A. R. Rahman

Allah Rakha Rahman{{Cite web |last=Kabir |first=Nasreen Munni |title=Why I converted: The transformation of Dilip Kumar into AR Rahman |url=http://scroll.in/article/699665/why-i-converted-the-transformation-of-dilip-kumar-into-ar-rahman |access-date=17 July 2021 |website=Scroll.in |date=16 January 2015 |language=en-US}} was born as Dileep Kumar Rajagopala in Madras, Tamil Nadu, on 6 January 1967. His father, R. K. Shekhar from a Vellalar{{cite book | author = Kamini Mathai | title = A. R. Rahman: The Musical Storm | year = 2009 | publisher = Penguin Books Limited | isbn = 9788184758238 | format = ebook | language = English | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=gfCTmjEAChIC&q=vellalar }}{{Cite web |last=Kabir |first=Nasreen Munni |title=Why I converted: The transformation of Dilip Kumar into AR Rahman |url=http://scroll.in/article/699665/why-i-converted-the-transformation-of-dilip-kumar-into-ar-rahman |access-date=5 August 2020 |website=Scroll.in |date=16 January 2015 |language=en-US}} family, was a film score composer and conductor for Tamil and Malayalam films. Rahman began studying piano at age four.{{Cite web |title=A.R. Rahman {{!}} Biography, Scores, Awards, & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/A-R-Rahman |access-date=7 January 2021 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}} He assisted his father in the studio, playing the keyboard.

After his father's death when Rahman was nine years old, the rental of his father's musical equipment provided his family's income.{{cite web |title=Rahman's childhood |url=http://www.hindilyrics.net/profiles/a-r-rahman.html |publisher=hindilyrics.net |access-date=19 April 2011 |archive-date=2 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902225131/http://www.hindilyrics.net/profiles/a-r-rahman.html |url-status=dead }} Raised by his mother, Kareema (born Kashturi),{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/a-r-rahman-in-tune-with-life/articleshow/23791015.cms |title=A R Rahman: In tune with life |work=The Times of India |date=30 September 2002 |access-date=5 April 2011}} Rahman, who was studying in Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan had to work to support his family, which led to him to routinely miss classes and fail exams. In an interview in 2012, Rahman said that his mother was summoned and was told to take him to the streets of Kodambakkam to beg and not to send him to the school any more.{{Cite web |title=மாணவிகளுக்கு பாலியல் தொல்லை: சர்சைக்குள்ளான தனியார் பள்ளி ஏ.ஆர்.ரஹ்மானை அவமதித்ததா? |url=https://tamil.indianexpress.com/entertainment/private-school-abused-ar-rahman-really-what-happens-307424/ |access-date=2 November 2021 |website=Indian Express Tamil |date=26 May 2021 |language=ta}}{{Cite web |last=ச,வி.ஶ்ரீனிவாசுலு |first=அழகுசுப்பையா |title=மாணவர் இறப்பு முதல் பாலியல் புகார் வரை - பத்ம சேஷாத்திரி பள்ளி மீதான தொடர் சர்ச்சைகள்! |url=https://www.vikatan.com/government-and-politics/politics/list-of-issues-on-psbb-school |access-date=2 November 2021 |website=vikatan.com/ |date=27 May 2021 |language=ta}}

Rahman attended another school called MCN for a year,{{cite book |author=Krishna Trilok |title=Notes of a Dream: The Authorized Biography of A.R. Rahman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=na5qDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT67 |year=2018 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5305-196-9 |pages=67–68}} and later joined the Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School, where he was admitted for his musical talent and formed a band with his high school classmates.{{cite book |author=Kamini Mathai |title=A.R. Rahman: The Musical Storm |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gfCTmjEAChIC&pg=PA39 |year=2009 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-670-08371-8 |page=39}}{{cite news |title=Star-studded 175th b'day for MCC school |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/star-studded-175th-bday-for-mcc-school/articleshow/6709112.cms |work=The Times of India |date=7 October 2010 |access-date=10 April 2022}} However, after discussing it with his mother, he later dropped out of school to pursue a career as a full-time musician.{{cite book |author=Krishna Trilok |title=Notes of a Dream: The Authorized Biography of A.R. Rahman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=na5qDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT67 |year=2018 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5305-196-9 |page=67}}{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/6709112.cms |title=Star-studded 175th b'day for MCC school |work=The Times of India |date=7 October 2010 |access-date=7 October 2018}}

Rahman was a keyboard player and arranger for bands such as Roots (with childhood friend and percussionist Sivamani, John Anthony, Suresh Peters, JoJo and Raja){{cite web |title=Biography |url=http://www.hummaa.com/music/artist/A+R+Rahman/24 |publisher=hummaa.com |access-date=20 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615223846/http://www.hummaa.com/music/artist/A+R+Rahman/24 |archive-date=15 June 2011}} and founded the Chennai-based rock group Nemesis Avenue.{{Cite book |last=Ganti |first=T. |title=Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema |year=2004 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bollywoodguidebo0000gant/page/112 112] |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=0-415-28854-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/bollywoodguidebo0000gant/page/112}} He mastered the keyboard, piano, synthesizer, harmonium and guitar, and was particularly interested in the synthesizer because it was the "ideal combination of music and technology".{{cite web |title=The Secret behind the Allure of A. R. Rahman |url=https://www.khabar.com/magazine/entertainment/the_secret_behind_the_allure_of_a._r._rahman.aspx |publisher=Khabar |date=October 2007 |access-date=12 March 2014}}

Rahman began his early musical training under Master Dhanraj,{{cite web |title=Training under dhanraj master |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/gallery/Events/22528.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620231004/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/gallery/events/22528.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 June 2010 |website=IndiaGlitz.com |access-date=20 April 2011}}{{cite web |title=Indian under spotlight |url=http://www.indiansinparis.com/blog/roots/420-arrahman |publisher=indiansinparis.com |access-date=20 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322232419/http://www.indiansinparis.com/blog/roots/420-arrahman |archive-date=22 March 2012}} and at age 11 began playing in the orchestra of a Malayalam composer (and close friend of his father) M. K. Arjunan.{{cite web |title=Film fraternity hails Rahman, Pookutty for win |work=The Indian Express |location=India |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/film-fraternity-hails-rahman-pookutty-for-win/427046/0 |date=23 February 2009 |access-date=23 February 2009}} He soon began working with other composers, such as M. S. Viswanathan, Vijaya Bhaskar, Ilaiyaraaja, Ramesh Naidu, Vijay Anand, Hamsalekha and Raj–Koti, accompanied Zakir Hussain, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and L. Shankar on world tours and obtained a scholarship from Trinity College London to the Trinity College of Music. During his early career, Rahman had assisted many music directors to play keyboard and synthesizer. One of the notable works includes a Malayalam film, Ramji Rao Speaking released in 1989 where Rahman and Sivamani programmed a song called "Kalikalam" for the music director S. Balakrishnan.

Studying in Madras, Rahman graduated with a diploma in Western classical music from the school.{{Cite news |last=Wax |first=Emily |date=9 February 2009 |title='Slumdog' Composer's Crescendo of a Career |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/18/AR2009021803790.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=8 November 2010}} Rahman was introduced to Qadiri tariqa when his younger sister was seriously ill in 1984. His mother was a practising Hindu.{{cite news |last=Kabir |first=Nasreen Munni |date=16 January 2015 |title=How AS Dileep Kumar converted to Islam to become AR Rahman |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1157419 |work=Dawn |access-date=28 March 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://photogallery.indiatimes.com/celebs/music/ar-rahman-turns-47/articleshow/17900921.cms |title=AR Rahman turns 47 |ref=Born in a musically Mudaliar affluent Tamil family |work=The Times of India |date=5 January 2013 |access-date=21 January 2017}} At the age of 23, he converted to Islam with the members of his family in 1989.

