Allah Rakha Rahman (Tamil: ?.???.???????; born January 6, 1966 as A. S. Dileep Kumar (?????? ??????) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) is an Indian film composer, record producer, musician and singer. His film scoring career began in the early 1990s. He has won thirteen Filmfare Awards, four National Film Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards. [1] Working in India's various film industries, international cinema and theatre, by 2003, Rahman, in a career spanning over a decade, has sold more than 100 million records of his film scores and soundtracks worldwide, [2] and sold over 200 million cassettes, [3] making him one of the world's all-time top selling recording artists. Time magazine has referred to him as the "Mozart of Madras" and several Tamil commentators have coined him the nickname Isai Puyal (Tamil: ????? ?????; English: Music Storm ). [4] In 2009, the magazine placed Rahman in the Time 100 list of 'World's Most Influential People'. [5]

A.R. RAHMAN TICKETS Trans-Siberian Orchestra The Eagles Tickets Sebastian Maniscalco Tickets Andrea Bocelli Tickets Rod Wave Tickets Jeff Dunham Tickets

Early life and influences

A. R. Rahman was born in a musically affluent Tamil family. His father R. K. Shekhar, was a Chennai based composer and conductor for Malayalam films. Rahman lost his father at a young age and his family rented out musical equipment as a source of income. He was raised by his mother Kareema (Kashturi). During these formative years, Rahman served as a keyboard player and an arranger in bands such as "Roots", with childhood friend and percussionist Sivamani, John Anthony, Suresh Peters, JoJo and Raja. ^[6] Rahman is the founder of the Chennai-based rock group, "Nemesis Avenue". ^[7] He played the keyboard and piano, the synthesizer, the harmonium and the guitar. His curiosity in the synthesizer, in particular increased because, he says, it was the “ideal combination of music and technology". ^[8] He began early training in music under Master Dhanraj. At the age of 11, he joined, as a keyboardist, the troupe of Ilaiyaraaja, one of many composers to whom musical instruments belonging to Rahman's father were rented. Rahman later played in the orchestra of M. S. Viswanathan and Ramesh Naidu, accompanied Zakir Hussain, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and L. Shankar on world tours and obtained a scholarship to the Trinity College of Music where he graduated with a degree in Western classical music. ^[9]

Career

Film scoring and soundtracks

In 1992, Rahman began his own music recording and mixing studio attached to the backyard of his house called the Panchathan Record Inn, which was developed into India's most advanced recording studio. ^[10] He initially composed music jingles for advertisements, Indian Television channels and music scores in documentaries, among other projects. In 1992, he was approached by film director Mani Ratnam to compose the score and soundtrack for Ratnam's Tamil film Roja . The debut led Rahman to receive the Rajat Kamal award for Best Music Director at the National Film Awards, the first time ever by a first-time film composer. Roja s score met with high sales and acclaim, in its original and dubbed versions, bringing about a marked change in film music at the time, and Rahman followed that success up with his work on the music for Kadhalan, including samples of various music styles such as rap.

He also produced music scores for Tamil–language films of the Chennai film industry including Ratnam's politically charged Bombay , the urbanite Kadhalan , Bharathiraaja's Karuththamma, the saxophonic Duet, Indira, and the romantic comedies Mr. Romeo and Love Birds, which gained him considerable notice. ^{[11] [12]} His fanbase in Japan increased with Muthu 's success there. ^[13] His soundtracks gained him recognition in the Tamil Nadu film industry and across the world for his stylistic versatality in his pieces including in Western classical, Carnatic, Tamil traditional/folk, jazz, reggae and rock music. ^{[14] [15] [16]}

Rahman has since then gone on to win the award three more times (for his scores for Minsaara Kanavu (Electric Dreams , Tamil) in 1997, Lagaan (Tax , Hindi) in 2002, Kannathil Muthamittal (A Peck on the Cheek , Tamil) in 2003, the most ever by any composer. ^[17]

