PAR EXCELLENCE THE RAHMAN

INTRODUCTION

The name A.R.Rahman needs no introduction. The man who redefined contemporary Indian music and is the pride of the entire nation and an idol for millions all over the world needs no preamble. But if you happen to be one, still among the few unfortunate souls, who are a stranger to him and his heavenly music, then read on.

Allah Rakkhha Rahman born on January 6, 1966 as A. S. Dileep Kumar in Chennai, India, is a composer, record producer and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest film composers ever, and his career is considered a turning point in the history of film music. Many credit him with having single-handedly revolutionized the standards of film music composition in India. He is also credited with re-energizing the popularity of Indian film music the world over.
In a career spanning over a decade, Rahman, by 2003, had sold more than one hundred million records of his film scores and soundtracks world-wide, and sold over 200 million cassettes making him one of the world's top 30 all-time top selling recording artists

Birth name:- A. S. Dileep Kumar
Also known as:- A.R Rahman
Born:- January 6, 1966 (1966-01-06) (age 42)
Origin:- Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Genre(s):- Film score, Theatre, World Music
Occupation(s):-Composer, record producer, music director, singer, instrumentalist, arranger, programmer
Instrument(s):- Keyboards, Saxophone, Oboe, Santoor, Sitar, Flute, Violin, Violas, Harps, drums, Bass, maracas, Vocals, Guitars, Piano, Harmonium, percussion, other
Years active:- 1992 – present
Label(s) :-Sony BMG, KM Musiq
Website:-ARRahman.com

BIOGRAPHY
A. R. Rahman was born to R. K. Shekhar, a Hindu Mudaliar who was a composer, and conductor for Malaya lam-language films. His father was a famous music director in Kerala. But he did not get enough opportunities there. His father died when Rahman was nine years old, and his family rented out musical equipment as a source of income. His family converted to Islam from Hinduism in the late 1970s.

During these early years, Rahman served as a keyboard player and an arranger in bands such as "Roots" and "Nemesis Avenue" with friends including Sivamani, embracing numerous music genres. He played the keyboard and piano, in addition to, among others, 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".[3]He began early training in music under Master Dhanraj. At the age of 11, he joined, as a keyboardist, the troupe of Ilaiyaraaja,[3] one of many composers to whom musical instruments belonging to Rahman's father were rented to. 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 Trinity College of Music in London, where he graduated with a degree in Western classical music.[4]In an interview in the USA, May 2007 during his tour to USA, he complimented the singer Sadhana Sargam as the only one that surpasses his imaginations and expectations when it comes to singing.

- Following is the portion of A.R. Rahman's interview after the New York concert of May 2007. - - "It is one of my few scores that was not well released," Rahman says. (Mr. Rahman was referring the songs from the movie 'Water')"The songs were well used in the film but they did not reach the listeners in significant numbers." The numbers were sung by Sukhvinder Singh (who also wrote couple of lyrics) and Sadhana Sargam among others. - - "She is one of the few singers who has surprised me at every turn," Rahman says. "Many singers do a very good job of doing exactly what I tell them to do but she somehow goes beyond instructions. She takes a song to another level effortlessly, and she is so good at it that I am surprised every time I work with her."

Around this time, in 1988, one of his sisters fell seriously ill and numerous attempts to cure her failed. Her condition progressively worsened. The family tried everything from medicine to religious methods like havans and prayers in the church. The family had given up all hope when they came in close contact with a Muslim Pir - Sheik Abdul Qadir Jeelani or Pir Qadri as he was popularly known. The family had earlier gone to the Pir when his father had similar troubles, but were too late to save him. With his prayers and blessings, Dileep's sister made a miraculous recovery. Rattled by the bad experiences earlier in the case of his father and now his sister and influenced by the teachings of the Pir and the succour that they found in him the entire family converted to Islam. Thus A. S. Dileep Kumar became Allah Rakha Rahman. Today, Rahman says 'Islam has given me peace. As Dileep I had an inferiority complex. As A. R. Rahman I feel like I have been born again.' Both his father and mother were believers in Astrology. His mother took him along once to a astrologer to get the horoscope of Bala (Talat) done. She asked the astrologer to suggest an Islamic name for Dilip. The astrologer on seeing Dilip immediately told his mother to name him as Abdul Rahman and shorten it to A. R. Rahman. When his mother asked the astrologer why the other initial 'R', the astrologer replied "Give him a name with two initials and mark my words, he will grow up to be a great man". His mother did accordingly. But the A and R would later become Allah Rakha on the suggestion of reknowned composer Naushad Ali.

