This question is not directed at A.R. Rahman, but to R. Prasanna, who has delighted rasikas with Carnatic music concerts on his guitar – and is a jazz musician as well.
Mylapore–bred Prasanna provided the music for the short documentary “Smile Pinki", which won at the Oscars this week. The film narrates the treatment of the eight-year old Pinki, who was afraid to smile because of her cleft-lip. Pinki, born in a poor family in Mirzapur, Utthar Pradesh, was teased mercilessly by other children. After surgery sponsored by ‘Smile Train’ the international NGO, and performed by Dr. Subodh Kumar Singh, she learns to smile. The picture has been made in Hindi and Bhojpuri with sub-titles in English.
In his website, Prasanna says, “I am thrilled for Pinki and other beautiful children whose lives will hopefully change after the film 'Smile Pinki' won the 2009 Oscars for 'Best Documentary short'. I am delighted to have played a part in this film as the music composer. Congrats Megan!”
The movie is produced and directed by Megan Mylan, based in San Francisco, who wanted a purely Indian score for the film. She approached Prasanna and told him her requirements. And he obliged. Listen to this.
Prasanna became involved with Carnatic music at a young age, listening to his sister learning it. He studied music from violin vidushi A. Kanyakumari. He has also played the guitar for some of A. R.Rahman’s film compositons. A graduate of IIT, Chennai, he later studied music in the Berklee College of Music in the US. He now lives in the US, and is the proud father of a one month baby who likes to listen to her dad play classical on the guitar.
We don’t know if Prasanna was at the Oscars, but Pinki was, with her father and Dr. Singh. The NGO sponsored her trip.
More on Prasanna here.
Photo: Courtesy Internet
