Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman, known for revolutionising Indian film music, has ventured into uncharted territory – virtual reality (VR) filmmaking.
In Singapore to present his directorial debut of Le Musk at Golden Village Suntec City, Rahman sat down for an exclusive interview with tabla! following the premiere of this ambitious project which combines immersive VR technology with sight, sound and scent, to tell the story.
“People usually choose projects for commercial reasons,” Rahman said. “But Le Musk was different. It was something groundbreaking. A low-hanging fruit in a way – music, VR, scent – all combined. It was about creating something from India for the world.”
Developed over seven years using advanced VR and scent technology, Le Musk is not just a film – it is a multi-sensory experience. Viewers watch it seated in a special motion chair with a VR headset, surrounded by spatial sound and infused with 12 distinct aromas that are woven into the film’s narrative. This innovation offers audiences an unprecedented way of experiencing cinema.
Premiering Le Musk in Singapore held special significance for Rahman. “This is where I bought my first sequencer and sampler in 1986,” he fondly recalled. “It feels like coming full circle.”
Singapore is also home to one of Rahman’s most passionate fan bases. “Singapore fans are crazy in a good way,” he laughed.
“I hope those who experience Le Musk will share it with friends of all races and backgrounds. This project isn’t just Tamil or Hindi – it’s global. So I want people to bring their non-Indian friends too.”
When asked how he has remained fearless in the face of new creative challenges, Rahman smiled and said: “I am my first fan. Even when I compose music, that’s how I start. I never worry whether fans will accept something new. That’s the only way to keep creating.”
In Le Musk, the audience sits in specially designed motion chairs equipped with scent dispensers.
Said Rahman: “It’s not in competition with traditional cinema. It’s a personal, immersive experience. Your full attention is required.”
Mindful of viewer comfort, Rahman’s team also took extra steps to eliminate common VR pitfalls such as motion sickness.
The film took seven years to complete and was produced across multiple countries. Shot in Rome, Bosnia, and Armenia, the production brought together teams from Chennai, Los Angeles, Mumbai and Ukraine.
Music was recorded in Budapest and a song was produced in Paris.
“It’s a very international project,” Rahman said.
The story follows the journey of a woman drawn into a world of memory and mystery through the evocative power of scent.
The idea took root during a conversation in 2015 with friends and his ex-wife Saira in Los Angeles. Encouraged by friends from top technology firms, Rahman embarked on the bold venture.
While Rahman has always embraced technology as a composer, this was his first time leading a full-fledged film production. He not only directed and co-wrote the story but also funded much of it himself.
“The project ended up costing 40 to 50 times more than we expected. But somehow, the money came. An Arabic project came, doors opened, and we pushed forward,” he said.
“We screened the demo in Los Angeles and then at the Cannes Film Festival’s Extended Reality section. The response was overwhelming, especially from non-Indian audiences.”
In 2024, Le Musk received the Monolith Awards at the Hollywood Infinity Festival for Best Cinematic Immersive Experience in recognition of its artistic and technical innovation.
True to form, Rahman was deeply involved even in the physical aspects of the experience. The custom VR chairs used for Le Musk were initially very expensive – up to Rs 70 lakh each ($106,000). He later worked with a manufacturer in Coimbatore to bring down the cost to one third of the original quote.
Though primarily a creative force, Rahman is assembling a team to handle the logistics of film production, hinting that more cinematic ventures may be on the horizon. “Once I have that next-gen team, I can focus purely on the creative side.”
In Le Musk, Rahman has created not just a film but a multi sensory experience that redefines what cinema can be. His journey from a musician to a trailblazing director proves one thing: for Rahman, innovation is a never-ending journey.