WORKLINE
In 1991, Rahman began his own music recording and mixing studio, attached to backyard of his house, called the Panchathan Record Inn. He initially composed music jingles for advertisements, Indian Television channels and music scores in documentaries, among other projects. In 1992, the first time he got chance to enter in film field, through a Malayalam film named Yodha. Its director Sangeeth Sivan who realise Rahman's talents already. And with this good entry 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 Kiss on the Cheek, Tamil) in 2003, the most ever by any composer.
His first movie album Roja was listed in TIME's "Top 10 Movie Soundtracks of All Time" in 2005.
Roja's score met with high sales and acclaim, in its original and dubbed versions, bringing about an effective transformation in film music at the time, and Rahman followed this with scores for films including, among others, Bombay, Kadhalan, Indira, Minsaara Kanavu, Muthu and Love Birds, which gained him notice. His soundtracks gained him recognition in the Tamil film industry and across the country for his versatality in classical, Folk, jazz, reggae, soft rock and other styles in his pieces. Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, marked Rahman's debut in Hindi films. Many popular and superhit scores for films including Dil Se and Taal followed. The sales of

ARTISTIC WORK
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 immense success. He followed it up with an album called Jana gana mana, a conglomeration of performances by many leading exponents/artists of Indian classical music. In addition to writing jingles for ads, he has composed several orchestrations for athletic events and T.V. and internet media publications, documentaries and short films.
In 1999, Rahman, along with choreographers Shobhana and Prabhu Deva Sundaram and a dancing troupe from the Tamil film industry 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 famous musical theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Furthermore, Rahman, along with the Finnish folk music band Värttinä, composed the music for The Lord of the Rings theatre production. He composed the piece "Raga's Dance" for Vanessa-Mae's album Choreography (2004).
In the last six years, he has performed in 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. A two-disc soundtrack, Introducing A. R. Rahman, (2006) featuring 25 pieces he composed from his Tamil film scores was released in May 2006

