A. R. Rahman

Allah Rakha Rahman (Tamil: ஏ.ஆர்.ரஹ்மான்) (born on January 6, 1966 as A. S. Dileep Kumar in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) is a composer, best known for composing film scores and soundtracks.

Biography

Early life and influences
A. R. Rahman is the only son of R. K. Sekhar, a composer, arranger and conductor for Malayalam films. His father died when Rahman was nine years old, and his family used to rent out musical equipment to make ends meet. During early difficulties, an unexplainable illness of Rahman's sister, Reihana disappeared after a visit by a Sufi saint. This led Dileep to convert to Islam, changing his name to Allah Rakha Rahman.

During these early years, Rahman served as a keyboardist and an arranger in bands with friends, embracing numerous music genres. He played the keyboard and piano, in addition to 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.” He began training in Carnatic music. At the age of 11, he joined the troupe of Indian composer Ilaiyaraaja as a keyboardist. He later played on the orchestra of M. S. Viswanathan and Ramesh Naidu, and accompanied Zakir Hussain and Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan on world tours. The experience allowed him to obtain a scholarship to Trinity College at Oxford University, where he graduated with a degree in Western classical music.

Film scoring and soundtracks
In 1991, Rahman began his own studio, attached to his house, called the Panchathan Record Inn. He initially composed music for use in advertisements, the title music of Indian Television channels and music in documentaries, among other projects. Rahman was, at first, hesitant about composing music for the Indian film industry primarily because most film makers at the time used songs as fillers(yes). In 1992, he was approached by film director Mani Ratnam, who offered Rahman the job as composer for his upcoming Tamil language film Roja, at a price of Rs. 25,000. Rahman accepted, and the movie's super hit debut made him a household name in Tamil Nadu virtually overnight and led Rahman to receive the Rajat Kamal award for best music director at the Indian National Film Awards, the first time ever by a debutant. Rahman has since then gone on to win the award 3 more times (for Minsaara Kanavu (Electric Dreams, Tamil) in 1997, Lagaan (Tax, Hindi) in 2002 and Kannathil Muthamittal (A Peck on the Cheek, Tamil) in 2003), the most ever by any composer.

When Rahman arrived on the Indian music scene with his first film Roja, he brought about a transformation of film music. Roja was a massive hit, in its original and dubbed versions, and Rahman followed it up with a number of other extremely popular films, including Bombay, Kadhalan, Indira, Minsaara Kanavu, Muthu and Love Birds. His soundtracks gained him recognition and notice in the Tamil film industry and across the country for his versatality in classical, folk, jazz, reggae, soft rock and other styles. Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, marked Rahman's debut in Hindi films. Many popular albums for films including Dil Se and Taal followed. The huge sales of these albums prompted movie producers to take film music more seriously. Rahman's playback singing in several of his albums was also widely admired.

Rahman's work is also unique in the fact that his collaborations with some film directors have always resulted in hugely successful albums. In particular, he has worked with Mani Ratnam on ten films until 2006, all of which have been musical superhits. Also notable is his collaboration with the director S. Shankar - in Gentleman, Kadhalan, Indian, Jeans, Mudhalvan, Nayak, Boys and Sivaji.Rahman had been working with Superstar Rajinikanth since Muthu which was big hit in India and Japan. He had worked with him in the 1999 super hit movie Padayappa and in 2002 [BABA]. Currently Rahman is working with Rajinikanth's Sivaji

The following article was written in TIME magazine about Rahman's achievements. His first movie album Roja was listed in TIME magazine's "Top 10 Movie Soundtracks of All Time". In addition to influencing western audiences, Rahman also impressed eastern audiences with his music so much that he was tapped by Chinese director He Ping to compose the score and soundtrack for the Chinese film Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003. The music of this film was very much appreciated in Asia.

His latest work includes Water, Rang De Basanti, Sillunu Oru Kaadhal and Guru. He has recently finished working on Shankar's next venture Sivaji: The Boss with superstar Rajnikanth in the lead and the audio has received a superb response. Rahman is also working on Shyam Benegal's next venture, Chamki Chameli, which is set for release in the middle of 2007 as well as the much awaited Jodhaa Akbar starring Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai. Also he has given Aishwarya Rai movie Provoked. Its music is soulful one, tttally inline with the story line.

Rahman is a recipient of the Padma Sri, one of the highest civilian awards in India, and is known around the world as the "Mozart from Madras".

Other works

Andrew Lloyd Webber with A. R. RahmanHe made an album Vande Mataram (1996) on India's national song, singing the title song on the album. He followed it up with an album called Jana gana mana, a huge conglomeration of performances by all the leading exponents/artists of Indian classical music.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, a well known composer of musicals, was impressed with Rahman's unique style and therefore hired him to compose his maiden stage production Bombay Dreams (2002). This play was well received in England. Furthermore, Rahman, along with the Finnish folk music band Värttinä, composed the music for The Lord of the Rings theatre production, which first opened in Toronto on March 23, 2006, a new production of which begins previewing in London at The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane from May 9, 2007.

