It is AR Rahman's birthday today, and the legendary musician turns 56. In a long career, he has achieved a lot and has surprised everyone with the sheer brilliance of his music, which has impacted the hearts and souls of an entire generation. Right from the haunting tunes of Bombay to the path-breaking music of Rockstar, we have all grown up in awe of his ability to make us feel so many things.

On his birthday, here are 3 reasons why he is a musical genius:

1) His Dynamic Musical Range

The sheer range of his music is extraordinary. He has made all kinds of songs, right from spiritually inclined tunes like O Palan Haare and Kun Faya Kun to more youthfully appealing albums like Rang De Basanti and Delhi-6. Even his religious songs have such a distinct quality to them that all of them sound different. To be able to make you visit so many places with the music is a difficult thing, and Rahman does that impeccably well.

2) Use of varied instruments in songs

The number of times Rahman has experimented with different instruments in his music is astounding. When you keep hearing the same kind of sounds being produced, Rahman finds novelty in his own music. For example, the beautiful use of tabla in Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna from The Legend of Bhagat Singh adds a layer of authenticity to the overall appeal. It is a simple decision, yet it goes on to leave a lasting impact on the song.

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Similarly, he has always used varied instruments like the sarod and sitar to create such skillfully appealing music. It is a sign of pure genius.

3) Understanding the Spirit of Any Film

In many interviews, Rahman has always spoken about one important aspect of making music for films: the script. He understands the nature of the material so well and, with that sense, creates his music in order to dwell on a specific feeling using the tunes. In Rang De Basanti, we get to hear more rock-infused music that is youthful in its appeal. Similarly, with Jodha Akbar, what we get is spiritually calming music that is grounded in Hindustani classical.

The way he understands the world of any film and then reciprocates the same through the music is just awesome. Very few musicians have managed to surpass the legacy he has created, and he will be remembered for a long time for his astounding music.

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