POPULARLY known as “The Mozart of Madras” for his role in redefining contemporary Indian music, AR Rahman is a renowned Indian music composer, record producer, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
His incredible ground breaking music in the 90s will never be forgotten. Tamil music were always known for its soothing tunes and romantic duets in the early days, and then came Rahman.
To this days his song "Take it Easy - Oorvasi, Oorvasi" can be heard in just about any party from India to Sri Lanka to Singapore to Malaysia and many other countries. And that is among hundreds or even thousands of his songs that has graced our hearts over the years.
In his three decade long career, he has composed and produced original scores and songs for more than 145 films in various languages, namely Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, English, Persian and even Mandarin.
He is a winner of six National Film Awards, two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards and seventeen Filmfare Awards South.[
In 2010, the Indian government conferred him with the Padma Bhushan, the nation's third-highest civilian award.
He began his career in 1992 with the film “Roja” and has since scored songs for many popular Tamil language films, including “Kadhalan,” “Thiruda Thiruda,” and “Gentleman.” The first Hollywood film he scored, 2009’s “Couples Retreat,” won him a Broadcast Music Inc award.
He received Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song for his music on the Danny Boyle film “Slumdog Millionaire.”
He also won the Academy Award for best song for “Jai Ho,” a Latin-infused dance track that accompanied the film’s closing Bollywood-style dance number. Rahman’s streak continued at the Grammy Awards in 2010, where he collected the prize for best soundtrack and “Jai Ho” was again honoured as best song appearing on a soundtrack.
Rahman revealed that fans could look forward to his upcoming three-hour performance in Kuala Lumpur in Bukit Jalil on July 27, which would comprise 90% of hit Tamil songs from the 1990s and 2000s. There will also be a good mix of classic older songs as well as more recent gems.
Born A. S. Dileep Kumar, Rahman's life took a spiritual turn following the passing of his mother. Embracing Islam, he adopted the name Allah Rakha Rahman, abbreviated as AR Rahman. This transformation not only altered his personal identity but also influenced the soul-stirring quality of his musical compositions.
Rahman's introduction to the world of music originated with his father, a composer and conductor in Tamil and Malayalam films. His early exposure to a myriad of musical instruments laid the foundation for his future mastery of creating symphonic masterpieces. For the record, Rahman’s father, R.K. Sekhar, was a prominent Tamil musician who composed many scores for the Malayalam film industry.
The maestro made his debut as a film composer with the Tamil film "Roja" in 1992, directed by Mani Ratnam. The success of the soundtrack not only introduced Rahman to the film industry but also set the stage for a career that would redefine Indian film music.
Rahman's influence on the music industry extends beyond his compositions. Recognized for pioneering the use of advanced sound technology and international production standards in Indian music, his studio, Panchathan Record Inn, became a hub of innovation, setting new benchmarks for sonic excellence.
Rahman's linguistic versatility is evident in his ability to compose across various Indian languages. From Tamil and Hindi to Telugu and Malayalam, he effortlessly navigates linguistic nuances, contributing to the universal appeal of his music.
The maestro has collaborated with renowned international artists, showcasing the universal language of music. Collaborations with the likes of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Mick Jagger have not only enriched his repertoire but also bridged cultural gaps through musical expression.
Besides the much heard 'Take it Easy' his other timeless classic heard again and again in parties, bar, disco and also on TV will be 'Chikku Bukku Rayile'. A song also famous for the dance movements of Prabhu Deva and Gowthami besides the chirpy tune heard until today.
Recently, he also made waves with some classic tunes for the superhit historical movie 'Ponniyin Selvam 1' and 'Ponniyin Selvam 2'. Many of the songs from the two movies were superhits with fans.
In short, just get ready for an unforgettable night at Bukit Jail, come July 27 in Kuala Lumpur.
