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most.<ref name="charindaa">{{cite web | title= Baz Luhrrman comments on A. R. Rahman| author=|work=Charindaa | url=http://www.charindaa.org/news.html| year=2005|dateformat=mdy | accessdate=November 15 2008}}</ref></blockquote>
most.<ref name="charindaa">{{cite web | title= Baz Luhrrman comments on A. R. Rahman| author=|work=Charindaa | url=http://www.charindaa.org/news.html| year=2005|dateformat=mdy | accessdate=November 15 2008}}</ref></blockquote>
<!--The famous composer Hans Zimmer says about A. R. Rahman “Like any good artist, A.R. is not a traditionalist, he’s a revolutionary. He uses all the revolutionary things that come from all over the world in his stuff … hip-hop beats, electronics .. and there’s an incredible inquisitiveness and playfulness in his music, Plus he writes a bloody good tune ,,, and at the end of the day it comes down to can the guy write a tune or not and obviously he can”.-->
<!--The famous composer Hans Zimmer says about A. R. Rahman “Like any good artist, A.R. is not a traditionalist, he’s a revolutionary. He uses all the revolutionary things that come from all over the world in his stuff … hip-hop beats, electronics .. and there’s an incredible inquisitiveness and playfulness in his music, Plus he writes a bloody good tune ,,, and at the end of the day it comes down to can the guy write a tune or not and obviously he can”.-->

⚫
[[Image:Rahman_With_Oscars.jpg|thumb|A. R. Rahman winning two [[Academy Award]]s in 2009]]


==Awards==
==Awards==
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by A. R. Rahman}}
{{main|List of awards and nominations received by A. R. Rahman}}
⚫
Rahman is the 1995 recipient of the [[Mauritius|Mauritius National Award]] and the [[Malaysia|Malaysian Award]] for contributions to music. He was nominated for a [[Laurence Olivier Award]] for his first West-End production. A four time [[National Film Award]] winner and conferred the [[Padma Shri Awards (2000-2009)|Padma Shri]] from the [[Government of India]], Rahman has received six awards for Best Music at the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Awards]] and eleven awards for his scores at the [[Filmfare Awards|Filmfare]] and [[Filmfare Awards South]] each. In 2006, he received an honorary award from [[Stanford University]] for contributions to global music.<ref name="arstan06">{{cite web | author=Prakash, B.S.| title=Stanford University honours A R Rahman| work=[[Rediff]]|publisher=Rediff.com| url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/jul/06bsp.htm| date=July 06, 2006|dateformat=mdy | accessdate=December 16 2008}}</ref> In 2009, for his score of ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]'', Rahman won the [[Critics' Choice Award]], the [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]],<ref name="globes">{{cite web | title=66th Annual Golden Globe Awards | work= [[IMDb]] | url= http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2009/globes | dateformat=mdy | accessdate=December 12 2008}}</ref> the [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Award]], and two [[Academy Award]]s for [[Academy Award for Best Original Music Score|Best Original Music Score]] and [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] at the [[81st Academy Awards|2009 Oscars]].
⚫
[[Image:Rahman_With_Oscars.jpg|thumb|A. R. Rahman winning two [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] awards in 2009]]
⚫
Rahman is the 1995 recipient of the [[Mauritius|Mauritius National Award]] and the [[Malaysia|Malaysian Award]] for contributions to music. He was nominated for a [[Laurence Olivier Award]] for his first West-End production. A four time [[National Film Award]] winner and conferred the [[Padma Shri Awards (2000-2009)|Padma Shri]] from the [[Government of India]], Rahman has received six awards for Best Music at the [[Tamil Nadu State Film Awards]] and eleven awards for his scores at the [[Filmfare Awards|Filmfare]] and [[Filmfare Awards South]] each. In 2006, he received an honorary award from [[Stanford University]] for contributions to global music.<ref name="arstan06">{{cite web | author=Prakash, B.S.| title=Stanford University honours A R Rahman| work=[[Rediff]]|publisher=Rediff.com| url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/jul/06bsp.htm| date=July 06, 2006|dateformat=mdy | accessdate=December 16 2008}}</ref> In 2008, for his score of ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]'', Rahman won the [[Critics' Choice Award]], the [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]],<ref name="globes">{{cite web | title=66th Annual Golden Globe Awards | work= [[IMDb]] | url= http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2009/globes | dateformat=mdy | accessdate=December 12 2008}}</ref> the [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Award]] and two [[Academy Award]]s for best original score and best lyrics in [[81st Academy Awards|2008-2009]].


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Line 123: Line 124:
! Year !! Film !! Language !! Notes
! Year !! Film !! Language !! Notes
|-
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1992 || ''[[Roja (film)|Roja]]'' || [[Tamil language|Tamil]] || '''Winner''', [[National Film Award for Best Music Direction]] </br> '''Winner''', [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director]] </br> Listed in ''[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]'s'' "[[Time magazine's "All-TIME" 100 best movies|10 Best Soundtracks]]" of all time in 2005 <ref name="Timetop10s"/><ref name=Time/>
| rowspan="2"| 1992 || ''[[Roja (film)|Roja]]'' || [[Tamil language|Tamil]] || '''Winner''', [[National Film Award for Best Music Direction]] </br> '''Winner''', [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director]] </br> '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)]] <br> Listed in ''[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]'s'' "[[Time magazine's "All-TIME" 100 best movies|10 Best Soundtracks]]" of all time in 2005 <ref name="Timetop10s"/><ref name=Time/>
|-
|-
| ''[[Yodha]]'' || [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]] ||
| ''[[Yodha]]'' || [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]] ||
Line 129: Line 130:
| rowspan="5"| 1993 || ''[[Pudhiya Mugam]]'' || Tamil ||
| rowspan="5"| 1993 || ''[[Pudhiya Mugam]]'' || Tamil ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Gentleman (film)|Gentleman]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director]]
| ''[[Gentleman (film)|Gentleman]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director]] <br> '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Kizhakku Cheemayile]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Kizhakku Cheemayile]]'' || Tamil ||
Line 145: Line 146:
| ''[[May Madham]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[May Madham]]'' || Tamil ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Kadhalan]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director]] <br>
| ''[[Kadhalan]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director]] <br> '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Pavithra]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Pavithra]]'' || Tamil ||
Line 157: Line 158:
| ''[[Gangmaster (film)|Gangmaster]]'' || Telugu ||
| ''[[Gangmaster (film)|Gangmaster]]'' || Telugu ||
|-
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1995 || ''[[Bombay (film)|Bombay]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director]]
| rowspan="4"| 1995 || ''[[Bombay (film)|Bombay]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director]] <br> '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Indira (film)|Indira]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Indira (film)|Indira]]'' || Tamil ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Rangeela (film)|Rangeela]]'' || [[Hindi]] ||
| ''[[Rangeela (film)|Rangeela]]'' || [[Hindi]] || '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Muthu (film)|Muthu]]'' || Tamil || Most successful Indian soundtrack in [[Japan]] <ref name="muthunoborderss"/>
| ''[[Muthu (film)|Muthu]]'' || Tamil || Most successful Indian soundtrack in [[Japan]] <ref name="muthunoborderss"/>
Line 169: Line 170:
| ''[[Indian (film)|Indian]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Indian (film)|Indian]]'' || Tamil ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Kadhal Desam]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Kadhal Desam]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Fire (1996 film)|Fire]]'' || Hindi ||
| ''[[Fire (1996 film)|Fire]]'' || Hindi ||
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| rowspan="8"| 1997 || ''[[Anthimanthaarai]]'' || Tamil ||
| rowspan="8"| 1997 || ''[[Anthimanthaarai]]'' || Tamil ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Minsara Kanavu]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[National Film Award for Best Music Direction]] <br> '''Winner''', [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director]]
| ''[[Minsara Kanavu]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[National Film Award for Best Music Direction]] <br> '''Winner''', [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director]] <br> '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Iruvar]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Iruvar]]'' || Tamil ||
Line 191: Line 192:
| ''[[Kabhi Na Kabhi]]'' || Hindi ||
| ''[[Kabhi Na Kabhi]]'' || Hindi ||
|-
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1998 || ''[[Jeans (film)|Jeans]]'' || Tamil ||
| rowspan="4"| 1998 || ''[[Jeans (film)|Jeans]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)]]


|-
|-
| ''[[Dil Se|Dil Se…]]'' || Hindi ||
| ''[[Dil Se|Dil Se…]]'' || Hindi || '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award]]
|-
|-
| ''[[1947 Earth (1998 film)|Earth]]'' || Hindi ||
| ''[[1947 Earth (1998 film)|Earth]]'' || Hindi ||
Line 206: Line 207:
| ''[[Kadhalar Dhinam]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Kadhalar Dhinam]]'' || Tamil ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Taal (film)|Taal]]'' || Hindi ||
| ''[[Taal (film)|Taal]]'' || Hindi || '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Sangamam]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director]]
| ''[[Sangamam]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director]]
Line 214: Line 215:
| ''[[Takshak]]'' || Hindi ||
| ''[[Takshak]]'' || Hindi ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Mudhalvan]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Mudhalvan]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)]]


