I asked him about his unmistakable stamp in all his albums and creations, Rahman smiled, “Let me tell you it is not deliberate but it is my identity and as long as does not come in the way of my versatility I’m okay.” Where do artistes like you seek inspiration? “From life, from faith, for me it is also from my prayers. Nothing is possible without His will, not my talent nor my innumerable compositions.”
Producers say that to work with Rahman you have to stay in Chennai and keep awake all night. There is a pause, then he says, “I’m not forcing anyone to work with me but if they want to, they will have to come where I live and that is Chennai. I like working in the nights but they are not forced to stay awake. Shyam Benegal didn’t during Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose or Zubeida. Subhash Ghai does because he enjoys the creative process, so it’s their individual choices.