A. R. Rahman: Difference between revisions

'''Allah Rakha Rahman''' ({{audio|A R Rahman.ogg|pronunciation}}; born '''A. S. Dileep Kumar'''; 6 January 1967) is an Indian film composer, record producer, singer and songwriter who works predominantly in [[Indian cinema]] (particularly [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] and [[Hindi films]]) and occasionally international cinema. In 2010, the Indian government awarded him the [[Padma Bhushan]], the nation's third-highest civilian award.<ref>{{cite news |title=AR Rahman Feels 'Happy and Honoured' with Padma Bhushan Win |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-ar-rahman-feels-happy-and-honoured-with-padma-bhushan-win-1365878 |access-date=29 November 2016}}</ref> Among Rahman's awards are six [[National Film Awards]], two [[Academy Awards]], two [[Grammy Award]]s, a [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA Award]], a [[Golden Globe Award]], fifteen [[Filmfare Awards]] and seventeen [[Filmfare Awards South]].<ref name="deccanherald.com">{{Cite web |date=11 December 2018 |title=Interview: AR Rahman reveals composing secrets |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/metrolife/rahman-reveals-composing-707609.html |website=Deccan Herald}}</ref>

Rahman has also become a humanitarian and philanthropist, donating and raising money for a number of causes and charities. In 2006, he was honoured by [[Stanford University]] for his contributions to global music.<ref name="arstan06" /> In 2008, he received Lifetime Achievement Award from the [[Rotary International|Rotary Club of Madras]].<ref name="A R Rahman Honored">{{cite web |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/gallery/events/15580.html |title=A R Rahman Honored |publisher=Indiaglitz |date=4 June 2008 |access-date=5 April 2011}}</ref> In 2009, he was included on the ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' list of the [[Time 100|world's 100 most influential people]].<ref>{{cite magazine |date=30 April 2009 |title=The 2009 Time 100 – A.R. Rahman |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1894410_1893836_1894435,00.html  |access-date=24 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217065614/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0%2C28804%2C1894410_1893836_1894435%2C00.html |archive-date=17 February 2011}}</ref> In 2013, he introduced [[7.1 surround sound]] technology to South Indian films.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-27/news-interviews/32440011_1_indian-film-industry-sound-technology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707035429/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-27/news-interviews/32440011_1_indian-film-industry-sound-technology |archive-date=7 July 2013 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Rahman's AM Studio introduces 7.1 technology to Kollywood |date=27 June 2012}}</ref> In 2014, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from [[Berklee College of Music]]. He has also received honorary doctorate from [[Aligarh Muslim University]].<ref name="The Hindu">{{Cite news |title=Rahman to be conferred honorary doctorate by AMU |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200905261962.htm |work=The Hindu |date=26 May 2009 |access-date=26 May 2009 |location=Chennai, India  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604162150/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200905261962.htm |archive-date=4 June 2011}}</ref> In 2017, he made his debut as a director and writer for the film [[Le Musk (film)|''Le Musk'']].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/how-virtual-reality-pushed-ar-rahman-towards-multi-sensory-filmmaking/articleshow/58662010.cms |title=How virtual reality pushed AR Rahman towards 'multi-sensory' filmmaking |last1=Duttagupta |first1=Ishani |date=14 May 2017 |website=[[The Economic Times]] |access-date=13 July 2017}}</ref>

After his father's death when Rahman was nine years old, the rental of his father's musical equipment provided his family's income.<ref name="Early life">{{cite web |title=Rahman's childhood |url=http://www.hindilyrics.net/profiles/a-r-rahman.html |publisher=hindilyrics.net |access-date=19 April 2011}}</ref> Raised by his mother, Kareema (born Kashturi),<ref name="Interview with Times">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/23791015.cms |title=A R Rahman: In tune with life |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=30 September 2002 |access-date=5 April 2011}}</ref> Rahman, who was studying in [[Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan]] had to work to support his family. which led to him to routinely miss classes and fail exams. Therefore, the Principal [[Rajalakshmi Parthasarathy|Mrs YGP]] summoned Rahman and his mother and told them that Rahman should focus on academics irrespective of family circumstances. However, in an interview in 2012, Rahman said that his mother was summoned and was told to take him to the streets of [[Kodambakkam]] to beg and not to send him to the school anymore.<ref>{{Cite web |title=மாணவிகளுக்கு பாலியல் தொல்லை: சர்சைக்குள்ளான தனியார் பள்ளி ஏ.ஆர்.ரஹ்மானை அவமதித்ததா? |url=https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/private-school-abused-ar-rahman-really-what-happens-307424/ |access-date=2 November 2021 |website=Indian Express Tamil |language=ta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ச,வி.ஶ்ரீனிவாசுலு |first=அழகுசுப்பையா |title=மாணவர் இறப்பு முதல் பாலியல் புகார் வரை - பத்ம சேஷாத்திரி பள்ளி மீதான தொடர் சர்ச்சைகள்! |url=https://www.vikatan.com/government-and-politics/politics/list-of-issues-on-psbb-school |access-date=2 November 2021 |website=vikatan.com/ |language=ta}}</ref>  

