Today we find everyone and anyone saying mobile phone is just like a toy. Was it the case in the past, say 20 years ago? The value of being first could be cherished when we live on the day of achieving the feat for the fist time by any known soul for whom you were praying.
Today is one such day.
Born in a family that made a living by renting out the musical instruments, this prodigy showed the signs of the genetics of his father who was a composer. Age 11 in his life brought a remarkable turning point. One of the troupes that was renting his father’s musical instruments was that of Ilaiyaraaja’s, the uncrowned king of Music in India. Rahman could find an opportunity to get a slot as keyboard player in that troupe. There was no return from then on. Helped by his close friends, he founded a rock group “Nemesis Avenue” and savoured all the instruments be it Piano, Synthesizer, Harmonium, or Guitar.
He graduated with a degree in Western classical music from Trinity College of Music, London.
With his diversity of style, frequent International stints and constant hits, he soon became a noted figure in music world to such an extent that the TIME Magazine fondly addressed him as “Mozart of Madras” and his homeland fondly referred him as “music hurricane”. What else you want one to be called whose crafty wok has sold more than two hundred million cassettes. The impeccable track record has also found him in the list of world’s Top ten all time music selling artist.
Mauritius National Award for his contribution to music was the fist international award to adore his showcase followed by the Malaysian Award same year. Once nominated for Laurence Oliver Award, he was given an honorary award by Stanford University for contribution to global music. Most recently he bagged the Critics Choice Award for Best Composer and then came the climax today as he became the first ever Indian to bag the Golden Golbe Award for Best Original Score in Slumdog Millonaire. While this is the account of his international achievements, the national ones need more pages to list. The top one being Padma Shri by Government of India.
Born on 6th January 1966 in Chennai, India, as A.S.Dileep Kumar and later on embracing Islam and rechristened as Allah Rakkha Rahman , this master of music, is happily married to Saira Bano and is blessed with three children.
Bollywood Frames wishes this achiever and an icon of India all the very best for his future endeavours and a positive success in Oscars.