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A.R. Rahman

Birth Name:
A.S. Dileep Kumar
Birth Place:
Madras, India
Profession
Composer, Music department, Producer, Actor, Writer
A.R. Rahman

Fast Facts

  • In 2008, he was the first Asian to win a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards, both for the score of the award-winning film, "Slumdog Millionaire," and received high praise from Indian and international audiences
  • As a young child he would assist his father, Indian film music composer R․ K․ Shekhar, during recordings and on occasions play the piano for the songs
  • Quote: "I'm a deeply spiritual person․ Sufism is about love - love for a fellow human, love humanity, and ultimately love for God․ For me, it's where music and religion meet - at dargahs, you will find qawwalis․ That's my inspiration․"
  • He started the Panchathan Record Inn in 1989, which would later go on to become one of the most advanced recording studios in India
  • Was presented with a scholarship at the Trinity College of Music at Oxford University, where studied Western classical music and received a degree in music
  • In 1997, he produced an album, "Vande Mataram," which was released on India’s 50th anniversary of independence and has become one of the largest selling non-film albums in India
  • Two of his three children are featured singing in tracks from the films "Couples Retreat," and "Enthiran․"

Awards

  • 1992Creative Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 1993Cinema Express Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 1993Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 1993Silver Lotus Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 1993Creative Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 1994Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 1996Filmfare Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 1996Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 1996Creative Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 1997Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 1997Silver Lotus Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 1998Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 1999Filmfare Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 1999Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 1999Creative Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2000Popular Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2000Filmfare Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2000Screen Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2000Popular Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2001Popular Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2001Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2002Popular Award - Best Music Direction:Winner
  • 2002Popular Award - Best Music Direction:Nominated
  • 2002Filmfare Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2002Silver Lotus Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2002Screen Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2002Technical Award - Best Background Score:Nominated
  • 2002World Soundtrack Award - Discovery of the Year:Nominated
  • 2002Popular Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2003Award for Technical Excellence - Best Background Score:Winner
  • 2003Popular Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2003Filmfare Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2003Technical Award - Best Background Score:Winner
  • 2003Silver Lotus Award - Best Music Direction:Winner
  • 2003Technical Award - Best Background Score:Winner
  • 2003Popular Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2004Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2005Filmfare Award - Best Background Score:Winner
  • 2005Filmfare Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2005Popular Award - Best Playback Singer (Male):Nominated
  • 2006Global Indian Film Award - Best Music:Winner
  • 2006Technical Award - Best Background Score:Winner
  • 2007Popular Award - Best Playback Singer - Male:Nominated
  • 2007Award for Technical Excellence - Best Song Recording:Winner
  • 2007Award for Technical Excellence - Best Background Score:Winner
  • 2007Popular Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2007Filmfare Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2007Technical Award - Best Background Score:Nominated
  • 2007Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2007Technical Award - Best Background Score:Winner
  • 2007Popular Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2007Popular Award - Best Track of the Year:Nominated
  • 2008Apsara Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2008ACCA - Best Original Score:Winner
  • 2008Popular Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2008CFCA Award - Best Original Score:Nominated
  • 2008Filmfare Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2008Filmfare Award - Best Playback Singer - Male:Nominated
  • 2008Technical Award - Best Background Score:Winner
  • 2008Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2008Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2008HFCS Award - Best Original Score:Nominated
  • 2008HFCS Award - Best Original Song:Nominated
  • 2008LAFCA Award - Best Music:Winner
  • 2008NYFCO Award - Best Use of Music:Winner
  • 2008SDFCS Award - Best Score:Winner
  • 2008Satellite Award - Best Original Score:Winner
  • 2008Satellite Award - Best Original Song:Nominated
  • 2008Screen Award - Best Music:Winner
  • 2008Popular Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2008Technical Award - Best Background Score:Winner
  • 2009Oscar - Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score:Winner
  • 2009Oscar - Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song:Winner
  • 2009Oscar - Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song:Nominated
  • 2009Popular Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2009Apsara Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2009Apsara Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2009Asian Film Award - Best Composer:Nominated
