List of awards and nominations received by A. R. Rahman

A. R. Rahman is an Indian composer, singer and songwriter. Described by Time as one of the most popular composers, he has provided musical scores predominantly for Tamil and Hindi films apart from a few films in other regional film industries of India and international productions. Rahman started his career by composing musical scores for documentaries, advertisements and Television channels. He made his debut as a film composer through Roja after being approached by its director Mani Ratnam. The soundtrack became popular upon release, which led to him winning the National Film Award for Best Music Direction at the 40th National Film Awards, the first time for a debutant. As of 2018, Rahman has garnered 6 National Film Awards, 15 Filmfare Awards and 17 Filmfare Awards South, a record for an Indian composer.

Other Honorary Awards

 * 1994 – Sanskriti Award
 * Contributions to music awarded by the Sanskriti Foundation
 * 1995 – Bommai Nagi Reddy Award
 * 1995 – Mauritius National Award
 * Contributions to music awarded by Mauritius
 * 1995 – Malaysian Award
 * Contributions to music awarded by Malaysia
 * 1995 – Rajiv Gandhi Award
 * 1996 – 'Gana Kaladhar'
 * 2001 – Al-Ameen Education Society Community Award
 * 2002 – Amir Khusro Sangeet Nawaz Award
 * 2005 – Mahavir-Mahatma Award
 * 2006 – Honorary Award from Stanford University
 * 2006 – Sanatan Sangeet Puraskar
 * Contributions to music awarded by the Sanatan Sangeet Sanskriti
 * 2006 – Swaralaya Yesudas Award
 * Swaralaya-Kairali-Yesudas Award for outstanding performance in the music field
 * 2007 – Limca Book of Records Indian of the Year for Contribution to Popular Music
 * 2008 – CNN-IBN Global Indian of the Year
 * 2008 – NDTV Indian of the Year
 * 2008 – Rotary Club of Madras
 * Lifetime Achievement Award
 * 2009 – CNN-IBN Entertainer of the Year
 * 2009 – CNN-IBN Indian of the Year
 * 2009 – NDTV Global Indian Entertainer Award
 * 2009 – UK Asian Music Award for Outstanding Achievement
 * 2009 – Placed by Time magazine in List of World's Most Influential People.
 * 2010 – 10th Annual Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival
 * Special Achievement Award for Significant Contribution to the Globalization of Indian Music
 * 2010 – British Asian Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Music
 * 2010 – Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration
 * 2010 – FICCI Global Icon
 * 2010 – "Crystal Award"
 * Lifetime Achievement Award instituted by World Economic Forum
 * 2010 – Outstanding Achievement in Music at The Asian Awards
 * 2011 – GQ Legend of the Year Award
 * 2011 – Lifetime Achievement Award at the 8th Dubai International Film Festival
 * 2012 – Vuclip Icons of the Year 2012 – Most Admired Bollywood Music Composer
 * 2016 – Fukuoka Prize (Japan)
 * 2018 – Lifetime Achievement Award From KISS Foundation
 * 2019 – "Global Icon of Inspiration" (Behindwoods Gold Mic Music Awards)

Background Score
Playback Singer

Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards

 * 2011 – Best Music Director – Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa
 * 2016 – Best Music Director – O Kadhal Kanmani
 * 2017 – Best Music Director – Mersal and Kaatru Veliyidai
 * 2022 – Best Music Director – Ponniyin Selvan: I, Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu & Cobra
 * 2022 – Best Male Playback Singer – For the song "Marakkuma Nenjam" from Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu

BIG Star Entertainment Awards

 * 2011 – BIG Star Most Entertaining Song – "Saadda Haq" (Rockstar)

Bollywood Music Awards

 * 2000 – Best Music Direction – Taal
 * 2000 – Song of the Year – "Taal Se Taal Mila" (Taal)
 * 2002 – Best Music Director – Lagaan
 * 2003 – Best Music Director – Saathiya

CineGoers' Award

 * 1993 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Roja
 * 1994 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Gentleman
 * 1995 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Kadhalan
 * 1996 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Bombay

Cinema Express Awards

 * 1993 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Roja
 * 1994 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Gentleman
 * 1995 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Kadhalan
 * 1997 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Kadhal Desam
 * 1999 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Jeans
 * 2013 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Maryan

