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IMDbPro

A.R. Rahman

  • Music Artist
  • Composer
  • Music Department
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
A.R. Rahman at an event for The 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009)
Watch Harmony with A. R. Rahman Trailer
Play trailer1:33
Harmony with A. R. Rahman (2018)
1 Video
52 Photos
A two-time winner and five-times nominee of the Academy Award (Oscar), A. R. Rahman is popularly known as the man who has redefined contemporary Indian music. 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', 'Jodhaa Akbar', 'Slumdog Millionaire', '127 Hours' and countless more.

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. In 2005, Rahman composed the score for the stage production of 'The Lord of the Rings', one of the most expensive productions mounted on stage.

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', 'Couples Retreat', '127 Hours', People Like Us, the Chinese movie, 'Warriors of Heaven & Earth' and more recently 'The 100 Foot Journey', 'Million Dollar Arm' & 'Pele'.

In 2008, Rahman's work gained global prominence 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 this score including two Grammys, the Golden Globe and the BAFTA.

Rahman has also been conferred with honorary doctorates from the Trinity College of Music, Aligarh Muslim University, Anna University, Middlesex University and the prestigious Berkley College of Music. He was also named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, in 2009.

In 2011, Rahman joined a super band, SuperHeavy, comprising Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Damian Marley and Dave Stewart. Rahman has collaborated with several other international artistes including Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Michael Jackson, Michael Bolton, MIA, Vanessa Mae, the Pussycat Dolls, Sarah Brightman, Dido, Hossam Ramzy, Hans Zimmer and Akon.

Rahman remains one of the few mainstream artistes, classical adaptations of whose works have been performed live by the likes of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Babelsberg Film Orchestra and the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Rahman has expanded his focus to newer horizons like setting up the A R Rahman Foundation to help poor and underprivileged children. Rahman has also announced initiatives to establish a tradition in western classical music in India and embarked on an ambitious venture to set up the KM Music Conservatory and the KM Music Symphony Orchestra based out of Chennai, India.
BornJanuary 6, 1967
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornJanuary 6, 1967
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Won 2 Oscars

Photos52

A.R. Rahman and Kapil Sharma in The Kapil Sharma Show (2016)
A.R. Rahman and Kapil Sharma in The Kapil Sharma Show (2016)
A.R. Rahman, Sunil Grover, and Kapil Sharma in The Kapil Sharma Show (2016)
A.R. Rahman and Kapil Sharma in The Kapil Sharma Show (2016)
A.R. Rahman and Ali Asgar in The Kapil Sharma Show (2016)
A.R. Rahman and John Legend in The 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009)
A.R. Rahman, Asha Bhosle, and Lata Mangeshkar
A.R. Rahman
A.R. Rahman
A.R. Rahman
A.R. Rahman, Mahesh Babu, Dhanush, Nayanthara, Lakshmi Manchu, Nithya Menen, Atharvaa Murali, Amulya, and Prem Kumar
A.R. Rahman

Known for

Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Mia Drake, Shruti Seth, Faezeh Jalali, Dev Patel, and Freida Pinto in Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Slumdog Millionaire
8.0
  • Composer
  • 2008
Aamir Khan, Javed Khan Amrohi, Akhilendra Mishra, Rajesh Vivek, Shri Vallabh Vyas, Raghuvir Yadav, Raj Zutshi, Amin Hajee, Aditya Lakhia, Dayashankar Pandey, and Yashpal Sharma in Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001)
Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India
8.1
  • Composer
  • 2001
Arushi Sharma, Ranbir Kapoor, and Deepika Padukone in Tamasha (2015)
Tamasha
7.3
  • Composer(music by)
  • 2015
James Franco in 127 Hours (2010)
127 Hours
7.6
  • Composer
  • 2010