  • 2009Popular Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2009Popular Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2009Anthony Asquith Award for Film MusicWinner
  • 2009BMI Film Music AwardWinner
  • 2009COFCA Award - Best Score:Nominated
  • 2009Critics Choice Award - Best Song:Nominated
  • 2009Critics Choice Award - Best Composer:Winner
  • 2009Filmfare Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2009Filmfare Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2009Technical Award - Best Background Score:Winner
  • 2009Filmfare Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2009Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2009Gold Derby Film Award - Original Score:Winner
  • 2009Gold Derby Film Award - Original Song:Nominated
  • 2009Golden Globe - Best Original Score - Motion Picture:Winner
  • 2009IFMCA Award - Best Original Score for a Comedy Film:Nominated
  • 2009INOCA - Best Original Score:Nominated
  • 2009IOFCP Award - Best Original Score:Nominated
  • 2009MTV Movie Award - Best Song from a Movie:Nominated
  • 2009Listeners' Choice Award - Song of the Year:Winner
  • 2009Critics' Award - Album of the Year:Winner
  • 2009Listeners' Choice Award - Album of the Year:Winner
  • 2009Critics' Award - Music Composer of the Year:Winner
  • 2009Critics' Award - Best Song of the Year:Winner
  • 2009Technical Award - Best Background Score:Winner
  • 2009OFTA Film Award - Best Music, Original Song:Nominated
  • 2009OFTA Film Award - Best Music, Original Score:Nominated
  • 2009OFCS Award - Best Original Score:Nominated
  • 2009Screen Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2009Screen Award - Best Background Music:Winner
  • 2009Screen Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2009Jury Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2009World Soundtrack Award - Best Original Song Written for a Film:Winner
  • 2009World Soundtrack Award - Best Original Soundtrack of the Year:Nominated
  • 2009World Soundtrack Award - Best Original Song Written for a Film:Nominated
  • 2010Popular Award - Best Music:Nominated
  • 2010Popular Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2010BMI Film Music Award - Film Music:Winner
  • 2010Surfers' Choice Award - Best Soundtrack:Nominated
  • 2010Surfers' Choice Award - Best Song:Nominated
  • 2010Surfers' Choice Award - Best Playback Singer - Male:Nominated
  • 2010Filmfare Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2010Grammy - Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media:Winner
  • 2010HFCS Award - Best Original Song:Nominated
  • 2010HFCS Award - Best Original Score:Nominated
  • 2010Sierra Award - Best Song:Nominated
  • 2010Critics' Award - Album of the Year:Winner
  • 2010Critics' Award - Best Song of the Year:Winner
  • 2010Critics' Award - Best Music Composer of the Year:Winner
  • 2010SDFCS Award - Best Score:Nominated
  • 2010Satellite Award - Best Original Score:Nominated
  • 2010Satellite Award - Best Original Song:Nominated
  • 2010Screen Award - Best Music:Winner
  • 2010WAFCA Award - Best Score:Nominated
  • 2011Oscar - Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song:Nominated
  • 2011Oscar - Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score:Nominated
  • 2011EDA Award - Best Film Music or Score:Nominated
  • 2011Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2011Anthony Asquith Award for Film MusicNominated
  • 2011COFCA Award - Best Score:Nominated
  • 2011CineMAA Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2011Critics Choice Award - Best Song:Winner
  • 2011DFCS Award - Best Original Song:Winner
  • 2011Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2011Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2011Filmfare Award - Telugu Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2011Gold Derby Film Award - Original Song:Nominated
  • 2011Golden Globe - Best Original Score - Motion Picture:Nominated
  • 2011OFTA Film Award - Best Music, Original Song:Nominated
  • 2011Jury Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2011Favorite Award - Favorite Song:Nominated
  • 2011Favorite Award - Favorite Song:Nominated
  • 2011World Soundtrack Award - Best Original Song Written for a Film:Nominated
  • 2011Public Choice AwardWinner
  • 2012Asian Film Award - Best Composer:Nominated
  • 2012Asian Film Award - Best Composer:Nominated
  • 2012Award for Technical Excellence - Best Background Score:Winner
  • 2012Popular Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2012Filmfare Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2012Film Music Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2012Film Music Award - Best Film Album:Winner
  • 2012Film Music Award - Best Playback Singer - Male:Nominated
  • 2012Critics' Award - Album of the Year:Winner
  • 2012Critics' Award - Best Song of the Year:Nominated
  • 2012Critics' Award - Best Song of the Year:Nominated
  • 2012Critics' Award - Best Music Composer of the Year:Nominated
  • 2012Critics' Award - Best Music Composer of the Year:Winner
  • 2012Listeners' Choice Award - Song of the Year:Winner
  • 2012Listeners' Choice Award - Album of the Year:Winner
  • 2012Screen Award - Best Music:Winner
  • 2012Critics Choice Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2013Apsara Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2013Popular Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2013Popular Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2014Apsara Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2014Surfers' Choice Award - Best Soundtrack:Nominated
  • 2014Filmfare Award - Best Music:Nominated
  • 2014Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2014Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2014Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Male Playback Singer:Nominated
  • 2014Critics' Award - Album of the Year:Nominated
  • 2014Screen Award - Best Music:Nominated
