In his footsteps

“In the mid-1990s,during Roja,I became a huge fan of Rahman. The Internet wasn’t so big and information on him was scarce. At that time,I would read everything possible I could find about him. I used to think I’m his biggest fan,” says Gopal Shrinivasan,a Hyderabad-based financial consultant. But as the network opened up,I realised I was wrong and that there are many people who revere him.” On January 1,1999,Shrinivasan started a group fan club online with a handful of members to start with. But over time,it gained popularity to log in thousands of registered members including several from Delhi.

Though active online,the group didn’t witness any activity of consequence till 2005. “Rahman had announced his Bangalore concert and we all knew we had to be a part of this somehow,” recounts Shrinivasan who is also the group moderator. “About 20 of us converged from all over the country and for four days we did voluntary work for the concert organizers. That is when we all really bonded for the first time.”

Ever since,the group has been hosting regular meets in Mumbai. “We try to meet once a month to jam and enjoy Rahman’s music at my place in Andheri,” adds Swapnil Mistry,a professional singer.

In the background,excited chatter and conversation flows easily. What’s surprising is that the group — though a melting pot of cultures — uses Tamil as their first language. “Many of us learnt how to read,write and talk in Tamil because of Rahman’s music,” says 29 -year-old Anand Swamy,a Mumbaikar,who has a peculiar superstition before a Rahman concert. “Every time I attend his concert I shave my head,” he confesses,a tad sheepishly. It’s easy to believe that as moderator of the group,Shrinivasan is probably the most level-headed till the group spills the beans on him. “Gopal buys a copy of every cassette and CD with AR Rahman written on it. He has eight CDs of Bombay just because the album was launched with different jacket covers,” laughs Mistry.

The stories are endless — at times hilarious and at times moving — but their passion for the maestro’s music evokes respect. “Every time we ask him what he wants for his birthday,he says we should help the needy on that day,” says 31-year-old Vithur who distributes food to the poor every Sunday in Chennai on behalf of the group. No wonder some people say that Rahman’s so down-to-Earth,he has a hunch.