AR Rahman to showcase Indian classical music in new Amazon Prime series

Bring in Independence day with AR Rahman! The music maestro launches his new show, titled Harmony With AR Rahman, on 15 August. The Academy Award-winner for Slumdog Millionaire (2008) travels the country to showcase Indian vocal traditions and instruments in the music-based show.

The composer will harmonize with four different classical musicians from India to show how their music reflects their geographic regions. The musicians featured are Maharashtra's Ustad Mohi Baha'un-din Dagar, Kerala's Kalamandalam Sajith Vijayan, Manipur's Lourembam Bedabati Devi and Sikkim's Mickma Tshering Lepcha. In the final episode, all four musicians will reunite with Rahman for a grand finale.

"My aim, through the series, was to recreate sounds from traditional instruments from a contemporary perspective and dangerously improvise." Rahman said in a statement, adding, "I am excited to be a part of an opportunity to showcase our Indian traditions on a global stage like Amazon Prime Video and bring this musical treat to their viewers."

The busy musician has a number of projects he's working on down south including his own film, 99 Songs (2018), for which he's written the screenplay. He has signed on as composer for upcoming Hindi film, Kizie Aur Manny, an adaptation of the best-selling book and movie, The Fault In Our Stars.

This past week, he was spotted hanging out with Hollywood actor Will Smith in Nassau, Bahamas Island. He indicated the duo had a 'brainstorming session' about something close to his heart.
Rahman is also due to travel North America this August and September with Mano, Neeti Mohan, Ranjit Barot, Udit Narayan, Javed Ali, Haricharan, Jonita Gandhi and Linda Lind.

Watch the trailer of the Amazon Prime series below: