AR Rahman

Allah Rakha Rahman (born A.S. Dileep Kumar, 6 January 1967), known professionally as AR Rahman, is an Indian composer, singer, and music producer who works predominantly in Indian cinema. Widely regarded as one of the greatest music composers of all time, Rahman has won two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and six National Film Awards. Born in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, Rahman lost his father at a young age and had to support his family by playing keyboard for local bands. He converted to Islam in 1989 and changed his name. His big break came when director Mani Ratnam gave him the chance to compose for "Roja" (1992), which was both a critical and commercial success. Rahman's most celebrated compositions include the soundtracks for "Bombay" (1995), "Dil Se" (1998), "Lagaan" (2001), "Saathiya" (2002), "Swades" (2004), "Rang De Basanti" (2006), "Jodhaa Akbar" (2008), "Rockstar" (2011), "Highway" (2014), and "Ponniyin Selvan" (2022). His work on "Slumdog Millionaire" (2008) earned him two Academy Awards — Best Original Score and Best Original Song ("Jai Ho"). Rahman's fusion of Indian classical music with electronic, Western, and world music elements has revolutionized Indian film music. He is also known for his live concerts, which have been performed in over 30 countries. His music school, KM Music Conservatory, trains the next generation of Indian musicians. In 2023, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honor.