Wikipedia:VideoWiki/A. R. Rahman

Introduction
A R Rahman (born as A S Dileep Kumar), is an Indian music director, singer and music producer. His works are noted for integrating Indian classical music with electronic music, world music and traditional orchestral arrangements.

Notable awards
Among his awards are six National Film Awards, two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and fifteen Filmfare Awards.



Career
Rahman initially composed scores for different documentaries and jingles for advertisements and Indian television channels.

Film career
Rahman's film career began in 1992 when he started Panchathan Record Inn, a recording and mixing studio in his backyard. It would become the most-advanced recording studio in India, and arguably one of Asia's most sophisticated and high-tech studios.

Silver Award
In 1993 Rahman received the Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus) award for best music director at the National Film Awards for the movie Roja. Rahman followed this with successful scores and songs for Tamil–language films, including Bombay, Kadhalan, Thiruda Thiruda and S. Shankar's debut film Gentleman.





Sale of Bombay's soundtrack
The soundtrack for Bombay sold 15 million copies worldwide,



2000s
During the 2000s, Rahman composed scores and popular songs for movies such as Kandukondain Kandukondain, Alaipayuthey, Swades, and Rang De Basanti, and songs with Hindustani motifs for 2005's Water.



Expansion of studio
In 2005 Rahman expanded his Panchathan Record Inn studio by establishing AM Studios in Kodambakkam Chennai, creating the most cutting-edge studio in Asia. The following year he launched his own music label, KM Music.

Chinese music
Rahman scored the Mandarin-language film Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003 after researching and using Chinese and Japanese classical music,



Asian Film Award
He co-scored Shekhar Kapur's second British film, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, in 2007 and received a Best Composer Asian Film Award nomination at the Hong Kong International Film Festival for his Jodhaa Akbar score.





Slumdog Millionaire
Rahman's music for 2008's Slumdog Millionaire won a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards (a first for an Asian), and the songs "Jai Ho" and "O Saya" from its soundtrack were internationally successful.

2010
In 2010 Rahman composed the original score and songs for the romantic Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, the sci-fi romance Enthiran and Imtiaz Ali musical Rockstar; the latter's soundtrack was a critical and commercial success.





2014
The year 2014 was one of the busiest years for Rahman, with him claiming to have worked in 12 films in various languages.



Kochadaiiyaan
He scored for Kochadaiiyaan, a Rajinikanth starrer. The film's score and soundtrack garnered huge critical appraise with its score being long-listed at the forthcoming Academy Awards.



Non-film career
Rahman has also been involved in non-film projects. Vande Mataram, an album of original compositions released for India's 50th anniversary of its independence in 1997, is one of India's bestselling non-film albums.

World tours
Since 2004 Rahman has performed three successful world tours before audiences in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and India.



London Olympics
In Summer 2012 Rahman composed a Punjabi song for the London Olympics opening ceremony, directed by Danny Boyle, part of a medley showcasing Indian influence in the UK.

99 songs
A.R. Rahman debuted as written & producer for 99 Songs at Busan International Film Festival, on 9 October 2019, Rahman performed live to the music of 99 Songs, leaving the audience spellbound.



Personal life
Rahman is married to Saira Banu; they have three children: Khatija, Rahima and Ameen. A R Rahman is the co-brother of film actor Rahman.





Philanthropy
Rahman is involved with a number of charitable causes. In 2004 he was appointed as the global ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership, a WHO project.

KM Music Conservatory
In 2008 Rahman opened the KM Music Conservatory with an audio-media education facility to train aspiring musicians in vocals, instruments, music technology and sound design.

Free Hugs Campaign
In 2008 Rahman and noted percussionist Sivamani created a song, "Jiya Se Jiya", inspired by the Free Hugs Campaign and promoted it with a video filmed in a number of Indian cities for a cause.





Awards
Apart from film awards such as the Golden Globe and Academy awards, Rahman also received several awards for his contributions to the field of music. In 2006, he received an award from Stanford University for his contributions to global music.

Limca Book of Records
The following year, Rahman entered the Limca Book of Records as "Indian of the Year for Contribution to Popular Music". He received the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rotary Club of Madras.

Honorary doctorates
He has received honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music, Middlesex University, Aligarh Muslim University, Anna University in Chennai and Miami University in Ohio.







Trinity College
Rahman is an Honorary Fellow of the Trinity College of Music.



Padma awards
He received a Padma Shri 2000, and Padma Bhushan in 2010, from the Government of India.