The Bombay Theme—from Ratnam's Bombay —would later reappear in Deepa Mehta's Fire and various compilations and media. Rangeela , directed by Ram Gopal Varma, marked Rahman's debut for Hindi-language films made in the Mumbai film industry. Many successful scores for films including Dil Se and the percussive Taal followed. ^{[18] [19]} Sufi mysticism would form the basis of Chaiyya Chaiyya from the former and the composition "Zikr" from his score of the film Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero for which he created large orchestral and choral arrangements. ^[20] Musical cues in scores for Sangamam and Iruvar employed Carnatic vocals and instruments such as the veena with leads of rock guitar and jazz. ^[21] In the 2000s Rahman created hit scores for Rajiv Menon's Kandukondain Kandukondain, Alaipayuthey, Ashutosh Gowariker's Swades and Rang De Basanti . ^[22] He composed songs with Hindustani motifs for Water (2005).

Rahman has worked with Indian poets and lyricists such as Javed Akhtar, Gulzar, Mehboob, Vairamuthu and Vaali. His collaborations with some film directors have always resulted in successful soundtracks, particularly with the director Mani Ratnam whom he has worked with since Roja , all of which have been hits, and the director S. Shankar in the films Gentleman , Kadhalan , Indian , Jeans , Mudhalvan , Nayak , Boys and Sivaji . ^[23]

Rahman attached and opened a developed extension studio to his Panchathan Record Inn in 2005 called AM Studios in Kodambakkam, Chennai — considered to be the most developed, equipped and high tech studio in Asia. ^{[24] [25]} In 2006, Rahman launched his own music label, KM Music. ^[26] Its first release was his score to the film Sillunu Oru Kaadhal. Rahman scored the Mandarin language picture Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003 after researching and utilizing Chinese and Japanese classical music, and co-scored the Shekhar Kapoor helmed Elizabeth: The Golden Age in 2007. His compositions have been reused in scores within India ^[27] and have made appearances in Inside Man , Lord of War , Divine Intervention and The Accidental Husband. In 2008, he scored the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, for which he won a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards, becoming the first Indian citizen to do so.

Other works

Rahman has been involved in several projects aside from film. He made an album Vande Mataram (1997) on India's 50th anniversary of independence to commercial success. ^{[28] [29]} He followed it up with an album for the Bharat Bala–directed video Jana Gana Mana , a conglomeration of performances by many leading exponents/artists of Indian classical music. Rahman has written jingles for ads and composed several orchestrations for athletic events, T.V. and internet media publications, documentaries and short films.

In 1999 Rahman, along with choreographers Shobhana and Prabhu Deva Sundaram and a Tamil cinema dancing troupe performed with Michael Jackson in Munich, Germany, for his "Michael Jackson and Friends Concert." In 2002, he composed his maiden stage production Bombay Dreams (2002) following a commission from musical theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, a success in London's West End. With Finnish folk music band Värttinä, he wrote 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 .

In the last six years, Rahman has performed three successful world tours of his concerts to audiences in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, UK, Canada, the US (Hollywood Bowl and 3d tour) and India. He has been collaborating with Karen David for her upcoming studio album. A two-disc soundtrack, Introducing A. R. Rahman (2006) featuring 25 pieces he composed from his Tamil film scores was released in May 2006. His non-film album, Connections was launched on 12 December, 2008.

Music style and impact

Skilled in Carnatic music, ^[30] Western classical, Hindustani music and the Qawwali style of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahman has been noted to write film songs that amalgamate elements of these music systems and other genres, layering instruments from differing music idioms in an improvisatory manner. Symphonic orchestral themes have accompanied his scores, where he has employed leitmotif. In the 1980s, Rahman recorded and played arrangements on mono, synonymous with the era of predecessors such as K. V. Mahadevan and Vishwanathan–Ramamoorthy, but later his methodology changed. Rahman worked and experimented on fusing traditional instruments with new electronic sounds and technology.

