‘Zubeidaa’ director Shyam Benegal says AR Rahman’s music resonates more with audience, compares him to Vanraj Bhatia

The National Award-winning film 'Zubeidaa' is considered one of the finest works of Shyam Benegal. The film is also celebrated for its unforgettable songs and tracks. Tracks like "Dheeme Dheeme" and "Main Albeli" once again brought together the legendary AR Rahman and Javed Akhtar. In a recent interview, Benegal spoke highly of the Oscar-winning composer, calling him the best in the industry and comparing him to another acclaimed Indian composer, Vanraj Bhatia.

Benegal has worked with Bhatia on various projects since the 1970s, but he believes Rahman's music resonates more clearly with the audience. In an interview with O2india, Shyam Benegal said that Rahman’s method of using rhythms, melody, and harmonies was very different from Vanraj's. He noted that Vanraj's sense of rhythm and melodies, while present, were sometimes difficult to discern. In contrast, Rahman's music stands out due to its evident harmonies, dominant rhythm, and clear memorability.

He further discussed the contrasting styles of the two composers, highlighting that one possesses subtlety while the other exhibits grandeur and strength. He emphasized that, particularly in cinema, AR Rahman was the most successful. Rahman's music not only achieved greater success but also proved more effective for films.

'Zubeidaa' featured Kareena Kapoor Khan, Manoj Bajpayee, and Rekha in key roles. It was the final part of Shyam Benegal's trilogy, following 'Mammo' (1994) and 'Sardari Begum' (1996). The film is based on the life of actress Zubeida Begum, who married Hanwant Singh of Jodhpur and was the mother of journalist Khalid Mohammed, who also wrote the movie.







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