A. R. Rahman: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Indian singer and composer}}

| occupation      = {{hlist|Record producer|film composer|singer|songwriter}}

'''Allah Rakha Rahman''' ({{audio|A R Rahman.ogg|pronunciation}}; born '''A. S. Dileep Kumar'''; 6 January 1967) is an Indian music composer, record producer, singer and songwriter, popular for his works in [[Indian cinema]]; predominantly in [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] and [[Hindi cinema|Hindi]] films, with occasional forays in international cinema, as well as an arrangement of the [[20th Century Studios]] fanfare for [[Star Studios]]. He is a winner of 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> In 2010, the Indian government conferred him with 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>

Rahman initially composed scores for different documentaries and jingles for advertisements and [[Television in India|Indian television]] channels. With his in-house studio [[Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios|Panchathan Record Inn]], Rahman's film-scoring career began during the early 1990s with the Tamil film ''[[Roja (film)|Roja]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramanujam |first1=Srinivasa |last2=Menon |first2=Vishal |title=Revisiting 'Roja', 25 years later |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/revisiting-roja-25-years-later/article19491084.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=14 August 2017}}</ref>  Following that, he went on to score several songs for [[Tamil cinema|Tamil language films]], including Ratnam's politically charged ''[[Bombay (film)|Bombay]]'', the urban ''[[Kadhalan]]'', ''[[Thiruda Thiruda]]'', and [[S. Shankar]]'s debut film ''[[Gentleman (1993 film)|Gentleman]]''. Rahman's score for his first [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] film, the comedy ''[[Couples Retreat]]'' (2009), won the [[Broadcast Music, Inc.|BMI]] Award for Best Score. His music for ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]'' (2008) earned him [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]] and [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] at the [[81st Academy Awards]]. He was also awarded [[Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media|Best Compilation Soundtrack Album]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media|Best Song Written for Visual Media]] at the [[2010 Grammy award|2010 Grammy Awards]]. He is nicknamed "Isai Puyal" (musical storm) and "Mozart of Madras".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,629407,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027041354/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,629407,00.html |archive-date=27 October 2011 |title=The Mozart of Madras |last=Corliss |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Corliss |date=25 April 2004 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |access-date=5 April 2011}}</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 |website=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>

Allah Rakha Rahman<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kabir |first=Nasreen Munni |title=Why I converted: The transformation of Dilip Kumar into AR Rahman |url=http://scroll.in/article/699665/why-i-converted-the-transformation-of-dilip-kumar-into-ar-rahman |access-date=17 July 2021 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref> was born as A. S. Dileep Kumar in [[Madras]], [[Tamil Nadu]], on 6 January 1967.<ref name=":1" /> His father, [[R. K. Shekhar]] from a Mudaliar<ref>{{Cite web |title=AR Rahman turns 47 |url=https://photogallery.indiatimes.com/celebs/music/ar-rahman-turns-47/articleshow/17900921.cms |access-date=5 August 2020 |website=photogallery.indiatimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kabir |first=Nasreen Munni |title=Why I converted: The transformation of Dilip Kumar into AR Rahman |url=http://scroll.in/article/699665/why-i-converted-the-transformation-of-dilip-kumar-into-ar-rahman |access-date=5 August 2020 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref> family, was a film-score composer and conductor for [[Tamil cinema|Tamil]] and [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam films]]. Rahman began studying piano at age four.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=A.R. Rahman {{!}} Biography, Scores, Awards, & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/A-R-Rahman |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}}</ref> He assisted his father in the studio, playing the keyboard.

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. 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 |website=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" /> During his early career, Rahman had assisted many music directors to play keyboard and synthesizer. One of the notable works includes a Malayalam film, [[Ramji Rao Speaking]] released in 1989 where Rahman and Sivamani programmed a song called "Kalikalam" for the music director S.Balakrishnan.  