CineMAA Awards

 * 2011 – Best Music Director – Ye Maaya Chesave

CNN-IBN Song of the Year Award

 * 2006 – "Roobaroo" (Rang De Basanti)
 * 2007 – "Tere Bina" (Guru)
 * 2008 – "Kabhi Kabhi Aditi" (Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na)

Film Fans' Awards

 * 1993 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Roja
 * 1994 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Gentleman
 * 1995 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Kadhalan
 * 1996 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Bombay

==== Global Film & Music Festival Award ====
 * 2023 – Best Music Composer for Feature Film in Foreign Language – Iravin Nizhal

Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA)

 * 2007 – Best Music Director – Rang De Basanti
 * 2007 – Best Background Music – Rang De Basanti

Global Indian Music Academy Awards (GIMA)

 * 2012 – Best Music Director – Rockstar
 * 2012 – Best Background Score – Rockstar
 * 2012 – Best Album – Rockstar
 * 2015 – Best Album – Highway

IIFA Utsavam

 * 2017 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada

ITunes Music Awards

 * Rang De Basanti (2006) – ITunes Music Award for Best Indian Album
 * Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (2010) – iTunes Music Award for Best Tamil Album
 * Ye Maaya Chesave (2010) – iTunes Music Award for Best Telugu Album
 * Maryan (2013) – ITunes Music Award for Best Tamil Album
 * Rockstar (2011) – iTunes Music Award for Best Indian Album
 * O Kadhal Kanmani (2015) – ITunes Music Award for Best Indian Album
 * O Kadhal Kanmani (2015) – ITunes Music Award for Best Artist

==== Jaipur International Film Festival Award ====
 * 2023 – Best Music – Iravin Nizhal

Just Plain Folks Music Awards

 * 2009 – Just Plain Folks Music Award For Best Music Album – Varalaru

Kalasaagar Awards

 * 1993 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Roja
 * 1994 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Gentleman
 * 1995 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Kadhalan
 * 1996 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Bombay

MTV Awards

 * MTV Video Music Awards
 * 1999 – International Viewer's Choice Awards (MTV India) – "Dil Se Re" – Dil Se..
 * MTV Asia Awards
 * 2003 – MTV Asia Award for Favorite Artist India
 * MTV Immies
 * 2003 – Best Music Composer (Film Category) – "Saathiya" – Saathiya

Planet-Bollywood People's Choice Awards

 * 2006: People's Choice Best Music Award – Rang De Basanti
 * 2006: People's Choice Best Background Music Award – Rang De Basanti

Sangeet Awards

 * 2004 – Best Music Direction (Critics Award) – Yuva
 * 2004 – Best Music Arrangement (Critics Award) – "Yeh Rishta" – Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
 * 2005 – Best Music Direction (Critics Award) – Swades

Screen Videocon Awards / Star Screen Awards

 * 1998 – Best Non-Film Album – Vande Mataram (Non-Film category)
 * 2000 – Best Music Director – Taal
 * 2007 – Best Background Music – Rang De Basanti
 * 2008 – Best Music Director – Guru
 * 2008 – Best Background Music – Guru
 * 2009 – Best Music Director – Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na
 * 2009 – Best Background Music – Jodhaa Akbar
 * 2010 – Best Music Director – Delhi-6
 * 2012 – Best Music Directoe – Rockstar

Screen Videocon Awards South

 * 1997 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Kadhal Desam
 * 1998 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Minsara Kanavu

SuMu Music Awards

 * 1993: R. D. Burman Award for Best New Composer

Sunfeast Tamil Music Awards

 * 2008: Best Music Composer of the Year – Sivaji: The Boss

V. Shantaram Award

 * 2001 – Best Music Director – Taal
 * 2007 – Best Music Director – Guru
 * 2008 – Best Music Director – Jodhaa Akbar

Vijay Awards

 * 2007 – Best Music Director – Sivaji
 * 2008 – Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for Excellence in Indian Cinema
 * 2010 – Best Music Director – Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa
 * 2013 – Best Music Director – Kadal
 * 2017 – Best Music Director – Kaatru Veliyidai

Zee Cine Awards

 * 2000 – Best Music Director – Taal
 * 2002 – Best Music Director – Lagaan
 * 2003 – Best Music Director – Saathiya
 * 2007 – Best Music Director – Rang De Basanti
 * 2008 – Best Music Director – Guru
 * 2008 – Best Background Music – Guru
 * 2012 – Best Music Director – Rockstar