Rahman also changed his name during this period. In an interview with Karan Thapar, he revealed that he never liked his birth name as it did not resonate with his self-image. According to his biography AR Rahman: The Spirit of Music by Nasreen Munni Kabir, a Hindu astrologer suggested the names "Abdul Rahman" and "Abdul Rahim," and Rahman instantly connected with the former. His mother later added "Allah Rakha" (AR) to his name after it came to her in a dream.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nu1BCwAAQBAJ&q=We%20had%20Hindu%20religious%20images%20on%20the%20walls%20of%20the%20Habibullah%20Road&pg=PT62 |title=A.R. Rahman: The Spirit of Music |last=Kabir |first=Nasreen Munni |year=2011 |publisher=Om Books International |isbn=9789380070148 |access-date=11 March 2016}}{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Time-for-A.R.-Rahman%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98ghar-wapsi%E2%80%99-says-VHP/article60206691.ece#comments |title=Time for A.R. Rahman's 'ghar wapsi', says VHP |work=The Hindu |agency=PTI |date=16 September 2015 |access-date=11 March 2016}}

Rahman initially composed scores for different documentaries and jingles for advertisements and Indian television channels. In 1987 Rahman, then still known as Dileep, composed jingles for a line of watches introduced by Allwyn.{{cite web |title=A.R.Rahaman – Career |url=http://www.arrahman.com/biography.aspx |website=A. R. Rahman – Official website |publisher=A. R. Rahman |access-date=6 May 2016}} He also arranged the jingles for some advertisements that went on to become very popular, including the popular jingle for Titan Watches, in which he used the theme from Mozart's Symphony no.25.{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/look-whats-brewing/article4348055.ece |title=Look what's brewing |author=Sudhish Kamath |newspaper=The Hindu |date=26 January 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/profile/author/rajiv-menon/ |title=The Hindu: Breaking News, India News, Elections, Bollywood, Cricket, Video, Latest News & Live Updates |work=The Hindu}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/05/stories/2006050502280200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309144309/http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/05/stories/2006050502280200.htm |archive-date=9 March 2007 |title=Tamil Nadu / Chennai News: Study at Rajiv Menon's institute |date=5 May 2006 |work=The Hindu |access-date=4 February 2012}} File:AR Rahman Shashi Gopal.jpg, in 1992.|261x261px]]In 1992, he was approached by director Mani Ratnam to compose the score and soundtrack for his Tamil film, Roja.{{Cite journal |last=Purie |first=Aroon |title=A.R. Rahman: Prodigious Debut |volume=29 |issue=1–6 |year=1994 |page=153 |journal=India Today}}

Rahman's film career began in 1992 when he started Panchathan Record Inn, a recording and mixing studio in his backyard. It would become the most-advanced recording studio in India,{{Cite journal |last=Eur |first=Andy Gregory |title=The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002 |pages=419–420}} and arguably one of Asia's most sophisticated and high-tech studios.{{cite web |url=https://www.apple.com/logicstudio/in-action/arrahman |title=An Interview with A.R. Rahman |publisher=Apple Inc. |access-date=24 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208030704/http://www.apple.com/logicstudio/in-action/arrahman |archive-date=8 February 2011}} Cinematographer Santosh Sivan signed Rahman for his second film Yoddha, a Malayalam film starring Mohanlal and directed by Sivan's brother Sangeeth Sivan that released in September 1992.

The following year, Rahman received the National Film Awards (Silver Lotus) award for Best Music Director at the 40th National Film Awards for Roja. The films' score was critically and commercially successful in its original and dubbed versions, led by the innovative theme "Chinna Chinna Aasai". Rahman followed this with successful scores and songs for Tamil–language films for the Chennai film industry, including Ratnam's politically charged Bombay, Thiruda Thiruda and S. Shankar's debut film Gentleman (with its popular dance song, "Chikku Bukku Rayile"), the urban Kadhalan.{{cite news |author=Culshaw, Peter |title=Interview with AR Rahman, the composer behind the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack |date=6 February 2009 |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/4535090/Interview-with-AR-Rahman-the-composer-behind-the-Slumdog-Millionaire-soundtrack.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/4535090/Interview-with-AR-Rahman-the-composer-behind-the-Slumdog-Millionaire-soundtrack.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=24 February 2011 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite journal |title=Work of the magic and other musicians |journal=Global Rhythm |volume=11 |issue=7–12 |issn=1553-9814 |oclc=50137257 |year=1995 |page=11 |publisher=World Marketing Inc. |quote=His first assignment was to write the music for Ratnam's film, Roja. Subsequent films that established AR Rahman as the genius of Tamil film music included Pudhiya Mugam with director Suresh Menon and Gentleman with Shankar |location=New York}}{{Cite book |title=Continuum encyclopedia of popular music of the world |author=John Shepherd |year=2005 |publisher=Continuum |location=London/New York |volume=3–7 |isbn=0-8264-6321-5 |pages=80–81 |oclc=444486924 |quote=Music directors such as AR Rahman and Karthik Raja produce film scores that are more eclectic, incorporating rap, jazz, reggae, hard rock and fast dance beats ( as, for example, for Duet [1994], Kadhalan [1994] and Bombay [1995]).}}{{Cite journal |last=Purie |first=Aroon |title=A.R. Rahman: Music The New Wave |volume=20 |issue=1–6 |year=1995 |page=11 |journal=India Today}} Rahman collaborated with director Bharathiraaja on Kizhakku Cheemayile and Karuththamma, producing successful Tamil rural folk-inspired film songs; he also composed for K. Balachander's Duet, which had some memorable Saxophone themes.{{Cite book |title=Indian cinema: ebbs and tides |author=K. Naresh Kumar |year=1995 |publisher=Har-Anand Publications |location=New Delhi |volume=26–27 |isbn=978-81-241-0344-9 |page=135 |oclc=33444588}}{{Cite journal |title=The saxophone symposium: journal of the North American Saxophone Alliance |author=World Saxophone Congress. North American Saxophone Alliance |journal=The Saxophone Symposium |year=2001 |publisher=North American Saxophone Alliance |location=Greenville |volume=26–27 |issn=0271-3705 |pages=78–85 |oclc=5190155 |quote=The famous South Indian film music director AR Rahman invited [ Kadri Gopalnath ] to work on the music for a major South Indian film. Rahman, a new music director, writes music that brings a more cosmopolitan feel to Indian cinema, and he was open to ...}} The 1995 film Indira and romantic comedies Mr. Romeo and Love Birds also drew attention.{{Cite journal |last=Purie |first=Aroon |title=Music love birds |volume=21 |issue=1–6 |year=1996 |page=195 |journal=India Today |quote=AR Rahman's latest offering is a heavy dose of synthesiser and percussion sprinkled with rap. "No Problem" by Apache Indian is the selling point. |issn=0254-8399 |oclc=2675526}}{{Cite book |title=Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts and Lifestyle |last=Kasbekar |first=Asha |year=2006 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sv7Uk0UcdM8C&pg=PA215 |isbn=978-1-85109-636-7 |page=215 |quote=Songs play as important a part in South Indian films and some South Indian music directors such as A. R. Rehman and Ilyaraja have an enthusiastic national and even international following}}{{Cite book |last=Chaudhuri |first=S. |title=Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia |chapter=Cinema of South India and Sri Lanka |page=149 |quote=Now the South is believed to excel the North in many respects, including its colour labs, state of the art digital technology and sound processing facilities (which have improved the dubbing of Tamil and other South Indian languages into Hindi since the 1970s).}}