In 2010, Rahman composed the original score and songs for the romantic ''[[Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (soundtrack)|Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa]]'', the sci-fi romance ''[[Enthiran (soundtrack)|Enthiran]]'' and [[Danny Boyle]]'s ''[[127 Hours: Music from the Motion Picture|127 Hours]]'', composing for the [[Imtiaz Ali (director)|Imtiaz Ali]] musical ''[[Rockstar (soundtrack)|Rockstar]]''; the latter's soundtrack was a critical and commercial success.<ref name="Rockstar's rocking on">{{cite news |title=Rockstar's rocking on |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-09/news-interviews/30258301_1_rockstar-imtiaz-ali-ranbir-kapoor |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708223445/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-09/news-interviews/30258301_1_rockstar-imtiaz-ali-ranbir-kapoor |archive-date=8 July 2013 |access-date=9 October 2011 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=9 November 2011}}</ref> In 2012 Rahman composed for ''[[Ekk Deewana Tha (soundtrack)|Ekk Deewana Tha]]'' and the American drama ''[[People Like Us (2012 film)|People Like Us]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/people-like-us-soundtrack-features-a-score-by-a-r-rahman-a-liz-phair-song-20120514 |title='People Like Us' Soundtrack Features A New Liz Phair Song Penned for the Film + Poster & New Photo |work=[[indieWIRE]] |date=14 May 2012 |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518003511/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/people-like-us-soundtrack-features-a-score-by-a-r-rahman-a-liz-phair-song-20120514 |archive-date=18 May 2012 }}</ref> and collaborated with director [[Yash Chopra]] on ''[[Jab Tak Hai Jaan (soundtrack)|Jab Tak Hai Jaan]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-17/news-and-interviews/29551943_1_yash-chopra-yashji-music |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403185321/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-17/news-and-interviews/29551943_1_yash-chopra-yashji-music |archive-date=3 April 2012 |title=Yash Chopra signs Rahman |work=[[The Times of India]] |author=Kunal M Shah |date=17 May 2011 |access-date=11 October 2012}}</ref> all were positively received.<ref>{{cite web |author=Joginder Tuteja |title=Jab Tak Hai Jaan Music Review |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/musiccriticreview/id/548942 |access-date=10 October 2012 |website=Bollywood Hungama}}</ref> By the end of the year his music for Mani Ratnam's ''[[Kadal (soundtrack)|Kadal]]'' topped the [[iTunes]] India chart for December.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} In 2013, Rahman had two releases: ''[[Raanjhanaa (soundtrack)|Raanjhanaa]]'' and ''[[Maryan (soundtrack)|Maryan]]''. Both were successful, with the former nominated for a number of awards<ref name="59th Idea Filmfare Awards Nominations">{{cite web |title=59th Idea Filmfare Awards Nominations |date=14 January 2014 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/news/59th-idea-filmfare-awards-nominations-5138.html}}</ref><ref name="GIMA">{{cite web |title=FILM MUSIC NOMINEES |date=18 January 2014 |url=http://www.gima.co.in/2014_film_nominees.php  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208053318/http://gima.co.in/2014_film_nominees.php |archive-date=8 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="bas">{{cite web |title=Screen Awards 2014: The complete list of nominees |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/20th-annual-screen-awards-2014-the-complete-list-of-nominees/444093-8-66.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108104623/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/20th-annual-screen-awards-2014-the-complete-list-of-nominees/444093-8-66.html |archive-date=8 January 2014 |publisher=CNN-IBN |date=8 January 2014 |access-date=8 January 2014}}</ref> and the latter the [[iTunes]] India Tamil Album of 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maryan Tops iTunes List for 2013 |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Maryan-Tops-iTunes-List-for-2013/2013/12/23/article1959723.ece |work=The New Indian Express |access-date=12 March 2014}}</ref>

The year 2014 was one of the busiest years for Rahman, with him claiming to have worked in 12 films in various languages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/music/2014-has-been-a-busy-year-for-me-AR-Rahman/articleshow/45689576.cms |title=2014 has been a busy year for me: AR Rahman |work=The Times of India |date=31 December 2014}}</ref> While his first release for the year was the [[Imtiaz Ali (director)|Imtiaz Ali]]'s road movie ''[[Highway (2014 Hindi film)|Highway]]'' which garnered positive reviews, his very next release was the performance captured animation film ''[[Kochadaiiyaan]]'', a [[Rajinikanth]] starrer directed by [[Soundarya Rajinikanth]]. The film's soundtrack was [[long-listed]] at the forthcoming [[Academy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moviecrow.com/News/6713/ar-rahman-in-the-nomination-list-of-oscar-2014 |title='AR Rahman's Kochadaiyaan in the nomination list of OSCAR' |publisher=moviecrow |date=13 December 2014}}</ref> His next were the scores for the two back to back Hollywood films, ''[[Million Dollar Arm]]'' and ''[[The Hundred Foot Journey]]'', both of which got into the contended list for the original score category nomination at the Oscars.

