Tomorrow's World Music Icons - A R Rahman

Allahrakka Rahman popularly known as A R Rahman is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician, multi-instrumentalist and philanthropist. Rahman is renowned for redefining the in vogue style of music by reconciling various electronic music media and sounds thus leading to a voguish style in most of his compositions. 

Rahman was passionate about music since a very young age and after assisting some leading musicians in India went on to compose jingles and scores for popular Indian television features. His father was a music composer of Tamil and Malayalam movies. Rahman after losing his father at the age of 9 faced numerous hardships and hindrances he obtained a degree in western classical music from the Trinity College of Music, London and later set up his own in-house studio, Panchathan Record-Inn at Chennai which now is one of the leading and sophisticated studios’ in India.

His conspicuous career started sprouting since the early 90s with remarkable music in Roja and Bombay movies. His unbroken and unfaltered compositions in various Indian films and international cinema, Rahman is now one of the world's all-time top selling recording artists. In his momentous spanning career of 22 years Rahman amassed particular honour for redefining contemporary Indian film music and thus contributing to the success of several films. Through his majestic regal works in this field he is currently the highest paid musician cum composer in Indian Film Industry.

Apart from his glorious domestic (Indian) works Rahman gained global prominence and esteemed applause for ‘slumdog millionaire’ who won 2 academy awards for himself for best score and song. Rahman won numerous awards pertaining to his composition, score and songs - two Academy Award, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, four National Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards and thirteen Filmfare Awards South in addition to numerous other awards and nominations. In 2009, Time placed Rahman in its list of World's Most Influential People.

Rahman has been and is an inspiration for every young new talent in the field of music. With so much of stardom and attention after the Golden Globe and OSCARS, Rahman could have got carried away with the success; however he always chose work over publicity. Such great personalities are and will be honoured for making a remarkable history and have been a boon for India.