Music director ar rahman biography meaning

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In a notable career spanning two decades, Rahman has garnered particular acclaim for redefining contemporary Indian film music and thus contributing to the success of several films.

Rahman is currently one of the highest paid composers of the motion picture industry. Finnish folk music band Varttina collaborated with Rahman to write the music for The Lord of the Rings theatre production and in 2004, Rahman composed the piece "Raga's Dance" for Vanessa-Mae's album Choreography performed by Mae and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Since 2004, Rahman has performed three successful world tours to audiences in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and India.

It was Sony’s first album with a South-Asian artist.

Vande Mataram Cover

Branching out from Tamil to Hindi and then to English movies, his music became a global phenomenon.

music director ar rahman biography meaning

In a counter affidavit, the GST commissioner said that Mr. Rahman had created an artificial segregation of his work and paid service tax only for 10% to 15% of total consideration received by him. By virtue of these qualities, broad ranging lyrics and his syncretic style, the appeal of his music cuts across the spectrum of classes and cultures within Indian society.

He passed his board exams with 1st division and wanted to become a computer engineer. S. DileepkumarAlso known asA. R. Rahman is more than a composer; he is an icon of innovation, a visionary, and a global ambassador of music. To celebrate 50 years of Indian independence, he composed an album named “Vande Mataram” in collaboration with Sony Music in 1997.

Even after achieving a lot, he did not stop learning and further polished his musical skills by getting trained in classical Hindustani, Carnatic, Qawwali and Western classical music under the guidance of different masters such as Dakshinamurthy, N. Gopalakrishnan, Krishnan Nair, Nithyanandham, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Jacob John. However, the rumours were put to rest by Mohini who called the claims untruthful and referred to Rahman as his ‘father.”

Awards

National Film Awards

  • Best Music Director for the movie “Roja” in 1992
  • Best Music Director for the movie “Minsara Kanavuin” in 1996
  • Best Music Director for the movie “Lagaan” in 2001
  • Best Music Director for the movie “Kannathil Muthamittal” in 2002
  • Best Music Director for the movie “Kaatru Veliyidai” in 2017
  • Best Music Director for the movie “Mom” in 2017
  • Best Film Director (Background Score) for the Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan: I in 2024

Academy Awards

  • Best Original Score and Best Original Song for the song “Jai Ho” from the movie “Slumdog Millionaire” in 2009

BAFTA 

  • Best Film Music for the movie “Slumdog Millionaire” in 2009

Grammy 

  • Best Compilation Soundtrack Album and Best Song Written for the song “Jai Ho” of the movie “Slumdog Millionaire” in 2009

Honours

  • Kalaimamani by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1995
  • Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2000
  • Awadh Samman by the Government of Uttar Pradesh in 2001
  • National Lata Mangeshkar Award by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 2004
  • Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2010

Favourites

  • Food: Palak Paneer, Rasam-Rice
  • Musicians: Ilayaraja, Michael Jackson
  • Destinations: Chennai, Mumbai, London

Property/Assets

Rahman owns a bungalow in Kodambakkam, Chennai.

A.

His film career began in 1992, when he started Panchathan Record Inn, a music recording and mixing studio attached to the backyard of his house. R. Rahman: The Iconic Music Maestro Who Changed Global Sound


A. The tour was kicked off on 11 June at the Nassau Coliseum in New York and span 16 major cities worldwide.

Some of his notable compositions were performed live by the London Philharmonic Orchestra in April 2010.

His contributions to music have forever altered the way we experience cinema, art, and life. Another Indian musician, Ilaiyaraja's song from Tamil-language film Ram Lakshman (1981), has also been chosen as part of the medley.

On 20 December 2012, Rahman released the single "Infinite Love" in both English and Hindi commemorating the last day of the Mayan calendar to spread hope, peace and love.

AR Rahmanian Group

+ 32.9K Facebook members

The focus of this series is on exploring the depths and roots of India’s rich musical heritage.

Controversies

Music on Prophet Muhammad 

Rahman got involved in a controversy when he composed music for a biopic on Prophet Muhammad called “Muhammad: The Messenger of God.”

Demand notice for service tax evasion

In October 2019, A.R.

Rahman, along with music composers C.R. Santhosh Narayanan and G.V. Prakash Kumar, received a demand notice from the tax authorities after it was found that they didn’t remit service tax in full by suppressing various receipts between 2013 and 2017. 🎶✨

A. Shekhar, was a composer for All India Radio, which significantly influenced Rahman’s musical inclinations.

S. Dileep KumarFull NameAllah Rakha Rahman Nickname(s)Isai Puyal, The Mozart of MadrasProfession(s)Music Director, SingerPhysical Stats & MoreHeight (approx.)5' 5" (165 cm)Weight (approx.)70 Kg (154 lbs)Eye ColourBrownHair ColourBlackPersonal LifeDate of Birth6 January 1967 (Friday)Age (as of 2025)58 YearsBirthplaceChennai, Tamil Nadu, IndiaZodiac signCapricornSignatureNationalityIndian HometownChennai, Tamil Nadu, IndiaSchoolPadma Seshadri Bal Bhavan, ChennaiCollegeMadras Christian College, Chennai
Trinity College of Music, Oxford University, United KingdomEducational QualificationDegree in Western Classical Music DebutMusic Director: Roja (1992, Tamil & Hindi)

Album: Vande Mataram (1997)
FamilyFather- R.

K. Shekhar (Music Composer)
Mother- Kareema Beegum
Brother- None
Sisters- A. R. Reihana, Fathima Rafiq and Ishrath Qadri
ReligionIslam (converted from Hinduism)AddressKodambakkam, Chennai
HobbiesPlaying the KeyboardAwards, HonoursNational Film Award

1992- Best Music Direction - Roja
1996- Best Music Direction - Minsara Kanavu
2001- Best Music Direction - Lagaan
2002- Best Music Direction - Kannathil Muthamittal
2017- Best Music Direction - Kaatru Veliyidai
2017- Best Music Direction - Mom
2024- Best Music Director - Ponniyin Selvan: I

Academy Award

2009- Best Original Score and Best Original Song for "Jai Ho" - Slumdog Millionaire

BAFTA Award

2009- Best Film Music - Slumdog Millionaire

Grammy Award

2009- Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture and Best Song Written for a Motion Picture for "Jai Ho" - Slumdog Millionaire

Honours

1995- Kalaimamani by the Government of Tamil Nadu
2000- Padma Shri by the Government of India
2001- Awadh Samman by the Government of Uttar Pradesh
2004- National Lata Mangeshkar Award by the Government of Madhya Pradesh
2010- Padma Bhushan by the Government of IndiaControversies• A fatwa or fringe was issued against him for composing music of biopic on Prophet Muhammad, called "Muhammad: The Messenger of God."

• In October 2019, a demand notice was issued against music composers A.R.

Rahman, C.R. Santhosh Narayanan, and G.V. Prakash Kumar for not having remitted service tax in full by suppressing various receipts between 2013 and 2017. In 2009, Time placed Rahman in its list of World's Most Influential People.

The UK based World Music magazine Songlines named him one of 'Tomorrow's World Music Icons' in August 2011.

Rahman has written jingles for ads and composed several orchestrations for athletic events, television and internet media publications, documentaries and short films. He was just 9 years old back then, and the responsibility to support his family came to him. Rahman scored the Mandarin language picture Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003 after researching and utilising Chinese and Japanese classical music, and won the Just Plain Folks Music Award For Best Music Album for his score of the 2006 film Varalaru (God Father).

He co-scored the Shekhar Kapur project and his first British film, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, in 2007.