Then he composed for the period drama ''[[Kaaviya Thalaivan (2014 film)|Kaaviya Thalaivan]]'' teaming up with director [[Vasanthabalan]] for the first time. His next release was [[S. Shankar|Shankar]]'s thriller ''[[I (2014 film)|I]]'' and [[K. S. Ravikumar]]'s period action film ''[[Lingaa]]''.

In Summer 2012 Rahman composed a [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] song for the [[2012 Summer Olympics|London Olympics]] [[2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony|opening ceremony]], directed by [[Danny Boyle]], part of a medley showcasing [[India–United Kingdom relations|Indian influence in the UK]]. Indian musician [[Ilaiyaraja]]'s song from the 1981 [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-language film ''[[Ram Lakshman]]'' was also chosen for the medley.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-30/news-and-interviews/32483335_1_london-olympics-olympics-opening-ceremony-punjabi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518124107/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-30/news-and-interviews/32483335_1_london-olympics-olympics-opening-ceremony-punjabi |archive-date=18 May 2013 |date=30 June 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=AR Rahman's Punjabi Track To Rock Olympics Inaugural}}</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 [[wiktionary:co-brother|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> to 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>

}}In 2019, Rahman performed a Sufi Benefit Concert at the annual New York gala of [[Pratham]], one of the largest non-governmental organisations in India, which focuses on the provision of quality education to India's underprivileged children. Rahman and his ensemble performed the full dinner concert on a pro-bono basis.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/oscar-winning-composer-a-r-rahman-to-perform-benefit-concert-at-pratham-s-new-york/article_273da1fc-d6a9-11e9-8219-5bb963b532d9.html |title=Oscar-winning Composer A.R. Rahman to Perform Benefit Concert at Pratham's New York Gala |last=Reporter |first=India-West Staff |website=India West |language=en |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref> Afterward, Rahmam wrote on Twitter that his "long time dream of performing #Sufimusic for human causes came true" and thanked attendees for their respect and generosity.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/arrahman/status/1173097800588038144 |title=Our long time dream of performing #Sufimusic for human causes came true with this wonderful opportunity with #Pratham at #NewYork #Cipriani..Thank you for being respectful and extremely generous with the cause today.pic.twitter.com/HFnFhVSbaW |last=A.R.Rahman |date=14 September 2019 |website=@arrahman |language=en |access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref>

|2019||''[[Bigil]]''||Tamil||rowspan=2|Himself||Cameo in "[[Singappenney]]" song<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 November 2018 |title=After Mersal, Vijay, Atlee, AR Rahman reunite for Thalapathy 63, target Diwali 2019 release |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/after-mersal-vijay-atlee-ar-rahman-reunite-for-thalapathy-63-target-diwali-2019-release-5550451.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 January 2022 |website=Firstpost |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218102254/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/after-mersal-vijay-atlee-ar-rahman-reunite-for-thalapathy-63-target-diwali-2019-release-5550451.html |archive-date=18 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=14 November 2018 |title=AGS Entertainment, Atlee, AR Rahman join together for Vijay's 'Thalapathy 63' |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/ags-entertainment-atlee-ar-rahman-join-together-vijay-s-thalapathy-63-91556 |access-date=16 January 2022 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref>

On 24 October 2014 Rahman was awarded an honorary doctorate from [[Berklee College of Music]] during a concert paying tribute to his music featuring an international cast of students. Upon receiving his award he commented that being honoured by Berklee illustrates how his life has come full circle, as at the start of his career, he had planned to study at Berklee before being offered the opportunity to score ''Roja''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hirsch |first1=Mark |title=With Berklee Honorary Degree, A.R. Rahman Comes Full Circle |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2014/10/25/with-berklee-honorary-degree-rahman-comes-full-circle/hjGu55LAXAv1GDpgyvMelI/story.html |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=29 October 2014}}</ref> During his 7 May 2012 acceptance speech of his honorary doctorate from [[Miami University]] in [[Ohio]], Rahman mentioned that he received a Christmas card from the family of the President of the United States and an invitation to dinner at the [[White House]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/hindi |title=Bollywood Cinema News – Bollywood Movie Reviews – Bollywood Movie Trailers – IndiaGlitz Bollywood |website=IndiaGlitz.com}}</ref> A street was named in his honour in Markham, Ontario, Canada in November 2013.<ref>{{cite web |title=Now a street named after AR Rahman in Canada |url=http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/now-a-street-named-after-ar-rahman-in-canada-1214455.html |work=6 November 2013 |date=6 November 2013 |publisher=Firstpost.com |access-date=27 November 2013}}</ref>

{{Commons category|A. R. Rahman}}

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