|-
|-
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| rowspan="7"| 2000 || ''[[Pukar (2000 film)|Pukar]]'' || Hindi ||
| rowspan="7"| 2000 || ''[[Pukar (2000 film)|Pukar]]'' || Hindi ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Alaipayuthey]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Alaipayuthey]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Kandukondain Kandukondain]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Kandukondain Kandukondain]]'' || Tamil ||
Line 239: Line 240:
| ''[[Love You Hamesha]]'' || Hindi ||
| ''[[Love You Hamesha]]'' || Hindi ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Lagaan]]'' || Hindi || '''Winner''', [[National Film Award for Best Music Direction]]
| ''[[Lagaan]]'' || Hindi || '''Winner''', [[National Film Award for Best Music Direction]] <br> '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Star (film)|Star]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Star (film)|Star]]'' || Tamil ||
Line 247: Line 248:
| rowspan="6"| 2002 || ''[[Alli Arjuna]]'' || Tamil ||
| rowspan="6"| 2002 || ''[[Alli Arjuna]]'' || Tamil ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Kannathil Muthamittal]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[National Film Award for Best Music Direction]]
| ''[[Kannathil Muthamittal]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[National Film Award for Best Music Direction]] <br> '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)]]
|-
|-
| ''[[The Legend of Bhagat Singh]]'' || Hindi ||
| ''[[The Legend of Bhagat Singh]]'' || Hindi || '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Background Score Award]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Baba (2002 film)|Baba]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Baba (2002 film)|Baba]]'' || Tamil ||
Line 255: Line 256:
| ''[[Kadhal Virus]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Kadhal Virus]]'' || Tamil ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Saathiya]]'' || Hindi ||
| ''[[Saathiya]]'' || Hindi || '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award]]
|-
|-
| rowspan="6"| 2003 || ''[[Parasuram]]'' || Tamil ||
| rowspan="6"| 2003 || ''[[Parasuram]]'' || Tamil ||
Line 287: Line 288:
| ''[[Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa]]'' || Hindi || 3 songs
| ''[[Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa]]'' || Hindi || 3 songs
|-
|-
| ''[[Swades]]'' || Hindi ||
| ''[[Swades]]'' || Hindi || '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Background Score Award]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Kisna|Kisna - The Warrior Poet]]'' || Hindi || 2 song
| ''[[Kisna|Kisna - The Warrior Poet]]'' || Hindi || 2 song
Line 299: Line 300:
| ''[[Water (2005 film)|Water]]'' || Hindi || 5 songs
| ''[[Water (2005 film)|Water]]'' || Hindi || 5 songs
|-
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2006 || ''[[Rang De Basanti]]'' || Hindi || Shortlisted for [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]] nomination <ref>{{cite web|title=Rang De Basanti making waves at Oscars|date=11 December 2006|publisher=Bollywood News|url=http://bollywood.celebden.com/?cat=55|accessdate=2009-02-23}}</ref>
| rowspan="3"| 2006 || ''[[Rang De Basanti]]'' || Hindi || '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award]] <br> Shortlisted for [[Academy Award for Best Original Song]] nomination <ref>{{cite web|title=Rang De Basanti making waves at Oscars|date=11 December 2006|publisher=Bollywood News|url=http://bollywood.celebden.com/?cat=55|accessdate=2009-02-23}}</ref>
|-
|-
| ''[[Sillunu Oru Kaadhal]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Sillunu Oru Kaadhal]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Varalaru - The History of the Godfather|Varalaru]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Varalaru - The History of the Godfather|Varalaru]]'' || Tamil ||
|-
|-
| rowspan="5"| 2007 || ''[[Guru (2007 film)|Guru]]'' || Hindi ||
| rowspan="5"| 2007 || ''[[Guru (2007 film)|Guru]]'' || Hindi || '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award]] <br> '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Background Score Award]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Provoked]]'' || Hindi ||
| ''[[Provoked]]'' || Hindi ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Sivaji: The Boss]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Sivaji: The Boss]]'' || Tamil || '''Winner''', [[Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Azhagiya Thamizh Magan]]'' || Tamil ||
| ''[[Azhagiya Thamizh Magan]]'' || Tamil ||
Line 331: Line 332:
| rowspan="10"| 2009 || ''[[Delhi 6]]'' || Hindi ||
| rowspan="10"| 2009 || ''[[Delhi 6]]'' || Hindi ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Nair San (film)|Nair San]]'' || Japanese </br> Mandarin </br> [[Mongolian language|Mongolian]] </br>English Subtitles|| Filming
| ''[[Nair San (film)|Nair San]]'' || Japanese </br> Malayalam </br> Mandarin </br> [[Mongolian language|Mongolian]] || Filming
|-
|-
| ''[[Blue (2008 film)|''Blue'']]'' || Hindi || Filming
| ''[[Blue (2008 film)|''Blue'']]'' || Hindi || Filming

