Composer

A R Rahman is the son of the late R K Sekhar, the well known music director in the Malayalam film industry. He began his musical career at the age of 11 as a keyboard player. He graduated with a degree in Western Classical Music and began composing in 1987.

Film : A R Rahman's first film soundtrack was for Roja. The score of Roja earned him every conceivable music award in India in 1992. Since then he has composed the soundtracks for over fifty films including Lagaan, Fiza, Taal, Earth, Dil Se, Fire and Bombay. The soundtrack for Bombay sold over 5 million copies. A R Rahman has sold over 100 million soundtrack albums worldwide.

Concerts/Recording : The acclaimed album Vande Mataram; collaborations on keyboards with innumerable artists including Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Apache Indian, Zakir Hussein, Dr L Shankar, Dominic Miller, David Byrne and Michael Jackson.

Television : Long association with the Indian Advertising Industry in creating music for advertisements. A R Rahman’s portfolio includes music and jingles for award-winning commercials for television and radio as well as scores for corporate videos and documentaries.

Awards : Telega Purashkar award for 1992, 1993 and 1994; Rajat Kamal award for Best Music Director at the National Film awards; National award for Best Music Direction for Minsara Kanavu; Filmfare award every year since 1992 - 2001, Cinema Express award, Nagi Reddy award, Rajiv Gandhi award, Screen award for Vande Mataram and Taal, awarded the highest civilian honour of Padma Shree by the President of India.

A R Rahman recently composed music for Friends of the World which he performed in Munich with Michael Jackson.

» Back

» Print This Article