Updated on: 26 July, 2021 11:32 AM IST |
Musical Genius Rahman
Furtehrmore.. He is married to Saira Banu and has three children, Khatija, Rahima, and Ameen. Ameen has sung the track NaNa from Couples Retreat and his daughter Khatija sang the track Pudhiya Manidha from Enthiran. In April 2011, Rahman launched his autobiography AR Rahman: The Spirit of Music rendering all his fans an easy entry into the geniuss lesser known world. During the 81st Academy Awards ceremony, Rahman paid a tribute to his mother, saying "There is a Hindi dialogue, mere pass maa hai, which means even if I have got nothing I have my mother here."The musician has a record sale of more than 300 million records of his film scores and soundtracks as of year 2009 for over 100 film scores worldwide, transforming him into one of the worlds all-time top selling recording artists.
All for a Cause The composer has been supporting host of charities over the years. Rahman was appointed as the Global Ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership, a project by WHO in the year 2004. He has also worked with Yusuf Islam for his song Indian Ocean, the proceeds of which went towards aiding orphans affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. In 2008, he along with noted percussionist Sivamani developed a song titled Jiya Se Jiya, inspired by Free Hugs Campaign and promoted it through a video shot across various cities in India. The same year he also instituted KM Music Conservatory to facilitate the training of aspiring musicians.
Awards and Accolades With so many breath-taking compositions, theres got to be a medium of honour for the genius. And indeed there has been. Rahman has been the recipient of several awards throughout his career. He has won a BAFTA award, four National Awards, 14 Filmafares, a Padma Bhushan, 11 South Filmfares, a Golden Globe and 2 Academy Awards. He was also conferred Honorary Doctorate by the Miami University, Ohio in May 2012. Now thats a lot for a lifetime!
International Work A.R. Rahman scored for the Mandarin film Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003. The year 2008 came in as a breakthrough for the musician when he scored for Slumdog Millionaire that raised his international standing with two Academy Awards, becoming the first Indian to achieve the feat. The song Jai Ho topped all music charts and bought him immense acclaim. His first Hollywood project, a comedy film Couples Retreat also garnered him enormous fame
Further Work After working on a series of projects in Bollywood and Tollywood, in 2005, Rahman expanded his Panchathan Record Inn studio and commenced AM Studios in Chennai forming the most avant-garde stusios in Asia. The following year he also launched his music label KM Music.
Independent Music His first mainstream album Vande Mataram an album comprising his original compilations released on Indias 50th Independence Eve enjoyed immense commercial success. It remains one of the largest selling non-film Indian album to date.
Mainstream Work While in his early 20s, Rahman began composing scores for ad jingles, documentaries and other projects. He received his first opportunity to compose jingles for a new range of watches launched in 1987. The major filmy breakthrough came in when he was approached by the famed director Mani Ratnam to compose and score track for his film Roja. The same year Rahman also launched a mixing and recording studio Panchathan Record Inn at the backyard of his home in Chennai that went on to become the most advanced and hi-tech studios of the times.
For the Love of Music During his formative years, he worked as a keyboardist and arranger with bands like Roots along with childhood friends Suresh Peters, Sivamani, JoJo, Raja and John Anthony. He is also the founder of Nemesis Avenue a Chennai-based rock group. Over the years he mastered several musical instruments like Guitar, Harmonium, Synthesizer et al.
Training Rahman was trained under Master Dhanraj. At 11, he began playing an array of instruments at the Malyalam composer M. K. Arjunans orchestra and went on to work with other composers like Ramesh Naidu, M. S. Viswanathan, Raj-Koti, Ilaiyaraaja and the likes. Rahman has also graduated with a diploma and graded examinations in Western Classical Music and attained scholarship with Trinity College, London. He accompanied music maestros like Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, Zakir Hussain and L. Shankar on their world tours as well.
The tough times Rahmans father R. K. Shekhar was a film music composer and conductor for Malyalam and Tamil films. Rahman would assist him during recordings and play the keyboard. At the age of 9, when he lost his father the family saw some testing times when they even had to rent out some musical instruments to draw income.
Whats in a name? Rahmans original name is A. S. Dileep Kumar. Being an atheist through much of his childhood, he was drawn to Qadiri Islam when his younger sister fell severely ill in 1984 consequently leading him and his family members to convert to his mothers faith in 1989 while he was just 23.
Far from pompous, doused in humility and perfectly in tune with life, A.R Rahman is one man every single Indian is proud of. Hailing from a modest background, this celebrated musician has treaded the most treacherous paths and practically seen all the highs and lows life could offer. With a soulful journey, emerging as the most coveted musicians of the era, as A.R. Rahman celebrates his birthday, heres taking you through some of the little known facts about the maestro.