Revision as of 08:32, 25 February 2009

A. R. Rahman

Allah Rakha Rahman (Tamil: ஏ.ஆர்.ரகுமான்; born January 6, 1966 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) is an Indian film composer, record producer and musician. His work has garnered considerable acclaim and a large global fan base since his film scoring career began in the early 1990s. He has won many awards, including four National Film Awards, a BAFTA Award, Golden Globe and two Academy Awards. He is the first Indian musician to win an Oscar as well as the first Indian to win two Oscars.

Working in India's various film industries, international cinema and theatre, by 2003, Rahman, in a career spanning over a decade, has sold more than 100 million records of his film scores and soundtracks worldwide,[1] and sold over 200 million cassettes[2] making him one of the world's all-time top selling recording artists.

His acclaimed music compositions have led to references to him as the "Mozart of Madras" and several Tamil commentators have given him the title Isai Puyal (Tamil: இசைப் புயல்; English: Music Storm).

Biography

Early life and influences

A. R. Rahman was born to a Tamil Hindu family. His father R. K. Shekhar, was a composer and conductor for Malayalam films. Rahman lost his father when he was 9 years old, and his family rented out musical equipment as a source of income. He converted to Islam from Hinduism in 1989 along with his sisters. During these formative years, Rahman served 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.[3] Rahman is the founder of the Chennai-based rock group, "Nemesis Avenue".[4] He played the keyboard and piano, the synthesizer, the harmonium and the guitar. His curiosity in the synthesizer, in particular increased because, he says, it was the “ideal combination of music and technology".[5] He began early training in music under Master Dhanraj. At the age of 11, he joined, as a keyboardist, the troupe of Ilaiyaraaja,[5] one of many composers to whom musical instruments belonging to Rahman's father were rented. Rahman later played in the orchestra of M. S. Viswanathan and Ramesh Naidu, accompanied Zakir Hussain, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and L. Shankar on world tours and obtained a scholarship to the Trinity College, Oxford[1], where he graduated with a degree in Western classical music.[6]

Career

Film scoring and soundtracks

In 1992, Rahman began his own music recording and mixing studio attached to the backyard of his house called the Panchathan Record Inn, which was developed into India's most advanced recording studio.[7] He initially composed music jingles for advertisements, Indian Television channels and music scores in documentaries, among other projects. In 1992, he was approached by film director Mani Ratnam to compose the score and soundtrack for Ratnam's Tamil film Roja.[7] The debut led Rahman to receive the Rajat Kamal award for Best Music Director at the National Film Awards, the first time ever by a first-time film composer. Rahman has since then gone on to win the award three more times (for his scores for Minsaara Kanavu (Electric Dreams, Tamil) in 1997, Lagaan (Tax, Hindi) in 2002, Kannathil Muthamittal (A peck on the Cheek, Tamil) in 2003, the most ever by any composer.[8]

Roja's score met with high sales and acclaim, in its original and dubbed versions, bringing about a marked change in film music at the time, and Rahman followed this with successful scores for Tamil–language films of the Chennai film industry including Ratnam's politically charged Bombay, the urbanite Kadhalan, Bharathiraaja's Karuththamma, the saxophonic Duet, Indira, and the romantic comedies Mr. Romeo and Love Birds, which gained him considerable notice.[9][10] His fanbase in Japan increased with Muthu 's success there.[11] His soundtracks gained him recognition in the Tamil Nadu film industry and across the world for his stylistic versatality in his pieces including in Western classical, Carnatic, Tamil traditional/folk, jazz, reggae and rock music.[12][13][14] The Bombay Theme—from Ratnam's Bombay,—would later reappear in Deepa Mehta's Fire and various compilations and media. Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, marked Rahman's debut for Hindi-language films made in the Mumbai film industry. Many successful scores for films including Dil Se and the percussive Taal followed.[15][16] Sufi mysticism would form the basis of Chaiyya Chaiyya from the former and the composition "Zikr" from his score of the film Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero for which he created large orchestral and choral arrangements.[3] Musical cues in scores for Sangamam and Iruvar employed Carnatic vocals and instruments such as the veena with leads of rock guitar and jazz.[17] In the 2000s Rahman created hit scores for Rajiv Menon's Kandukondain Kandukondain, Alaipayuthey, Ashutosh Gowariker's Swades and Rang De Basanti.[18] He also composed songs with Hindustani motifs for Water (2005).