Music Director

As his job as a music director A.R.RAHMAN composed the music for the following films. He composed music for Hindi,English,Malayalam,Tamil,Telgu n many other languages. His work comprosis the following films
Roja (1992)
Yodha (1992) (Malayalam, Dubbed into Tamil as "ASOKAN" and HINDI as "DHARAM YODHDHA")
Uzhavan(1993)
Thiruda Thiruda (1993)
Pudhiya Mugam (1993)
Gentleman (1993)
Vandicholai Chinnaraasu (1994
Super Police (1994)
Pudhiya Mannargal (1994)
Pavithra (1994
May Madham (1994)
Kizhakku Cheemayile (1994)
Karuththamma (1994)
Kadhalan (1994)
Duet (1994)
Manitha Manitha (1994)
Gangmaster (1994)
Indira (1995)
Rangeela (1995)
Muthu (1995)
Bombay (1995)
Love Birds (1996)
Indian (1996)
Kadhal Desam (1996)
Fire (1996)
Mr. Romeo (1996)
Anthimanthaarai (1996)
Minsaara Kanavu (1997)
Iruvar (1997)
Daud: Fun On The Run (1997)
Ratchagan (1997)
Mona Lisa (1997)
Jeans (1998)
Dil Se… (1998)
Earth (1998)
Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1998)
Kabhi Na Kabhi (1998)
En Swasa Kaatre (1999)
Jodi (1999)
Padayappa (1999)
Taal (1999)
Takshak (1999)
Kadhalar Dhinam (1999)
Pukar (1999)
Sangamam (1999)
Mudhalvan (1999)
Taj Mahal (2000)
Alaipayuthey (2000)
Fiza (2000) (1 song)
Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000)
Rhythm (2000)
Thenali (2000)
Zubeidaa (2000)
One 2 Ka 4 (2001)
Nayak: The Real Hero (2001)
Love You Hamesha (2001)
Star (2001)
Lagaan (2001)
Parthale Paravasam (2001)
Alli Arjuna (2001)
Kannathil Muthamittal (2002)
The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)
Baba (2002)
Kadhal Virus (2002)
Saathiya (2002)
Udhaya (2003)
Naani (2003)
Parasuram (2003)
Boys (2003)
Enakku 20 Unakku 18 (2003)
Kangalal Kaithu Sei (2003)
Tehzeeb (2003)
Warriors of Heaven and Earth (2004)
Lakeer - Forbidden Lines (2004)
Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities (2004)
Aayitha Ezhuthu / Yuva (2004)
New / Nani (2004)
Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa (2004) (3 songs)
Swades (2004)
Kisna - The Warrior Poet (2004) (1 song)
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2005)
The Rising - Ballad of Mangal Pandey (2005)
Anbe Aaruyire (2005)
Ah Aah (2005)
Water (2005) (5 songs)
Rang De Basanti (2006)
Sillunu Oru Kaadhal (2006)
Varalaru - The History of the Godfather (2006)
Guru (2007)
Provoked (2007)
Sajni (2007)
Sivaji: The Boss (2007)
Azhagiya Thamizh Magan (2007)
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) (with Craig Armstrong)
Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
Al Risalah (1 song) (2008)
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (2008)
ADA: A Way of Life (2008)
Sakkarakatti (2008)
Ghajini (2008 film) (2008)
Manavar Dhinam (2008)
Gentleman 2: The birth of a new assasin (2009)
Dilli 6 (2009)
Blue (2008 film) (2009)
chennaiyil oru mazhai kalam (2008 film) (2009)
Yuvraaj (2009)
What's Your Raashee? (2009) ... (announced)
Eight By Ten (2009)
What's Cooking, Stella? (2009)
Robot (film) (2009)
Marmayogi (2009)
Sultan the warrior (2009)

AWARDS

This page presents a list of awards and nominations awarded to film composer and instrumentalist A. R. Rahman.
2000 - Padma Shri (India)

National Film Awards (India)

1993 - National Film Award for Best Music Direction - Roja
1997 - National Film Award for Best Music Direction - Minsaara Kanavu
2002 - National Film Award for Best Music Direction - Lagaan
2003 - National Film Award for Best Music Direction - Kannathil Muthamittal

Filmfare Awards South (India)

Filmfare Awards (India)

1995 - Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Rangeela
1998 - Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Dil Se
1999 - Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Taal
2001 - Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Lagaan
2002 - Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Saathiya
2002 - Filmfare Best Background Score - The Legend of Bhagat Singh
2004 - Filmfare Best Background Score - Swades
2006 - Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Rang de Basanti

He also won a "Filmfare R D Burman Music Debutant Award" for Roja's dubbed Hindi version.

2007 - Filmfare Best Music Director Award - Guru
2007 - Filmfare Best Background Score - Guru

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

1993 - Best Music - Roja
1994 - Best Music - Gentleman
1995 - Best Music - Kadhalan
1996 - Best Music - Bombay
1997 - Best Music - Minsaara Kanavu
2000 - Best Music - Sangamam

Zee Cine Awards (India)

2000 - ** 2002 - Zee Cine Award Best Music Director - Lagaan
2007 - Zee Cine Award Best Music Director - Rang De Basanti
2008 - Zee Cine Award Best Music Director - Guru
2008 - Zee Cine Award Best Background Music - Guru

GIFA Awards (Malaysia)

2006 - GIFA Award for Best Music - Rang De Basanti
2006 - GIFA Award for Best Background Music - Rang De Basanti

IIFA Awards (India)

2008 - Outstanding contribution by an Indian in International Cinema
2008 - IIFA Best Music Direction - Guru
2008 - IIFA Best Background Music - Guru
2007 - IIFA Best Music Direction - Rang De Basanti
2002 - IIFA Best Music Direction - Lagaan
2003 - IIFA Best Music Direction - Saathiya
2000 - IIFA Best Music Direction - Taal

