A. R. Rahman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids A. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman in 2019
Born	A. S. Dileep Kumar (1967-01-06) 6 January 1967 (age 58) Madras, Madras State, India
Other names	Isai Puyal Mozart of Madras
Alma mater	Trinity Laban
Occupation	Record producer composer playback singer songwriter
Organization	AR Rahman Foundation KM Music Conservatory
Works	Discography Filmography
Office	Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios
Spouse(s)	Saira Banu ​ ​ (m. 1995; separated 2024)​
Children	3, including Khatija and Ameen
Parent(s)	R. K. Shekhar (father)
Relatives	A. R. Reihana (sister)
Family	R. K. Shekhar family
Awards	Full list
Honours	Padma Shri (2000) Padma Bhushan (2010)
Musical career
Genres	Filmi Indian classical world music
Instruments	Vocals keyboards piano harmonium percussions drums guitar accordion harp synthesizer
Years active	1992–present
Labels	KM Musiq Sony Music India Tips Music T-Series YRF Music Sony DADC Aditya Music Lahari Music Universal Music Eros Music
Signature

Allah Rakha Rahman (born A. S. Dileep Kumar; 6 January 1967) is a famous Indian music composer, singer, and songwriter. He is also known as ARR. He creates music mainly for Tamil and Hindi films. Sometimes, he also works on international movies.

Rahman has won many big awards. These include six National Film Awards, two Academy Awards (Oscars), two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award. In 2010, the Indian government gave him the Padma Bhushan. This is the third-highest award a civilian can receive in India.

His career in film music started in the early 1990s with the Tamil film Roja. He has his own studio called Panchathan Record Inn. His music for the Hollywood film Couples Retreat (2009) won him an award. For Slumdog Millionaire (2008), he won two Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song (for "Jai Ho"). He also won two Grammys for this work. People call him "Isai Puyal" (Musical Storm) and "Mozart of Madras".

Rahman also helps people through charity work. He has raised money for many good causes. In 2009, Time magazine listed him as one of the world's 100 most influential people. In 2017, he directed and wrote his first film, Le Musk. In 2024, he became the Honorary President of Trinity Laban.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Allah Rakha Rahman was born as Dileep Kumar Rajagopala in Madras, Tamil Nadu, on 6 January 1967. His father, R. K. Shekhar, was a film composer for Tamil and Malayalam films. Rahman started learning piano when he was just four years old. He often helped his father in the studio, playing the keyboard.

When Rahman was nine, his father passed away. His family then earned money by renting out his father's musical equipment. Rahman's mother, Kareema, raised him. He had to work to help his family, which meant he often missed school. He later left school to become a full-time musician.

Rahman played keyboards and arranged music for bands like Roots. He also started a rock group called Nemesis Avenue. He learned to play many instruments, including the keyboard, piano, and guitar. He especially liked the synthesizer because it mixed music and technology.

He began his music training with Master Dhanraj. At age 11, he played in the orchestra of a Malayalam composer, M. K. Arjunan. He also worked with other famous composers and toured the world. He even got a scholarship from Trinity College London to study at the Trinity College of Music.

Changing His Name and Faith

Rahman studied Western classical music in Madras. In 1984, his younger sister became very ill. This led his family to learn about Qadiri tariqa, a Sufi path. His mother was Hindu, but the family converted to Islam in 1989 when Rahman was 23.

During this time, he also changed his name. He felt his birth name didn't suit him. An astrologer suggested "Abdul Rahman," and he liked it right away. His mother later added "Allah Rakha" to his name after a dream.

A Career in Film Music

Rahman started his career by composing music for documentaries and advertisements. In 1987, he created jingles for watches. He also arranged popular jingles, like the one for Titan Watches, which used a theme from Mozart's Symphony no.25.

Rahman (left) receiving a platinum award for his first film soundtrack, Roja, in 1992.

In 1992, director Mani Ratnam asked him to compose music for his Tamil film, Roja. This was the start of Rahman's film career. He opened Panchathan Record Inn, a recording studio in his backyard. It became one of the most advanced studios in India.

The next year, Rahman won the National Film Award for Best Music Director for Roja. The film's music was very popular. After Roja, Rahman created successful music for many Tamil films. These included Bombay, Thiruda Thiruda, and S. Shankar's first film, Gentleman. He also worked on Kaadhalan, known for its popular dance song "Chikku Bukku Rayile".

Rahman's music is known for mixing different styles. He combines Western classical music, Indian classical music, jazz, reggae, and rock. The soundtrack for Bombay sold 15 million copies worldwide. The "Bombay Theme" was even used in other films and compilations.

His first Bollywood film was Rangeela in 1995. He then made popular music for Dil Se.. and Taal. Songs like "Chaiyya Chaiyya" from Dil Se.. were inspired by Sufi mysticism.

In the 2000s, Rahman continued to compose for many films. These included Kandukondain Kandukondain, Alai Payuthey, Swades, Rang De Basanti, and Water. He often worked with famous directors like Mani Ratnam and S. Shankar.