Rahman has worked with Indian poets and lyricists such as Gulzar, Mehboob, Vairamuthu and Vaali. His collaborations with some film directors have always resulted in successful soundtracks, particularly with the director Mani Ratnam who he has worked with since Roja, all of which have been hits, and the director S. Shankar in the films Gentleman, Kadhalan, Indian, Jeans, Mudhalvan, Nayak, Boys and Sivaji.[19]

Rahman attached and opened a developed extension studio to his Panchathan Record Inn in 2005 called AM Studios in Kodambakkam, Chennai — considered to be the most developed, equipped and high tech studio in Asia.[20][21] In 2006, Rahman launched his own music label, KM Music.[22] Its first release was his score to the film Sillunu Oru Kaadhal. Rahman scored the Mandarin language picture Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003 after researching and utilizing Chinese and Japanese classical music, and co-scored the Shekhar Kapoor helmed Elizabeth: The Golden Age in 2007. His compositions have been reused in scores within India[23] and have made appearances in Inside Man, Lord of War and The Accidental Husband. In 2008, he scored the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, for which he won two Academy Awards and many other awards. He became the first Indian to win two Academy Awards.

Other works

Rahman has been involved in several projects aside from film. He made an album Vande Mataram (1997) on India's 50th anniversary of independence to commercial success.[24][25] He followed it up with an album for the Bharat Bala–directed video Jana Gana Mana, a conglomeration of performances by many leading exponents/artists of Indian classical music. Rahman has written jingles for ads and composed several orchestrations for athletic events, T.V. and internet media publications, documentaries and short films.

In 1999 Rahman, along with choreographers Shobhana and Prabhu Deva Sundaram and a Tamil cinema dancing troupe performed with Michael Jackson in Munich, Germany, for his "Michael Jackson and Friends Concert." In 2002, he composed his maiden stage production Bombay Dreams (2002) following a commission from musical theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, a success in London's West End. With Finnish folk music band Värttinä, he wrote the music for The Lord of the Rings theatre production and in 2004, Rahman composed the piece "Raga's Dance" for Vanessa-Mae's album Choreography.[8]

In the last six years, Rahman has performed three successful world tours of his concerts to audiences in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, UK, Canada, the US (Hollywood Bowl and 3d tour) and India.[8] He has been collaborating with Karen David for her upcoming studio album. A two-disc soundtrack, Introducing A. R. Rahman (2006) featuring 25 pieces he composed from his Tamil film scores was released in May 2006. His latest non-film album, Connections was launched on 12th December, 2008.

Music style and impact

Skilled in Carnatic music,[26] Western classical, Hindustani music and the Qawwali style of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahman has been noted to write film songs that amalgamate elements of these music systems and other genres, layering instruments from differing music idioms in an improvisatory manner.[3] Symphonic orchestral themes have accompanied his scores, where he has employed leitmotif. In the 1980s, Rahman recorded and played arrangements on mono, synonymous with the era of predecessors such as K. V. Mahadevan and Vishwanathan–Ramamoorthy, but later his methodology changed. Rahman worked and experimented on fusing traditional instruments with new electronic sounds and technology.[3]

His interest and outlook in music stems from his love of experimentation.[6] Rahman's compositions, in the vein of past and contemporary Chennai film composers, bring out auteuristic uses of counterpoint, orchestration and the human voice, evolving Indian pop music with unique timbres, forms and instrumentation. By virtue of these qualities, broad ranging lyrics and his syncretic style, his themes appeal to several sections of Indian society.[27]

His first soundtrack for Roja was listed in TIME's "10 Best Soundtracks" of all time in 2005. Film critic Richard Corliss felt the "astonishing debut work parades Rahman's gift for alchemizing outside influences until they are totally Tamil, totally Rahman."[28][29] Rahman's initial global reach is attributed to the South Asian diaspora. Described as one of the most innovative composers to ever work in the industry, his unique style and immense success transformed film music in the 1990s prompting several film producers to take film music more seriously.[30]

The director Baz Luhrmann notes

"I had come to the music of A. R. Rahman through the

emotional and haunting score of Bombay and the wit and celebration of Lagaan. But the more of AR's music I encountered the more I was to be amazed at the sheer diversity of styles: from swinging brass bands to triumphant anthems; from joyous pop to West-End musicals. Whatever the style, A. R. Rahman's music always possesses a profound sense of humanity and spirit, qualities that inspire me the

most.[31]

File:Rahman With Oscars.jpg
A. R. Rahman winning two Academy Awards in 2009

Awards

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by A. R. Rahman

Rahman is the 1995 recipient of the Mauritius National Award and the Malaysian Award for contributions to music. He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for his first West-End production. A four time National Film Award winner and conferred the Padma Shri from the Government of India, Rahman has received six awards for Best Music at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and eleven awards for his scores at the Filmfare and Filmfare Awards South each. In 2006, he received an honorary award from Stanford University for contributions to global music.[32] In 2009, for his score of Slumdog Millionaire, Rahman won the Critics' Choice Award, the Golden Globe,[33] the BAFTA Award, and two Academy Awards for Best Original Music Score and Best Original Song at the 2009 Oscars.

