| Revision as of 06:50, 3 March 2009 view sourceShshshsh (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers62,445 edits Tamil?← Previous edit | Revision as of 07:15, 3 March 2009 view source Shshshsh (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers62,445 edits →Career: JS: fixing MoS and other miscellaneous style problemsNext edit → | ||
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| ===Film scoring and soundtracks=== | ===Film scoring and soundtracks=== | ||
| In 1992, Rahman |
In 1992, Rahman began his own music recording and mixing studio attached to the backyard of his house called the ], which was developed into India's most advanced recording studio.<ref name="internationalrahman">{{Citation | ||
| | last =Eur | | last =Eur | ||
| | first =Andy Gregory|title=The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002: A. R. Rahman|page= 419 - 420}}</ref> He initially composed music jingles for advertisements, ] channels and music scores in documentaries, among other projects. In 1992, he was approached by film director ] to compose the score and soundtrack for Ratnam's Tamil film '']''.<ref name="internationalrahman"/> The debut led Rahman to receive the ] award for Best Music Director at the ], 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 '']'' (''Electric Dreams'', Tamil) in 1997, '']'' (''Tax'', Hindi) in 2002, '']'' (''A Peck on the Cheek'', Tamil) in 2003, the most ever by any composer.<ref name="lotrrahmanc">{{cite web | title= A. R. Rahman| author=Iyer, Vijay|work=lotr.com | url=http://www.lotr.com/cast_creative/creative_bio_03.php| dateformat=mdy | accessdate=November 15 2008}}</ref> | | first =Andy Gregory|title=The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002: A. R. Rahman|page= 419 - 420}}</ref> He initially composed music jingles for advertisements, ] channels and music scores in documentaries, among other projects. In 1992, he was approached by film director ] to compose the score and soundtrack for Ratnam's Tamil film '']''.<ref name="internationalrahman"/> The debut led Rahman to receive the ] award for Best Music Director at the ], 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 '']'' (''Electric Dreams'', Tamil) in 1997, '']'' (''Tax'', Hindi) in 2002, '']'' (''A Peck on the Cheek'', Tamil) in 2003, the most ever by any composer.<ref name="lotrrahmanc">{{cite web | title= A. R. Rahman| author=Iyer, Vijay|work=lotr.com | url=http://www.lotr.com/cast_creative/creative_bio_03.php| dateformat=mdy | accessdate=November 15 2008}}</ref> | ||
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| ]'' - Rahman's ], released in 1992 for this Tamil film, instantly delivered him his first ].]] | ]'' - Rahman's ], released in 1992 for this Tamil film, instantly delivered him his first ].]] | ||
| ''Roja'''s score met with high sales and acclaim, in its original and dubbed versions, bringing about a marked change in ] at the time, and Rahman followed this with successful scores for ] of the ] including Ratnam's politically charged '']'', the urbanite '']'', ]'s ''],'' the saxophonic ''],'' ''],'' and the romantic comedies |
''Roja'''s score met with high sales and acclaim, in its original and dubbed versions, bringing about a marked change in ] at the time, and Rahman followed this with successful scores for ] of the ] including Ratnam's politically charged '']'', the urbanite '']'', ]'s ''],'' the saxophonic ''],'' ''],'' and the romantic comedies '']'' and ''],'' which gained him considerable notice.<ref>{{cite book | title=Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts and Lifestyle| url=| last=Kasbekar|first=Asha| date=2006| pages=| publisher=ABC-CLIO|location=| url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Sv7Uk0UcdM8C&pg=PA215&dq=A.+R.+Rehman+tamil&lr=|chapter=|isbn= 9781851096367|pages=215|quote=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}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | ||
| | last =Chaudhuri | | last =Chaudhuri | ||
| | first =S.|title= Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia|chapter=Cinema of South India and Sri Lanka|page= 149|quote=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}}</ref> His fanbase in ] increased with '']'' 's success there.<ref name="muthunoborderss">{{cite web | author=Prasad, Ayappa| title=Films don't believe in borders | work= ] | url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=5670 | year= 2003| dateformat=mdy | accessdate=November 15 2008}}</ref> His soundtracks gained him recognition in the Tamil Nadu film industry and across the world for his stylistic versatality in his pieces including in ], Carnatic, Tamil traditional/folk, ], ] and ].<ref>{{Citation | | first =S.|title= Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia|chapter=Cinema of South India and Sri Lanka|page= 149|quote=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}}</ref> His fanbase in ] increased with '']'' 's success there.<ref name="muthunoborderss">{{cite web | author=Prasad, Ayappa| title=Films don't believe in borders | work= ] | url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=5670 | year= 2003| dateformat=mdy | accessdate=November 15 2008}}</ref> His soundtracks gained him recognition in the Tamil Nadu film industry and across the world for his stylistic versatality in his pieces including in ], Carnatic, Tamil traditional/folk, ], ] and ].<ref>{{Citation | ||
