From making ad jingles to getting India its first Golden Globe, AR Rahman continues to make the nation proud with his symphonies.
From making ad jingles to getting India its first Golden Globe, AR Rahman continues to make the nation proud with his symphonies earning accolades from all corners of the world.
Rahman, nicknamed the Mozart of Madras by Time magazine, was born in Chennai on January 6, 1966 as S Dileep Kumar but his family converted to Islam from Christianity in the 1970s.
The Indian Mozart started his career by composing ad jingles. He was particularly noted for the music he gave for a Bombay Dyeing ad which became very popular. Shortly after that in 1992, he was approached by film director Mani Ratnam to compose the score and soundtrack for Ratnam's Tamil film Roja.
The music of the film was a refreshing change from the run-of-the-mill renditions and gave Rahman his maiden Best Music Director trophy at the National Film Awards, the first time ever by a debutante film composer.
Rahman entered the Hindi film industry with Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma. The music of the film became a rage and the genius continued to give some brilliant compositions for films like Bombay, Dil Se, Taal, Lagaan and Rang De Basanti among others.
What made Rahman's music click with the listeners was his refreshing use of percussions, sound and melody, most of which was inspired from Indian folk music. His 1998 superhit composition Chaiyya Chaiyya was deeply rooted in Sufi mysticism.
As his fame spread Rahman, gradually became a known face in the international arena and in 1999 he performed with the king of pop Michael Jackson in Munich, Germany, for his 'Michael Jackson and Friends Concert'.
In 2002, he gave the music for his maiden stage production Bombay Dreams directed by legendary musical theater composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Rahman's music was a hit from London's West End to New York's Broadway. In 2004 with Finnish folk music band Varttina, he composed the music for The Lord of the Rings theater production.
Rahman's composition Jai Ho for British director Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, earned Rahman the Critics Choice Award for Best Composer in 2008 and a Golden Globe in the category of Best Original Score.
A four time National Award winner, Rahman was conferred the Padma Shri and has received six awards at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, besides eleven Filmfare and Filmfare Awards South each.
In 2006, he received an honorary award from Stanford University for his contribution to global music. In 1995 he also received the Mauritius National Award and the Malaysian Award.
The music director who is known for his humble demeanor gave a new definition to patriotism with his modern rendition of Vande Mataram. His latest track Jiya Se Jiya is another attempt from the composer to send the message of peace and love through music.
In 2008, he scored soundtracks for Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Yuvvraaj, Ghajini, and Slumdog Millionaire and is likely to continue ruling hearts with his music for films like Dilli 6 and Blue.
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