Personal life

He is married to Saira Banu and has three children, Khadijah, Rahima and Aman. Rahman is related to the South Indian actor Rashin Rahman. Rahman is the uncle of composer G. V. Prakash Kumar, who is the son of Rahman's elder sister, A. R. Reihana.

Social service

Rahman is involved in various charitable causes. In 2004, he was appointed as the Global Ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership, a project by WHO.[8] He has shown support to charities including Save the Children, India, and worked with Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam for his song "Indian Ocean" . The song featured a-ha keyboard player Magne Furuholmen and Travis drummer, Neil Primrose. The proceeds of the song went towards helping orphans in Banda Aceh, one of the areas worst affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. He also supports charities such as Save the Children and has also produced the single "We Can Make It Better" by Don Asian alongside Mukhtar Sahota.[34] In 2008, Rahman opened his KM Music Conservatory partnered with Audio Media Education facility to tutor and train aspiring musicians in vocals, instruments, music technology and sound design. The conservatory – with preeminent musicians on its panel and a newly founded symphony orchestra – is located near his studio in Kodambakkam, Chennai, offering courses at Beginners, Foundation and Diploma level.[35] Rahman composed the theme music for a short film for The Banyan in 2006, in aid of destitute women in Chennai. In 2008, Rahman, along with percussionist Sivamani created a song titled "Jiya Se Jiya", inspired by the Free Hugs Campaign and promoted it through a video shot in various cities in India.

Filmography

Further information: A. R. Rahman discography

As music director

Year Film Language Notes
1992 Roja Tamil Winner, National Film Award for Best Music Direction
Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director
Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)
Listed in TIME's "10 Best Soundtracks" of all time in 2005 [28][29]
Yodha Malayalam
1993 Pudhiya Mugam Tamil
Gentleman Tamil Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director
Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)
Kizhakku Cheemayile Tamil
Uzhavan Tamil
Thiruda Thiruda Tamil
1994 Vandicholai Chinraasu Tamil
Super Police Telugu
Duet Tamil
May Madham Tamil
Kadhalan Tamil Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director
Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)
Pavithra Tamil
Karuththamma Tamil
Pudhiya Mannargal Tamil
Manitha Manitha Tamil
Gangmaster Telugu
1995 Bombay Tamil Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director
Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)
Indira Tamil
Rangeela Hindi Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award
Muthu Tamil Most successful Indian soundtrack in Japan [11]
1996 Love Birds Tamil
Indian Tamil
Kadhal Desam Tamil Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)
Fire Hindi
Mr. Romeo Tamil
1997 Anthimanthaarai Tamil
Minsara Kanavu Tamil Winner, National Film Award for Best Music Direction
Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director
Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)
Iruvar Tamil
Daud: Fun On The Run Hindi
Ratchagan Tamil
Mona Lisa Tamil
Vishwavidhaata Hindi
Kabhi Na Kabhi Hindi
1998 Jeans Tamil Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)
Dil Se… Hindi Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award
Earth Hindi
Doli Saja Ke Rakhna Hindi
1999 En Swasa Kaatre Tamil
Padayappa Tamil
Kadhalar Dhinam Tamil
Taal Hindi Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award
Sangamam Tamil Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director
Jodi Tamil
Takshak Hindi
Mudhalvan Tamil Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)
Taj Mahal Tamil
2000 Pukar Hindi
Alaipayuthey Tamil Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)
Kandukondain Kandukondain Tamil
Fiza Hindi 1 song
Rhythm Tamil
Thenali Tamil
Zubeidaa Hindi
2001 One 2 Ka 4 Hindi
Nayak: The Real Hero Hindi
Love You Hamesha Hindi
Lagaan Hindi Winner, National Film Award for Best Music Direction
Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award
Star Tamil
Parthale Paravasam Tamil
2002 Alli Arjuna Tamil
Kannathil Muthamittal Tamil Winner, National Film Award for Best Music Direction
Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)
The Legend of Bhagat Singh Hindi Winner, Filmfare Best Background Score Award
Baba Tamil
Kadhal Virus Tamil
Saathiya Hindi Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award
2003 Parasuram Tamil
Boys Tamil
Warriors of Heaven and Earth Mandarin
Japanese
Enakku 20 Unakku 18 Tamil
Kangalal Kaithu Sei Tamil
Tehzeeb Hindi
2004 Udhaya Tamil
Warriors of Heaven and Earth English
Lakeer - Forbidden Lines Hindi
Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities Hindi
Aayitha Ezhuthu Tamil
Yuva Hindi
New Tamil
Naani Telugu
Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa Hindi 3 songs
Swades Hindi Winner, Filmfare Best Background Score Award
Kisna - The Warrior Poet Hindi 2 song
2005 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero Hindi
Mangal Pandey - The Rising Hindi
Anbe Aaruyire Tamil
Water Hindi 5 songs
2006 Rang De Basanti Hindi Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award
Shortlisted for Academy Award for Best Original Song nomination [36]
Sillunu Oru Kaadhal Tamil Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)
Varalaru Tamil
2007 Guru Hindi Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award
Winner, Filmfare Best Background Score Award
Provoked Hindi
Sivaji: The Boss Tamil Winner, Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil)
Azhagiya Thamizh Magan Tamil
Elizabeth: The Golden Age English With Craig Armstrong
2008 Jodhaa Akbar Hindi
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na Hindi
ADA: A Way of Life Hindi
Sakkarakatti Tamil
Yuvvraaj Hindi
Ghajini Hindi
Slumdog Millionaire English
Hindi		 Winner, Academy Award for Best Original Music Score
Winner, Academy Award for Best Original Song
Winner, BAFTA Award for Best Film Music
Winner, Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
2009 Delhi 6 Hindi
Nair San Japanese
Malayalam
Mandarin
Mongolian		 Filming
Blue Hindi Filming
Puli Telugu Filming
Ashokavanam Tamil Filming
Raavan Hindi Filming
Chennaiyil Oru Mazhaikalam Tamil Filming
8 X 10 Tasveer Hindi Filming
Sultan The Warrior Tamil Filming
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya Tamil Filming
2010 Endhiran Tamil Filming
The 19th Step English
Tamil
Japanese		 Filming