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| | first =V.|title= Historical Dictionary of the Tamils|page= 199}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | | first =V.|title= Historical Dictionary of the Tamils|page= 199}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | ||
| | last =Chaudhuri | | last =Chaudhuri | ||
| | first =S.|title= Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia|chapter=Cinema of South India and Sri Lanka|page= 149|quote=Southern filmmakers like Mani Ratnam, Ram Gopal Varma and ] have altered the profile of Indian 'national' cinema. So too have southern specialists... cinematographers ], ] and music composer A. R. Rahman who formed a highly successful team with Ratnam |
| first =S.|title= Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia|chapter=Cinema of South India and Sri Lanka|page= 149|quote=Southern filmmakers like Mani Ratnam, Ram Gopal Varma and ] have altered the profile of Indian 'national' cinema. So too have southern specialists... cinematographers ], ] and music composer A. R. Rahman who formed a highly successful team with Ratnam and have all attained star status in their own right}}</ref><ref name="Rahmanindiainfo">{{cite web | author=Nambiar, Smitha|title= A. R. Rahman - The Melody King | work= Indiainfo.com | url= http://movies.indiainfo.com/star_of_week/rahman.html | month= | year= | dateformat=mdy | accessdate=November 16 2008}}</ref> The ]—from Ratnam's ''Bombay''—would later reappear in ]'s ''Fire'' and various compilations and media. '']'', directed by ], marked Rahman's debut for ] made in the ]. Many successful scores for films including '']'' and the percussive '']'' followed.<ref name="understandingaf">{{Citation | ||
| | last =Stafford | | last =Stafford | ||
| | first =Roy|title=Understanding Audiences and the Film Industry |page= 27|isbn=9781844571413|publisher=British Film Institute|location=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music| last=Arnold|first=Alison| date=2000| pages=540| publisher=Taylor & Francis|location=| url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ZOlNv8MAXIEC&pg=RA2-PA555&dq=A.+R.+Rahman+tamil+film+music&lr=#PRA2-PA541,M1|chapter=Film music in the late Twentieth century|isbn= 9780824049461|quote=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}}</ref> ] would form the basis of ] from the former and the composition "]" from his score of the film '']'' for which he created large orchestral and choral arrangements.<ref name="Rahmanrs">{{cite web | last=Rangan|first=Baradwaj|lcoauthors=Suhasini, Lalitha|title=AR Rahman: The Rolling Stone interview | work= ] | url=http://www.desipundit.com/baradwajrangan/2008/06/07/ar-rahman-the-rolling-stone-interview/| month= |
| first =Roy|title=Understanding Audiences and the Film Industry |page= 27|isbn=9781844571413|publisher=British Film Institute|location=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music| last=Arnold|first=Alison| date=2000| pages=540| publisher=Taylor & Francis|location=| url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ZOlNv8MAXIEC&pg=RA2-PA555&dq=A.+R.+Rahman+tamil+film+music&lr=#PRA2-PA541,M1|chapter=Film music in the late Twentieth century|isbn= 9780824049461|quote=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}}</ref> ] would form the basis of ] from the former and the composition "]" from his score of the film '']'' for which he created large orchestral and choral arrangements.<ref name="Rahmanrs">{{cite web | last=Rangan|first=Baradwaj|lcoauthors=Suhasini, Lalitha|title=AR Rahman: The Rolling Stone interview | work= ] | url=http://www.desipundit.com/baradwajrangan/2008/06/07/ar-rahman-the-rolling-stone-interview/| month= | year= 2008 | dateformat=mdy | accessdate=November 16 2008}}</ref> Musical cues in scores for '']'' and '']'' employed Carnatic vocals and instruments such as the veena with leads of rock guitar and jazz.<ref name="archat98">{{cite web | title=The A R Rahman Chat| work=]|publisher=Rediff| url=http://www.rediff.com/chat/rahmchat.htm| date=August 17, 1998|dateformat=mdy | accessdate=December 06 2008}}</ref> In the 2000s Rahman created hit scores for ]'s ''],'' ''],'' ]'s '']'' and '']''.<ref>{{cite book | title=Tamil Cinema: The Cultural Politics of India's Other Film Industry| last=Velayutham|first=Selvaraj| date=2008| pages=6|location=| url=|chapter=|isbn= |quote=}}</ref> He composed songs with Hindustani motifs for '']'' (2005). | ||
