Who is Allah Rakha Rahman? The entertainment and music world knows him as A. R. Rahman, he an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician, multi-instrumentalist and philanthropist.
[3] Described as the world's most prominent and prolific film composer by
Time,
[4] his works are notable for integrating
Eastern classical music with
electronic music sounds,
world music genres and traditional
orchestral arrangements. He has won two
Academy Awards, two
Grammy Awards, a
BAFTA Award, a
Golden Globe, four
National Film Awards, fifteen
Filmfare Awards and thirteen
Filmfare Awards South in addition to
numerous other awards and nominations.
His extensive body of work for film and the stage earned him the
nickname “the Mozart of Madras” and several Tamil commentators and fans
have coined him the nickname
Isai Puyal (English: Music Storm).
[5] In 2009,
Time placed Rahman in its list of
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]
Having set up his own in-house studio called
Panchathan Record Inn at
Chennai,
arguably one of Asia’s most sophisticated and high-tech studios,
Rahman's film scoring career began in the early 1990s with the Tamil
film
Roja. Working in
India's various film industries,
international cinema and theatre, Rahman has reportedly sold more than 300 million records worldwide of his
film scores and
soundtracks as of 2009 for over 100 film scores worldwide, making him one of the world's all-time top selling recording artists.
[8][9][10]
In a notable career spanning two decades, Rahman has garnered
particular acclaim for redefining contemporary Indian film music and
thus contributing to the success of several films. Rahman is currently
one of the highest paid composers of the motion picture industry. He has
also become a notable humanitarian and philanthropist, donating and
raising money for beneficial causes and supporting charities.
Early life
A. R. Rahman was born as
A. S. Dileep Kumar on January 6, 1966 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India to a musically affluent
Mudaliar Tamil family.
[11] His father
R. K. Shekhar, was a film music composer and conductor for
Tamil as well as
Malayalam films. Rahman used to assist his father during recordings and play
keyboard
for the songs. Rahman lost his father at the age of 9 and his family
had to rent out his father's musical equipment as their source of
income.
[12] Rahman was raised by his mother Kareema (born Kashturi).
[13]
During these formative years, Rahman served as a keyboard player and an
arranger in bands such as "Roots", with childhood friend and
percussionist
Sivamani, John Anthony,
Suresh Peters, JoJo and Raja.
[3] Rahman is the founder of the Chennai-based rock group, "Nemesis Avenue".
[14] He mastered various music instruments like
Keyboard,
Piano,
Synthesizer,
Harmonium and
Guitar.
His curiosity in Synthesizer in particular, increased because, he says,
it was the "ideal combination of music and technology".
[citation needed]
He began early training in music under Master Dhanraj.
[15][16]
At the age of 11, he started playing musical instruments in the
orchestra of Malayalam composer and a close friend of Rahman's father,
M. K. Arjunan.
[17] Soon he started working with other composers such as
M. S. Viswanathan,
Ilaiyaraaja,
Ramesh Naidu,
Raj-Koti[16] and also accompanied
Zakir Hussain,
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and
L. Shankar on world tours and obtained a scholarship with
Trinity College, London, board of the
Trinity College of Music.
[13] Studying in Chennai, he graduated with graded examinations and a diploma in
Western classical music via the college.
[18] He was introduced to
Qadiri Islam
when his younger sister fell severely ill in 1984. Subsequently, Rahman
along with other members of his family converted to Islam in 1989, when
he was 23 years old. He changed his name from A. S. Dileep Kumar to
Allah Rakha Rahman i.e. A. R. Rahman.
[13][19]
Career
Film scoring and soundtracks
When he was nine, Rahman accidentally played a tune on piano during
his father's recording for a film, which R. K. Shekhar later developed
into a complete song, "Vellithen Kinnam Pol", for the Malayalam film
Penpada. This track credited to his father, was sung by
Jayachandran and penned by Bharanikkavu Sivakumar.
[20] His film career began in 1992, when he started
Panchathan Record Inn,
a music recording and mixing studio attached to the backyard of his
house. Over time it would become the most advanced recording studio in
India,
[21] and arguably one of Asia’s most sophisticated and high-tech studios.
[22] He initially composed scores for documentaries, jingles for advertisements and
Indian Television
channels and other projects. In 1987 Rahman, then still known as Dileep
got his first opportunity to compose jingles for new range of watches
being launched by
Allwyn.
[23] In 1992, he was approached by film director
Mani Ratnam to compose the score and soundtrack for Ratnam's Tamil film
Roja.
[21][24] The debut led Rahman to receive the
Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) award for Best Music Director at the
National Film Awards, an unprecedented win for a first-time film composer. Rahman has since been awarded the Silver Lotus three more times for
Minsara Kanavu (Tamil) in 1997,
Lagaan (Hindi) in 2002,
Kannathil Muthamittal (Tamil) in 2003, the most ever by any composer.
[25]
Roja's score met with high sales and acclaim in both its original and dubbed versions, led by the theme song "
Chinna Chinna Aasai" bringing about a marked change in
film music at the time. Rahman followed this with successful scores for
Tamil–language films of the
Chennai film industry including Ratnam's politically charged
Bombay, the urbanite
Kadhalan,
Thiruda Thiruda and
S. Shankar's debut film
Gentleman, spurred by the popular dance song "
Chikku Bukku Rayile".
[26][27][28][29] Rahman worked with director
Bharathiraaja's
Kizhakku Cheemayile and
Karuththamma, producing successful Tamil rural folk inspired scores and delivered the grand saxophonic score for
K. Balachander's
Duet.
[30][31] The 1995 film
Indira and the romantic comedies
Mr. Romeo and
Love Birds all gained him considerable notice.
[32][33][34] His fanbase in Japan increased with
Muthu 's success there.
His soundtracks gained him recognition in the Tamil Nadu film industry
and around the world for his stylistic versatility incorporating
Western classical, Carnatic and Tamil traditional/folk music traditions,
jazz,
reggae and rock music.
[36][37][38][39] The
soundtrack of
Bombay sold 12 million copies worldwide.
[40] The "
Bombay Theme"—from Ratnam's
Bombay—would later reappear in his score of
Deepa Mehta's
Fire and various compilations and media around the world. It was featured in the Palestinian film
Divine Intervention in 2002, and in the
Nicolas Cage film
Lord of War, in 2005.
Rangeela, directed by
Ram Gopal Varma, marked Rahman's debut for
Hindi-language films made in the
Mumbai film industry.
[41] Many successful scores for films including
Dil Se.. and the percussive
Taal followed.
[42][43] Sufi mysticism would inspire the track "
Chaiyya Chaiyya" from the former, as well as the composition "Zikr" from his score for the film
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero for which he created large symphonic orchestral and choral arrangements.
[19] His score for the Chennai production
Minsaara Kanavu garnered Rahman his second National Film Award for Best Music Direction in 1997, and a
South FilmFare Award for Best Music Direction in a Tamil film,
breaking a record with six consecutive wins in the latter category.
Rahman would go onto win the award a further three consecutive times.
Musical cues in scores for
Sangamam and
Iruvar employed Carnatic vocals and instruments such as the veena with leads of rock guitar and jazz.
[44] In the 2000s Rahman created hit scores for
Rajiv Menon's
Kandukondain Kandukondain,
Alaipayuthey,
Ashutosh Gowariker's
Swades and
Rang De Basanti.
[45] He composed songs with Hindustani motifs for
Water (2005). By the end of 2003, Rahman had sold more than 150 million records of his
film scores and
soundtracks for over 50 film scores worldwide.
[10][40][46]
Rahman has worked with Indian poets and lyricists such as
Javed Akhtar,
Gulzar,
Vairamuthu and
Vaali. He has consistently produced commercially successful soundtracks when collaborating with particular film directors such as
Mani Ratnam,
who he has worked with since
Roja, and the director
S. Shankar in the films
Gentleman,
Kadhalan,
Indian,
Jeans,
Mudhalvan,
Nayak,
Boys,
Sivaji and lately for
Enthiran.
[47]
In 2005, Rahman extended his Panchathan Record Inn studio by establishing
AM Studios in Kodambakkam, Chennai, thereby creating the most cutting-edge studio in Asia.
[48][49] In 2006, Rahman launched his own music label, KM Music.
[50] Its first release was his score to the film
Sillunu Oru Kaadhal.[51] Rahman scored the
Mandarin language picture
Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003 after researching and utilizing
Chinese and
Japanese classical music,
[52] and won the
Just Plain Folks Music Award For Best Music Album for his score of the 2006 film
Varalaru (God Father).
