Stills from the yet-to-be-released Guru

You've known Mani Ratnam for over a decade now. Is it easier to reach a common point creatively now?
It's never easy. The more we work together, the more difficult it is to find a common point. But we keep trying to rekindle a different area every time.

Do you have more creative independence because you're A R Rahman?
You're working as a team. So I can't say this is what I want and fit it in the film. All of us would like to work towards a product that appeals the most.

What's the toughest score that you've done with Mani Ratnam till date?
Thiruda Thiruda.

Tell us about Guru music.
It has seven tracks. I worked on it for about 11 months. There's some Gujarati influence (the film's makers recently admitted it's based on the life of Dhirubhai Ambani). I've sung some songs too.

You were very reluctant to sing earlier, but you've been singing more often now. So do enjoy singing?
I'm reluctant now too. Mostly, I get suggestions from the director. It's also a question of being careful as a singer. For me, Maa Tujhe Salaam was the biggest challenge as a singer and the song got accepted. More recently, singing in English was a bigger challenge – the anti-poverty anthem for UN ‘Pray for Me Brother' should release in a few months, and I'll know how people take it.

Who do you think your voice suits best?
Me (laughs). It's mostly the director who decides these things.

Could you tell us a little about filmmakers you've worked with?
Everyone obviously has a different approach to music.
The best thing is that all of them understand music. There's no rule that they should like a certain type of music. The way I work is that I give them a couple of ideas – sometimes it's bang on and sometimes they come back and I give them 10 or 20 other options. For instance, Ashutosh knows the basics and is all for maintaining tradition in today's world. I too want to compose classical music in my films' soundtracks, so it works well for both of us.
And taking Rang De Basanti as an example, I only had the groove of Paathshala on the phone and told Rakesh to hear it out and started building the song. It's a process of creativity.
I don't compose a song with the thought that I have to please a certain filmmaker.

How was it working with Gulzar?
It never feels like work. You never feel strained with him. It's like some mushaira session is on.

How did the Bappi Lahiri song in Guru turn out?
He's sung Bolo Guru, the bhang song. Initially we thought that Abhishek Bachchan should sing it. Later, I had heard Bappida in Dubai and told Mani Ratnam that he's an amazing singer, so we decided on him. Bappida came down and finished it in a day.

Is it like Rang Barse from Silsila?
I haven't heard Rang Barse, so I don't know.

Have you introduced any new singers in this soundtrack?
Ya, there's a Toronto-based singer caller Mariam Taller who's sung a track called Mayya Mayya. There's an Arabic feel to her voice. She had also done background vocals for Rang De Basanti.

What's your favourite track from Guru?
Tere Bina. You have to listen to it. I don't want to give away too much now.