In 2005, Rahman expanded his studio by opening AM Studios in Chennai. This became a very advanced studio in Asia. In 2006, he started his own music label, KM Music. He also composed for the Mandarin-language film Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003, using Chinese and Japanese classical music.

His music for the Hollywood film Couples Retreat (2009) won him a BMI London Award. His work on Slumdog Millionaire (2008) brought him a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards. The songs "Jai Ho" and "O... Saya" became famous worldwide.

In 2010, Rahman composed for Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, Enthiran, and 127 Hours. He also worked on the musical Rockstar, which was very successful. In 2012, he composed for Ekk Deewana Tha and People Like Us. His music for Kadal topped the iTunes India chart in December 2012.

In 2014, Rahman worked on many films. These included Highway, the animation film Kochadaiiyaan, and Hollywood films Million Dollar Arm and The Hundred Foot Journey. He also composed for Kaaviya Thalaivan, I, and Lingaa.

Creating Background Scores

Rahman's background scores often use subtle sounds and instruments. He uses modern instruments like guitars, cello, and keyboards. He also uses traditional Indian instruments like the Shehnai, Sitar, and Tabla.

Some films where his background scores were highly praised include Roja, Bombay, Lagaan, Rang De Basanti, Guru, Jodhaa Akbar, and Rockstar. He won two Academy Awards for Slumdog Millionaire and was nominated for two more for 127 Hours. In 2018, he won a National Award for the background score of Mom.

Qutub-E-Kripa, a group of young musicians from KM Music Conservatory, have also helped Rahman with background scores for films like 24, O Kadhal Kanmani, and 2.0.

Other Musical Projects

Rahman at the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Concert

Rahman has also worked on music outside of films. His album Vande Mataram, released in 1997 for India's 50th year of independence, is one of India's best-selling non-film albums. He also created an album for the video Jana Gana Mana, featuring many Indian classical musicians.

In 1999, Rahman performed with Michael Jackson at his Michael Jackson and Friends concert in Germany. In 2002, he composed music for his first stage show, Bombay Dreams, which was asked for by Andrew Lloyd Webber. He also worked with the Finnish folk band Värttinä for The Lord of the Rings musical in Toronto.

A. R. Rahman at a Sufi Concert in Dubai

Since 2004, Rahman has done many successful world tours. He has performed for audiences in Singapore, Australia, the UK, Canada, the US, and India. In 2009, he performed at the White House for US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

In 2010, Rahman was part of "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", a charity song to help people affected by the 2010 Haiti earthquake. He also composed "Jai Jai Garavi Gujarat" for Gujarat State's 50th anniversary and the theme song for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, "Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto".

In 2011, Rahman worked with Michael Bolton on his album Gems – The Duets Collection. In 2011, Mick Jagger announced a new music group called SuperHeavy with Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, Damian Marley, and Rahman. Their album was released in September 2011.

In 2012, Rahman composed a Punjabi song for the London Olympics opening ceremony. In December 2012, he released the song "Infinite Love" in English and Hindi to spread hope and peace. His 2013 tour, Rahmanishq, started in Sydney and visited many cities in India.

In January 2016, Rahman performed live in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai with a Tamil playlist. The concert, called Nenje Yezhu (meaning "rise up"), raised money for flood relief in Tamil Nadu and cancer awareness.

In 2017, Rahman released a 19-minute orchestral piece called The Flying Lotus. This music was an open interpretation of the demonetisation in India.

Opening Ceremony Hockey World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018 performance

In August 2018, Rahman hosted a 5-episode series on Amazon Prime Video called "Harmony". He also launched India's first YouTube Original show, ARRived, to find new singing talent. He was a main judge on the show, which started in November 2018.

In January 2019, Rahman partnered with Maruti Suzuki India Limited to launch NEXA Music. This platform helps new artists create international music in India. Rahman also appeared as a judge on The Voice in 2019. He worked with Marvel to compose a special song called "Marvel Anthem" for Avengers: Endgame (2019) in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

In December 2019, the Irish rock band U2 worked with Rahman to release a song called "Ahimsa". The song's name comes from the Sanskrit word for non-violence. It celebrates the different cultures and beliefs in India.

Musical Style and Influence

Rahman is skilled in Carnatic music, Western and Hindustani classical music, and the Qawwali style. He is known for creating film songs that mix these different styles. He often layers instruments from various musical traditions.

Early in his career, he experimented with combining traditional instruments with new electronic sounds and technology. His music often blends Indian pop with unique sounds and instruments. This mix of styles and wide-ranging lyrics makes his music popular across different groups and cultures in India.

His first soundtrack, for Roja, was listed by Time magazine as one of the "10 Best Soundtracks" of all time in 2005. Music producer Ron Fair calls Rahman "one of the world's great living composers in any medium."

Director Baz Luhrmann said:

I came to A. R. Rahman's music through the emotional score of Bombay and the celebration of Lagaan. The more of AR's music I heard, the more amazed I was by the variety of styles: from brass bands to anthems; from pop to musicals. Whatever the style, A. R. Rahman's music always has a deep sense of humanity and spirit, which inspires me.