[53] He co-scored the
Shekhar Kapur project and his first British film,
Elizabeth: The Golden Age, in 2007.
[54] He garnered an
Asian Film Award nomination for Best Composer at the
Hong Kong International Film Festival for his
Jodhaa Akbar score.
[55] His compositions have been sampled for other scores within India,
[56] and appeared in such films as
Inside Man,
Lord of War,
Divine Intervention and
The Accidental Husband. In 2008, Rahman scored his first Hollywood picture, the comedy
Couples Retreat released the next year, which won him the
BMI London Award for Best Score.
[57] Rahman scored the film
Slumdog Millionaire in 2008, for which he won a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards, becoming the first Asian to do so. The songs "
Jai Ho" and "
O…Saya"
from the soundtrack of this film met with commercial success
internationally. In 2010, Rahman composed scores for the romance film
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, blockbuster sci-fi romance film
Enthiran and
Danny Boyle's
127 Hours. Rahman started off the year 2011 by scoring
Imtiaz Ali's musical film
Rockstar. The soundtrack became a phenomenal success and earned Rahman immense critical praise.
[58]
Performing and other projects
Rahman has been involved in several
projects aside from film.
Vande Mataram,
an album of his original compositions released on India's 50th
anniversary of independence in 1997, enjoyed great commercial success.
[59][60][61] Vande Mataram is the largest selling Indian non-film album to date.
[62] He followed it up with an album for the
Bharat Bala–directed video
Jana Gana Mana, a conglomeration of performances by many leading exponents and artists of
Indian classical music.
[63]
Rahman has written jingles for ads and composed several orchestrations
for athletic events, television and internet media publications,
documentaries and
short films.
[64] He frequently enlists the Czech Film Orchestra, Prague and the Chennai Strings Orchestra.
In 1999, Rahman partnered with choreographers
Shobana and
Prabhu Deva and a Tamil cinema dancing troupe to perform with
Michael Jackson in
Munich, Germany at his "Michael Jackson and Friends" concert.
[65] In 2002, he composed the music for his maiden stage production,
Bombay Dreams, commissioned by musical theatre composer
Andrew Lloyd Webber.
[66] Finnish folk music band
Värttinä collaborated with Rahman to write the music for
The Lord of the Rings theatre production and in 2004,
[25] Rahman composed the piece "Raga's Dance" for
Vanessa-Mae's album
Choreography performed by Mae and the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
[67]
Since 2004, Rahman has performed three successful world
tours to audiences in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia,
Dubai, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and India.
[25][68] He has been collaborating with
Karen David for her upcoming studio album. A two-disc soundtrack,
Introducing A. R. Rahman (2006) featuring 25 of his pieces from
Tamil film scores was released in May 2006,
[69] and his non-film album,
Connections was released on 12 December 2008.
[70] Rahman also performed at the White House
State dinner arranged by US President
Barack Obama during the official visit of Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh on November 24, 2009.
[71] Rahman is one of over 70 artists who performed on "
We Are the World 25 for Haiti", a
charity single to raise emergency relief funds in the wake of the
2010 Haiti earthquake.
[72] In 2010, Rahman composed "
Jai Jai Garvi Gujarat" in honor of the 50th anniversary of the formation of Gujarat State,
[73]
"Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam" as part of World Classical Tamil Conference 2010,[74] and the official theme song of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, "Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto".[75] Rahman organised his first world tour, named A. R. Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour,
in 2010. The ongoing tour was kicked off on June 11 at the Nassau
Coliseum in New York and will span 16 major cities worldwide.[76]
Some of his notable compositions were performed live by the London Philharmonic Orchestra in April 2010.[77] In February 2011, Rahman collaborated with Michael Bolton for his new studio album Gems – The Duets Collection.[78][79] Rahman reworked on his song "Sajna" from the 2009 American film Couples Retreat to create the track.[80]
On 20 May 2011, English musician Mick Jagger announced the formation of a new supergroup, SuperHeavy, which includes Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, Damian Marley, and Rahman.[81] The band's self-titled album is slated for release in September 2011.[82]
The album will see Mick Jagger singing in Rahman's composition
"Satyameva Jayate", which translates to "the truth alone triumphs".[83]
In January 2012, it was announced the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg would join KM Music Conservatory
musicians in a 100-member concert tour of five Indian cities performing
Rahman's compositions. The tour, named "Germany and India 2011–2012:
Infinite Opportunities'. Classic Incantations", will mark the centenary
of Indian cinema and of Studio Babelsberg, the world's oldest film
studio.
