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'One never intends to be a path-breaker'

"It's near the Chennai airport. And we plan to start work on it very soon," Rahman told IANS. He says starting a music conservatory is a dream he has nurtured for years.

"I feel young talented musicians in our country, specially those who want to learn Western classical music, have nowhere seriously creative to go. We need to cultivate a taste for Western symphonic music so that an average musically-inclined young musician would be as enthused about learning the violin as the sitar," said Rahman.

The land purchase puts Rahman's dream plan into third gear.

Speaking on his latest music soundtrack in Hindi, Rahman said: "I wouldn't even want to compare my output in Jodhaa Akbar with what Ashutosh Gowariker and I did in Lagaan or Swades.

"Or, for that matter, what Rakeysh (Omprakash Mehra) and I did in Rang De Basanti (RDB). You've to go by your instincts in every form of art. I've never intentionally tried to break the mould. I've tried to do what's right."

Two of his old scores are also ready for release.

"Two years back Abbas Tyrewallah's Jaane Tu Jaane Na and Adaa by Tanvir Ahmed were recorded. These will come in the next two months."

And, of course, there's Subhash Ghai's magnum opus Yuvraj. "It's got Western classical vibes, but the sound is very Indian, very mellow."

He also has Mehra's Dilli 6 coming up. "It's turned out very well. Who can say how it will be accepted? Even a small idea can change the world.

"When I came into Hindi cinema with Roja, the whole road was empty. Good work can be done even on YouTube on the net. So let's not blame the lack of opportunities for the inconsistent musical output.

"Some of the stuff is undoubtedly good. You can't just write everything off. But I feel the whole idea of pop art has to change.

"Malayalam director Adoor Gopalakrishnan says TV has corrupted popular tastes. I'd have to agree with that. I feel the film medium deserves much better. Even I get pulled into projects which are not right."

Ask Rahman whom he considers a path-breaker after himself and he quips: "Why do we need a path-breaker? One never intends to be a path-breaker. If it happened I'm fortunate.

"Right now we need more experimental melodies in film music. The problem is that the minute you start composing a soundtrack, you're thinking you'll do what sells in the charts. Your intention becomes diluted. It's more about marketing than creativity.

"Which songs should go on the shelf, which should go into the pubs — these questions should come after you create the music. And there's a diminishing respect for creative people. Stars get all the respect because they bring in the audience. But what about other creative people?"

But Rahman is hopeful. "It will all taper off. We'll have more talent coming in."