Rahman attracted a Japanese audience with Muthu{{'}}s success there.{{cite web |author=Prasad, Ayappa |title=Films don't believe in borders |work=Screen |url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=5670 |year=2003 |access-date=15 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218060205/http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=5670 |archive-date=18 December 2008}} His soundtracks are known in the Tamil Nadu film industry and abroad for his versatility in combining Western classical music, Carnatic and Tamil traditional and folk-music traditions, jazz, reggae and rock music.{{Cite journal |last=Purie |first=Aroon |title=A. R. Rahman: Music The New Wave |volume=20 |issue=1–6 |year=1995 |page=11 |journal=India Today |quote=Now, two years later, AR Rahman looks like he is here to stay, with his digitalised sound based on pop-rock and reggae and fused with traditional Indian – mainly Carnatic – folk idioms. The supreme irony: he used to play keyboards in ...}}{{Citation |last=Ramaswamy |first=V. |title=Historical Dictionary of the Tamils |page=199}}{{Cite book |last=Chaudhuri |first=S. |title=Contemporary World Cinema: Europe, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia |chapter=Cinema of South India and Sri Lanka |page=149 |quote=Southern filmmakers like Mani Ratnam, Ram Gopal Varma and Priyadarshan have altered the profile of Indian 'national' cinema. So too have southern specialists ... cinematographers Santosh Sivan, P. C. Sreeram and music composer A. R. Rahman who formed a highly successful team with Ratnam and have all attained star status in their own right}}{{Cite book |last=Brégeat |first=Raïssa |title=Indomania: le cinéma indien des origines à nos jours |page=133 |quote=AR Rahman (Roja, Bombay), entre autres, exigent aujourd'hui les cachets les plus gros jamais payés à un directeur musical |publisher=Cinémathèque française |language=fr |location=Paris |isbn=978-2-900596-14-2 |year=1995}} The soundtrack for Bombay sold 15 million copies worldwide,{{cite web |author=Das Gupta, Surajeet |author2=Sen, Soumik |title=Composing a winning score |work=Rediff |url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2002/sep/21bizsp.htm |access-date=15 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015040951/http://www.rediff.com/money/2002/sep/21bizsp.htm |archive-date=15 October 2008 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=The 'Mozart of Madras' AR Rahman is Performing LIVE in Australia |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/hindi/en/audiotrack/mozart-madras-ar-rahman-performing-live-australia |agency=SBS |date=14 February 2017}} and "Bombay Theme" would later reappear in his soundtrack for Deepa Mehta's Fire and a number of compilations and other media. It was featured in the 2002 Palestinian film Divine Intervention and the 2005 Nicolas Cage film, Lord of War. Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, was Rahman's Bollywood debut.{{Cite journal |last=Purie |first=Aroon |title=French Connection |volume=20 |issue=13–18 |year=1995 |page=156 |journal=India Today}} Successful scores and songs for Dil Se.. and the percussive Taal followed.{{Cite book |last=Stafford |first=Roy |title=Understanding Audiences and the Film Industry |date=31 May 2007 |page=[https://archive.org/details/understandingaud0000staf/page/27 27] |isbn=978-1-84457-141-3 |publisher=British Film Institute |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/understandingaud0000staf/page/27}}{{Cite book |title=The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music |last=Arnold |first=Alison |year=2000 |page=540 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOlNv8MAXIEC&pg=RA2-PA555 |chapter=Film music in the late Twentieth century |isbn=978-0-8240-4946-1 |quote=The recent success of the Tamil film music director A. R. Rehman in achieving widespread popularity in the world of Hindi film music is now possibly opening doors to new South-North relationships and collaborations}} Sufi mysticism inspired "Chaiyya Chaiyya" from the former film and "Zikr" from his soundtrack album for Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (which featured elaborate orchestral and choral arrangements).{{cite magazine |last=Rangan |first=Baradwaj |author2=Suhasini, Lalitha |title=AR Rahman: The Rolling Stone interview |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=http://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2008/06/07/ar-rahman-the-rolling-stone-interview/ |year=2008 |access-date=16 November 2008}}

Rahman's soundtrack album for the Chennai production Minsara Kanavu won him his second National Film Award for Best Music Direction and a South FilmFare Award for Best Music Direction in a Tamil film in 1997, the latter setting a record of six consecutive wins; he later went on to win the award three consecutive additional times. The musical cues in the soundtrack albums for Sangamam and Iruvar used Carnatic vocals, the veena, rock guitar and jazz.{{cite web |title=The A R Rahman Chat |work=Rediff on the Net |publisher=Rediff |url=http://www.rediff.com/chat/rahmchat.htm |date=17 August 1998 |access-date=6 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216150459/http://www.rediff.com/chat/rahmchat.htm |archive-date=16 December 2008 |url-status=live}} During the 2000s, Rahman composed scores and popular songs for Rajiv Menon's Kandukondain Kandukondain, Alaipayuthey, Ashutosh Gowariker's Swades, Rang De Basanti{{Cite book |title=Tamil Cinema: The Cultural Politics of India's Other Film Industry |last=Velayutham |first=Selvaraj |year=2008 |page=6}} and songs with Hindustani motifs for 2005's Water. Rahman has worked with Indian poets and lyricists such as Javed Akhtar, Gulzar, Vairamuthu and Vaali, and has produced commercially successful soundtracks with directors Mani Ratnam and S. Shankar (Gentleman, Kadhalan, Indian, Jeans, Mudhalvan, Nayak, Boys, Sivaji, Enthiran, I and 2.0).{{Cite journal |last=Ganti |first=T. |title=Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema |page=112 |quote=Rehman became a major star with his hit music in Roja followed by hit scores for Mani Ratnam's and Shankar's films in Tamil.}}

