Birthday Special: A R Rahman
By winning the Oscar, A.R. Rahman not only established a name for himself in world music, but also for India. Today, he is recognized as one of the most influential people in India.
Time Magazine nicknamed him "The Mozart from Madras". To his fans, he is "Isai Puiyal" (Music Storm), and what a storm he has been!!!
AR Rahman was born as A. S. Dileep Kumar on 6th January, 1966. He later converted to Islam and changed his name. And by some 'filmy' coincidence, his wife's name is Saira Bano. He has three children, Khatija (13), Rahima (10) and Ameen (5
At the age of 11, he worked as a keyboardist with Ilaiyaraaja's troupe, and later accompanied many big names like Zakir Hussain and L. Shankar on their world tours. He later obtained a scholarship to the Trinity College of Music, and graduated with a degree in Western Classical Music.
Initially, Rahman was as a keyboard player and an arranger in bands such as 'Roots', with childhood friend and percussionist Sivamani, John Anthony, Suresh Peters, JoJo and Raja. He then also founded the Chennai-based rock group, 'Nemesis Avenue'.
AR Rahman made his debut as a music director in the Tamil Film 'Roja' for which he went on to win the Rajat Kamal Award for Best Music Director at the National Film Awards. His first full-fledged Hindi film was Ram Gopal Varma's 'Rangeela'. Rahman has composed music in several languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, English, and Mandarin.
Rahman has won thirteen Filmfare Awards, four National Film Awards, a BAFTA award, two Academy Awards and two Grammys.
A R Rahman likes the synthesizer the most, as he says, "it is the right blend of music and technology." He also plays the keyboard, harmonium, guitar, and piano. The old keyboard that he used to play as a teenager is still displayed in his studio.
He is very devoted to his mother. During the Oscar Awards Ceremony, he paid a tribute to her by saying: "There is a Hindi dialogue 'mere pass ma hai' which means even if I have got nothing I have my mother. And I have my mother here".
Rahman has his own music recording and mixing studio attached to his backyard called the Pachathan Record Inn and AM studios. He also launched his own music label, KM Music, and has started a Music School called the KM Music Conservatory
Rahman on Music: "Music is language itself. It should not have any barriers of caste, creed, language or anything. Music is one, only cultures are different. Music is the language of languages. It is the ultimate mother of languages.
His upcoming movies include '127 Hours', 'Rockstar', 'Chamki Chameli' and 'Yahan Ke Hum Sikander'.
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