| Rahman has worked with Indian poets and lyricists such as ], ], ] and ]. His collaborations with some film directors have always resulted in successful soundtracks, particularly with the director Mani Ratnam ], all of which have been hits, and the director ] in the films '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'','' ]'', '']'', '']'' and '']''.<ref>{{Citation | Rahman has worked with Indian poets and lyricists such as ], ], ] and ]. His collaborations with some film directors have always resulted in successful soundtracks, particularly with the director Mani Ratnam ], all of which have been hits, and the director ] in the films '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'','' ]'', '']'', '']'' and '']''.<ref>{{Citation | ||
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| Rahman attached and opened a developed extension studio to his Panchathan Record Inn in 2005 called ] in Kodambakkam, Chennai — considered to be the most developed, equipped and high tech studio in Asia.<ref name="Rahmanammix">{{cite web | last=|first=|lcoauthors=|title= | Rahman attached and opened a developed extension studio to his Panchathan Record Inn in 2005 called ] in Kodambakkam, Chennai — considered to be the most developed, equipped and high tech studio in Asia.<ref name="Rahmanammix">{{cite web | last=|first=|lcoauthors=|title= | ||
| Film Composer A.R. Rahman Selects Bag End Bass Speakers | work= ] | url=http://mixonline.com/news/headline/bag-end-arrahman-060706/| month= June 7 |
Film Composer A.R. Rahman Selects Bag End Bass Speakers | work= ] | url=http://mixonline.com/news/headline/bag-end-arrahman-060706/| month= June 7 | year= 2006 | dateformat=mdy | accessdate=November 18 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | ||
| | last =Omkar | | last =Omkar | ||
| | first =Ashanti|title= Interview with A. R. Rahman|year=March 2008|date=|page=|issue=1|volume=1|periodical=]|location=]|issn=|oclc=|url=|accessdate= November 18 2008}}</ref> In 2006, Rahman launched his own music label, KM Music.<ref>{{Citation | | first =Ashanti|title= Interview with A. R. Rahman|year=March 2008|date=|page=|issue=1|volume=1|periodical=]|location=]|issn=|oclc=|url=|accessdate= November 18 2008}}</ref> In 2006, Rahman launched his own music label, KM Music.<ref>{{Citation | ||
| | last =Maria Verghis | | last =Maria Verghis | ||
| | first =Shana|title= |
| first =Shana|title= A R Rahman Interview| newspaper= ] | publication-place=New Delhi| | date=August 11, 2006| year=2006| month=August| page=| url=http://smaramra.blogspot.com/2006/08/r-rahman-interview.html|quote=}}</ref> Its first release was his score to the film ''].'' Rahman scored the ] picture '']'' in 2003 after researching and utilizing ] and ] music, and co-scored the ] helmed '']'' in 2007. His compositions have been reused in scores within India<ref>{{Citation | ||
| | last = | | last = | ||
| | first =|title= Cinemaya 1998|year=1998|page=9|issue=39-41|periodical=]|location=]|issn=0970-8782|oclc=19234070|quote=However, the song was lifted by a whole range of well-known music directors from | | first =|title= Cinemaya 1998|year=1998|page=9|issue=39-41|periodical=]|location=]|issn=0970-8782|oclc=19234070|quote=However, the song was lifted by a whole range of well-known music directors from | ||
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| In 1999 Rahman, along with choreographers ] and ] and a Tamil cinema dancing troupe performed with ] in ], ], for his "Michael Jackson and Friends Concert." In 2002, he composed his maiden stage production '']'' (2002) following a commission from ] composer ], a success in ]'s ]. With ] folk music band ], he wrote the music for '']'' theatre production and in 2004, Rahman composed the piece "Raga's Dance" for ]'s album '']''.<ref name="lotrrahmanc"/> | In 1999 Rahman, along with choreographers ] and ] and a Tamil cinema dancing troupe performed with ] in ], ], for his "Michael Jackson and Friends Concert." In 2002, he composed his maiden stage production '']'' (2002) following a commission from ] composer ], a success in ]'s ]. With ] folk music band ], he wrote the music for '']'' theatre production and in 2004, Rahman composed the piece "Raga's Dance" for ]'s album '']''.<ref name="lotrrahmanc"/> | ||
| In the last six years, Rahman has performed three successful world ] of his concerts to audiences in ], ], ], ], ], ], the ] (] and 3d tour) and ].<ref name="lotrrahmanc"/> He has been collaborating with ] for her upcoming studio album. A two-disc soundtrack, '']'' (2006) featuring 25 pieces he composed from his ] was released in May 2006. His |
In the last six years, Rahman has performed three successful world ] of his concerts to audiences in ], ], ], ], ], ], the ] (] and 3d tour) and ].<ref name="lotrrahmanc"/> He has been collaborating with ] for her upcoming studio album. A two-disc soundtrack, '']'' (2006) featuring 25 pieces he composed from his ] was released in May 2006. His non-film album, ''Connections'' was launched on 12 December, 2008. | ||
| ===Music style and impact=== | ===Music style and impact=== | ||
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| humanity and spirit, qualities that inspire me the | humanity and spirit, qualities that inspire me the | ||
| 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 |
