Last updated on June 24th, 2023 at 05:32 pm
AR Rahman, a music maestro, turned 56 on Friday (January 6). Oscar and Grammy-winning artist has composed music not only for Tamil films but also for Bollywood and Hollywood. Here are some fun facts about the composer, while his soulful tunes have entertained audiences across the globe.
– A. S. Dileep Kumar, who would later be known as Allah Rakha Rahman, was born in Madras, Tamil Nadu, on 6 January 1967. He was the son of R. K. Shekhar, a film-score composer, and conductor for Tamil and Malayalam films, from a Mudaliar family. Piano studying began for Rahman at the age of four. In the studio, he assisted his father by playing the keyboard.
– At age 11, Rahman began playing in the orchestra of Malayalam composer M. K. Arjunan, who was a close friend of his father. Rahman’s early musical training was given to him by Master Dhanraj. He began working with other notable composers such as M. S. Viswanathan, Vijaya Bhaskar, Ilaiyaraaja, Ramesh Naidu, Vijay Anand, Hamsalekha, and Raj-Koti.
– He was accompanied by Zakir Hussain, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, and L. Shankar on world tours. He obtained a scholarship from Trinity College London to the Trinity College of Music.
– He won the BMI London Award for Best Score for his score in his first Hollywood film, the 2009 comedy Couples Retreat. The songs “Jai Ho” and “O… Saya” from the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, for which Rahman won a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards (a first for an Asian), were internationally successful.
– The music he produced in 2008 for Bollywood Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na was praised by critics. songs for Jodhaa Akbar winning critical acclaim, a Best Composer Asian Film Award nomination, and IIFA awards for best music direction and score that year.
– Dilip Kumar converted to Islam at the age of 23 and changed his name to Allah Rakha Rahman after he met the Sufi saint, Qadri Islam.
– AR Rahman is a private and shy person. Khatija, Rahima, and Ameen are the three kids of the music composer.
– Mani Ratnam discovered AR Rahman. Mani Ratnam asked Rahman to compose music for his film ‘Roja’ and paid him Rs. 25,000 for the project. Rahman’s first National Film Award was a huge hit due to the music.
– In 2007, AR Rahman was named ‘Indian of the Year for Contribution to Popular Music’ in the Limca Book of Records.
– Rahman has also been involved in non-film projects. In 1997, Vande Mataram, one of India’s best-selling non-film albums, was released for India’s 50th anniversary of independence.
