A. R. Rahman
 |
| A. R. Rahman |
| Birth name | A. S. Dileepkumar |
|---|---|
| Also known as | A. R. Rahman, A. R. R., Allah Rakha Rahman, Isai Puyal, Mozart of Madras |
| Born | 6 January 1967 [1] Madras, Tamil Nadu, India[2] |
| Genres | Film scores, electronic, dance, classical |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, music director, arranger, conductor |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, percussion, drums, harpejji, continuum fingerboard, keyboard, piano, accordion, goblet drum, concert harp |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | K. M. Music Conservatory Columbia Records Sony Classical |
| Associated acts | Nemesis Avenue, SuperHeavy, will.i.am, Dido, Ana Beatriz Barros, Roots |
AR Rahman" redirects here. For the surah of the Quran, see Ar-Rahman.
| Birth name | A. S. Dileepkumar |
|---|---|
| Also known as | A. R. Rahman, A. R. R., Allah Rakha Rahman, Isai Puyal, Mozart of Madras |
| Born | 6 January 1967 [1] Madras, Tamil Nadu, India[2] |
| Genres | Film scores, electronic, dance, classical |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, music director, arranger, conductor |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, percussion, drums, harpejji, continuum fingerboard, keyboard, piano, accordion, goblet drum, concert harp |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | K. M. Music Conservatory Columbia Records Sony Classical |
| Associated acts | Nemesis Avenue, SuperHeavy, will.i.am, Dido, Ana Beatriz Barros, Roots |
| Website | www.arrahman.com |
pronunciation (help·info), born A. S. Dileep Kumar 6 January 1967) is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician and philanthropist.[3] Described as the world's most prominent and prolific film composer by Time,[4] Rahman's works are noted for integrating Eastern classical music with electronic music, world music and traditional orchestral arrangements. Among his awards are two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, four National Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards and thirteen Filmfare Awards South. Rahman's body of work for film and stage has given him the nickname of "the Mozart of Madras", and Tamil commentators and fans call him Isai Puyal (English: the Musical Storm).[5] In 2009, Time included Rahman on its list of the world's most influential people.[6] The UK-based world-music magazine Songlines named him one of "Tomorrow's World Music Icons" in August 2011.[7]With an in-house studio (Panchathan Record Inn in Chennai) arguably one of Asia's most sophisticated and high-tech, Rahman's film-scoring career began during the early 1990s with the Tamil film Roja. Working in India's film industries, international cinema and theatre, Rahman is one of the world's all-time best-selling recording artists.[8][9][10] In a notable two-decade career, he has been acclaimed for redefining contemporary Indian film music and contributing to the success of several films. Rahman is one of the highest-paid composers in the motion-picture industry[citation needed] and has become a notable humanitarian and philanthropist, donating and raising money for a number of causes and charities.
Contents
- 1 Early life
- 2 Career
- 2.1 Soundtracks
- 2.2 Background scores
- 2.3 Performing and other projects
- 3 Musical style and impact
- 4 Awards
- 5 Personal life
- 6 Humanitarian work
- 7 Discography
- 8 See also
- 9 Notes
- 10 References
- 11 External links
Early life
Rahman (left) receiving a platinum award at the MagnaSound Awards; MagnaSound released his first film soundtrack, Roja, in 1992.