Notes

  1. ^ "Indian film composer for Rings". BBC. 2003. Retrieved November 15 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  2. ^ Das Gupta, Surajeet. "Composing a winning score". Rediff. Retrieved November 15 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  3. ^ a b c d Rangan, Baradwaj (2008). "AR Rahman: The Rolling Stone interview". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 16 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |lcoauthors= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Ganti, T., Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema, p. 112
  5. ^ a b "Artist of the Month: AR Rahman". TFM Page Magazine. 2006. Retrieved February 15 2007. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. ^ a b Srinivasan, Gopal (2002). "Composer Extraordinaire: The Complete Biography of A.R. Rahman". Retrieved February 15 2007.. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  7. ^ a b Eur, Andy Gregory, The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002: A. R. Rahman, p. 419 - 420
  8. ^ a b c d Iyer, Vijay. "A. R. Rahman". lotr.com. Retrieved November 15 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Kasbekar, Asha (2006). Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts and Lifestyle. ABC-CLIO. p. 215. ISBN 9781851096367. Songs play as important a part in South Indian films and some South Indian music directors such as A. R. Rehman and Ilyaraja have an enthusiastic national and even international following
  10. ^ Chaudhuri, S., "Cinema of South India and Sri Lanka", Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia, p. 149, Now the South is believed to excel the North in many respects, including its colour labs, state of the art digital technology and sound processing facilities (which have improved the dubbing of Tamil and other South Indian languages into Hindi since the 1970s
  11. ^ a b Prasad, Ayappa (2003). "Films don't believe in borders". Screen. Retrieved November 15 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  12. ^ Ramaswamy, V., Historical Dictionary of the Tamils, p. 199
  13. ^ Chaudhuri, S., "Cinema of South India and Sri Lanka", Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia, p. 149, Southern filmmakers like Mani Ratnam, Ram Gopal Varma and Priyadarshan have altered the profile of Indian 'national' cinema. So too have southern specialists... cinematographers Santosh Sivan, P. C. Sriram and music composer A. R. Rahman who formed a highly successful team with Ratnam [and] have all attained star status in their own right
  14. ^ Nambiar, Smitha. "A. R. Rahman - The Melody King". Indiainfo.com. Retrieved November 16 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  15. ^ Stafford, Roy, Understanding Audiences and the Film Industry, London: British Film Institute, p. 27, ISBN 9781844571413
  16. ^ Arnold, Alison (2000). "Film music in the late Twentieth century". The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Taylor & Francis. p. 540. ISBN 9780824049461. The recent success of the Tamil film music director A. R. Rehman in achieving widespread popularity in the world of Hindi film music is now possibly opening doors to new South-North relationships and collaborations
  17. ^ "The A R Rahman Chat". Rediff On The Net. Rediff. August 17, 1998. Retrieved December 06 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  18. ^ Velayutham, Selvaraj (2008). Tamil Cinema: The Cultural Politics of India's Other Film Industry. p. 6.
  19. ^ Ganti, T., Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema, p. 112, Rehman became a major star with his hit music in Roja followed by hit scores for Mani Ratnam's and Shankar's films in Tamil.
  20. ^ "Film Composer A.R. Rahman Selects Bag End Bass Speakers". Mix. 2006. Retrieved November 18 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |lcoauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  21. ^ Omkar, Ashanti (March 2008), "Interview with A. R. Rahman", The Score Magazine, vol. 1, no. 1, Chennai {{citation}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  22. ^ Maria Verghis, Shana (August 11, 2006), "A R Rahman Interview", The Pioneer, New Delhi {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  23. ^ "Cinemaya 1998", Cinemaya, no. 39–41, New Delhi, p. 9, 1998, ISSN 0970-8782, OCLC 19234070, However, the song was lifted by a whole range of well-known music directors from Bombay so much so that the original composition in Tamil by AR Rahman... {{citation}}: line feed character in |quote= at position 82 (help)