Music style and impact
Skilled in
Carnatic music,
Western classical,
Hindustani music and the
Qawwali style of
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan,
Rahman has been noted to write film songs that amalgamate elements of
these music systems and other genres, layering instruments from
differing music idioms in an improvisatory manner.
[19][84] Symphonic orchestral themes have accompanied his scores, occasionally employing
leitmotif. In the 1980s, Rahman recorded and played arrangements on
monophonic sound, synonymous with the era of 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.
[19][85]
Rahman's musical interests and outlook stem from his love of
experimentation. Rahman's compositions, in the vein of past and
contemporary
Chennai film composers, bring out auteuristic uses of
counterpoint, orchestration and the
human voice, melding Indian pop music with unique
timbre,
forms and instrumentation. By virtue of these qualities, broad ranging
lyrics and his syncretic style, the appeal of his music cuts across the
spectrum of classes and cultures within Indian society.
[86]
His first soundtrack for
Roja was listed in
Time's "
10 Best Soundtracks" of all time in 2005. Film critic
Richard Corliss
felt the "astonishing debut work parades Rahman's gift for alchemizing
outside influences until they are totally Tamil, totally Rahman."
[87] Rahman's initial global reach is attributed to the
South Asian diaspora.
Described as one of the most innovative composers to ever work in the
industry, his unique style and immense success transformed film music in
the 1990s prompting several film producers to take film music more
seriously.
[88] The music producer
Ron Fair considers Rahman to be "one of the world's great living composers in any medium".
[89]
The director
Baz Luhrmann notes
| “ |
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.[90] |
” |
Rahman has introduced the 7.1 technology in south Indian movies to provide better output.
[91]
Awards
Rahman was the 1995 recipient of the Mauritius National Award and the Malaysian Award for contributions to music.
[92] He was nominated for a
Laurence Olivier Award for his first West-End production. A four-time
National Film Award winner and recipient of six
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, fifteen
Filmfare Awards and thirteen
Filmfare Awards South for his music and scores.
[1] He has been conferred
Kalaimamani from the
Government of Tamil Nadu for excellence in the field of music, special music achievement awards from the
Government of Uttar Pradesh and
Government of Madhya Pradesh and the
Padma Shri from the
Government of India.
[93] In 2006, he received an honorary award from
Stanford University for contributions to global music.
[94] In 2007, Rahman was entered into the
Limca Book of Records as "Indian of the Year for Contribution to Popular Music",
[95] and the
Guinness World Records in 2010 as the original composer of "Maa Tujhe Salaam", from the album
Vande Mataram – the song performed in the most number of languages worldwide (265).
[96] He is the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient from the
Rotary Club of Madras.
[97] In 2009, for his score of
Slumdog Millionaire, Rahman won the
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, the
Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score,
[98] the
BAFTA Award for Best Film Music, and two
Academy Awards for
Best Original Music Score and
Best Original Song at the
81st Academy Awards. Rahman has received honorary doctorates from
Middlesex University and
Aligarh Muslim University.
[99][100] Later the year Rahman was conferred the honorary doctorate from
Anna University in Chennai.
[101] He has also won two
Grammy Awards, for
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album and
Best Song Written for a Visual Media.
[102] Rahman was awarded the
Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honor, in 2010.
[103] Rahman's work for the film
127 Hours
garnered him Golden Globe, BAFTA, and two Academy Award nominations for
Best Original Music Score and Best Original Song in 2011.
[104][105][106] He is an Honorary Fellow of the
Trinity College of Music, presented to him by
Trinity College London.
[107]
On May 7, 2012, he was conferred
Honorary Doctorate from the
Miami University,
Ohio. During the acceptance speech, he mentioned that he received a Christmas card from the
US President's family and an invitation for the dinner at
White House.
[108]
Personal life
 |
| Rahman and his wife |
He is married to Saira Banu and has three children, Khatija, Rahima, and Ameen.
[109] Ameen sings the track "NaNa" from
Couples Retreat and his daughter Khatija the track "Pudhiya Manidha" from
Enthiran.