Credits

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IMDbPro

Composer

  • A.R Rahman Encore Tour
  • A.R. Rahman: Bigil Bigil Bigiluma
  • Thalapathy Vijay: Verithanam
  • Arijit Singh: Jwalamukhi
  • Shashwat Singh: Teri Nazar
  • Jiya Jale: Feat: Madhushree
  • Naye India Ka Naya Josh - Reliance Advert
  • A.R. Rahman: Dil Bechara
  • Arijit Singh & Shashaa Tirupati: Khulke Jeene Ka
  • Jonita Gandhi & Hriday Gattani: Main Tumhara
  • Chinmay Mandlekar and Deepak Antani in Gandhi Godse Ek Yudh (2023)
    Gandhi Godse Ek Yudh
  • Mili (2022)
    Mili
  • Jayaram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, R. Sarathkumar, Parthiban Radhakrishnan, Trisha Krishnan, Vikram, Jayam Ravi, Karthi, Vikram Prabhu, and Aishwarya Lekshmi in Ponniyin Selvan: Part I (2022)
    Ponniyin Selvan: Part I
  • Radhika Sarathkumar, Silambarasan Rajendar, and Siddhi Idnani in Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu (2022)
    Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu
  • Mirnalini Ravi, Vikram, Irfan Pathan, and Srinidhi Shetty in Cobra (2022)
    Cobra
  • Fahadh Faasil in Malayankunju (2022)
    Malayankunju
  • Parthiban Radhakrishnan and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar in Iravin Nizhal (2022)
    Iravin Nizhal
  • Le Musk (2022)
    Le Musk
  • Tara Sutaria and Tiger Shroff in Heropanti 2 (2022)
    Heropanti 2
  • Mangta Hai Kya (2022)
    Mangta Hai Kya
    • (original music by)
  • Akshay Kumar, Dhanush, and Sara Ali Khan in Atrangi Re (2021)
    Atrangi Re
    • (music and background score)
  • No Land's Man (2021)
    No Land's Man
  • Prakash Raj, Revathi, Rohini, Arvind Swami, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Prasanna, Siddharth, Suriya, Manikuttan, Ramya Nambeeshan, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Anjali, Atharvaa Murali, Vijay Sethupathi, Bobby Simha, Yogi Babu, Prayaga Martin, and Aditi Balan in Navarasa (2021)
    Navarasa
  • Manoj Pahwa, Supriya Pathak, Pankaj Tripathi, Evelyn Edwards, Sai Tamhankar, Aidan Whytock, and Kriti Sanon in Mimi (2021)
    Mimi
  • Target (2021)
    Target

Music Department

  • Mirnalini Ravi, Vikram, Irfan Pathan, and Srinidhi Shetty in Cobra (2022)
    Cobra
  • Le Musk (2022)
    Le Musk
  • Tara Sutaria and Tiger Shroff in Heropanti 2 (2022)
    Heropanti 2
  • Manoj Pahwa, Supriya Pathak, Pankaj Tripathi, Evelyn Edwards, Sai Tamhankar, Aidan Whytock, and Kriti Sanon in Mimi (2021)
    Mimi
  • Dimple Kapadia, Saif Ali Khan, Kumud Mishra, Gauahar Khan, Sunil Grover, Sarah Jane Dias, Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub, and Kritika Kamra in Tandav (2021)
    Tandav
  • Christopher Atkins, Mick Lambuth, and Melissa Tucker in Lake of Fire (2020)
    Lake of Fire
  • Sushant Singh Rajput and Sanjana Sanghi in Dil Bechara (2020)
    Dil Bechara
  • Jackie Shroff, Joseph Vijay, Vivek, Nayanthara, Kathir, Yogi Babu, Reba Monica John, Varsha Bollamma, Indhuja Ravichandran, and Amritha Aiyer in Bigil (2019)
    Bigil
  • Scent of a Song from Le Musk (2019)
    Scent of a Song from Le Musk
  • Akshay Kumar in 2.0 (2018)
    2.0
  • Joseph Vijay, Radha Ravi, Livingston, Prem Kumar, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Yogi Babu, Keerthy Suresh, and Pala Karuppaiah in Sarkar (2018)
    Sarkar
  • Harmony with A. R. Rahman (2018)
    Harmony with A. R. Rahman
  • Ranbir Kapoor in Sanju (2018)
    Sanju
  • Mrunal Thakur in Love Sonia (2018)
    Love Sonia
  • S.J. Suryah, Vadivelu, Joseph Vijay, Kajal Aggarwal, Nithya Menen, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu in Mersal (2017)
    Mersal
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos1

Harmony with A. R. Rahman Trailer
Trailer 1:33
Harmony with A. R. Rahman Trailer

Personal details

Edit
  • Official sites
    • Apple Music
    • Deezer
    • January 6, 1967
    • Madras, Madras State, India
    • (Sibling)
  • Other works
    2002: Music for musical "Bombay Dreams", an 'Andrew Lloyd-Webber' production, opening June 2002 in London.
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Print Biography
    • 1 Article

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    On August 15, 1997, he released an album called "Vande Mataram," on Columbia/SME Records, to commemorate 50 years of Indian independence. A tribute to the motherland, it featured songs for each of the Indian flag colors. The album was released simultaneously across the world in 28 countries, and Rahman himself performed in New Delhi to a packed audience including the honorable Indian Prime Minister. Over 1.2 million copies were sold in India alone.
  • Quotes
    I have rubbed many a producer the wrong way by disturbing the schedule, but it has paid off.

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