  24. ^ Allen, John, Refashioning pop music in Asia, p. 67 {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "A. R. Rahman: Summary Biography". A. R. Rahman: A Biography. 2002. Retrieved February 15 2007. Particularly impressed with Vande Mataram, Jeremy Spencer, formerly of Fleetwood Mac stated that Rahman was the only Indian composer he knew about and liked {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  26. ^ Viswanathan, T.; Harper Allen, Matthew, Music in South India, p. 139
  27. ^ Rahman's work has evolved music "passed the relatively static makeup of Western ensembles such as jazz bands and symphony orchestras and the rigid formula of American pop songs." Todd Titon, Jeff, "India/South India", Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World's Peoples, p. 202 - 205 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ a b Corliss, Richard (2005). "Best Soundtracks - ALL TIME 100 MOVIES - TIME". TIME. Retrieved February 24 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  29. ^ a b ""All-TIME" 100 Movies". Time. Retrieved 2009-02-25. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ Ganti, T., Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema, p. 112, Rehman is an innovative and phenomenally successful contemporary Tamil and Hindi composer whose style transformed film music in the 1990s...he is considered a genius in the Bombay film industry, and in terms of how much control and autonomy he is allowed over his compositions and working style, he holds tremendous power over film producers and directors
  31. ^ "Baz Luhrrman comments on A. R. Rahman". Charindaa. 2005. Retrieved November 15 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  32. ^ Prakash, B.S. (July 06, 2006). "Stanford University honours A R Rahman". Rediff. Rediff.com. Retrieved December 16 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  33. ^ "66th Annual Golden Globe Awards". IMDb. Retrieved December 12 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  34. ^ "LA Phil presents Hollywood Bowl: About the Performer: AR Rahman". Hollywood Bowl Official Website. Retrieved June 2006. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  35. ^ "Rahman's music conservatory in June". Screen. Retrieved November 2008. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  36. ^ "Rang De Basanti making waves at Oscars". Bollywood News. 11 December 2006. Retrieved 2009-02-23.

References

  • Allen, John (2004). Refashioning pop music in Asia. US: Routledge. ISBN 9780700714018. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Arnold, Alison (2000). The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780824049461.
  • "Cinemaya 1998". Cinemaya (39–41). New Delhi: 9. 1998. ISSN 0970-8782. OCLC 19234070.
  • Chaudhuri, Shohini (2005). "Cinema of South India and Sri Lanka". Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 074861799X.
  • Eur, Andy Gregory (2002). "A. R. Rahman". The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002. Routledge. ISBN 9781857431612.
  • Ganti, Tejaswini (2004). Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema. Routledge. ISBN 0415288541.
  • Ramaswamy, Vijaya (2007). Historical Dictionary of the Tamils. Michigan: The Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0810853795.
  • Terska Ciecko, Anne (2006). Contemporary Asian Cinema: Popular culture in a Global Frame. Berg: Berg Publishers. ISBN 1845202376.
  • Todd Titon, Jeff (2005). "India/South India". Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World's Peoples. US: Thomson Shirmer. ISBN 9780534627577. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Velayutham, Selvaraj (2008). Tamil Cinema: The Cultural Politics of India's Other Film Industry. Routledge. ISBN 9780415396806.
  • Vishwanathan, T. (2004). Music in South India: The Karṇāṭak Concert Tradition and Beyond : Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture. US: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195145915. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
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