Music creator A R Rahman turns a story teller, with music as its heart

A R Rahman launching his maiden production virtually today

Now we will see the Oscar winning, music maestro A R Rahman in a completely new role – that of a story teller and a producer. He has finally launched his maiden production 99Songs virtually, under his banner YM Movies, today. Rahman has written the story of 99 Songs, so he turns a story teller from his maiden venture.

A R, as he fondly likes to be addressed as, has brought in quite many firsts, in his first venture. Number one, he has brought a new young boy from Kashmir Ehan Bhat, as his hero. Number two, his hero, knows music like the back of his palm, in this musical film, Ehan first learnt to play piano in Rahman’s music conservatory KMMC, based in Chennai. Three, A R also picks a new girl, to do the part of the heroine namely Edilsy Vargas. Four, he has chosen a young Vishvesh Krishnamoorthy from Tamil Nadu, as his debutant director.

FILM POSTER 99 Songs

Rahman has also chosen Rahul Ram from the Indian Ocean band to play part in its creative team.

Announcing the launch of his film today evening in a very poignant way, Rahman said, “I started my journey as a musician and now I am a story teller. I feel immense pleasure in presenting you my first movie 99Songs. It has been heard over ages that patience is the biggest virtue. I have been working on this film for 10 years. We have made this film with the belief that just one song can change the world.”

So one a guess that the film is a musical, in which songs are the stories as talking about his maiden production venture, Rahman had also said in a statement recently, "99 Songs is about one man's struggle against the old and the new world. And the antidote is music."

He also introduced his hero Ehan, “What can I say about him? That his great grandfather is pioneer in theatre, his mother was great actress and his grandfather was great musician? No! I am just joking. None of this is true.” Quoting sufi saint and poet Khalil Gibran, he explained what he meant, “It is said that talents are passed on from generation to generation. Only once the Universe conspires bring you to a legend, makes you a king. As Khalil Gibran said, ‘Children come through you, but not from you. So a very talented Ehan, comes from Kashmir, a land of beauty, and cultural legacy. He learnt piano at the conservatory for one year to play the role he has been given. But I can see that he is here to stay.”

Ehan Bhat, the lead actor from Kashmir, thanks Rahman for his "dream come true"

Thanking him profusely Ehan said quoting Sufi poet Jalauddin Rumi, “What you are seek is seeing you, I have been seeing to work with you Sir, and finally I found you as it was a dream to work with you.”

Apart from the newcomers, the musical drama will also have supporting roles from actors such as Lisa Ray, Manisha Koirala, Aditya Seal, composer-drummer Ranjit Barot, and Indian Ocean's Rahul Ram.

AR Rahman has also launched of its first song in Tamil Nadu. The film 99 Songs will be released in theatres on April 16 in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.