Quick Info
| Profession | Music composer, singer, songwriter and record producer |
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| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 06/01/1967 |
| Age | 59 years |
| Birthplace | Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
Latest News about A.R. Rahman
A new track called Mangal Rang, composed by A.R. Rahman and sung by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal, was unveiled for Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana. The song drew criticism on social media, and Rahman responded that the team focuses on its creative work rather than on feedback.
A.R. Rahman described his collaboration with Hans Zimmer on Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana as an epic partnership. He also spoke about the experience of working on the film.
The song Kya Kamaal Hai, the first track from Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga, was released with Rahman composing and Diljit Dosanjh performing. It marked the reunion of Rahman, Dosanjh and Imtiaz Ali after Amar Singh Chamkila.
Rahman publicly responded to a controversy over remarks about communal bias in the Hindi film industry, saying he never intended to hurt sentiments. The row drew reactions from several film figures.
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Bio/Wiki
| Full Name | Allah Rakha Rahman |
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| Other Names |
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| Known As | Mozart of Madras |
| Summary | Indian composer and musician known for combining Indian classical music with electronic, world and orchestral styles. He composed Roja (1992), his film debut, and his score for Slumdog Millionaire (2008) brought him wide international recognition. He is also a singer and songwriter, and remains one of the most active film composers in India in 2026. |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Music | Diploma in Western classical music from Trinity College, London |
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Personal Life
| Religion | Islam; adopted the name Allah Rakha Rahman in 1989 after his family converted |
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| Instruments |
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| Philanthropy | Known as a humanitarian who has raised money for various causes and charities |
Relationships & More
| Spouse | Saira Banu (married 1995) |
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Family
| Father | R. K. Shekhar, film composer and conductor for Malayalam films |
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| Mother | Kareema |
| Spouse | Saira Banu |
| Children |
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| Sister | A. Reihana |
| Nephew | G. V. Prakash Kumar, composer |
Career
| Debut | Roja (1992), directed by Mani Ratnam; won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction |
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| Early Work | Composed jingles for advertisements and television, including the Titan watches jingle |
| Notable Films |
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| Awards | Two Academy Awards for Slumdog Millionaire; Hollywood Music in Media Awards and Hollywood Independent Music Awards in 2024 for The Goat Life |
| Honours | Named Honorary President of Trinity Laban in 2024 |
| Upcoming Work | Composer for Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, with Hans Zimmer as a collaborator |
Style Quotient
| Musical Style | Blends Indian classical, Sufi devotional, electronic and world music |
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Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Lost his father at age nine and supported his family by playing piano professionally and renting out his father's instruments | |
| 2. Once aspired to be a computer engineer | |
| 3. Can play the keyboard with both hands simultaneously | |
| 4. Left formal education to pursue music full-time | |
| 5. Nicknamed the Mozart of Madras |
Social Media