MUMBAI: The ‘Mozart of Madras’ turns 49 today. We look around moments and honours that celebrate Rahman’s music and his contribution to music, so far. Gifting the world with timeless medleys and some genre-defying compositions, educating the youth through inspiring tunes or starting a music school, Rahman has provided unparelleled
1. In 2009, Time announced AR Rahman in their list of “World’s Most Influential People”
2. Austin High School Concert Choir’s rendition of ‘Balleilakka Balleilakka’, the popular Rahman-composed track from the movie ‘Sivaji – The Boss’
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3. Roja soundtrack was named “Time’s 10 Best Soundtracks Of All Time” in 2005
4. The Berklee Indian Ensemble and Berklee World Strings performed one of the finest ‘Dil Se Re’ covers, last year.
5. Director of the movie ‘Australia’, Baz Luhrmann said, “I had come to the music of A. R. Rahman through the emotional and haunting score of Bombay and the wit and celebration of Lagaan. But the more of AR’s music I encountered the more I was to be amazed at the sheer diversity of styles: from swinging brass bands to triumphant anthems; from joyous pop to West-End musicals. Whatever the style, A. R. Rahman’s music always possesses a profound sense of humanity and spirit, qualities that inspire me the most”
6. Black Eyed Peas’ member Will.I.Am released his version of the famous Tamil composition ‘Urvasi Urvasi’ composed by Rahman, titled ‘It’s My Birthday’.
7. In 2000, Rahman won the fourth-highest civilian award from the Government of India- Padma Shri
8. Rahman has won 4 National Awards. The National Award for ‘Roja’ made him the first debutant composer to win the prestigious award.
9. In 2006, Stanford University honoured AR Rahman with an award for his contribution in global music.
10. Inside Man – Opening Track
11. In 2007, AR Rahman’s name was registered in the Limca Book Of Records as “Indian Of The Year for contribution to popular music.”
12. 2009 was a special year for Rahman. Rightly around a decade ago (after the release of ‘Taal’), Subhash Ghai said Rahman would win an Oscar one day, and the composer just laughed it off. Fast forward 10 years, and Rahman won BAFTA (Best Film Music), two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe (Best Original Score) for the movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire”
13. Nominated for Laurence Oliver Award for his West End productions
14. Doctorate from Middlesex University in 2012
15. Several reputed universities acknowledged Rahman’s contribution to the world of music, and gradually accepted his genius. Joining the list of Universities to award Rahman a ‘Doctorate’ was Berklee University.
16. Rahman was becoming a familiar face in the West now and the composer started receiving several offers from Hollywood movie-makers. Here’s Michael Bolton providing his vocals on Rahman’s composition ‘Sajna’
17. In 2010, Rahman was awarded Padma Bhushan- the third highest civilian award of the country.
18. Indian Cricket Team was on its way to win the first World Cup since 1983 and a billion pair of eyes were set on the screens as India was chasing down Sri Lanka’s target with 4 overs to go. The PA system inside Wankhede played, arguably, the most patriotic commercial song and the crowd sang along ‘Vande Mataram’ between the overs. Hence proving, Rahman’s music suits any mood, moment or ocassion and Rahman’s composition only made the matter more ‘patriotic’ and better.
19. In 2009, Time announced AR Rahman in their list of “World’s Most Influential People”
20. In 2015, Shillong Chamber Choir with Vienna Chamber Orchestra performed the track ‘Dil Hai Chota Sa’ from the 1992 Tamil romantic movie ‘Roja’
21. We all know musicians admire Rahman and so do the fans. But how much of a fan his wife is? “I’ve always told him, a composer is someone who composes soulful music. There are some of A.R.’s songs that have made me very emotional and I have cried. It is something that he creates from within.” – Saira Banu
22. The supergroup ‘SuperHeavy’ comprising of Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, AR Rahman and Damian Marley, recorded a self-titled album in 2011. However, the single titled ‘Satyameva Jayathe’, composed by Rahman and assited by Jagger, becomes another example of Rahman’s influence among equally talented and popular western musicians.
23. The veteran record producer Ron Flair’s short and honest statement on Rahman’s contribution – “Rahman is one of the world’s great living composers in any medium.”
24. Such is the legacy and global appeal of AR Rahman that the composer teamed up with ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ director for London Olympics’ theme song- a punjabi folk song.
25. This beautiful flawless cover of Rahman’s theme for the movie ‘Bombay’ performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
26. One of the most popular movies ever, Lord of the Rings, had Rahman compose the soundtrack. One of the tracks titled ‘Warriors In Peace’ proves Rahman’s versatility in any given space and his ability to create music that travels beyond boundaries
27. In 2009, Indian media network CNN-IBN felicitated AR Rahman with “Indian Of The Year”
28. Rahman’s original Tamil compositions ‘Yaaro Yaarodi’ and ‘Swasame’ featured in Uma Thurman starrer ‘Accidental Husband’
29. The theme song for 2010 Commonwealth Games
30. Many believe Rahman’s journey to the ‘One of the greatest Indian composers who ever lived’ could have been difficult or impossible, had it not been for Mani Ratnam. The opinion remains open for a debate considering Rahman’s talents that would have helped him gain the status of ‘God of Music’ anyway.
Ratnam : ”You ask him for anything and he gives you more than you expect.”
31. Rahman’s collaboration with M.I.A. may have been overshadowed with the success of track ‘Jai Ho’, but nothing takes the composition’s beauty away from it.
32. In 2010, AR Rahman was awarded for his Outstanding achievement in Music by British Asian Awards
33. Following that year, GQ honoured him with ‘Legend Of The Year’
34. Arranged and produced by Shirish Malhotra, the Masala Coffee’s ‘Khwaja Mere Khwaja’ is something you cannot afford to miss
35. A street in Markham, Ontario, Canada is named as ‘Allah Rakha Rahman’
36. Rahman performed in his first ever multi-bands music festival, late last year, at NH7 Weekenders. A popular festival among the independent musicians and fans, the performers celebrated the announcement of Rahman’s participation in the festival with a very cool video, performing on ‘Dhakka Laga Buka’
37. Check out Mumbai-based Paradigm Shift’s tribute to Rahman with their instrumental cover of ‘Roja’
38. Known for covering popular tracks by adding unique elements, Thaikkudam Bridge created a Rahman medley consisting of ‘Tum Ho’ and ‘In Lamhon Ke Daaman Mein’
39. And, Thank You Coke Studio for this
40. Currently, spreading like fire on the internet, this all-vocal enseble of Rahman’s famous medleys stands as a proof to the extent some Rahman lovers would go to express their gratitude for his music
