A.R.Rahman
AR Rahman’s first concert in Chennai, after winning Oscar award, took place (October 11th, 2009) at the Marg Swarnabhoomi on the East Coast Road, south of Chennai. This is part of Rahman’s Jai Ho World Concert Tour. A.R. Rahman took the audience to an extraordinary world of music at the ‘Jai Ho’ concert. The proceeds from this event will be used by Shakthi Foundation and Rahman Trust for the benefit of handicapped persons.
A.R.Rahman was born on January 6, 1966, in Chennai, India. His Birth Name was A.S.Dilip Kumar. His father R. K. Shekhar was a composer and conductor for Malayalam films. He lost his father when he was 11. He was raised by his mother Kareema. During early years, Rahman served as a keyboard player and an arranger in bands such as "Roots", with childhood friend and percussionist Sivamani, John Anthony, Suresh Peters, JoJo and Raja. He was good in playing Keyboard, guitar, Synthesizer, piano and harmonium. Rahman took music as a career at a very young age and after assisting leading musicians in India went on to compose jingles and scores for popular Indian television features. Rahman went world tours for orchestras and obtained a scholarship to the Trinity College of Music where he graduated with a degree in Western classical music.
A.R.Rahman’s film scoring career began in the Director Mani Ratnam’s flim Roja. Roja's score met with high sales in its original and dubbed versions, bringing about a marked change in film music at the time.Rahman followed this with successful scores for Tamil–language films including Ratnam's Bombay, Shankar’s Kadhalan, Bharathiraaja's Karuththamma, Duet, Indira, and the romantic comedies Mr. Romeo and Love Birds, which gained him considerable notice. His first Hindi film, Rangeela (1995) was grand success. The hit of his first Hindi venture was followed by the films such as Bumbai (1995), Dil Se (1998), Taal (1999), Zubeidaa (2001), and Lagaan (2001), which was nominated for best foreign-language film at the 2002 Academy Awards. Rahman scored the Mandarin language picture Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003, followed by the Shekhar Kapoor’s Elizabeth: the Golden Age (2007). His compositions have been reused within India and have made appearances in Inside Man, Lord of War, Divine Intervention and the Accidental Husband. In 2008, the flim Slumdog Millionaire , he won a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards. Rahman attached and opened a developed extension studio to his Panchathan Record Inn in 2005 called AM Studios in Kodambakkam, Chennai — which is the most developed, equipped and high tech studio in Asia.
He has won thirteen Filmfare Awards, four National Film Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards. Rahman, in a career of 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. Rahman has been bestowed with the 'Padma Shri', one of India's highest national civilian honors, recognizing his contribution to music. He has also received honorary doctorates from the Aligarh Muslim University and the Middlesex University.
In 2004, Rahman was appointed as the Global Ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership, a project by WHO. He worked with Cat Stevens and Yusuf Islam for his song "Indian Ocean" for helping orphans in Banda Aceh, one of the areas worst affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. In 2008, Rahman opened his KM Music Conservatory partnered with Audio Media Education facility to train aspiring musicians in vocals, instruments, music technology and sound design. Rahman composed the theme music for a short film for The Banyan in 2006, in aid of destitute women in Chennai. In 2008, Rahman, along with Sivamani created a song titled "Jiya Se Jiya", inspired by the Free Hugs Campaign and promoted through a video shot in various cities in India.
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