In 2005 Rahman expanded his Panchathan Record Inn studio by establishing AM Studios in Kodambakkam, Chennai, creating the most cutting-edge studio in Asia.{{cite web |title=Film Composer A.R. Rahman Selects Bag End Bass Speakers |work=Mix |url=http://mixonline.com/news/headline/bag-end-arrahman-060706/ |date=7 June 2006 |access-date=18 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141733/http://mixonline.com/news/headline/bag-end-arrahman-060706/ |archive-date=16 December 2008 }}{{Cite news |last=Omkar |first=Ashanti |title=Interview with A. R. Rahman |date=March 2008 |issue=1 |volume=1 |periodical=The Score Magazine |location=Chennai}} The following year he launched his own music label, KM Music,{{Cite news |last=Maria Verghis |first=Shana |date=11 August 2006 |title=A R Rahman Interview |newspaper=smaramra.blogspot.com |location=New Delhi |url=http://smaramra.blogspot.com/2006/08/r-rahman-interview.html}} with his score for Sillunu Oru Kaadhal.{{Cite news |url=http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg310/p7.pdf |work=Tamil Guardian |title=Cine Scope |date=19 October 2005 |page=7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924113310/http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg310/p7.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015}} Rahman scored the Mandarin-language film Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003 after researching and using Chinese and Japanese classical music,{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/10/23/stories/2003102301100200.htm |title=Chinese rhapsody |date=23 October 2003 |author=Savita Gautham |work=The Hindu |access-date=5 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040225084151/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/10/23/stories/2003102301100200.htm |archive-date=25 February 2004 |url-status=usurped}} and won the Just Plain Folks Music Organization|Just Plain Folks Music Award For Best Music Album for his score for 2006's Varalaru (God Father).{{cite web |title=2009 Just Plain Folks Music Awards Album Winners |work=Just Plain Folks Music Awards |url=http://jpfolks.com/09albumwinners.html |year=2009 |access-date=14 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017193502/http://www.jpfolks.com/09albumwinners.html |archive-date=17 October 2018 }} He co-scored Shekhar Kapur's second British film, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, in 2007{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/cp/2007/11/23/stories/2007112350030100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201082742/http://www.hindu.com/cp/2007/11/23/stories/2007112350030100.htm |archive-date=1 December 2007 |title=Mover and Shekhar |date=23 November 2007 |access-date=5 April 2011 |work=The Hindu |location=Chennai, India}} and received a Best Composer Asian Film Award nomination at the Hong Kong International Film Festival for his Jodhaa Akbar score.{{cite web |title=Asian Film Awards 2009 |date=6 February 2009 |work=3rd Asian Film Awards |url=http://www.asianfilmawards.asia/2009/eng/nominations.php |access-date=24 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208035546/http://www.asianfilmawards.asia/2009/eng/nominations.php |archive-date=8 February 2011}} Rahman's music has been sampled for other scores in India,{{Cite news |title=Cinemaya 1998 |year=1998 |page=9 |issue=39–41 |periodical=Cinemaya |location=New Delhi |issn=0970-8782 |oclc=19234070 |quote=However, the song was lifted by a whole range of well-known music directors from Bombay so much so that the original composition in Tamil by AR Rahman ...}} appearing in Inside Man, Lord of War, Divine Intervention and The Accidental Husband.

His score for his first Hollywood film, the 2009 comedy Couples Retreat, won the BMI London Award for Best Score.{{cite web |url=http://www.bmi.com/photos/entry/549749 |title=A.R. Rahman Picks Up BMI Film Award in London |publisher=Broadcast Music Inc. |date=2 November 2010}} Rahman's music for 2008's Slumdog Millionaire won a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards (a first for an Asian), and the songs "Jai Ho" and "O... Saya" from its soundtrack were internationally successful. His music on 2008's Bollywood Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na was popular with Indian youth; that year, his score and songs for Jodhaa Akbar won critical acclaim, a Best Composer Asian Film Award nomination and IIFA awards for best music direction and score.

In 2010, Rahman composed the original score and songs for the romantic Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, the sci-fi romance Enthiran and Danny Boyle's 127 Hours, composing for the Imtiaz Ali musical Rockstar; the latter's soundtrack was a critical and commercial success.{{cite news |title=Rockstar's rocking on |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Rockstars-rocking-on/etarticleshow/10278962.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708223445/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-09/news-interviews/30258301_1_rockstar-imtiaz-ali-ranbir-kapoor |archive-date=8 July 2013 |access-date=9 October 2011 |newspaper=The Times of India |url-status=live |date=9 November 2011}} In 2012 Rahman composed for Ekk Deewana Tha and the American drama People Like Us,{{cite web |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/people-like-us-soundtrack-features-a-score-by-a-r-rahman-a-liz-phair-song-20120514 |title='People Like Us' Soundtrack Features A New Liz Phair Song Penned for the Film + Poster & New Photo |work=indieWIRE |date=14 May 2012 |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518003511/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/people-like-us-soundtrack-features-a-score-by-a-r-rahman-a-liz-phair-song-20120514 |archive-date=18 May 2012 }} and collaborated with director Yash Chopra on Jab Tak Hai Jaan.{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/music/news-and-interviews/Yash-Chopra-signs-Rahman/articleshow/8386269.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403185321/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-17/news-and-interviews/29551943_1_yash-chopra-yashji-music |archive-date=3 April 2012 |title=Yash Chopra signs Rahman |work=The Times of India |author=Kunal M Shah |date=17 May 2011 |url-status=live |access-date=11 October 2012}} all were positively received.{{cite web |author=Joginder Tuteja |title=Jab Tak Hai Jaan Music Review |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/musiccriticreview/id/548942 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012235235/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/musiccriticreview/id/548942 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 October 2012 |access-date=10 October 2012 |website=Bollywood Hungama}} By the end of the year his music for Mani Ratnam's Kadal topped the iTunes India chart for December.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} In 2013, Rahman had two releases: Raanjhanaa and Maryan. Both were successful, with the former nominated for a number of awards{{cite web |title=59th Idea Filmfare Awards Nominations |date=14 January 2014 |url=http://www.filmfare.com/news/59th-idea-filmfare-awards-nominations-5138.html}}{{cite web |title=FILM MUSIC NOMINEES |date=18 January 2014 |url=http://www.gima.co.in/2014_film_nominees.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208053318/http://gima.co.in/2014_film_nominees.php |archive-date=8 February 2014}}{{cite web |title=Screen Awards 2014: The complete list of nominees |work=IBNLive |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/20th-annual-screen-awards-2014-the-complete-list-of-nominees/444093-8-66.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108104623/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/20th-annual-screen-awards-2014-the-complete-list-of-nominees/444093-8-66.html |archive-date=8 January 2014 |publisher=CNN-IBN |date=8 January 2014 |access-date=8 January 2014}} and the latter the iTunes India Tamil Album of 2013.{{cite web |title=Maryan Tops iTunes List for 2013 |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Maryan-Tops-iTunes-List-for-2013/2013/12/23/article1959723.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025233327/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/tamil/Maryan-Tops-iTunes-List-for-2013/2013/12/23/article1959723.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2014 |work=The New Indian Express |access-date=12 March 2014}}

The year 2014 was one of the busiest years for Rahman, with him claiming to have worked in 12 films in various languages.{{cite web |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/music/2014-has-been-a-busy-year-for-me-AR-Rahman/articleshow/45689576.cms |title=2014 has been a busy year for me: AR Rahman |work=The Times of India |date=31 December 2014}} While his first release for the year was the Imtiaz Ali's road movie Highway which garnered positive reviews, his very next release was the performance captured animation film Kochadaiiyaan, a Rajinikanth starrer directed by Soundarya Rajinikanth. The film's soundtrack was long-listed at the forthcoming Academy Awards.{{cite web |url=http://www.moviecrow.com/News/6713/ar-rahman-in-the-nomination-list-of-oscar-2014 |title='AR Rahman's Kochadaiyaan in the nomination list of OSCAR' |publisher=moviecrow |date=13 December 2014}} His next were the scores for the two back to back Hollywood films, Million Dollar Arm and The Hundred Foot Journey, both of which got into the contended list for the original score category nomination at the Oscars.{{Cite web |date=29 March 2023 |title=Kangana Ranaut shares AR Rahman's comments about 'gang in Bollywood working against' him: 'They harass and kill those they see as gifted' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/kangana-ranaut-shares-ar-rahmans-comments-about-gang-in-bollywood-working-against-him-8524981/ |access-date=1 April 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

Then he composed for the period drama Kaaviya Thalaivan teaming up with director Vasanthabalan for the first time. His next release was Shankar's thriller I and K. S. Ravikumar's period action film Lingaa.