Rahman began his early musical training under [[Master Dhanraj]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Training under dhanraj master |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/gallery/Events/22528.html |publisher=Indiaglitz.com |access-date=20 April 2011}}</ref><ref name="spotlight">{{cite web |title=Indian under spotlight |url=http://www.indiansinparis.com/blog/roots/420-arrahman |publisher=indiansinparis.com |access-date=20 April 2011  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322232419/http://www.indiansinparis.com/blog/roots/420-arrahman |archive-date=22 March 2012}}</ref> and at age 11 began playing in the orchestra of Malayalam composer (and close friend of his father) [[M. K. Arjunan]].<ref name="MK Arjunan">{{cite web |title=Film fraternity hails Rahman, Pookutty for win |work=The Indian Express |location=India |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/film-fraternity-hails-rahman-pookutty-for-win/427046/0 |date=23 February 2009 |access-date=23 February 2009}}</ref> He soon began working with other composers, such as [[M. S. Viswanathan]], [[Vijaya Bhaskar]],<ref name="deccanherald.com"/> [[Ilaiyaraaja]], [[Pasupuleti Ramesh Naidu|Ramesh Naidu]], Vijay Anand, [[Hamsalekha]] and [[Raj–Koti]],<ref name="spotlight" /> accompanied [[Zakir Hussain (musician)|Zakir Hussain]], [[Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan]] and [[L. Shankar]] on world tours and obtained a scholarship from [[Trinity College London]] to the [[Trinity College of Music]].<ref name="Interview with Times" />