His interest and outlook in music stems from his love of experimentation. Rahman's compositions, in the vein of past and contemporary Chennai film composers, bring out auteuristic uses of counterpoint, orchestration and the human voice, evolving Indian pop music with unique timbres, forms and instrumentation. By virtue of these qualities, broad ranging lyrics and his syncretic style, his themes appeal to several sections of Indian society. ^[31]

His first soundtrack for Roja was listed in TIME's "10 Best Soundtracks" of all time in 2005. Film critic Richard Corliss felt the "astonishing debut work parades Rahman's gift for alchemizing outside influences until they are totally Tamil, totally Rahman." ^[32] Rahman's initial global reach is attributed to the South Asian diaspora. Described as one of the most innovative composers to ever work in the industry, his unique style and immense success transformed film music in the 1990s prompting several film producers to take film music more seriously. ^[33] The music producer Ron Fair considers Rahman to be "one of the world's great living composers in any medium". ^[34]

The director Baz Luhrmann notes

"I had come to the music of A. R. Rahman through the emotional and haunting score of Bombay and the wit and celebration of Lagaan . But the more of AR's music I encountered the more I was to be amazed at the sheer diversity of styles: from swinging brass bands to triumphant anthems; from joyous pop to West-End musicals. Whatever the style, A. R. Rahman's music always possesses a profound sense of humanity and spirit, qualities that inspire me the most. ^[35]

Awards

Rahman was the 1995 recipient of the Mauritius National Award and the Malaysian Award for contributions to music. He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for his first West-End production. A four-time National Film Award winner and conferred the Padma Shri from the Government of India, Rahman has also received six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, thirteen Filmfare Awards and twelve Filmfare Awards South for his music and scores. In 2006, he received an honorary award from Stanford University for contributions to global music. ^[36] In 2009, for his score of Slumdog Millionaire , Rahman won the Critics' Choice Award, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, ^[37] the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music, and two Academy Awards for Best Original Music Score and Best Original Song at the 2009 Oscars. Middlesex University and Aligarh Muslim University have announced that they plan to bestow honorary doctorates on Rahman. ^{[38] [39]}

Personal life

He is married to Saira Banu and has three children, Khadijah, Rahima, and Aameen. Rahman is the uncle of composer G. V. Prakash Kumar, who is the son of Rahman's elder sister, A. R. Reihana. He is related to south indian actor Rahman. Rahman is a practising Sufi Muslim. He had become an atheist as a result of childhood struggles, he eventually converted in to Islam in 1989, the religion of his mother's family ^[40].

He is very devoted to his mother. During the Oscar Award, he paid her a tribute saying: "There is a Hindi dialogue 'mere pass ma hai' which means even if I have got nothing I have my mother here." ^[41]

Social service

Rahman is involved in various charitable causes. In 2004, he was appointed as the Global Ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership, a project by WHO. He has shown support to charities including Save the Children, India, and worked with Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam for his song "Indian Ocean" . The song featured a-ha keyboard player Magne Furuholmen and Travis drummer, Neil Primrose. The proceeds of the song went towards helping orphans in Banda Aceh, one of the areas worst affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. He produced the single "We Can Make It Better" by Don Asian alongside Mukhtar Sahota. ^[42] In 2008, Rahman opened his KM Music Conservatory partnered with Audio Media Education facility to tutor and train aspiring musicians in vocals, instruments, music technology and sound design. The conservatory – with preeminent musicians on its panel and a newly founded symphony orchestra – is located near his studio in Kodambakkam, Chennai, offering courses at Beginners, Foundation and Diploma level. ^[43] Rahman composed the theme music for a short film for The Banyan in 2006, in aid of destitute women in Chennai. In 2008, Rahman, along with percussionist Sivamani created a song titled "Jiya Se Jiya", inspired by the Free Hugs Campaign and promoted it through a video shot in various cities in India.