Zee Cine Awards Tamil

 * Zee Cine Award Tamil for Pride of Indian Cinema (2020)

BIG Star Entertainment Awards

 * 2011 – BIG Star Most Entertaining Music – Rockstar

MTV Awards

 * MTV India
 * 2006 – MTV Youth Icon of the Year

Screen Weekly Awards

 * 2002 – Best Music Director – Lagaan
 * 2002 – Best Background Score – Lagaan

CineMAA Awards

 * 2004 – Best Music Director – Nee Manasu Naaku Telusu

Zee Cine Awards

 * 2005 – Best Music Director – Swades
 * 2005 – Best Background Score – Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
 * 2011 – Best Background Score – Raavan

Longlisted
This section refers to awards where Rahman has been considered for a nomination but has not been nominated.

Academy Awards

 * 2007 – Best Original Song – "Lukka Chuppi" – Rang De Basanti
 * 2007 – Best Original Song – "Khalbali" – Rang De Basanti
 * 2007 – Best Original Song – "Aayo Re Sakhi" – Water
 * 2010 – Best Original Song – "Nana" – Couples Retreat
 * 2015 – Best Original Song – "Million Dollar Dream" – Million Dollar Arm
 * 2015 – Best Original Song – "Spreading The Word/Makhna" – Million Dollar Arm
 * 2015 – Best Original Song – "We Could Be Kings" – Million Dollar Arm
 * 2015 – Best Original Song – "Afreen" – The Hundred-Foot Journey
 * 2015 – Best Original Score – Kochadaiiyaan
 * 2015 – Best Original Score – The Hundred-Foot Journey
 * 2015 – Best Original Score – Million Dollar Arm
 * 2016 – Best Original Song – "Ginga" – Pelé: Birth of a Legend

Top lists
Rahman's songs and soundtracks have been included in the following top lists:


 * 2003 – In a BBC World Service, "Chaiyya Chaiyya" from Dil Se.. was voted 9th in "The World's Top Ten" songs of all time.
 * 2005 – Rahman's debut soundtrack for Roja was listed in TIME's "10 Best Soundtracks" of all time by film critic Richard Corliss.
 * 2007 – Rahman's soundtrack for Bombay was included in The Guardian's "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die" list.
 * 2009 – The song "Kehna Hi Kya" from Rahman's soundtrack for Bombay was included in The Guardian's "1000 Songs Everyone Must Hear" list.
 * 2009 – Rahman's soundtrack for Lagaan was ranked at No. 45 on Amazon's "The 100 Greatest World Music Albums of All Time" list.

Music Streaming Platform Records
This section refers the records and achievements of A.R.Rahman in Music Streaming Platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, YouTube, Gaana etc.


 * 2010 - Enthiran reached No. 1 in the iTunes Top 10 World Albums chart, making it the first Indian album to reach the spot.
 * 2014 – Kochadaiiyaan soundtrack became the first Tamil film music album to trend on Twitter and top the iTunes India charts
 * 2017 – Mersal soundtrack crossed 100 million streams within ten days, setting a streaming record for a Tamil album
 * 2019 – Bigil is the Top Tamil Album of 2019 on Gaana

Other achievements

 * Rahman has sold more than 100 million records of his film scores and soundtracks worldwide, making him one of the top-selling recording artists.
 * Rahman is consistently ranked among the highest-paid celebrities in India; he has been included in the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list eight consecutive times since 2012.
 * In 2009, Time magazine placed him in its list of World's Most Influential People.
 * His name has also been included in the list of the 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World, issued by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center in Amman, Jordan.
 * The album rights for Tamil film Kandukondain Kandukondain were bought by Sa Re Ga Ma for a then record sum of ₹ 22 million. The record was reset by Sivaji: The Boss in 2007, and later by Enthiran in 2010.
 * Rahman was honoured in 2013 with a street named after him in Markham, Ontario, Canada, called "Allah-Rakha Rahman Street".

Milestones

 * At the Academy Awards, Rahman is the first Asian to win two Oscars in the same year and be nominated twice in the same year and also the first Asian to receive multiple nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Score.