Rahman attracted a Japanese audience with ''[[Muthu (film)|Muthu]]''{{'}}s success there.<ref name="muthunoborderss">{{cite web |author=Prasad, Ayappa |title=Films don't believe in borders |work=[[Screen (magazine)|Screen]] |url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=5670 |year=2003 |access-date=15 November 2008  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218060205/http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=5670 |archive-date=18 December 2008}}</ref> His soundtracks are known in the Tamil Nadu film industry and abroad for his versatility in combining Western classical music, Carnatic and Tamil traditional and folk-music traditions, [[jazz]], [[reggae]] and rock music.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Purie |first=Aroon |title=A. R. Rahman: Music The New Wave |volume=20 |issue=1–6 |year=1995 |page=11 |journal=[[India Today]] |quote=Now, two years later, AR Rahman looks like he is here to stay, with his digitalised sound based on pop-rock and reggae and fused with traditional Indian – mainly Carnatic – folk idioms. The supreme irony: he used to play keyboards in&nbsp;...}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ramaswamy |first=V. |title=Historical Dictionary of the Tamils |page=199}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Chaudhuri |first=S. |title=Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia |chapter=Cinema of South India and Sri Lanka |page=149 |quote=Southern filmmakers like [[Mani Ratnam]], [[Ram Gopal Varma]] and [[Priyadarshan]] have altered the profile of Indian 'national' cinema. So too have southern specialists&nbsp;... cinematographers [[Santosh Sivan]], [[P. C. Sreeram]] and music composer A. R. Rahman who formed a highly successful team with Ratnam and have all attained star status in their own right}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Brégeat |first=Raïssa |title=Indomania: le cinéma indien des origines à nos jours |page=133 |quote=AR Rahman (Roja, Bombay), entre autres, exigent aujourd'hui les cachets les plus gros jamais payés à un directeur musical |publisher=Cinémathèque française |language=fr |location=Paris |isbn=978-2-900596-14-2 |year=1995}}</ref> The [[Bombay (soundtrack)|soundtrack for ''Bombay'']] sold 15&nbsp;million copies worldwide,<ref name="release">{{cite web |author=Das Gupta, Surajeet |author2=Sen, Soumik |title=Composing a winning score |work=[[Rediff.com|Rediff]] |url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2002/sep/21bizsp.htm |access-date=15 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015040951/http://www.rediff.com/money/2002/sep/21bizsp.htm |archive-date=15 October 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sbs">{{cite news |title=The 'Mozart of Madras' AR Rahman is Performing LIVE in Australia |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/hindi/en/audiotrack/mozart-madras-ar-rahman-performing-live-australia |agency=[[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS]] |date=14 February 2017}}</ref> and "[[Bombay Theme]]" would later reappear in his soundtrack for [[Deepa Mehta]]'s ''[[Fire (1996 film)|Fire]]'' and a number of compilations and other media. It was featured in the 2002 Palestinian film ''[[Divine Intervention (film)|Divine Intervention]]'' and the 2005 [[Nicolas Cage]] film, ''[[Lord of War]]''. ''[[Rangeela (1995 film)|Rangeela]]'', directed by [[Ram Gopal Varma]], was Rahman's [[Bollywood]] debut.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Purie |first=Aroon |title=French Connection |volume=20 |issue=13–18 |year=1995 |page=156 |journal=India Today}}</ref> Successful scores and songs for ''[[Dil Se..]]'' and the percussive ''[[Taal (film)|Taal]]'' followed.<ref name="understandingaf">{{Cite book |last=Stafford |first=Roy |title=Understanding Audiences and the Film Industry |date=31 May 2007 |page=[https://archive.org/details/understandingaud0000staf/page/27 27] |isbn=978-1-84457-141-3 |publisher=British Film Institute |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/understandingaud0000staf/page/27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music |last=Arnold |first=Alison |year=2000 |page=540 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOlNv8MAXIEC&pg=RA2-PA555 |chapter=Film music in the late Twentieth century |isbn=978-0-8240-4946-1 |quote=The recent success of the Tamil film music director A. R. Rehman in achieving widespread popularity in the world of Hindi film music is now possibly opening doors to new South-North relationships and collaborations}}</ref> [[Sufism|Sufi mysticism]] inspired "[[Chaiyya Chaiyya]]" from the former film and "Zikr" from his soundtrack album for ''[[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero]]'' (which featured elaborate orchestral and choral arrangements).<ref name="Rahmanrs">{{cite magazine |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author2=Suhasini, Lalitha |title=AR Rahman: The Rolling Stone interview |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=http://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2008/06/07/ar-rahman-the-rolling-stone-interview/ |year=2008 |access-date=16 November 2008}}</ref>

Rahman's soundtrack album for the Chennai production ''Minsaara Kanavu'' won him his second National Film Award for Best Music Direction and a [[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Tamil|South FilmFare Award for Best Music Direction in a Tamil film]] in 1997, the latter setting a record of six consecutive wins; he later went on to win the award three consecutive additional times. The musical cues in the soundtrack albums for ''[[Sangamam]]'' and ''[[Iruvar]]'' used Carnatic vocals, the [[veena]], rock guitar and jazz.<ref name="archat98">{{cite web |title=The A R Rahman Chat |work=[[Rediff.com|Rediff on the Net]] |publisher=Rediff |url=http://www.rediff.com/chat/rahmchat.htm |date=17 August 1998 |access-date=6 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216150459/http://www.rediff.com/chat/rahmchat.htm |archive-date=16 December 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> During the 2000s, Rahman composed scores and popular songs for [[Rajiv Menon]]'s ''[[Kandukondain Kandukondain]]'', ''[[Alaipayuthey (film)|Alaipayuthey]]'', [[Ashutosh Gowariker]]'s ''[[Swades]]'', ''[[Rang De Basanti]]''<ref>{{Cite book |title=Tamil Cinema: The Cultural Politics of India's Other Film Industry |last=Velayutham |first=Selvaraj |year=2008 |page=6}}</ref> and songs with Hindustani motifs for 2005's ''[[Water (2005 film)|Water]]''. Rahman has worked with Indian poets and lyricists such as [[Javed Akhtar]], [[Gulzar]], [[Vairamuthu]] and [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]], and has produced commercially successful soundtracks with directors [[List of films directed by Mani Ratnam featuring A. R. Rahman|Mani Ratnam]] and [[S. Shankar]] (''[[Gentleman (1993 film)|Gentleman]]'', ''[[Kadhalan]]'', ''[[Indian (1996 film)|Indian]]'', ''[[Jeans (film)|Jeans]]'', ''[[Mudhalvan]]'', ''[[Nayak (2001 Hindi film)|Nayak]]'', ''[[Boys (2003 film)|Boys]]'', ''[[Sivaji (film)|Sivaji]]'', ''[[Enthiran]]'', ''[[I (film)|I]]'' and ''[[2.0 (film)|2.0]]'').<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ganti |first=T. |title=Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema |page=112 |quote=Rehman became a major star with his hit music in Roja followed by hit scores for Mani Ratnam's and Shankar's films in Tamil.}}</ref>

In 2005 Rahman expanded his Panchathan Record Inn studio by establishing [[Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios|AM Studios]] in Kodambakkam, Chennai, creating the most cutting-edge studio in Asia.<ref name="Rahmanammix">{{cite web |title=Film Composer A.R. Rahman Selects Bag End Bass Speakers |work=[[Mix (magazine)|Mix]] |url=http://mixonline.com/news/headline/bag-end-arrahman-060706/ |date=7 June 2006 |access-date=18 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141733/http://mixonline.com/news/headline/bag-end-arrahman-060706/ |archive-date=16 December 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Omkar |first=Ashanti |title=Interview with A. R. Rahman |date=March 2008 |issue=1 |volume=1 |periodical=The Score Magazine |location=Chennai}}</ref> The following year he launched his own music label, KM Music,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maria Verghis |first=Shana |date=11 August 2006 |title=A R Rahman Interview |newspaper=smaramra.blogspot.com |location=New Delhi |url=http://smaramra.blogspot.com/2006/08/r-rahman-interview.html}}</ref> with his score for ''[[Sillunu Oru Kaadhal]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg310/p7.pdf |work=[[Tamil Guardian]] |title=Cine Scope |date=19 October 2005 |page=7  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924113310/http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg310/p7.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> Rahman scored the [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]]-language film ''[[Warriors of Heaven and Earth]]'' in 2003 after researching and using [[Music of China|Chinese]] and [[Gagaku|Japanese classical]] music,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/10/23/stories/2003102301100200.htm |title=Chinese rhapsody |date=23 October 2003 |author=Savita Gautham |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=5 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040225084151/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/10/23/stories/2003102301100200.htm |archive-date=25 February 2004 |url-status=usurped}}</ref> and won the Just Plain Folks Music Organization|Just Plain Folks Music Award For Best Music Album for his score for 2006's ''[[Varalaru (film)|Varalaru (God Father)]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=2009 Just Plain Folks Music Awards Album Winners |work=Just Plain Folks Music Awards |url=http://jpfolks.com/09albumwinners.html |year=2009 |access-date=14 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017193502/http://www.jpfolks.com/09albumwinners.html |archive-date=17 October 2018 }}</ref> He co-scored [[Shekhar Kapur]]'s second British film, ''[[Elizabeth: The Golden Age]]'', in 2007<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2007/11/23/stories/2007112350030100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201082742/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2007/11/23/stories/2007112350030100.htm |archive-date=1 December 2007 |title=Mover and Shekhar |date=23 November 2007 |access-date=5 April 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> and received a Best Composer [[Asian Film Awards|Asian Film Award]] nomination at the [[Hong Kong International Film Festival]] for his ''[[Jodhaa Akbar]]'' score.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Film Awards 2009 |date=6 February 2009 |work=[[3rd Asian Film Awards]] |url=http://www.asianfilmawards.asia/2009/eng/nominations.php |access-date=24 February 2011  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208035546/http://www.asianfilmawards.asia/2009/eng/nominations.php |archive-date=8 February 2011}}</ref> Rahman's music has been sampled for other scores in India,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Cinemaya 1998 |year=1998 |page=9 |issue=39–41 |periodical=[[Cinemaya]] |location=New Delhi |issn=0970-8782 |oclc=19234070 |quote=However, the song was lifted by a whole range of well-known music directors from Bombay so much so that the original composition in Tamil by AR Rahman&nbsp;...}}</ref> appearing in ''[[Inside Man]]'', ''[[Lord of War]]'', ''[[Divine Intervention (film)|Divine Intervention]]'' and ''[[The Accidental Husband]]''.

Some of the films which fetched him appreciations for background scores include ''[[Roja (film)|Roja]]'', ''[[Bombay (film)|Bombay]]'', ''[[Iruvar]]'', ''[[Minsara Kanavu]]'', ''[[Dil Se..]]'', ''[[Taal (film)|Taal]]'', ''[[Lagaan]]'', ''[[The Legend of Bhagat Singh]]'', ''[[Swades]]'', ''[[Rang De Basanti]]'', ''[[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero|Bose: The Forgotten Hero]]'', ''[[Guru (2007 film)|Guru]]'', ''[[Jodhaa Akbar]]'', ''[[Raavanan (2010 film)|Raavanan]]'', ''[[Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa]]'', ''[[Rockstar (2011 film)|Rockstar]]'', ''[[Enthiran]]'', ''[[Kadal (2013 film)|Kadal]]'', ''[[Kochadaiiyaan]]'' and ''[[I (film)|I]]''. A. R. Rahman received two Academy Awards for ''Slumdog Millionaire'' and two Academy Award nominations for ''[[127 Hours]]''. Recently, his scores for ''[[Kochadaiiyaan]]'', ''[[Million Dollar Arm]]'' and ''[[The Hundred-Foot Journey (film)|The Hundred-Foot Journey]]'' have been nominated in the long list released by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/ar-rahman-gets-nominated-for-three-films-in-87th-oscar-longlist-1848453.html |title=AR Rahman gets nominated for three films in 87th Oscar longlist- Entertainment News, Firstpost |date=15 December 2014 |website=Firstpost}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/music/three-ar-rahman-scores-featured-in-oscar-list-712529 |title=A R Rahman Features Thrice on Oscar Longlist, Sonu Nigam Gets a Spot – NDTV Movies |website=NDTVMovies.com}}</ref> In 2017 his ''[[Mersal (film)|Mersal]]'' music's background score has impressed one and all.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.tupaki.com/movienews/article/Rahman-Superb-Back-Ground-Music-For-Vijay-Mersal-Movie/61037 |title=Rahman Superb Back Ground Music For Vijay Mersal Movie |website=tupaki}}</ref> In 2018, Rahman got national award for the background score of [[Mom (2017 film)|Mom]].

In 1999, Rahman partnered with choreographers [[Shobana]] and [[Prabhu Deva]] and a Tamil film-dancing troupe to perform with [[Michael Jackson]] in Munich, Germany at his Michael Jackson and Friends concert.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Nydia Dias |title=A R Rahman joins hands with Michael Jackson |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2001-08-17/mumbai/27247947_1_r-rahman-michael-jackson-mj |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604131229/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2001-08-17/mumbai/27247947_1_r-rahman-michael-jackson-mj |archive-date=4 June 2011 |date=17 August 2001 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=5 April 2011}}</ref> In 2002 he composed the music for his first stage production, ''[[Bombay Dreams]]'', which was commissioned by [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]].<ref>{{Cite news |author=Madhur Tankha |title=Rahman to talk about his Bombay Dreams |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/24/stories/2007082460621100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418193356/http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/24/stories/2007082460621100.htm |archive-date=18 April 2012 |date=24 August 2007 |access-date=5 April 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> The Finnish folk-music band [[Värttinä]] collaborated with Rahman on the Toronto production of ''[[The Lord of the Rings (musical)#Toronto production|The Lord of the Rings]]'', and in 2004<ref name="lotrrahmanc">{{cite web |title=A. R. Rahman |author=Iyer, Vijay |publisher=lotr.com |url=http://www.lotr.com/cast_creative/creative_bio_03.php |access-date=15 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025124725/http://www.lotr.com/cast_creative/creative_bio_03.php |archive-date=25 October 2008 }}</ref> he composed  "Raga's Dance" for [[Vanessa-Mae]]'s album ''[[Choreography (Vanessa-Mae album)|Choreography]]'' (performed by Mae and the [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]]).<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mae goes the raga way |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/11/20/stories/2004112001930200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204060417/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/11/20/stories/2004112001930200.htm |archive-date=4 February 2005 |date=20 November 2004 |access-date=5 April 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref>

Some of Rahman's notable compositions were performed by the [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]] in April 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/02/stories/2010040262521400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407082210/http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/02/stories/2010040262521400.htm |archive-date=7 April 2010 |title=A new level of recognition, legitimacy: Rahman |author=Sarfraz Manzoor |date=2 April 2010 |access-date=5 April 2011 |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India}}</ref> In February 2011 Rahman collaborated with [[Michael Bolton]] on Bolton's album, ''[[Gems (Michael Bolton album)|Gems – The Duets Collection]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/bolton-collaborates-with-rahman-for-new-album/721470 |title=Bolton Collaborates with Rahman for New Album |date=10 May 2011 |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |access-date=29 November 2016}}</ref> reworking his "Sajna" from ''[[Couples Retreat]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/rahman-s-sajna-in-michael-bolton-s-album-news-bollywood-lfko4iifeeb.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513085639/http://www.sify.com/movies/rahman-s-sajna-in-michael-bolton-s-album-news-bollywood-lfko4iifeeb.html |archive-date=13 May 2011 |title=Rahman's Sajna in Michael Bolton's album |publisher=[[Sify]] |date=10 May 2011 |access-date=10 May 2011}}</ref>

In December 2012 Rahman and [[Shekhar Kapoor]] launched Qyuki, a networking site which is a platform for story writers to exchange their thoughts. Cisco invested ₹270&nbsp;million in the startup, giving it a 17-percent share. Qyuki uses Cisco's cloud infrastructure for the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconindia.com/news/startups/The-Entrepreneurial-Side-Of-Bollywood-Stars-nid-162101-cid-100.html |title=The Entrepreneurial Side of Bollywood Stars |author=SiliconIndia |publisher=SiliconIndia |date=27 February 2014 |access-date=1 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.linkedin.com/company/qyuki-digital-media |title=Qyuki Digital Media |publisher=LinkedIn |access-date=1 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/myQyuki/info |title=Qyuki About Page |website=Facebook |access-date=1 March 2014}}{{rs|date=June 2022}}</ref> On 20 December he released the single "Infinite Love" in English and Hindi, commemorating the last day of the Mayan calendar to spread hope, peace and love. Rahman's 2013 tour, Rahmanishq, was announced on 29 July 2013 in [[Mumbai]]. Beginning in Sydney on 24 August, the tour moved to a number of cities in India.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/a-r-rahman-live/1148472 |title=A R Rahman Live – Indian Express |website=The Indian Express}}</ref>

On 16 January 2019, Maruti Suzuki India Limited launched NEXA Music, a platform where 24 artists will be picked and mentored by Rahman and Clinton Cerejo to create international music in India.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/maruti-suzuki-partners-with-a-r-rahman-to-launch-nexa-music/articleshow/67555737.cms |title=Maruti Suzuki partners with A R Rahman to launch NEXA Music |website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mynexa.nexaexperience.com/nexaworld/nexamusic/nexa-music.html |title=Nexa Music |website=mynexa.nexaexperience.com}}</ref>

Rahman is married to Saira Banu (not to be confused with actress [[Saira Banu]]), sister-in-law of actor [[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]]; they have three children: Khatija, Rahima and [[A. R. Ameen|Ameen]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=I miss him terribly when he's away |journal=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=28 October 2007}}</ref> Ameen has sung "NaNa" from ''[[Couples Retreat (soundtrack)|Couples Retreat]]'', and Khatija has sung "Pudhiya Manidha" from ''[[Enthiran (soundtrack)|Enthiran]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-07-29/news-interviews/28179132_1_ar-rahman-couples-retreat-playback-singer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104114248/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-07-29/news-interviews/28179132_1_ar-rahman-couples-retreat-playback-singer |archive-date=4 November 2012 |title=AR Rahman's son sings for Hollywood |author=Vickey Lalwani |location=India |access-date=29 July 2010 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=29 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/58995.html |title=A R Rahman's daughter sings song in Yanthram |work=Indiaglitz |access-date=29 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100730042144/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/58995.html |archive-date=30 July 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> Composer [[G. V. Prakash Kumar]] is the son of Rahman's elder sister, [[A. R. Reihana]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Kamala Bhatt |url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/Ndtv-Show-Special-story.aspx?ID=5&storyid=NEWEN20090084532 |title=I knew Rahman would go international: Reihana |publisher=[[NDTV]] |access-date=5 April 2011  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016014333/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/Ndtv-Show-Special-story.aspx?ID=5&storyid=NEWEN20090084532 |archive-date=16 October 2009}}</ref> Rahman's younger sister, Fathima, heads his music conservatory in Chennai.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/733227/ar-rahman-spends-ramazan-with-hearth-and-home/ |title=AR Rahman spends Ramazan with hearth and home |date=9 July 2014 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en |access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-extract-of-the-book-a-r-rahman-the-spirit-of-music/20110418.htm |title=Rahman: I was forced to become a musician |website=Rediff |language=en |access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> The youngest, Ishrath, has a music studio. A.R.Rahman is the co-brother<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/co-brother#Noun |title=co-brother – Wiktionary |website=en.wiktionary.org |date=20 October 2021}}</ref> of film actor [[Rahman (actor)|Rahman]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.actorrahman.com |title=Actor Rahman's profile |publisher=actorrahman.com |access-date=5 April 2011}}</ref>