[110][111] Rahman is the uncle of composer
G. V. Prakash Kumar, who is the son of Rahman's elder sister,
A. R. Reihana.
[112] Prakash Kumar's first work in film was singing on the Rahman composition "Chikku Bukku Rayile" from his score to the 1993 film
Gentleman.
[113] A. R. Reihana debuted in film singing on the track "Vidai Kodu Engal Naadae" from
Kannathil Muthamittal
and is also a music director. Rahman's younger sister Fathima is in
charge of his Music conservatory in Chennai. The youngest Ishrath has
her own music studio.
[114] A. R. Rahman is brother-in-law of film actor
Rahman.
[115]
An atheist through 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 went through hard times and
Sufism had a great influence on his mother and slowly on his family.
[116][117] During the
81st Academy Awards ceremony, he paid tribute to his mother, saying "There is a Hindi dialogue,
mere pass ma hai, which means 'even if I have got nothing I have my mother here'."
[118] He also began his own catchphrase, "
Ella pughazhum iraivanukke", in
Tamil
which literally means "All praises dedicated to God". The phrase was
popularized after Rahman uttered it prior to his speech at the 81st
Academy Awards ceremony.
[119]
Humanitarian work
Rahman is involved in various charitable causes. In 2004, he was appointed as the
Global Ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership, a project by
WHO.
[25] He has shown support to charities including
Save the Children, India, and worked with
Yusuf Islam for his song "Indian Ocean". The song featured
a-ha keyboard player
Magne Furuholmen and drummer
Travis,
Neil Primrose. The proceeds of the song went towards helping orphans in
Banda Aceh, that was affected by the
2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.
[120] He produced the single "We Can Make It Better" by Don Asian alongside
Mukhtar Sahota.
[121] In 2008, Rahman opened his
KM Music Conservatory
partnered with Audio Media Education facility to tutor and train
aspiring musicians in vocals, instruments, music technology and sound
design. The conservatory – with preeminent musicians on its panel and a
newly founded symphony orchestra – is located near his studio in
Kodambakkam, Chennai, offering courses at Beginners, Foundation and Diploma level. Violinist
L. Subramaniam is on its board of advisors.
[122] Several of Rahman's proteges from the studio have gone onto score music for feature films.
[123] Rahman composed the theme music for a short film for
The Banyan in 2006, in aid of destitute women in Chennai.
[124] In 2008, Rahman with noted percussionist
Sivamani created a song titled "Jiya Se Jiya", inspired by the
Free Hugs Campaign and promoted it through a video shot in various cities in India.
[125]
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Who is Alexa Ellesse Vega? The entertainment and acting world knows her as Alexa Vega, she is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids film series and Shilo Wallace in the film Repo! the Genetic Opera. In 2009, she starred as the title character Ruby Gallagher in the ABC Family series Ruby & The Rockits which in September 2009 after airing one season was officially cancelled by ABC Family.
Vega was born August 27, 1988 in Miami, Florida. Her father is Colombian and her mother, Gina Rue, is an American former model.[1][2][3] Alexa has six siblings: paternal half-sister Margaux Vega (b. 1981), sister Krizia Vega (b. 1990), sister Makenzie Vega (b. 1994; starred in Saw and Sin City),
maternal half-sister Greylin James (b.2000), maternal half-brother Jet
James (b. 2005), and maternal half-brother Cruz Hudson Rue (b. 2009).
She moved with her family to California when she was four years old.
She recorded three songs for the soundtracks while playing Carmen Cortez in the Spy Kids films. She released her debut single, "Isle of Dreams", to coincide with the release of the second film. She also released "Game Over", for the third film. Another song, "Heart Drive" featuring Bobby Edner, was also recorded for Spy Kids 3. She also has recorded songs for the movie Repo! The Genetic Opera, released in 2008.
Vega enjoys freshwater fishing, can speak Spanish fluently, is an experienced gymnast, and describes herself as a Christian.[8][9] Vega married film producer Sean Covel on October 10, 2010 in a ceremony held in his hometown of Lead, South Dakota. She wore an Ian Stuart gown[10] and was walked down the aisle by Robert Rodriguez. Vega is close friends with Nikki Reed, and was the maid of honor at Reed's wedding to Paul McDonald on October 16, 2011.