  • 2014SIIMA - Tamil - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2014Creative Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2014Popular Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2015FOI Online Award - Best Music Direction:Nominated
  • 2015Technical Award - Best Background Score:Nominated
  • 2015Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2015Film Music Award - Best Film Album:Winner
  • 2015Screen Award - Best Music:Nominated
  • 2015SIIMA - Tamil - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2016Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2016Apsara Award - Best Music Direction:Nominated
  • 2016Filmfare Award - Best Music Direction:Nominated
  • 2016Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Male Playback Singer:Nominated
  • 2016Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2016Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2016Film Music Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2016Film Music Award - Best Film Album:Nominated
  • 2016Film Music Award - Best Film Song:Nominated
  • 2016Popular Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2016Jury Prize - Best Song of the Year:Nominated
  • 2016Listeners' Choice Award - Best Song of the Year:Winner
  • 2016SIIMA - Tamil - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2016Critics Choice Award - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2017Filmfare Award - Telugu Film Industry - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2017Tamil Cinema - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2017SIIMA - Tamil - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2017Public Choice AwardWinner
  • 2018Ananda Vikatan Cinema Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2018FOI Online Award - Best Background Score:Nominated
  • 2018Technical Award - Best Background Score:Nominated
  • 2018Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2018Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Playback Singer - Male:Nominated
  • 2018Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2018Silver Lotus Award - Best Music Direction - Background Score:Winner
  • 2018Silver Lotus Award - Best Music Direction - Songs:Winner
  • 2018SIIMA - Tamil - Best Playback Singer - Male:Nominated
  • 2018SIIMA - Tamil - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2019Asian Film Award - Best Composer:Nominated
  • 2019Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2019SIIMA - Tamil - Best Male Playback Singer:Nominated
  • 2019SIIMA - Tamil - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2020FOI Online Award - Best Original Song:Winner
  • 2020FOI Online Award - Best Music Direction - Soundtrack:Nominated
  • 2020SIIMA - Tamil - Best Playback Singer - Male:Nominated
  • 2020SIIMA - Tamil - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2021FOI Online Award - Best Music Direction - Songs:Nominated
  • 2021FOI Online Award - Best Music Direction - Songs:Winner
  • 2021FOI Online Award - Best Original Song:Nominated
  • 2021FOI Online Award - Best Music Direction - Score:Nominated
  • 2021FOI Online Award - Best Music Direction - Songs:Nominated
  • 2021Technical Award - Best Background Score:Nominated
  • 2021Filmfare Award - Best Music Album:Nominated
  • 2021Listeners' Choice Award - Best Song of The Decade:Winner
  • 2021Jury Prize - Best Music Composer of the Decade:Nominated
  • 2021Jury Prize - Album Of The Decade:Winner
  • 2022IIFA Award - Best Music Direction:Winner
  • 2022IIFA Award - Best Music Direction:Nominated
  • 2022Technical Award - Best Background Score:Winner
  • 2022Filmfare Award - Best Music Album:Nominated
  • 2022Filmfare Award - Best Music Album:Nominated
  • 2022Technical Award - Best Background Score:Nominated
  • 2022Critics' Award - Music Composer of the Year:Nominated
  • 2022Listeners' Choice Award - Album of the Year:Winner
  • 2022Critics' Award - Music Composer of the Year:Nominated
  • 2022Critics' Award - Album of the Year:Nominated
  • 2022Critics' Award - Album of the Year:Nominated
  • 2022Critics' Award - Music Composer of the Year:Nominated
  • 2022Listeners' Choice Award - Film Song of the Year:Winner
  • 2022Listeners' Choice Award - Album of the Year:Nominated
  • 2022Critics' Award - Film Song of the Year:Nominated
  • 2022Creative Award - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2023Asian Film Award - Best Original Music:Nominated
  • 2023Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Playback Singer - Male:Nominated
  • 2023Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Album:Nominated
  • 2023Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Album:Winner
  • 2023SIIMA - Tamil - Best Playback Singer - Male:Nominated
  • 2023SIIMA - Tamil - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2024FOI Online Award - Best Music Direction - Songs:Winner
  • 2024FOI Online Award - Best Music Direction - Score:Nominated
  • 2024FOI Online Award - Best Original Song:Winner
  • 2024FOI Online Award - Best Original Song:Nominated
  • 2024Technical Award - Best Music Album:Winner
  • 2024HMMA Award - Best Original Song - Feature Film:Nominated
  • 2024HMMA Award - Best Original Score - Independent Film (Foreign Language):Winner
  • 2024Tamil Cinema - Best Music Director:Winner
  • 2024Silver Lotus Award - Best Music Direction - Background Score:Winner
  • 2024SIIMA - Tamil - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2025IIFA Digital Award - Best Title Track:Nominated
  • 2025IIFA Award - Best Music Direction:Nominated
  • 2025Filmfare Award - Best Music Album:Nominated
  • 2025Technical Award - Best Background Score:Nominated
  • 2025Filmfare Award - Tamil Film Industry - Best Music Album:Nominated
  • 2025SIIMA - Malayalam - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2025SIIMA - Tamil - Best Music Director:Nominated
  • 2026Technical Award - Best Background Score:Nominated
  • 2026SIIMA - Tamil - Best Music Director:Nominated
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