His background scores are often characterised by the usage of subtle orchestration and ambient sounds.{{cite web |title=Biography |url=http://www.arrahman.com/biography.aspx |publisher=AR Rahman |access-date=12 March 2014}} He often employs contemporary instruments such as Guitars, Cello, Flute, Strings, Keyboard, Finger board, Harpejji, Santoor and traditional Indian instruments such as Shehnai, Sitar, Mrudangam, Veena & Tabla to create scores.

Some of the films which fetched him appreciations for background scores include Roja, Bombay, Iruvar, Minsara Kanavu, Dil Se.., Taal, Lagaan, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Swades, Rang De Basanti, Bose: The Forgotten Hero, Guru, Jodhaa Akbar, Raavanan, Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, Rockstar, Enthiran, Kadal, Kochadaiiyaan and I. A. R. Rahman received two Academy Awards for Slumdog Millionaire and two Academy Award nominations for 127 Hours. Recently, his scores for Kochadaiiyaan, Million Dollar Arm and The Hundred-Foot Journey have been nominated in the long list released by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.{{cite web |url=https://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/ar-rahman-gets-nominated-for-three-films-in-87th-oscar-longlist-1848453.html |title=AR Rahman gets nominated for three films in 87th Oscar longlist |date=15 December 2014 |website=Firstpost}}{{cite web |url=http://movies.ndtv.com/music/three-ar-rahman-scores-featured-in-oscar-list-712529 |title=A R Rahman Features Thrice on Oscar Longlist, Sonu Nigam Gets a Spot – NDTV Movies |website=NDTVMovies.com}} In 2017 his Mersal music's background score has impressed one and all.{{cite web |url=http://english.tupaki.com/movienews/article/Rahman-Superb-Back-Ground-Music-For-Vijay-Mersal-Movie/61037 |title=Rahman Superb Back Ground Music For Vijay Mersal Movie |website=tupaki|date=21 October 2017 }} In 2018, Rahman got national award for the background score of Mom.

Qutub-E-Kripa an ensemble of young musicians of KM Music Conservatory, have been co-credited alongside A. R. Rahman for the background scores of films such as 24, O Kadhal Kanmani, Tamasha, OK Jaanu, Kaatru Veliyidai, Mom,{{cite web |url=http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/%E2%80%98cinema-veeran%E2%80%99-aishwarya-dhanush%E2%80%99s-next-big-family-project-39448 |title=Cinema Veeran |work=The News Minute |date=26 February 2016 }} Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, Sarkar and 2.0. They have also scored for the Netflix Show, Daughters of Destiny.

File:Nobel Peace Prize Concert 2010 A.R. Rahman IMG 7174.jpg|250x250px]]

Rahman has also been involved in non-film projects. Vande Mataram, an album of original compositions released for India's 50th anniversary of its independence in 1997,{{cite web |url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/01091997/vande.html |title=A Song for India |work=India Today |date=1 September 1997 |access-date=5 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990302025128/http://www.india-today.com/itoday/01091997/vande.html |archive-date=2 March 1999 }}{{Cite journal |last=Allen |first=John |author2=Uck Lun Chun |author3=Allen Chun |author4=Ned Rossiter |author5=Brian Shoesmith |title=Refashioning Pop Music in Asia |page=67}}{{cite web |title=A. R. Rahman: Summary Biography |work=A. R. Rahman: A Biography |url=http://members.tripod.com/gopalhome/arrbio.html |quote=Particularly impressed with Vande Mataram, Jeremy Spencer, formerly of Fleetwood Mac stated that Rahman was the only Indian composer he knew about and liked. |date=November 2002 |access-date=15 February 2007}} is one of India's best-selling non-film albums.{{cite web |url=http://www.screenindia.com/old/20000922/msw.htm |author=Salma Khatib |title=Indi-pop: Down But Not Out |date=22 September 2000 |work=Screen India |access-date=28 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100120045620/http://www.screenindia.com/old/20000922/msw.htm |archive-date=20 January 2010}} He followed it with an album for the Bharat Bala–directed video Jana Gana Mana, a collection of performances by leading exponents and artists of Indian classical music.{{cite web |publisher=Rediff |title=The Making of the Jana Gana Mana |url=http://www.rediff.com/broadband/2000/aug/29trans.htm |access-date=5 April 2011}} Rahman has written advertising jingles and orchestrations for athletic events, television and Internet media, documentaries and short films,{{cite web |title=A. R. Rahman: Summary Discography |work=A. R. Rahman: Complete Discography |url=http://gopalhome.tripod.com/arrdisc.html |date=November 2002 |access-date=5 April 2011}} frequently using the Czech Film Orchestra and the Chennai Strings Orchestra.

In 1999, Rahman partnered with choreographers Shobana and Prabhu Deva and a Tamil film-dancing troupe to perform with Michael Jackson in Munich, Germany at his Michael Jackson and Friends concert.{{Cite news |author=Nydia Dias |title=A R Rahman joins hands with Michael Jackson |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/A-R-Rahman-joins-hands-with-Michael-Jackson/articleshow/1249822469.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604131229/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2001-08-17/mumbai/27247947_1_r-rahman-michael-jackson-mj |archive-date=4 June 2011 |date=17 August 2001 |work=The Times of India |url-status=live |access-date=5 April 2011}} In 2002 he composed the music for his first stage production, Bombay Dreams, which was commissioned by Andrew Lloyd Webber.{{Cite news |author=Madhur Tankha |title=Rahman to talk about his Bombay Dreams |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/24/stories/2007082460621100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418193356/http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/24/stories/2007082460621100.htm |archive-date=18 April 2012 |date=24 August 2007 |access-date=5 April 2011 |work=The Hindu |location=Chennai, India}} The Finnish folk-music band Värttinä collaborated with Rahman on the Toronto production of The Lord of the Rings, and in 2004{{cite web |title=A. R. Rahman |author=Iyer, Vijay |publisher=lotr.com |url=http://www.lotr.com/cast_creative/creative_bio_03.php |access-date=15 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025124725/http://www.lotr.com/cast_creative/creative_bio_03.php |archive-date=25 October 2008 }} he composed "Raga's Dance" for Vanessa-Mae's album Choreography (performed by Mae and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra).{{Cite news |title=Mae goes the raga way |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/11/20/stories/2004112001930200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204060417/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/11/20/stories/2004112001930200.htm |archive-date=4 February 2005 |date=20 November 2004 |access-date=5 April 2011 |work=The Hindu |location=Chennai, India}}