Rahman brought 7.1 surround sound technology to South Indian films. He is one of the best-selling music artists in India, with an estimated 150 million records sold worldwide. In 2014, he worked with Will.i.am to remake his popular song 'Urvashi Urvashi' into a new song called 'Birthday'.

Personal Life

Rahman and his wife Saira Banu at the 2010 soundtrack release of Enthiran in Kuala Lumpur in 2010

Rahman married Saira Banu in 1995. They have three children: Khatija, Raheema, and Ameen. Ameen has sung in films, and Khatija sang "Pudhiya Manidha" from Enthiran. Composer G. V. Prakash Kumar is Rahman's nephew. Rahman's younger sister, Fathima, runs his music conservatory in Chennai.

Rahman was born into a Hindu family but converted to Islam in his 20s. After his father's early death, his family faced hard times. Sufism influenced his mother, and eventually, his family. At the 81st Academy Awards, Rahman thanked his mother, saying, "All praise to God."

Philanthropy and Helping Others

Rahman is involved in many charitable activities. In 2004, he became a global ambassador for the Stop TB Partnership, a project by the WHO. He has supported Save the Children India. He also worked with Yusuf Islam on the song "Indian Ocean," with money from the song going to help orphans affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.

In 2008, Rahman opened the KM Music Conservatory. This school helps aspiring musicians learn about vocals, instruments, music technology, and sound design. It is located near his studio in Kodambakkam, Chennai. Many of Rahman's students from the conservatory have gone on to compose for films.

In 2009, he started the Sunshine Orchestra. This project gives free music education to children from poor backgrounds through the KM Music Conservatory. He also composed music for a short film in 2006 for The Banyan, an organization that helps women in Chennai.

In 2008, Rahman and percussionist Sivamani created a song called "Jiya Se Jiya." It was inspired by the Free Hugs Campaign and promoted with a video filmed in Indian cities. In 2017, he announced the One Heart Foundation to support people in the music industry.

Rahman also announced Ta Futures, a project to celebrate the sounds of Tamil Nadu. He said:

This idea started as a project to capture city sounds, but I wanted it to be more participatory. For children, especially, I want it to spark a different way of thinking. This is not about film music or film stars; I want them to create and compose their future.

In 2019, Rahman performed a Sufi Benefit Concert in New York for Pratham. This is one of India's largest non-governmental organizations, which helps provide quality education to underprivileged children. Rahman performed for free, and later said it was his "long time dream of performing #Sufimusic for human causes."

Discography

Filmography

As an Actor

As Producer, Writer, and Director

As Performer

• One Heart (2017)

Music Videos

Television Appearances

• Everest (telenovela) (2014)
• Harmony With A. R. Rahman (2014) [5 Episodes series at Amazon Prime Video]
• Syamasundara Asianet theme song (1994)
• Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2009 (2009)
• The Kapil Sharma Show (2016)
• Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs 2017 (2017)
• The Voice (Indian TV series) as Super Guru
• Vijay TV Super Singer Season 6
• Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale

Awards and Recognitions

Rahman has won many awards for his music. He has seven National Film Awards and six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. He also has fifteen Filmfare Awards and sixteen Filmfare Awards South. The Government of Tamil Nadu gave him a Kalaimamani award for his excellent music.

In 2006, Stanford University honored him for his global music contributions. The next year, he was named "Indian of the Year for Contribution to Popular Music" by the Limca Book of Records. In 2009, for his Slumdog Millionaire music, he won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, a BAFTA Award for Best Film Music, and two Academy Awards (Oscars).

He has received honorary doctorates from several universities, including Middlesex University and Aligarh Muslim University. He has also won two Grammy Awards. In 2010, he received the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honor.

His work in 127 Hours earned him Golden Globe, BAFTA, and two Academy Award nominations in 2011. Rahman is an Honorary Fellow of the Trinity College of Music.

On 24 October 2014, Berklee College of Music gave Rahman an honorary doctorate. A street in Markham, Ontario, Canada, was named after him in November 2013.

On 4 October 2015, the government of Seychelles named A. R. Rahman Cultural Ambassador for Seychelles. In January 2018, he became the Brand Ambassador for the Sikkim government. Rahman was honored with the Pride of Indian Music award at the first Zee Cine Awards Tamil in January 2020.

The UK-based Songlines magazine named him one of "Tomorrow's World Music Icons" in August 2011. He is also regularly listed among The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world.

On 17 November 2024, Rahman received the XTIC Award for Innovation at IIT-Madras for his VR film Le Musk.

Images for kids

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  A. R. Rahman's signature

See also

In Spanish: A. R. Rahman para niños

• AR Rahman Foundation
• KM Music Conservatory
• List of films directed by Mani Ratnam featuring A. R. Rahman
• List of Indian winners and nominees of the Golden Globe Awards
• List of Indian winners and nominees of the Academy Awards
• Qutub-E-Kripa
• Sunshine Orchestra
• Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios