Biography
Who is A. R. Rahman?
Early life and real name
A. R. Rahman was born A. S. Dileep Kumar in Chennai, India, on January 6, 1966. His father, R. K. Shekhar, worked as a film score composer and conductor for Malayalam films. Growing up surrounded by musical equipment, Rahman began studying the piano at the age of four and assisted his father in the studio by playing the keyboard.
Following his father's death, the family survived on the rental income of musical equipment. Rahman attended Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School, where he formed a band with classmates before dropping out to pursue music full-time. He studied under Master Dhanraj and later attended the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
Career highlights
A. R. Rahman launched his own recording studio, Panchathan Record Inn, in his backyard during the early 1990s. His film scoring career took off when director Mani Ratnam hired him to compose the soundtrack for the Tamil film Roja. The score became a big commercial and critical success, earning him the National Film Award for Best Music Direction.
He expanded his work into Bollywood with Rangeela and achieved international renown for his score in Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire. That project earned him two Academy Awards and two Grammy Awards. Over the decades, he has contributed to numerous films, released bestselling albums, and received the Padma Bhushan from the Government of India.
Family and humanitarian work
A. R. Rahman is a devoted father to his child Khatija Rahman. Raised in a household with his mother and sister A. R. Reihana, he later converted to Islam in 1989 and adopted his current professional name. His sister's illness in 1984 introduced him to the Qadiri tariqa spiritual path.
Beyond composing, A. R. Rahman is widely recognized for his humanitarian efforts and philanthropic work. He has donated and raised funds for various charitable causes. Stanford University honored him for his global music contributions, and Time magazine included him on its list of the world's most influential people.
Birthday and age
A. R. Rahman was born on January 6, 1966, which makes A. 60 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. A. shares the date with 33 other famous people.
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