On May 23rd 2006, a two-disc album soundtrack, titled Introducing A. R. Rahman, was released by Times Square Records, featuring 25 songs he composed from Tamil film soundtracks spanning 1993-2001. The compilation soundtrack was well received. Rahman has performed in concerts and tours worldwide. He performed at the Hollywood Bowl amphitheatre in July of 2006, with Indian singers Sukhwinder Singh, Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam, as well as American performing groups Raagapella and Global Rhythms, to a sell out crowd.

Music style
Rahman's interest in the works of Classical and Romantic period composers, Carnatic composers, early film composers and predecessors K. V. Mahadevan and Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy of the Tamil film industry and others continued through his late teens. He further explored and trained in Carnatic music, Western classical, Hindustani music and the Qawalli style of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, in addition to numerous other styles. His interest and outlook in music is said to stem from his love to experiment.[2][6] As a result, his scores have alternated from songs and themes composed covering a variety of genres, with unconventionally-grouped instruments, and different vocal styles being used and combined together in some of his film soundtracks, to more traditional orchestral themes with leitmotif techniques composed in others. Rahman's works often feature a mix of minimalist songs and evocative, thematic pieces, building on his differing chord progressions and rhythms. He has written scores and songs with new and varied melodic and percussive sounds from instruments of different music systems. This unique blend he pioneered would come to be known as his avant-garde sound.

Partial discography

1992 Roja Roja Roja (1994) Roja Roja
1992 Ashokan (1993) Yoddha (1995) Dharam Yodha (1993) Yodha(1992)
1993 Uzhavan
1993 Thiruda Thiruda Donga Donga Chor Chor (1996)
1993 Pudhiya Mugam Padmavyuham Vishwa Vidhatha (1997)
1993 Gentleman Gentleman The Gentleman
1994 Vandicholai Chinnaraasu Bobili Paparayudu
1994 Super Police Super Police Khel Khiladi Ka (1996)
1994 Pudhiya Mannargal
1994 Pavithra
1994 May Madham Hridayaanjali (1999)
1994 Kizhakku Cheemayile Palnati Pourusham
1994 Karuththamma Vanitha/Osey Krishnamma
1994 Kadhalan Premikudu (1995) Humse Hai Muqabla (1995)
1994 Duet Duet Tu Hi Mera Dil
1995 Indira Indira Priyanka
1995 Bombay Bombay (1995) Bombay (1995)
1994 Manitha Manitha Gang Master
1995 Rangeela Rangeli Rangeela
1995 Muthu Muthu (1995) Muthu Maharaja (2001)
1996 Love Birds Love Birds (1997) Love Birds (1997)
1996 Indian Bharateeyudu Hindustani
1996 Kadhal Desam Prema Desam Duniya Dilwalon Kiii
1996 Fire Fire
1996 Mr Romeo Mr Romeo Mr Romeo (1997)
1996 Anthimantharai
1997 Minsaara Kanavu Merupu Kalalu Sapnay
1997 Iruvar Iddaru
1997 Ottam 50-50 Daud: Fun On The Run
1997 Ratchagan Rakshakudu
1997 Mona Lisa Kabhi Na Kabhi
1997 Vishwa Vidhaata
1998 Jeans Jeans Jeans
1998 Uyire Prematho.. Dil Se..
1998 Earth
1998 Doli Saja Ke Rakhna
1999 En Swasa Kaatre Premante Pranamistha
1999 Jodi Jodi Sajni (2007)
1999 Padayappa Narasimha
1999 Taalam Taal
1999 Thakshak
1999 Kadhalar Dhinam Premikula Roju Dil Hi Dil Mein
1999 Pukar
1999 Sangamam
1999 Taj Mahal
1999 Mudhalvan Oke Okkadu Nayak (2001)
2000 Alaipayuthey Sakhi Saathiya (2002)
2000 Fiza (1 out of 8 tracks)
2000 Kandukondain Kandukondain Priyuralu Pilichindi
2000 Rhythm Rhythm
2000 Thenali Thenali
2000 Zubeidaa
2001 One 2 Ka 4
2001 Love You Hamesha
2001 Star
2001 Lagaan
2001 Parthale Paravasam Paravasam
2001 Alli Arjuna
2002 Kannathil Muthamittal Amrutha
2002 The Legend of Bhagat Singh
2002 Baba Baba
2002 Kadhal Virus
2003 Udhaya
2003 Parasuram Police Kartavyam
2003 Boys Boys
2003
2003 Enakku 20 Unakku 18 Nee Manasu Naaku Telusu
2003 Kangalal Kaithu Sei
2003 Tehzeeb
2004 Lakeer
2004 Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
2004 Aayitha Ezhuthu Yuva Yuva
2004 New Naani
2004 Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa (3 out of 8 Tracks)
2004 Desam Swades
2004 Kisna - The Warrior Poet (6 out of 16 tracks)
2005 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero
2005 The Rising - Ballad of Mangal Pandey
2005 Anbe Aaruyire
2005 Water
2006 Rang De Basanti
2006 Sillunu Oru Kaadhal Nuvvu Nenu Prema
2006 Varalaru - The History of the Godfather
2007 Guru Gurukanth Guru
2007 Provoked Provoked Provoked Provoked
2007 Sivaji: The Boss Sivaji: The Boss
2007 Jodha-Akbar
2007 Bajirao Mastani
2007 Chamki Chameli