A R Rahman was born on 6th of January 1966 in Chennai to R. K. Shekhar a composer, arranger for Malyalam language films. His original name was A. S. Dileep Kumar. His father passed away when he was 9 years old. He then took up the path of Islam after a family incident took place. After loosing his father he and his family rented out the musical instruments and made a living out of it. During these tough times Rahman served has Keyboardist and arranger for the band ‘Roots’. He did this along with his friends. He played keyboard, piano, synthesizer, harmonium and guitar. At an early age of 11 he joined as keyboardist in the troupe of Ilayaraja. This music maestro played in the orchestra of M. S. Vishwanath and Ramesh Naidu. He accompanied Zakir Hussain and Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan on world tours which gained him scholarship to Trinity College at Oxford University, were he graduated with degree in Western Classical Music.

He composed initially for Title music of Indian television channels and documentaries among various projects. He was approached by director Mani Ratnam to compose music for Roja (1992). This debut had made him famous and he became the recipient of Rajat Kamal award for Best Music Director at National Film Awards. The first time a debutant had received this award. After which the list just keeps adding on. This Isai Puyal went on to score his debut in Hindi Cinema with Rangeela (1995) which was directed by Ram Gopal Varma. He then worked for top directors for movies like Bombay (1995), Dil Se (1998), Taal (1999), Zubeida (2001), Lagaan (2001) and many more. His collaboration with creative director Shankar in films like Gentleman (1993), Premikudu (1994), Bharateeyudu (1996), Jeans (1998), Oke Okkadu (1999), Boys (2003), Sivaji (2007) works brilliantly. His works for the Superstar Rajnikanth in Padayappa (1999), Baba (2002), Sivaji (2007) are par excellence. He won 4 Indian National Film Awards for the films Roja (1992), Minsaara Kanavu (1997), Lagaan (2001), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002).

This Mozart of Madras created history by winning two OSCARS for Best Achievement in Music and Best Original Song ‘Jai ho’ for Slumdog Millionaire (2008). ‘Jai ho’ and Slumdog (2008) also won him BAFTA award, Golden Globe, Broadcast Film Critics Award, Chicago Film Critics, MTV movie award, San Diego Film Crictics Society Award, Satellite Awards. This Padma Shri Awardee has also composed music for Hollywood movies. His first film Roja was listed in TIME’s top ten movie soundtracks of all time. He also composed for Chinese film Warriors of Heaven and Earth (2003). On August 15 1997 his hit album “Vandemataram” was a tribute to 50 years of Indian Independence.

Maheshwaran A. R
16reels.com Team