A.R. Rahman is popularly known as the man who has redefined contemporary Indian music. Rahman has scored for more than 150 projects, comprising of music in multiple languages, including landmark scores such as “Roja,” “Bombay,” “DilSe,” “Taal,” “Lagaan,” “Vandemataram,” “Jodhaa Akbar,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” “127 Hours,” “Rockstar” and many more. Rahman pursued music as a career at a very young age taking after his father who was a composer and arranger in South India. After assisting leading musicians in India, Rahman went on to compose jingles and scores for popular Indian television features. In 1991, noted film maker Mani Ratnam offered Rahman a movie called “Roja” which was a run-away success and brought national fame and acclaim to the composer. The composer is a six-time recipient of the Indian National Award and has won 32 Filmfare awards.
Rahman wrote the music for “Bombay Dreams,” produced by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, grossing remarkable numbers on London’s West End. Notably, he also composed for the stage musical, “Lord of The Rings,” along with the Finnish band, Varttina.
In 2008, Rahman’s work gained global prominence with the extraordinary success of his score for “’Slumdog Millionaire” that won Rahman two Academy Awards for Best Score and Best Song. Rahman won more than 15 awards for this score including two Grammys, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA. As a writer and producer, Rahman created YM Studios which released “99 Songs,” his maiden film venture.
He’s noted for collaborating with numerous international artists, including Coldplay, Mick Jagger, Dave Stewart, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Sami Yusuf and U2. He has also collaborated with his daughters Khatija Rahman and Raheema Rahman, singing the ancient Tamil Couplets from Thirukura and resulting in the globally acclaimed single “Ahimsa” which commemorated 150 Years of Mahatma Gandhi.
Currently, Rahman is working with Expo 2020 Dubai, setting up a state-of-the-art recording facility, “The Firdaus Studio,” and mentoring an all-women orchestra comprising of incredibly talented musicians from more than 23 nationalities called “The Firdaus Orchestra.” Rahman joins hands with Shekhar Kapurand Expo 2020 Dubai to present an audio visual musical spectacular which premiered at the iconic Al Wasl Plaza in early 2022.