Here’s a detailed history of A. R. Rahman (Allah Rakha Rahman) — one of India’s most celebrated composers:
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Rahman was born on 6 January 1967 in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
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His birth name was A. S. Dileep Kumar. (Wikipedia)
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His father, R. K. Shekhar, was a music composer and conductor in the Malayalam film industry. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
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Rahman began his musical training early — he played piano from around age 4, assisted in his father’s studio, and by age 11 he was playing in orchestras. (Wikipedia)
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When Rahman was nine, his father passed away. That placed early responsibility on the young Rahman and his family. (Samanyagyan)
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He attended school (Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan, then Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School) but eventually dropped out of formal education to focus on music. (Jagranjosh.com)
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He also studied Western classical music — via Trinity College, London (or via its affiliated program) for a diploma in Western classical. (TVGuide.com)
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In his early 20s (around 1989) he and his family converted to Islam, and Dileep Kumar became Allah Rakha Rahman. (Wikipedia)
Entry Into Music & Film
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Before films, Rahman composed advertisement jingles and worked on documentaries and for television. (Outlook India)
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His major film debut as composer was with the Tamil film Roja (1992), directed by Mani Ratnam. The soundtrack was a breakthrough. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
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The success of Roja opened doors across languages (Tamil, Hindi, etc.).
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He then moved into Hindi cinema (Bollywood) with films like Rangeela (1995), among others. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
Rise to Fame & Major Works
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Through the 1990s and 2000s, Rahman’s music became known for blending Indian classical/folk elements with electronic, global instrumentation and studio technology. (Outlook India)
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Some key films (and their soundtracks) include:
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Bombay (1995)
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Lagaan (2001) — which was nominated for the Oscars for Best Foreign-Language Film. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
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The global breakthrough came with Slumdog Millionaire (2008), directed by Danny Boyle: Rahman won two Academy Awards in 2009 — one for Best Original Score, one for Best Original Song (“Jai Ho”). (Encyclopedia Britannica)
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He continued to work on international productions, stage musicals (e.g., Bombay Dreams), and large-scale studio projects. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
Style & Contributions
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Rahman’s work is characterised by:
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Fusion of Indian classical/folk with electronic, Western orchestration, world music.
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Technical innovation: high-end studios (his own studio “Panchathan Record Inn”), use of synthesizers, complex arrangements. (Arrahmanian)
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Multilingual output: he works in Tamil, Hindi, and many other Indian languages, plus international projects.
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He’s often called “the Mozart of Madras” for his prolific output and innovation. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
Awards, Recognition & Legacy
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Some of the major honours: two Academy Awards (2009), Golden Globe (2009), Grammy Awards (2010) among others. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
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National honours: Padma Shri (2000) and Padma Bhushan (2010) in India (source: multiple).
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He has influenced a generation of composers across India and globally, changed how film music is composed and produced in India.
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He founded institutions (e.g., KM Music Conservatory in Chennai) to train young musicians and promote musical education.
Recent Years & Current Status
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Rahman continues to produce music for Indian cinema (Tamil, Hindi, other languages) and is active in live concerts worldwide.
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His international presence remains strong and he embraces new technologies, collaborations, and cross-cultural music.
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His role is not just composer but mentor, producer and global ambassador of Indian music.
Why He Matters
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Rahman transformed the film-music industry in India: from being formulaic to exploring new sounds, genres, arrangements.
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His global reach brought Indian film music to international recognition (via Slumdog, etc.).
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He is a symbol of musical excellence, innovation, fusion of tradition and modernity.
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His life story — from modest beginnings, family struggle, early loss, to global success — is inspirational.
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