===Producer and writer===

|2022||''[[Le Musk]]''||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||{{yes}}||<ref>{{cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/ar-rahman-on-wearing-the-directors-hat-for-le-musk-filmmaking-is-a-tough-job-but-i-loved-it%E2%80%8B-4642124/ |title=AR Rahman on wearing the director's hat for Le Musk: Filmmaking is a tough job but I loved it |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |date=6 May 2017 |first=Samarpita |last=Das |access-date=15 July 2020}}</ref>

In January 2018, He has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador of the [[Sikkim]] government. [[A.R. Rahman]] will promote and project the state's achievements nationally and globally.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/a-r-rahman-sikkim-brand-ambassador-5225307/ |title=AR Rahman appointed as the Brand Ambassador of Sikkim |date=20 June 2018 |website=The Indian Express |access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref> Rahman was honoured with the Pride of Indian Music award at the first Zee Cine Awards Tamil, held on 4 January 2020 in [[Chennai]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/zee-cine-awards-tamil-2020-was-a-grand-affair-imagegallery-kollywood-ubho6zdafcife.html |title=Zee Cine Awards Tamil 2020 was a grand affair! |website=Sify |language=en |access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref>

The UK-based world-music magazine ''[[Songlines (magazine)|Songlines]]'' named him one of "Tomorrow's World Music Icons" in August 2011.<ref>{{cite news |title=A. R. Rahman named in ''Songlines'' Tomorrow's World Music Icons' |work=[[ARC Music]] |url=http://www.arcmusic.co.uk/index.php?page=news#d240811 |access-date=24 August 2011}}</ref> For years, he has been regularly listed one among ''[[The 500 Most Influential Muslims]]'' in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Muslim 500: Allah Rakha Rahman |url=https://www.themuslim500.com/profiles/allah-rakha-a-r-rahman/ |language=en-US |access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Times of India on 22 most influential Muslims in India |website=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/22-Indians-among-worlds-influential-Muslims/articleshow/49315830.cms |language=en-US |access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref>

''99 Songs'' is the first Indian soundtrack album to use [[Dolby Atmos]] technology, and Rahman became the first Indian artist to create music album of the film in this technology.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/audio/news/dolby-atmos-music-india-launch-99-songs-ar-rahman-soundtrack-2183648 |title=Dolby Atmos Music Comes to India with AR Rahman's '99 Songs' Soundtrack |website=NDTV Gadgets 360 |language=en |access-date=11 March 2020}}</ref> The film stars debutants Ehan Bhat and Edilsy Vargas, alongside [[Aditya Seal]], [[Lisa Ray]] and [[Manisha Koirala]] among others portray supporting characters.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/interviews/a660380/ar-rahman-interview-the-mozart-of-madras-on-the-greatest-lesson-hes-learned/ |title=AR Rahman interview: The Mozart of Madras |last=Joshi |first=Priya |date=28 July 2015 |website=Digital Spy |access-date=10 March 2016}}</ref> The film is a sensual story about art and self-discovery of a struggling singer who wants to be a successful [[Composer|music composer]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2015/08/05/ar-rahman-99-songs-script_n_7937330.html |title=AR Rahman Has Turned Scriptwriter For His Home Production '99 Songs' |last=Chatterjee |first=Suprateek |date=5 August 2015 |website=[[The Huffington Post]] |access-date=10 March 2016}}</ref>

A. R. Rahman said in an interview with [[Anupama Chopra]]:<blockquote>There are two things could happen. One saying this is going to be a new wave in Hindi cinema or (smile) they will just throw it in my face<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chopra |first1=Anupama |title=Trust The Artist And Leave. Don't Tell Them What To Do: AR Rahman |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/interviews/bollywood-interview/trust-the-artist-and-leave-dont-tell-them-what-to-do-ar-rahman/ |access-date=7 March 2021 |work=Film Companion |date=6 August 2018}}</ref></blockquote>