Happy Birthday A.R. Rahman!

producer, singer, song writer, musician, multi-instrumentalist and definitely even a philanthropist! Born as A.S. Dileep Kumar to a Tamil Hindu musical family, he was the son of R.K. Shekhan, a well-established music composer in Tamil and Malayalam films.  Later, he converted his religion to Islam and became known as AllahRakka Rahman i.e. A.R. Rahman.

Music was very much in his genes, all that lacked was getting instruments for his melodious tunes. And when the sheer talent and wonderful musical genes combined, we got creations that altered the course of musical history. It all began at the age of 9 when he playfully strummed a tune and his father developed it into a complete song for a Malayalam film, Penpada. In 1992, he started a music recording and mixing studio named Panchathan Record Inn in his backyard! However, with time, it developed into the most advanced studio of India and perhaps one of Asia's most sophisticated and high-tech studios. If you were an ardent viewer of advertisements and Indian television during the '90s, then you were surely serenaded by many of his compositions on their background scores.

In 1992, film director Mani Ratnam approached him for composing for his Tamil film Roja, which was was later released in Hindi as well. This would be known as his official debut as a music director. His work was appreciated by audiences and critics alike, and even led to him winning a national award for his excellent compositions. Sir Rahman has now done numerous projects in various languages, but he is best known for his albums in Bollywood. His most celebrated and popular albums include Lagaan, Roja, Dil Se, Taal, Swades, Rang De Basanti, Water, Jodha Akbar, Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na, Delhi-6, Slumdog Millionaire, Rockstar and the most recent blockbuster hit Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

Apart from Bollywood music, his highest grossing single was the track Vande Mataram, composed in 1997 in the form of a token for India's 50th anniversary of Independence. This fabled figure has managed to create an identity of his own across the globe, which comes with an unimaginable amount of appreciation, recognition and a never ending list of awards to his name. One would usually remember a person for their music. But here, we remember music when we hear his name! Sir Rahman is married to Saira Banu and is blessed with 3 kids: Khatija, Rahima and Ameen.

BollyCurry wishes A.R. Rahman a happy birthday with good health, and an even more successful future.

Author: Siona M.
Editors: Khushi P. & Gunia M.
Graphics: Pooja A.