Although most Americans had heard of neither A.R. Rahman nor his music until recently, the 43-year-old composer is a giant in his native India. Rahman is now a Golden Globe® winner for "Best Original Soundtrack" for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE and has been nominated for three Oscars® for the film, for best original score and two best original songs.
Educate yourself about this world-renowned musician below! And don't miss the two videos at the bottom of the post - of his acceptance of the Golden Globe® on January 11th and an interview he participated in with South Asia's Desi You!
His Achievements:
"Allah Rakkha Rahman is a Academy Award®-nominated and National Film Award- and Golden Globe®-winning Indian film composer, record producer and musician. His work has garnered considerable acclaim and a large global fanbase since his film scoring career began in the early 1990s."
"Working in several of India's various film industries, international cinema and theatre, by 2003, Rahman, in a career spanning over a decade, has sold more than 100 million records of his film scores and soundtracks worldwide, and sold over 200 million cassettes making him one of the world's all-time top selling recording artists. His acclaimed music compositions have led TIME Magazine to declare him the 'Mozart of Madras'..."
On His Music: The Associated Press (Jan. 25th):
"Rahman has composed music for more than 130 Indian films, incorporating jazz, rock, Indian pop and Western classical music. 'He changed the entire concept of Indian film music,' said Subir Malik, another well-known Indian musician who described Rahman as 'a very, very experimental guy.' The two Oscar-nominated songs follow his tradition of mixing globe-spanning styles. 'Jai Ho' blends classic Indian pop with electronica and Brazilian-inspired drums. 'O Saya' features eclectic British sensation M.I.A., who co-wrote the song with Rahman."
"Only two Indians have won at the Oscars® so far — costume designer Bhanu Athaiya won for GANDHI in 1982 and noted filmmaker Satyajit Ray was honored with a lifetime achievement award in 1992."
'We have been waiting for this for nearly 80 years, haven't we? I am so elated,' A.R. Rahman told The Hindu on Thursday, soon after the Academy Award nominations were declared."
On A.R., the Man: India's Economic Times (Jan. 23rd):
"His father, a music composer himself, died when he was nine and his family had to rent out musical equipment to make ends meet. But, his mother... ensured that financial strife did not come in the way of her son's aspirations."
"[A.R.] plans to open a music school that will train people in orchestral music. 'Today the idea of music is composing for films, which is exciting and good for the film industry but not good for art,' he had told ET. 'So, my music school will be to start an orchestra and raise awareness about orchestral music. And in India, every state is different so I thought we'd have one orchestra that says it all. It is also a bridge for our culture, to export our culture,' said modern India's best known ambassador. "
On What His Success Means to Indians: India's Business Standard (Jan. 28th):
"He's enabled Indian music to move onto the international stage... A.R. Rahman winning the Golden Globe® for his music for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is probably the most significant thing to have happened to the music industry in India in a long time... There is no other Indian composer more deserving of recognition than Rahman. Many people have been looking at Rahman’s winning the award as something of a national achievement and in terms of Indian music and its artistes being put on the world map."
Mr. Rahman, who felt on 'top of the world,' said he was getting offers from Hollywood producers to provide the musical score for their films, ever since his musical score for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE won the Golden Globe award. Asked whether the Indian film industry would lose him to Hollywood, Mr. Rahman quipped, 'I will do a balancing act.'" - India's The Hindu
On His Spirituality: The Times Of India (Jan. 24th):
"[A.R.] said, 'Religious sounds rather vulgar these days, I am more of a spiritual person... For me and my music, spirituality is the most important element and I don't think I can create the kind of music I do, if I don't practice spirituality.' A source close to the musician revealed, 'Even when Rahman has a tedious schedule, he makes it a point to offer Namaaz five times a day, especially so after the awards.'"
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