Star Screen Awards

2002 - Best Background Music
2007 - Best Background Music- Rang De Basanti
2007 - Best Music - Rang De Basanti
2008 - Best Music - Guru

Vijay TV Awards

2006 - Best Music- Sillunu Oru Kaadhal , Varalaru - The History of the Godfather
2007 - Best Music- Sivaji

Swaralaya Yesudas Award (India)

2006 - Swaralaya-Kairali-Yesudas Award for outstanding performance in music field

Screen-Videocon Awards Kadhal Desam (South - Tamil; 1997) Minsara Kanavu (South - Tamil; 1998) Vande Mataram (Non-film; 1998) Taal (Hindi; 2000) Other Awards was (The Hilton Award) for "Best New Musical of 2002" - Bombay Dreams Musical

Sangeet Awards 2005 Best Music Director (Film music - Swades)

The Mahavir-Mahatma Award (Instituted by the Oneness Forum)

National Lata Mangeshkar awards for 2004-05 ( The awards instituted by Madhya Pradesh government )

Sangeet Awards 2004

Best Music Director (Film music - Yuva)

Best music arranger (Critics award) for 'Yeh Rishta' - Meenakshi 2004

American India Awards R D Burman Award at the SuMu Music Awards (1993)

Madras Telugu Academy Puraskar (1992 to 1994)

Bommai Nagi Reddy Award (1995/96)

Lux-Kumudam Award for Kadhalan (1995)

Mauritius National Award (1995; for contribution to music)

Malaysian Award (1996; for contribution to music)

Sanskriti Award from Delhi based Sanskriti foundation (1994)

Kalaimamani Award from Tamil Nadu Government (1995)

Thangapillai Award, Rajiv Gandhi Award, 3rd Channel [V] Awards - Coca Cola Viewer's Choice Award 1998, The Channel [V]-IMI Award for Best Producer for Vandemataram 1998

Fanta Award in 1999

Stardust Cine Honours Taal (2000)

Filmgoers's Award Taal (2000)

First Bollywood Music Awards (Best Music Director and Best Song) Taal (2000)

V Shantaram Award: Taal (2001),

Best Music(Guru)2006-2007

Bollywood US Awards (2003)

Best Music Director : Saathiya 8th Annual Planet-Bollywood Awards (People's Choice Awards! - Best of 2002)

Best Music Direction : Saathiya, The Legend of Bhagat Singh

Star Screen Award - Best Background Score - Rang De Basanti

Dinakaran Cine Awards- Minsara Kanavu (1998) Jeans (1999) Mudalvan, Kadhalar Dhinam (2000)

MTV Awards MTV-VMA Award for Dil Se Re song from Dil Se.. 1999

MTV Asia Awards 2003 for Favourite Artist India

MTV IMMIES 2003 - Best Music Composer - 'Saathiya' - Saathiya ( Hindi )

A. R. Rahman has been nominated for the following awards:
Laurence Olivier Awards (UK)
2003 - Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best New Musical - Bombay Dreams
Dora Mavor Moore Awards (Canada)
2006 - General Theatre Division - Outstanding Musical Direction - The Lord of the Rings musical
MTV youth icon award in 2006

For Rahman, who eats music, thinks music, breathes music and lives music, the bottomline is that his music should reach out to the soul of humankind. "I know there are many people who say I don't know what music is. There are so many who say that what I create is not music. But I know the people are with me. The people love my music. I know Allah is with me all the time while I am creating and with Allah by my side I know nothing can go wrong. My music comes from somewhere deep within me. I could have created any kind of music but I create only that kind of music that comes from within my being. My music has a mission. It has to reach the bodies, the souls of the millions for whom I strive to create my music, music that springs from deep within me. I am a within man more than without. It is the language of the heart and the soul together that makes my music. And I don't have to make great efforts because my kind of music does not come by force or necessity. It has to flow from within me. That's the only way I know how to create. There's no other way. Let the people who don't like my music say what they want, I say again and again. Allah be with them. It is this music which he helps me create which appeals to both the body and the soul that is going to be one of the greatest forces that will help people from all over the world come closer, become one in body and soul in the millennium to come. I am working on that music for the future."

PAR EXCELLENCE THE RAHMAN

Thursday, August 28, 2008

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