Famous music composer A. R. Rahman turns 43

India’s renowned singer-music composer AR Rahman turned 43 on January 6, 2009.

Rahman, who has also been honored by the title ’Mozart of Madras’, was born as A. S. Dileep Kumar on January 6, 1966 in Chennai.

His birth name A. S. Dileep Kumar was turned to Allah Rakkha Rahman (AR Rahman) when his family in 1970 adopted Islamic religion.

Thise young land Rahman started his career in 1992, when he was approached by film director Mani Ratnam to compose the music for Ratnam’s Tamil flick Roja .

The movie also led Rahman to bag the Indian National Award for the Best Music Composer, the first time ever by a debutant.

In At the age of 29, Rahman hooked up with beautiful, demure Kutchi Kutchi-speaking Saira Banu in the year 1995.

This music maestro came into the limlight by giving a enthralling music in some other Tamils flicks named Gentleman, Thiruda Thiruda, Kaadhalan, Bombay and Minssara Kannavu, Alaipayuthey, Kandukondein Kandukondein, Jeans, Mudalvan, Kannathil Muthamittal & Boys.

He stepped into Hindi movies with a big bang with Rangeela followed by Dil Se, Taal, 1947 Earth, Pukar, Lagaan , Zubeida, Meenaxi, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Yuva, Tehzeeb, Swades, Bose: The Forgotten Hero, Water and Rang De Basanti all of which were huge chartbusters and well received by audience.

In 1997, to memorialise 50 years of Indian Independence, Rahman composed a patriotic album named ’Vande Mataram’, which not only made Indian youth relate to the song with a new energy but also break collection records.

Rahman also enthralled the world with his compositions for overseas productions. He composes music for Bombay Dreams in association with Andrew Lloyd Webber in
2001, which won Rahman immense worldwide fame. He also composed for the stage adaptation of J R R Tolkien’s Lord Of The Rings that premiered in Canada in 2006 and in London in 2007.

Recently, A. R. Rahman has received Satellite Award for Best Original Score for his music in British director Danny Boyle’s flick “Slumdog Millionaire’.

The music wizard has many flicks up his sleeve and they include ’Asokavanam’ (Tamil), ’Puli’ (Telugu), ’Sultan: the warrior’ and ’Endhiran’ (Tamil).