, background score and vocals-connected. In reaction Rahman said, "My effort was to combine classical and folk to create period music. Rahman was nominated for both Best background Score and Best Score categories for 'Lagaan'. The first significant event of the year was Rahman receiving a double nomination for Lagaan at the annual Screen Awards. 2002 began with everyone hoping that Rahman would firmly put a dismal 2001 behind him.