File:A. R. Rahman at Sufi Concert in Dubai.jpg

Since 2004 Rahman has performed three successful world tours before audiences in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and India,{{Cite news |author=Chander, Bhuvana |work=Tamil Guardian |title=Tamil Cinema |url=http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg321/p15.pdf |date=19 April 2006 |page=15 |access-date=24 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720125653/http://www.tamilguardian.com/tg321/p15.pdf |archive-date=20 July 2011}} and has been collaborating with Karen David on her upcoming studio album. A two-disc CD, Introducing A. R. Rahman (featuring 25 of his Tamil film-score pieces), was released in May 2006{{cite web |author=Unterberger, Richie |title=Introducing A.R. Rahman: Original Soundtracks From the Musical Genius of Indian Cinema |website=AllMusic |url={{AllMusic |class=album |id=r828157 |pure_url=yes}} |year=2006 |access-date=5 April 2011}} and his non-film album Connections was released on 12 December 2008.{{cite news |title=Listen, it's got Connections |date=10 January 2009 |access-date=5 April 2011 |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/01/10/stories/2009011052390500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109030051/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/01/10/stories/2009011052390500.htm |archive-date=9 November 2012 |work=The Hindu |location=Chennai, India}} In August 2009 Rahman performed at the Srifort Auditorium in New Delhi in a concert titled A R Rahman Unplugged which kickstarted the golden jubilee celebrations of the National broadcaster Doordarshan. The Minister of Information and Broadcasting of India, Mrs Ambika Soni was the chief guest.{{cite web | url=https://www.afaqs.com/media-briefs/42012_doordarshan-begins-50th-year-celebrations-with-a-bang | title=Doordarshan begins 50th year celebrations with a bang | date=10 August 2009 }} Rahman performed at a White House state dinner arranged by US President Barack Obama during an official visit by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 24 November 2009.{{Cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postrock/2009/11/indian_composer_ar_rahman_to_p.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130164329/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postrock/2009/11/indian_composer_ar_rahman_to_p.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 November 2011 |title=Indian composer A.R. Rahman to perform at state dinner |newspaper=The Washington Post |author=Chris Richards |date=24 November 2009}}

He is one of over 70 artists on "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", a charity single to raise relief funds in the wake of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.{{cite web |title=Rahman part of historic remake of We are the World |work=The Indian Express |date=4 February 2010 |access-date=5 April 2011 |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rahman-part-of-historic-remake-of-we-are-th/575626/}} In 2010, Rahman composed "Jai Jai Garavi Gujarat" in honour of the 50th anniversary of the formation of Gujarat State,{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Gujarat-turns-50-in-style/articleshow/5882277.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811065909/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-05-02/ahmedabad/28319573_1_parsis-garba-kite-festival |archive-date=11 August 2011 |title=Gujarat turns 50 in style |date=2 May 2010 |work=The Times of India |url-status=live |access-date=23 August 2010}} "Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam" as part of the World Classical Tamil Conference 2010,{{cite news |author=Ramya Kannan |title=I initially wondered how I was going to do it: A.R. Rahman |date=16 May 2010 |access-date=5 April 2011 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/16/stories/2010051663121500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519104248/http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/16/stories/2010051663121500.htm |archive-date=19 May 2010 |work=The Hindu |location=Chennai, India}} and the theme song for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, "Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto".{{cite web |author=Lasyapriya Sundaram |title=Rahman's CWG theme song finally released |work=IBNLive |publisher=IBN Live |date=28 August 2010 |access-date=5 April 2011 |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rahmans-cwg-theme-song-finally-released/129800-3.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111223027/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rahmans-cwg-theme-song-finally-released/129800-3.html |archive-date=11 January 2012}} Rahman began his first world tour, (A. R. Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour) on 11 June 2010 at Nassau Coliseum in New York; 16 cities worldwide were scheduled.{{cite web |url=http://www.arrahmanlive.com/concert/abouttour.html |title=A.R. Rahman Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour |work=A. R. Rahman Official Website |access-date=30 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605033832/http://www.arrahmanlive.com/concert/abouttour.html |archive-date=5 June 2010}}

Some of Rahman's notable compositions were performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra in April 2010.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/02/stories/2010040262521400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407082210/http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/02/stories/2010040262521400.htm |archive-date=7 April 2010 |title=A new level of recognition, legitimacy: Rahman |author=Sarfraz Manzoor |date=2 April 2010 |access-date=5 April 2011 |work=The Hindu |location=Chennai, India}} In February 2011 Rahman collaborated with Michael Bolton on Bolton's album, Gems – The Duets Collection,{{cite web |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/bolton-collaborates-with-rahman-for-new-album/721470 |title=Bolton Collaborates with Rahman for New Album |date=10 May 2011 |work=Outlook |access-date=29 November 2016}} reworking his "Sajna" from Couples Retreat.{{cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/rahman-s-sajna-in-michael-bolton-s-album-news-bollywood-lfko4iifeeb.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513085639/http://www.sify.com/movies/rahman-s-sajna-in-michael-bolton-s-album-news-bollywood-lfko4iifeeb.html |archive-date=13 May 2011 |title=Rahman's Sajna in Michael Bolton's album |website=Sify |date=10 May 2011 |access-date=10 May 2011}}

On 20 May 2011 Mick Jagger announced the formation of a supergroup, SuperHeavy, with Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, Damian Marley and Rahman;{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/mick-jagger-forms-supergroup-with-dave-stewart-joss-stone-and-damian-marley-20110520 |title=Mick Jagger Forms Supergroup with Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, A R Rahman and Damian Marley |first=Andy |last=Greene |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=20 May 2011 |access-date=22 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523052409/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/mick-jagger-forms-supergroup-with-dave-stewart-joss-stone-and-damian-marley-20110520 |archive-date=23 May 2011 |url-status=live}} its self-titled album was scheduled for release in September 2011.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/469972/mick-jaggers-superheavy-supergroup-to-drop-album-in-september |title=Mick Jagger's SuperHeavy Supergroup to Drop Album in September |magazine=Billboard |date=23 June 2011 |access-date=3 July 2011}} The album would have Jagger singing on Rahman's composition, "Satyameva Jayate" ("The Truth Alone Triumphs").{{citation |url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/articles/story90756.htm |title=Mick Jagger's 'SuperHeavy' album to release in September |date=25 June 2011 |publisher=Zeenews}}

In January 2012 the Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg announced that it would join KM Music Conservatory musicians for a 100-member concert tour of five Indian cities (Germany and India 2011–2012: Infinite Opportunities), performing Rahman's songs. The marked the centennial of Indian cinema and Babelsberg Studio, the world's oldest film studio.

In Summer 2012 Rahman composed a Punjabi song for the London Olympics opening ceremony, directed by Danny Boyle, part of a medley showcasing Indian influence in the UK. Indian musician Ilaiyaraja's song from the 1981 Tamil-language film Ram Lakshman was also chosen for the medley.{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/AR-Rahmans-punjabi-track-to-rock-Olympics-inaugural/etarticleshow/14526087.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518124107/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-30/news-and-interviews/32483335_1_london-olympics-olympics-opening-ceremony-punjabi |archive-date=18 May 2013 |date=30 June 2012 |work=The Times of India |url-status=live |title=AR Rahman's Punjabi Track To Rock Olympics Inaugural}}

In December 2012 Rahman and Shekhar Kapoor launched Qyuki, a networking site which is a platform for story writers to exchange their thoughts. Cisco invested ₹270 million in the startup, giving it a 17-percent share. Qyuki uses Cisco's cloud infrastructure for the site.{{cite web |url=http://www.linkedin.com/company/qyuki-digital-media |title=Qyuki Digital Media |publisher=LinkedIn |access-date=1 March 2014}}{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/myQyuki/info |title=Qyuki About Page |website=Facebook |access-date=1 March 2014}}{{unreliable source?|date=June 2022}} On 20 December he released the single "Infinite Love" in English and Hindi, commemorating the last day of the Mayan calendar to spread hope, peace and love. Rahman's 2013 tour, Rahmanishq, was announced on 29 July 2013 in Mumbai. Beginning in Sydney on 24 August, the tour moved to a number of cities in India.{{cite web |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/a-r-rahman-live/1148472 |title=A R Rahman Live – Indian Express |website=The Indian Express}}

