Pray for me, Brother

A R Rahman does not stop surprising me. ‘Pray for Me, Brother’ is an exceptional composition. The modulations, especially towards the middle of the song when Rahman reaches a vocal crescendo are out of this world. Gave me goose bumps. Brilliant vocals, mind blowing music, and the presence of the genius make it one in a million. Amazing!
One goes deeper and discovers that the song as been composed under the aegis of the UN and who better to lend voice and music to an idea that germinates at the end of the road for floundering humanity that A R Rahman, the epitome of cultural amalgamation and religious unity. One of India’s greatest exports to the world of international music, he deserves every accolade that he gets. The song serenades, cajoles and forces you to think. The world’s getting smaller, but every one’s having problems making the distance. There’s death, destruction and destitution. And no one’s willing to take the first step towards reconciliation. Rahman does it with this song. The song has the potential for bridging gaps wherever they exist – a great mascot of world peace and human co-existence.
The video is cutting-edge. Neat editing and cuts make it a stunning sequence. The last scene of an African-American man embracing a Caucasian white girl is symbolic of whatever the song stands for and advocates. Another still of famine-stricken children in Darfur is mind-numbing. There’s hunger and squalor. There’s pain and pity. And Rahman evokes emotions any which way. With new-found success with his immensely improved vocal strengths (with Tere Bina from Guru becoming a huge hit) the musical genius is on his way to the hall of fame. If he has not reached one already, that is.
And this, mind you is not the first time he has attempted something like this. But ‘Pray for Me, Brother’ is by far his best attempt at theme-based music. Written against poverty and hunger an in consonance with the UN Millennium Development Goals, the song is a brilliant portrayal of the urgent need for more food reaching the famine-affected people, aid reaching the war-ravaged million, and a change of heart in general.