A.R. Rahman is one of the most celebrated and influential composers in the world — an artist whose music has bridged cultures, generations and continents.
Born Allah Rakha Rahman in Chennai in 1967, he revolutionised Indian film music with his debut score for Roja in 1992. His compositions blend Indian classical music with electronic, world music and orchestral elements to create a sound entirely his own.
He won two Academy Awards — for Best Original Score and Best Original Song — for Slumdog Millionaire in 2009, making him one of the most decorated Asian artists in the history of the Oscars. He has also won Grammy Awards, BAFTA Awards and numerous Indian national honours.
His scores for Bombay, Lagaan, Dil Se, Guru, Rang De Basanti, Jodhaa Akbar and countless other films are woven into the cultural fabric of India. He is universally known as the Mozart of Madras.