In January 2016, after a long break Rahman performed live in Chennai and for the first time in Coimbatore & Madurai, with a complete Tamil playlist. As the name suggests, Nenje Yezhu (which means rise up) began 2016 with a positive note and with music from the heart. The proceeds of this concert will be used for flood relief in Tamil Nadu and also for creating awareness against cancer, supporting VS Medical Trust outside Chennai.{{cite news |last1=Ramanujam |first1=Srinivasa |title=Rahman's musical balm for Chennai |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/review-of-the-nenje-ezhu-concert-by-ar-rahman/article8116522.ece |access-date=12 February 2016 |work=The Hindu |date=17 January 2016}}{{cite web |title=Coimbatore's soul lifts up to 'Nenje Ezhu' of Rahman |url=http://www.covaipost.com/local/coimbatores-soul-lifts-up-to-nenje-ezhu-of-rahman/ |website=The Covai Post |access-date=14 February 2016 |date=25 January 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Tanvi |first1=P S |title=Saturday Night Live |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/tanvi-ps-joined-thousands-of-rahmaniacs-to-enjoy-three-hours-of-musical-madness-in-coimbatore/article8151378.ece |access-date=14 February 2016 |work=The Hindu |date=3 February 2016}}

Rahman released a 19-minute orchestral composition The Flying Lotus in 2017 featuring the demonetisation. This musical piece is an open interpretation of this major stance against black money which also includes Narendra Modi's speech.File:Opening Ceremony Hockey World Cup 2018 (39).jpg

On 15 August 2018, Rahman appeared as the host in the 5-episode series of Amazon Prime Video titled "Harmony".{{Cite news |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/a-r-rahman-bollywood-movie-soundtracks-5288309/ |title=A.R. Rahman: I think Bollywood movie soundtracks are like a motherless child |date=2 August 2018 |work=The Indian Express |access-date=7 August 2018}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/i-like-silence-ar-rahman/article24591297.ece |title=Creating harmony with AR Rahman |last=Gaekwad |first=Manish |date=3 August 2018 |work=The Hindu |access-date=7 August 2018 |issn=0971-751X}}

Rahman launched India's first YouTube Original, ARRived, which aims to find the best singing talent from across country. The series has 13 episodes and the first episode was uploaded on 7 November 2018. Rahman is the main judge and he is accompanied by Shaan, Vidya Vox and Clinton Cerejo.{{Cite web |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/look-whos-arrived-r-rahman-announces-new-singing-hunt-partnership-youtube-india-qyuki/ |title=A.R. Rahman Announces New Singing Hunt in Partnership With YouTube Originals and Qyuki - |date=21 September 2018}}

On 16 January 2019, Maruti Suzuki India Limited launched NEXA Music, a platform where 24 artists will be picked and mentored by Rahman and Clinton Cerejo to create international music in India.{{Cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/maruti-suzuki-partners-with-a-r-rahman-to-launch-nexa-music/articleshow/67555737.cms |title=Maruti Suzuki partners with A R Rahman to launch NEXA Music |website=The Times of India|date=16 January 2019 }}{{Cite web |url=https://mynexa.nexaexperience.com/nexaworld/nexamusic/nexa-music.html |title=Nexa Music |website=mynexa.nexaexperience.com}}

Rahman also appeared as a judge on The Voice. The show began airing on 3 February 2019 on StarPlus.{{Cite web |last=Baddhan |first=Raj |date=17 January 2019 |title=Star Plus confirms February launch date of 'The Voice India' |url=https://www.bizasialive.com/star-plus-confirms-february-launch-date-of-the-voice-india/ |website=BizAsia}} Rahman partnered with Marvel to compose a promotional track titled "Marvel Anthem" in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu for Avengers: Endgame (2019).{{cite web |url=https://scroll.in/reel/918610/song-check-ar-rahman-bangs-it-out-in-marvel-anthem-for-avengers-endgame |title=Song check: AR Rahman bangs it out in 'Marvel Anthem' for 'Avengers: Endgame' |date=1 April 2019 |publisher=Scroll.in |access-date=8 April 2019}} Rahman has sung and composed the track spiced up with rap and heavy percussion. The lyrics are by Nirmika Singh, and MC Heam (rap). The film's team also walked the red carpet and also took a selfie with over 3,500 audience members.{{Cite web |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment/news/people/article/if-you-look-at-the-most-iconic-movies-musicians-are-all-losers-ar-rahman-on-stigmas-around-music-industry/501792 |title=If you look at the most iconic movies, musicians are all losers: AR Rahman on stigmas around music industry |date=9 October 2019 |publisher=Times Now |access-date=9 October 2019}}

The Irish rock band U2 collaborated with Rahman to release a single, "Ahimsa", in December 2019. The song was named for the Sanskrit word for non-violence, and lyrically was intended to celebrate the ethnical and spiritual diversity in India. Rahman stated that ahimsa requires courage and strength, and that the song is a celebration of non-violence and peace.{{Cite news |author=The Hindu Net Desk |date=22 November 2019 |title=A.R. Rahman and U2 collaborate on new track 'Ahimsa' before band's visit to India |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ar-rahman-and-u2-collaborate-on-new-track-ahimsa-before-bands-visit-to-india/article30048072.ece |access-date=12 November 2021 |issn=0971-751X}}

Skilled in Carnatic music, Western and Hindustani classical music and the Qawwali style of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahman is noted for film songs amalgamating elements of these and other genres, layering instruments from different musical idioms in an improvisational style.{{Cite journal |last1=Viswanathan |first1=T. |last2=Harper Allen |first2=Matthew |title=Music in South India |page=139}} During the 1980s Rahman recorded monaural arrangements in common with his musical predecessors, K. V. Mahadevan and Vishwanathan–Ramamoorthy. He has also worked as a pianist in Ilaiyaraaja's troupe for hundreds of movies.{{Cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/ar-rahman-posts-throwback-photo-with-ilaiyaraaja-and-it-is-unmissable-1446234-2019-02-04 |title=AR Rahman posts throwback photo with Ilaiyaraaja and it is unmissable |date=4 February 2019 |work=India Today |access-date=6 January 2021}} In later years his methodology changed, as he experimented with the fusion of traditional instruments with new electronic sounds and technology.{{Cite book |last=Slobin |first=Mark |author2=Gregory Booth |author3=Joseph Getter |author4=B. Balasubrahmaniyan |title=Global soundtracks: worlds of film music |chapter=Tamil Film Music: Sound and Significance |publisher=Wesleyan University Press |year=2008 |pages=108, 125 |location=USA |isbn=978-0-8195-6881-6}}

Rahman's musical interests and outlook originate in his love of experimentation. His compositions have an auteuristic use of counterpoint, orchestration and the human voice, melding Indian pop music with a unique timbre, form and instrumentation. With this syncretic style and wide-ranging lyrics, the appeal of Rahman's music crosses classes and cultures in Indian society.Through innovations such as these, commentators herald Rahman's work as having "passed the relatively static makeup of Western ensembles such as jazz bands and symphony orchestras and the rigid formula of American pop songs." {{Cite book |last=Todd Titon |first=Jeff |author2=Linda Fujie |author3=David Locke |author4=David P. McAllester |author4-link=David P. McAllester |chapter=India/South India |title=Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World's Peoples |pages=202–205}}