Rahman began his early musical training under Master Dhanraj,[14][15] and at age 11 began playing in the orchestra of Malayalam composer (and close friend of his father) M. K. Arjunan.[16] He soon began working with other composers, such as M. S. Viswanathan, Ilaiyaraaja, Ramesh Naidu and Raj-Koti,[15] accompanied Zakir Hussain, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and L. Shankar on world tours and obtained a scholarship from Trinity College London to the Trinity College of Music.[1] Studying in Chennai, Rahman graduated with a diploma in Western classical music from the school.[17] Rahman was introduced to Qadiri Islam when his younger sister was seriously ill in 1984. He converted to Islam (his mother's religion) with other members of his family in 1989 at age 23, changing his name from R. S. Dileep Kumar to Allah Rakha Rahman (A. R. Rahman).[1][18]
Career
Soundtracks
Rahman's film career began in 1992 when he started Panchathan Record Inn, a recording and mixing studio in his backyard. It would become the most-advanced recording studio in India,[19] and arguably one of Asia's most sophisticated and high-tech studios.[20] He initially composed scores for documentaries and jingles for advertisements and Indian television channels. In 1987 Rahman, then still known as Dileep, composed jingles for a line of watches introduced by Allwyn.[21] In 1992, he was approached by director Mani Ratnam to compose the score and soundtrack for his Tamil film, Roja.[19][22] The film's cinematographer Santosh Sivan signed Rahman for the Malayalam film Yodha, directed by Sivan's brother Sangeeth Sivan and released in September 1992. The following year, Rahman received the Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) award for best music director at the National Film Awards for Roja. The films' score was critically and commercially successful in its original and dubbed versions, led by the innovative theme "Chinna Chinna Aasai". Rahman followed this with successful scores for Tamil–language films for the Chennai film industry, including Ratnam's politically-charged Bombay, the urban Kadhalan, Thiruda Thiruda and S. Shankar's debut film Gentleman (with its popular dance song, "Chikku Bukku Rayile").[23][24][25][26] Rahman collaborated with director Bharathiraaja on Kizhakku Cheemayile and Karuththamma, producing successful Tamil rural folk-inspired scores; he also composed the saxophone score for K. Balachander's Duet.[27][28] The 1995 film Indira and romantic comedies Mr. Romeo and Love Birds also drew attention.[29][30][31] Rahman attracted a Japanese audience with Muthu 's success there.[32] His soundtracks are known in the Tamil Nadu film industry and abroad for his versatility in combining Western classical music, Carnatic and Tamil traditional and folk-music traditions, jazz, reggae and rock music.[33][34][35][36] The soundtrack for Bombay sold 12 million copies worldwide,[37] and "Bombay Theme" would later reappear in his score for Deepa Mehta's Fire and a number of compilations and other media. It was featured in the 2002 Palestinian film Divine Intervention and the 2005 Nicolas Cage film, Lord of War. Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, was Rahman's Bollywood debut.[38] Successful scores for Dil Se.. and the percussive Taal followed.[39][40] Sufi mysticism inspired "Chaiyya Chaiyya" from the former film and "Zikr" from his score for Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (which featured elaborate orchestral and choral arrangements).[18] Rahman's score for the Chennai production Minsaara Kanavu won him his second National Film Award for Best Music Direction and a South FilmFare Award for Best Music Direction in a Tamil film in 1997, the latter setting a record of six consecutive wins; he later went on to win the award three consecutive additional times. The musical cues in the scores for Sangamam and Iruvar used Carnatic vocals, the veena, rock guitar and jazz.[41] During the 2000s, Rahman composed popular scores for Rajiv Menon's Kandukondain Kandukondain, Alaipayuthey, Ashutosh Gowariker's Swades, Rang De Basanti[42] and songs with Hindustani motifs for 2005's Water. Rahman has worked with Indian poets and lyricists such as Javed Akhtar, Gulzar, Vairamuthu and Vaali, and has produced commercially-successful soundtracks with directors Mani Ratnam and S. Shankar (Gentleman, Kadhalan, Indian, Jeans, Mudhalvan, Nayak, Boys, Sivaji and for Enthiran).[43]In 2005 Rahman expanded his Panchathan Record Inn studio by establishing AM Studios in Kodambakkam, Chennai, creating the most cutting-edge studio in Asia.[44][45] The following year he launched his own music label, KM Music,[46] with his score for Sillunu Oru Kaadhal.[47] Rahman scored the Mandarin-language film Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003 after researching and using Chinese and Japanese classical music,[48] and won the Just Plain Folks Music Award For Best Music Album for his score for 2006's Varalaru (God Father).[49] He co-scored Shekhar Kapur's first British film, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, in 2007[50] and received a Best Composer Asian Film Award nomination at the Hong Kong International Film Festival for his Jodhaa Akbar score.[51] Rahman's music has been sampled for other scores in India,[52] appearing in Inside Man, Lord of War, Divine Intervention and The Accidental Husband. His score for his first Hollywood film, the 2009 comedy Couples Retreat, won the BMI London Award for Best Score.[53] Rahman's score for 2008's Slumdog Millionaire won a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards (a first for an Asian), and the songs "Jai Ho" and "O... Saya" from its soundtrack were internationally successful. His music on 2008's Bollywood Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na was popular with Indian youth; that year, his score for Jodhaa Akbar won critical acclaim, a Best Composer Asian Film Award nomination and IIFA awards for best music direction and score. In 2010, Rahman scored the romantic Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, the sci-fi romance Enthiran and Danny Boyle's 127 Hours, composing for the Imtiaz Ali musical Rockstar; the latter's soundtrack was a critical and commercial success.[54] In 2012 Rahman scored Ekk Deewana Tha and the American drama People Like Us,[55] and collaborated with director Yash Chopra on Jab Tak Hai Jaan.[56] all were positively received.[57] By the end of the year his music for Mani Ratnam's Kadal was critically acclaimed, and the album topped the iTunes India chart for December.[58] In 2013, Rahman had two releases: Raanjhanaa and Maryan. Both were successful, with the former nominated for a number of awards[59][60][61] and the latter the iTunes India Tamil Album of 2013.[62]
Background scores
In addition to highly successful soundtracks, he is also known for innovative background scores and is considered as one of the finest-ever background-score composers in India.[63] Rahman is known for using unusual instruments and restrained orchestration for film scoring.[63]He often employs contemporary instruments such as Guitars, Cello, Flute, Strings, Keyboard, Finger board, Harpejji, Santoor and traditional Indian instruments such as Shehnai, Sitar, Mrudangam, Veenai & Tabla for background scores. He is one of the earliest Indian composers to record scores in 5.1 channel output.