Filmography

As music director

Year Film Language Notes 1992 Roja Tamil Winner , National Film Award for Best Music Direction Winner , Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) Listed in TIME's "10 Best Soundtracks" of all time in 2005 Yodha Malayalam 1993 Pudhiya Mugam Tamil Some/all songs were remade in the Hindi film, Vishwa Vidhata Gentleman Tamil Winner , Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) Kizhakku Cheemayile Tamil Uzhavan Tamil Thiruda Thiruda Tamil 1994 Vandicholai Chinraasu Tamil Super Police Telugu Duet Tamil May Madham Tamil Kadhalan Tamil Winner , Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) Pavithra Tamil Karuththamma Tamil Pudhiya Mannargal Tamil Manitha Manitha Tamil Gangmaster Telugu 1995 Bombay Tamil Winner , Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) Indira Tamil Rangeela Hindi Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award Winner , Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent Muthu Tamil Most successful Indian soundtrack in Japan 1996 Love Birds Tamil Indian Tamil Kadhal Desam Tamil Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) Fire Hindi Mr. Romeo Tamil 1997 Anthimanthaarai Tamil Minsara Kanavu (Sapnay ) Tamil Winner , National Film Award for Best Music Direction Winner , Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) Iruvar Tamil Daud: Fun On The Run Hindi Ratchagan Tamil Mona Lisa Tamil Vishwavidhaata Hindi Kabhi Na Kabhi Hindi 1998 Jeans Tamil Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) Dil Se Hindi Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award "Chaiyya Chaiyya" was 9th in BBC World Service top 10 songs of all time [44] Earth Hindi Doli Saja Ke Rakhna Hindi 1999 En Swasa Kaatre Tamil Padayappa Tamil Kadhalar Dhinam Tamil Taal Hindi Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award Sangamam Tamil Winner , Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director Jodi Tamil Takshak Hindi Mudhalvan Tamil Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) Taj Mahal Tamil 2000 Pukar Hindi Alaipayuthey Tamil Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) Kandukondain Kandukondain Tamil Fiza Hindi 1 song (Piya Haji Ali) Rhythm Tamil Thenali Tamil Zubeidaa Hindi 2001 One 2 Ka 4 Hindi Nayak: The Real Hero Hindi Love You Hamesha Hindi Lagaan Hindi Winner , National Film Award for Best Music Direction Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award Star Tamil Parthale Paravasam Tamil 2002 Alli Arjuna Tamil Kannathil Muthamittal Tamil Winner , National Film Award for Best Music Direction Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) The Legend of Bhagat Singh Hindi Winner , Filmfare Best Background Score Award Baba Tamil Kadhal Virus Tamil Saathiya Hindi Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award 2003 Parasuram Tamil Boys Tamil Warriors of Heaven and Earth Mandarin, English, Hindi Enakku 20 Unakku 18 Tamil Kangalal Kaithu Sei Tamil Tehzeeb Hindi 2004 Udhaya Tamil Lakeer - Forbidden Lines Hindi Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities Hindi Aayutha Ezhuthu Tamil Yuva Hindi New Tamil Naani Telugu Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa Hindi 3 songs Swades Hindi Winner , Filmfare Best Background Score Award Nominated, Filmfare Best Music Director Award Kisna - The Warrior Poet Hindi 2 song 2005 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero Hindi Mangal Pandey - The Rising Hindi Anbe Aaruyire Tamil Water Hindi 5 songs 1 song longlisted for 2007 Academy Award for Best Original Song nomination 2006 Rang De Basanti Hindi Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award 2 songs longlisted for 2007 Academy Award for Best Original Song nomination [45] Sillunu Oru Kaadhal Tamil Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) Varalaru Tamil 2007 Guru Hindi Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award Winner , Filmfare Best Background Score Award Sajni Kannada Provoked Hindi Sivaji: The Boss Tamil Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) Azhagiya Thamizh Magan Tamil Elizabeth: The Golden Age English With Craig Armstrong 2008 Jodhaa Akbar Hindi Winner , Filmfare Best Background Score Nominated, Filmfare Best Music Director Award Nominated, Asian Film Award for Best Composer [46] Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na Hindi Winner , Filmfare Best Music Director Award ADA: A Way of Life Hindi Sakkarakatti Tamil Nominated, Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) Yuvvraaj Hindi Ghajini Hindi Nominated, Filmfare Best Music Director Award Slumdog Millionaire English, Hindi Winner , Academy Award for Best Original Music Score Winner , Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Jai Ho" Winner , BAFTA Award for Best Film Music Winner , Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score 2009 Delhi 6 Hindi Nair San Japanese, Malayalam, Mandarin, Mongolian