<!--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”.--> | ||
| ==Awards== | ==Awards== | ||
Revision as of 07:15, 3 March 2009
| A. R. Rahman |
|---|
Allah Rakha Rahman (Tamil: ஏ.ஆர்.ரகுமான்; born January 6, 1967 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India as A. S. Dileep Kumar) is an Indian film composer, record producer, musician and singer. His film scoring career began in the early 1990s. He has won thirteen Filmfare Awards, four National Film Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards.
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, and sold over 200 million cassettes making him one of the world's all-time top selling recording artists.
Time Magazine has referred to him as the "Mozart of Madras" and several Tamil commentators have coined him the nickname Isai Puyal (Tamil: இசைப் புயல்; English: Music Storm).
Early life and influences
A. R. Rahman was born in a musically affluent Tamil family. His father R. K. Shekhar, was a Chennai based composer and conductor for Malayalam films. Rahman lost his father at a young age and his family rented out musical equipment as a source of income. 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. His curiosity in the synthesizer, in particular increased because, he says, it was the “ideal combination of music and technology". 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 and Ramesh Naidu, 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.
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. 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. 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.
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. His fanbase in Japan increased with Muthu 's success there. 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. 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. 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. Musical cues in scores for Sangamam and Iruvar employed Carnatic vocals and instruments such as the veena with leads of rock guitar and jazz. In the 2000s Rahman created hit scores for Rajiv Menon's Kandukondain Kandukondain, Alaipayuthey, Ashutosh Gowariker's Swades and Rang De Basanti. He 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.
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. In 2006, Rahman launched his own music label, KM Music. 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 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 a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards, becoming the first Indian citizen to do so.
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. 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.
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. 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 non-film album, Connections was launched on 12 December, 2008.
Music style and impact
Skilled in Carnatic music, 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. 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.
His interest and outlook in music stems from his love of experimentation. 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.
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." 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. The music producer Ron Fair considers Rahman to be "one of the world's great living composers in any medium".
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.
Awards
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by A. R. RahmanA R 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 also received six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, thirteen Filmfare Awards and twelve Filmfare Awards South for his music and scores. In 2006, he received an honorary award from Stanford University for contributions to global music. In 2009, for his score of Slumdog Millionaire, Rahman won the Critics' Choice Award, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music, 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 Aameen. Rahman is the uncle of composer G. V. Prakash Kumar, who is the son of Rahman's elder sister, A. R. Reihana. Rahman is a practising Sufi Muslim, having converted from Hinduism in 1989.
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. 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 produced the single "We Can Make It Better" by Don Asian alongside Mukhtar Sahota. 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. 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 discographyAs music director
Notes
References
External links
|
- 1966 births
- Living people
- A. R. Rahman
- Indian musicians
- Indian Muslims
- Indian film score composers
- 20th-century classical composers
- 21st-century classical composers
- Bollywood playback singers
- Kollywood playback singers
- Indian film singers
- Indian male singers
- Padma Shri recipients
- Best Original Music Score Academy Award winners
- Filmfare Awards winners
- National Film Award winners
- Tamil musicians
- Tamil film score composers
- People from Chennai
- Converts to Islam