Apart from getting high critical appreciations, several of Rahman's background scores have earned him many prestigious awards ranging from Academy awards to Filmfare awards.[63][64]
| Year | Recipient | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Legend of Bhagat Singh | Filmfare Award for Best Background Score | Won |
| 2005 | Swades | ||
| 2007 | Guru | Filmfare Award for Best Background Score | |
| IIFA Award for Best Background Score | |||
| 2008 | Slumdog Millionaire | Academy Award for Best Original Score | |
| Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score | |||
| BAFTA Award for Best Film Music | |||
| Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media | |||
| 2009 | Jodhaa Akbar | Filmfare Award for Best Background Score | |
| IIFA Award for Best Background Score | |||
| 2010 | 127 Hours | Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score | Nominated |
| Academy Award for Best Original Score | |||
| 2012 | Rockstar | IIFA Award for Best Background Score | Won |
Performing and other projects
Rahman at the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Concert
In 1999, Rahman partnered with choreographers Shobana and Prabhu Deva and a Tamil film-dancing troupe to perform with Michael Jackson in Munich, Germany at his Michael Jackson and Friends concert.[71] In 2002 he composed the music for his first stage production, Bombay Dreams, which was commissioned by Andrew Lloyd Webber.[72] The Finnish folk-music band Värttinä collaborated with Rahman on the Toronto production of The Lord of the Rings, and in 2004[73] he composed "Raga's Dance" for Vanessa-Mae's album Choreography (performed by Mae and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra).[74]
Rahman at 2010 Sydney concert
Some of Rahman's notable compositions were performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra in April 2010.[84] In February 2011 Rahman collaborated with Michael Bolton on Bolton's album, Gems – The Duets Collection,[85][86] reworking his "Sajna" from Couples Retreat.[87]
On 20 May 2011 Mick Jagger announced the formation of a supergroup, SuperHeavy, with Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, Damian Marley and Rahman;[88] its self-titled album was scheduled for release in September 2011.[89] The album would have Jagger singing on Rahman's composition, "Satyameva Jayate" ("The Truth Alone Triumphs").[90]
In January 2012 the Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg announced that it would join KM Music Conservatory musicians for a 100-member concert tour of five Indian cities (Germany and India 2011–2012: Infinite Opportunities), performing Rahman's songs. The marked the centennial of Indian cinema and Babelsberg Studio, the world's oldest film studio.[63]
In Summer 2012 Rahman composed a Punjabi song for the London Olympics opening ceremony, directed by Danny Boyle, part of a medley showcasing Indian influence in the UK. Indian musician Ilaiyaraja's song from the 1981 Tamil-language film Ram Lakshman was also chosen for the medley.[91]
In December 2012 Rahman and Shekhar Kapoor launched Qyuki, a networking site which is a platform for story writers to exchange their thoughts. Cisco invested ₹270 million in the startup, giving it a 17-percent share. Qyuki uses Cisco's cloud infrastructure for the site.[92][93][94] On 20 December he released the single "Infinite Love" in English and Hindi, commemorating the last day of the Mayan calendar to spread hope, peace and love. Rahman's 2013 tour, Rahmanishq, was announced on 29 July 2013 in Mumbai. Beginning in Sydney on 24 August, the tour moved to a number of cities in India.[95]
Musical style and impact
Skilled in Carnatic music, Western and Hindustani classical music and the Qawwali style of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahman is noted for film songs amalgamating elements of these and other genres, layering instruments from different musical idioms in an improvisational style.[18][96] Symphonic orchestral themes accompany his scores, occasionally using a leitmotif. He is one of the few Indian composers to use symphonies in background scores, primarily using the key melody of a song in his background scores—converting the melody into an orchestral piece and incorporating it into the film. This technique increases a film's song's prominence, giving continuity and fluency to the story and enabling a song to fit a situation simply and subtly. During the 1980s Rahman recorded monaural arrangements in common with his musical predecessors, K. V. Mahadevan and Vishwanathan–Ramamoorthy. In later years his methodology changed, as he experimented with the fusion of traditional instruments with new electronic sounds and technology.