Filming Blue Hindi Filming Puli Telugu Filming Ashokavanam Tamil Filming Raavan Hindi Filming Chennaiyil Oru Mazhaikalam Tamil Filming Manavar Dhinam Tamil Filming Sultan The Warrior Tamil Filming Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya Tamil Filming Couples Retreat English Filming, Hollywood Debut The Desire English, Chinese Filming, Only Background Score 2010 Endhiran Tamil Filming The 19th Step English, Tamil, Japanese Filming Notes It's a bridge for Indian cinema: A R Rahman Indian film composer for Rings Composing a winning score All About Rahman - Oscars 2009 Special The 2009 TIME 100 - A.R. Rahman TIME. A R Rahman - The Rolling Stone Interview Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema Artist of the Month: AR Rahman Composer Extraordinaire: The Complete Biography of A.R. Rahman The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002: A. R. Rahman Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts and Lifestyle Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia Films don't believe in borders Historical Dictionary of the Tamils Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia A. R. Rahman - The Melody King A. R. Rahman Understanding Audiences and the Film Industry The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music AR Rahman: The Rolling Stone interview The A R Rahman Chat Tamil Cinema: The Cultural Politics of India's Other Film Industry Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema Film Composer A.R. Rahman Selects Bag End Bass Speakers Interview with A. R. Rahman A R Rahman Interview Cinemaya 1998 Refashioning pop music in Asia A. R. Rahman: Summary Biography Music in South India Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World's Peoples Best Soundtracks - ALL TIME 100 MOVIES - TIME Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema 'Slumdog' Remix: The Oscar-winning song 'Jai Ho' is reworked with help from a Pussycat Doll Baz Luhrrman comments on A. R. Rahman Stanford University honours A R Rahman 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards Rahman to be awarded an Honorary Degree in July Rahman to be conferred honorary doctorate by AMU Interview: When did you convert to Islam?http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~kailasan/interviews/fundamentalist.htm Mere paas maa hai: A R Rahman http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/feb/230209-Mere-paas-maa-hai-A-R-Rahman.htm LA Phil presents Hollywood Bowl: About the Performer: AR Rahman Rahman’s music conservatory in June The World's Top Ten Rang De Basanti making waves at Oscars Asian Film Awards: 2009 References It's a bridge for Indian cinema: A R Rahman Indian film composer for Rings Composing a winning score All About Rahman - Oscars 2009 Special The 2009 TIME 100 - A.R. Rahman TIME. A R Rahman - The Rolling Stone Interview Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema Artist of the Month: AR Rahman Composer Extraordinaire: The Complete Biography of A.R. Rahman The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002: A. R. Rahman Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts and Lifestyle Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia Films don't believe in borders Historical Dictionary of the Tamils Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia A. R. Rahman - The Melody King A. R. Rahman Understanding Audiences and the Film Industry The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music AR Rahman: The Rolling Stone interview The A R Rahman Chat Tamil Cinema: The Cultural Politics of India's Other Film Industry Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema Film Composer A.R. Rahman Selects Bag End Bass Speakers Interview with A. R. Rahman A R Rahman Interview Cinemaya 1998 Refashioning pop music in Asia A. R. Rahman: Summary Biography Music in South India Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World's Peoples Best Soundtracks - ALL TIME 100 MOVIES - TIME Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema 'Slumdog' Remix: The Oscar-winning song 'Jai Ho' is reworked with help from a Pussycat Doll Baz Luhrrman comments on A. R. Rahman Stanford University honours A R Rahman 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards Rahman to be awarded an Honorary Degree in July Rahman to be conferred honorary doctorate by AMU Interview: When did you convert to Islam?http://www.pvv.ntnu.no/~kailasan/interviews/fundamentalist.htm Mere paas maa hai: A R Rahman http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/feb/230209-Mere-paas-maa-hai-A-R-Rahman.htm LA Phil presents Hollywood Bowl: About the Performer: AR Rahman Rahman’s music conservatory in June The World's Top Ten Rang De Basanti making waves at Oscars Asian Film Awards: 2009 All Wikipedia content is licensed under the GNU Free Document License or is otherwise used here in compliance with the Copyright Act