A.R. Rahman
Modern Icon A.R. Rahman
A.R. Rahman (Allah Rakha Rahman) is an Indian film composer, record producer, musician and singer. Having over ten years of experience in the music industry, he’s sold more than 100 million records of his film scores and soundtracks worldwide and sold over 200 million cassettes making him one of the world’s all-time top selling recording artists.
He was born as A.S Dileep to a musically affluent Mudaliar Tamil family. Due to financial situations, he used work as a keyboard player and an arranger in bands. He is well versed with instruments like the keyboard and piano, the synthesizer, the harmonium and the guitar. By eleven, he joined Ilaiyaraja’s troupe as a keyboardist. He holds a degree in Western classical music.
Rahman began his own music recording and mixing studio attached to the backyard of his house, which later was developed into India’s most advanced recording studio. He used to initially compose music jingles for advertisements and compose music scores in documentaries. Renowned director Mani Ratnam had approached Rahman to do the music for his film, Roja. The movie’s music was unimaginably successful and it marked change in film music at the time. Ram Gopal Varma’s Rangeela was Rahman’s debut in Bollywood. He mesmerized audiences in the north with his captivating beats. His music for Slumdog Millionaire won his global recognition.
From being a Hindu to an atheist to converting to Islam; his life has seen many struggles and victories. He has won two Academy Awards, thirteen Filmfare Awards, four National Film Awards, a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe and nominated for two Grammy Awards. He is known for his versatility and the most apt fusion of traditional Indian style of music with western jazz and rock. This "Mozart of Madras” is considered as one of world’s most influential people.
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