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A.R.Rahman
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A two-time winner of the Academy Award (Oscar), A.
R. Rahman is popularly known as the man who has redefined contemporary Indian
music. Hailed by Time magazine as the ‘Mozart of Madras’, Rahman, according to a
BBC estimate, has sold more than 150 million copies of his work comprising of
music from more than 100 film soundtracks and albums across over half a dozen
languages, including landmark scores such as 'Roja', 'Bombay', Dil Se', 'Taal',
'Lagaan', 'Vandemataram' and more recently, 'Jodhaa Akbar', 'Delhi 6' and 'Slumdog
Millionaire'.Allah Rakha Rahman (
His original name was A.S.Dileep Kumar ) was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
to a musically affluent Mudaliar Tamil family. His father R. K. Shekhar, was a
Chennai based composer and conductor for Malayalam films. A.R Rahman lost his
father at a young age and his family rented out musical equipment as a source of
income. He was raised by his mother Kareema (Kashturi). He then converted to
Islam in the year 1989 at the age of 23 and changed his name to Rahman.
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.Rahman is the founder of the Chennai-based
rock group, "Nemesis Avenue".He played the keyboard and piano, the synthesizer,
the harmonium and the guitar. He began early training in music under Master
Dhanraj. At the age of 11, he joined, as a keyboardist, the troupe of
Ilaiyaraaja, 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, Ramesh Naidu and Raj Koti, accompanied Zakir Hussain, Kunnakudi
Vaidyanathan and L. Shankar on world tours and obtained a scholarship to the
Trinity College of Music where he graduated with a degree in Western classical
music
Rahman pursued music as a career at a very young
age and after assisting leading musicians in India went on to compose jingles
and scores for popular Indian television features. He also obtained a degree in
western classical music from the Trinity College of Music, London and set up his
own in-house studio called Panchathan Record-Inn at Chennai.
In 1991, noted film maker Mani Ratnam offered
Rahman a movie called ‘Roja’ which was a run-away success and brought nationwide
fame and acclaim to the composer. The movie also won Rahman the Indian National
Award for the best music composer, the first time ever by a debutant. Since
then, Rahman has gone on to win the National Award 3 more times, the most ever
by any music composer.
In 1997, to commemorate 50 years of Indian
Independence, Sony Music signed up Rahman as its first artiste in South Asia.
The result was ‘Vande Mataram’, an album that instantly made Indians relate to
it and succeeded in rekindling the spirit of patriotism.
In 2001, Andrew Lloyd Webber, the well known
composer of musicals like ‘Phantom of the Opera’ & ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’
invited Rahman to compose for his musical, ‘Bombay Dreams’, the first time he
would produce a musical he did not compose for. ‘Bombay Dreams’ opened to packed
houses at London’s West End and had an unprecedented run for 2 years and later
premiered at New York’s Broadway. Rahman recently composed the score for the
stage production of 'The Lord of the Rings', one of the most expensive
productions mounted on stage.
Rahman has undertaken several sellout concert
tours in over 30 international destinations including one at the prestigious
Hollywood Bowl in 2006.
Recently, Time magazine rated the soundtrack of
‘Roja’ in the Top 10 of their all time best movie soundtracks of the world; The
Guardian, UK, listed the soundtrack of ‘Bombay’ in ‘1000 albums to listen before
you die’.
Rahman’s music led him to be noticed
internationally with several of his tracks featuring in movies such as 'The Lord
of War', 'Inside Man' and 'The Accidental Husband'. His composition, Bombay
Theme holds the distinction of being featured in over 50 international
compilations. He also scored the music for the Hollywood productions, 'Elizabeth
- The Golden Age', 'Slumdog Millionaire' and the Chinese movie, ‘Warriors of
Heaven & Earth' produced by Sony Pictures.
In 2008, Rahman's work gained global prominence
and accolades with the extraordinary success of his score for 'Slumdog
Millionaire' that won 8 Academy Awards including two for Rahman, for Best Score
and Best Song. Rahman won over 15 awards for his score including the Golden
Globe and the BAFTA.
Rahman has been bestowed with the 'Padma Shri',
one of India's highest national civilian honours, recognizing his contribution
to music, in addition to several other awards including 4 Indian National Film
Awards and 24 Filmfare Awards, India's leading recognition for films. He has
also been conferred with honorary doctorates from the Aligarh Muslim University
and the Middlesex University.
Rahman has expanded his focus to newer horizons
like setting up the A R Rahman Foundation to help poor and underprivileged
children. He released his first English single, ‘Pray For Me Brother’ in 2007,
with proceeds from the sales going to the foundation. He also serves as the UN
Ambassador for the 2015 Millenium Development Goals. Rahman has also announced
initiatives to establish a tradition in western classical music in India and
recently embarked on an ambitious venture to set up the KM Music Conservatory
and the KM Music Symphony Orchestra based out of Chennai, India.
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