Personal details
- Birth Date: 1967-01-06
- Height: 5′ 5″ (1.65 m)
- Birth Location: Madras, Madras State, India
- Children: (separated, 3 children) Khatija Rahman
- Parents: R. K. Shekhar
- Professions: Music Artist, Composer, Music Department
A.R. Rahman isn’t just a composer—he’s basically a phenomenon. The guy’s bagged two Oscars, been nominated five times, and honestly, he’s the reason a whole generation thinks of Indian music as cool, not just traditional. BBC reckons he’s sold over 150 million records, with hits in a bunch of languages. You know those iconic soundtracks—“Roja,” “Bombay,” “Dil Se,” “Lagaan,” “Slumdog Millionaire”—all him. The man started young, hustling as an assistant, then doing jingles, and even grabbed a western classical degree from Trinity College in London. He set up his own studio, Panchathan, back in Chennai. Mani Ratnam handed him his big break with “Roja,” and Rahman just went off—scored a National Award right out of the gate, and that was just the beginning. He’s racked up more National Awards than any other composer. He dropped “Vande Mataram” for Sony on India’s 50th Independence, and it straight-up became an anthem. Then, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber (yeah, that dude) roped him in for “Bombay Dreams” in London’s West End. After that, he even worked on the stage version of “The Lord of the Rings.” His “Slumdog Millionaire” score blew up worldwide, snagging him Grammys, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA, on top of those Oscars. Beyond all that, he’s worked with legends like Mick Jagger and Hans Zimmer, and his tracks have been performed by major orchestras. On top of being a musical genius, he set up a foundation for underprivileged kids—because why not?
referencennBack in August ‘97, A.R. Rahman dropped his iconic album “Vande Mataram” on Columbia/SME Records, marking 50 years since India snatched its independence. The whole thing’s basically a love letter to the country—it’s got tracks dedicated to each color of the Indian flag. Global release, too. I mean, we’re talking 28 countries at once. And the launch? Rahman pulled off a live performance in New Delhi with the Prime Minister sitting right there in the crowd. No pressure, right? The album went totally wild in India. Over 1.2 million copies sold, which is just bonkers for that time. It basically set the tone for how music could celebrate national pride without being corny. Rahman’s sound was fresh, emotional, super catchy, and honestly, the album still gives people goosebumps decades later.
referencennThere’s this wild energy pulsing through the film, honestly, and you can tell it wasn’t just by accident. The director? Not your typical rule-follower—he’d mess with the shooting schedule and drive producers up the wall. But, man, did it work. The story winds through chaos and creativity, following a cast of characters scrambling to make sense of their own messy lives. There’s a certain rawness to everything, like the tension behind the scenes just leaks right onto the screen. You get these moments where everything feels out of control, but that’s kind of the point—it’s all about risking comfort for something real. The movie doesn’t just play it safe, either. It’s packed with sharp dialogue, awkward encounters, and little bursts of humor when you least expect it. Underneath all the drama, there’s this message: sometimes, breaking the rules is the only way to make something truly memorable.
January 6, 1967
5′ 5″ (1.65 m)
Konidela Ram Charan
Madras, Madras State, India
Yes, Khatija Rahman
R. K. Shekhar and Surekha
58 years old