[18][97]Rahman's musical interests and outlook originate in his love of experimentation. His compositions, like other Chennai film composers, have an auteuristic use of counterpoint, orchestration and the human voice, melding Indian pop music with a unique timbre, form and instrumentation. With this syncretic style and wide-ranging lyrics, the appeal of Rahman's music crosses classes and cultures in Indian society.[98]
His first soundtrack, for Roja, was listed on Time's all-time "10 Best Soundtracks" in 2005. Film critic Richard Corliss said that the composer's "astonishing debut work parades Rahman's gift for alchemizing outside influences until they are totally Tamil, totally Rahman",[99] and his initial global success is attributed to the South Asian diaspora. Music producer Ron Fair considers Rahman "one of the world's great living composers in any medium".[100]
Director Baz Luhrmann said:
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.[101]Rahman introduced 7.1 surround sound technology to South Indian films.[102]
On 21 May 2014 Rahman announced that he has partnered with former Black Eyed Peas’ Will.i.am to recreate an early popular track 'Urvashi Urvashi'. Track is 'Birthday'.[103]
Awards
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by A. R. Rahman
Rahman at his home in Chennai, with Academy Awards for Slumdog Millionaire
On October 24, 2014 Rahman was awarded an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music during a concert paying tribute to his music featuring an international cast of students. Upon receiving his award he commented that being honored by Berklee illustrates how his life has come full circle, as at the start of his career, he had planned to study at Berklee before being offered the opportunity to score Roja.[119] During his 7 May 2012 acceptance speech of his honorary doctorate from Miami University in Ohio, Rahman mentioned that he received a Christmas card from the family of the President of the United States and an invitation to dinner at the White House.[120] A street was named in his honour in Markham, Ontario, Canada in November 2013.[121]
Personal life
Rahman and his wife, Saira Banu, at the 2010 soundtrack release of Enthiran in Kuala Lumpur
An atheist during much of his childhood, in 1989 Rahman converted to Islam (the religion of his mother's family). After the early death of his father, his family experienced difficult times; Sufism influenced his mother and, eventually, his family.[129][130] During the 81st Academy Awards ceremony Rahman paid tribute to his mother: "There is a Hindi dialogue, mere pass ma hai, which means 'even if I have got nothing I have my mother here'."[131] He said, "Ella pughazhum iraivanukke" ("All praise to God" in Tamil, a translation from the Quran) before his speech.[132]
Humanitarian work
Rahman is involved with a number of charitable causes. In 2004 he was appointed global ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership, a WHO project.[73] Rahman has supported Save the Children India and worked with Yusuf Islam on "Indian Ocean", a song featuring a-ha keyboard player Magne Furuholmen and Travis drummer Neil Primrose. Proceeds from the song went to help orphans in Banda Aceh who were affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.[133] He produced the single "We Can Make It Better" by Don Asian with Mukhtar Sahota.[134] In 2008 Rahman opened the KM Music Conservatory with an audio-media education facility to train aspiring musicians in vocals, instruments, music technology and sound design. The conservatory (with prominent musicians on staff and a symphony orchestra) is located near his studio in Kodambakkam, Chennai and offers courses at several levels. Violinist L. Subramaniam is on its advisory board.[135] Several of Rahman's proteges from the studio have scored feature films.[136] He composed the theme music for a 2006 short film for The Banyan to aid poor women in Chennai.[137] In 2008 Rahman and noted percussionist Sivamani created a song, "Jiya Se Jiya", inspired by the Free Hugs Campaign and promoted it with a video filmed in a number of Indian cities.[138]Discography
Main article: A. R. Rahman discography