His first soundtrack, for Roja, was listed on Time's all-time "10 Best Soundtracks" in 2005. Film critic Richard Corliss said that the composer's "astonishing debut work parades Rahman's gift for alchemizing outside influences until they are totally Tamil, totally Rahman",{{Cite magazine |author=Corliss, Richard |title=Best Soundtracks – All Time 100 Movies |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/2005/100movies/0,23220,soundtracks,00.html |access-date=24 February 2008 |date=12 February 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220071222/http://www.time.com/time/2005/100movies/0%2C23220%2Csoundtracks%2C00.html |archive-date=20 February 2008 }} and his initial global success is attributed to the South Asian diaspora. Music producer Ron Fair considers Rahman "one of the world's great living composers in any medium".{{Cite journal |first=Ethan |last=Smith |title='Slumdog' Remix: The Oscar-winning song 'Jai Ho' is reworked with help from a Pussycat Doll |journal=The Wall Street Journal |date=27 February 2009 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123568984902087603 |access-date=1 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228061839/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123568984902087603.html |archive-date=28 February 2009 |url-status=live}}

Director Baz Luhrmann said: {{blockquote| I had come to the music of A. R. Rahman through the emotional and haunting score of Bombay and the wit and celebration of Lagaan. But the more of AR's music I encountered the more I was to be amazed at the sheer diversity of styles: from swinging brass bands to triumphant anthems; from joyous pop to West-End musicals. Whatever the style, A. R. Rahman's music always possesses a profound sense of humanity and spirit, qualities that inspire me the most.{{cite web |title=Baz Luhrrman comments on A. R. Rahman |work=Charindaa |url=http://www.charindaa.org/news.html |year=2005 |access-date=15 November 2008}}}}

Rahman introduced 7.1 surround sound technology to South Indian films.{{cite news |date=27 June 2012 |title=Rahman's AM Studio introduces 7.1 technology to Kollywood |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-27/news-interviews/32440011_1_indian-film-industry-sound-technology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707035429/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-27/news-interviews/32440011_1_indian-film-industry-sound-technology |archive-date=7 July 2013 |work=The Times of India}} Rahman is one of the best-selling music artists in India,{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/hollywood-calling-rahman/story-ApUdTcYyuQeanoszuWXwPI.html |title=Hollywood calling Rahman |date=8 December 2009 |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=29 November 2016 |location=India}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/39933/a-r-rahman-opens-online.html |title=A. R. Rahman opens online store |date=6 December 2009 |work=Deccan Herald |access-date=3 February 2011 |location=India}}{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,994077,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070528081956/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,994077,00.html |archive-date=28 May 2007 |title=Culture: The Mozart of Madras |author=Richard Corliss |author-link=Richard Corliss |date=3 May 2004 |magazine=Time |access-date=3 February 2010}} with an estimated 150 million records sold worldwide.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,994077,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070528081956/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,994077,00.html |archive-date=28 May 2007 |title=Culture: The Mozart of Madras |author=Richard Corliss |author-link=Richard Corliss |date=3 May 2004 |magazine=Time |access-date=3 February 2010}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3211258.stm |title=Indian film composer for Rings |date=21 October 2003 |access-date=15 November 2008 |publisher=BBC}}{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2002/sep/21bizsp.htm |title=Composing a winning score |author=Das Gupta, Surajeet |author2=Sen, Soumik |work=Rediff |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015040951/http://www.rediff.com/money/2002/sep/21bizsp.htm |archive-date=15 October 2008 |access-date=15 November 2008}} On 21 May 2014 Rahman announced that he has partnered with former Black Eyed Peas' Will.i.am to recreate an early popular track 'Urvashi Urvashi'. Track is 'Birthday'.{{cite news |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/a-r-rahmans-hit-number-urvashi-urvashi-inspires-will-i-ams-new-track/ |title=A R Rahman's hit number 'Urvashi Urvashi' inspires Will.i.am's new track |date=21 May 2014 |work=The Indian Express}}

File:A R Rahman,Saira Banu From The Audio release of 'Enthiran - The Robot'.jpg in Kuala Lumpur in 2010]]

Rahman married Saira Banu (not to be confused with Indian former film actress Saira Banu) in 1995; they have three children: Khatija, Raheema and Ameen.{{cite journal |title=I miss him terribly when he's away |journal=Hindustan Times |date=28 October 2007}} Ameen has sung "NaNa" from Couples Retreat, and Khatija has sung "Pudhiya Manidha" from Enthiran.{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/AR-Rahmans-son-sings-for-Hollywood/articleshow/4832755.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104114248/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-07-29/news-interviews/28179132_1_ar-rahman-couples-retreat-playback-singer |archive-date=4 November 2012 |title=AR Rahman's son sings for Hollywood |author=Vickey Lalwani |location=India |access-date=29 July 2010 |work=The Times of India |url-status=live |date=29 July 2009}}{{cite web |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/58995.html |title=A R Rahman's daughter sings song in Yanthram |work=Indiaglitz |access-date=29 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100730042144/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/telugu/article/58995.html |archive-date=30 July 2010 |url-status=live}} Composer G. V. Prakash Kumar is the son of Rahman's elder sister, A. R. Reihana.{{cite web |author=Kamala Bhatt |url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/Ndtv-Show-Special-story.aspx?ID=5&storyid=NEWEN20090084532 |title=I knew Rahman would go international: Reihana |publisher=NDTV |access-date=5 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016014333/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/Ndtv-Show-Special-story.aspx?ID=5&storyid=NEWEN20090084532 |archive-date=16 October 2009}} Rahman's younger sister, Fathima, heads his music conservatory in Chennai.{{Cite web |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/733227/ar-rahman-spends-ramazan-with-hearth-and-home/ |title=AR Rahman spends Ramazan with hearth and home |date=9 July 2014 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en |access-date=2 April 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-extract-of-the-book-a-r-rahman-the-spirit-of-music/20110418.htm |title=Rahman: I was forced to become a musician |website=Rediff |language=en |access-date=2 April 2020}} The youngest, Ishrath, has a music studio. A.R. Rahman is co-brother{{Cite web |url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/co-brother#Noun |title=co-brother – Wiktionary |website=en.wiktionary.org |date=20 October 2021}} to actor Rahman.{{cite web |url=http://www.actorrahman.com |title=Actor Rahman's profile |publisher=actorrahman.com |access-date=5 April 2011}}

Born into a Hindu family, Rahman converted to Islam when he was in his 20s. After the early death of his father, his family experienced difficult times; Sufism influenced his mother, who was a practising Hindu and, eventually, his family.{{Cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/04/12/talkasia.rahman.script/ |title=AR Rahman Full Transcript |work=CNN |date=12 April 2006 |access-date=28 March 2025}} During the 81st Academy Awards ceremony Rahman paid tribute to his mother: "There is a Hindi dialogue, mere pass ma hai, which means 'even if I have got nothing I have my mother here'."{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/India-celebrates-iSlumdog-Millionairei-Oscars/article16339964.ece |title=India celebrates Slumdog Millionaire Oscars |work=The Hindu |date=24 February 2009 |access-date=29 November 2016 |location=Chennai}} He said, "{{transl|ta|ISO|Ellā pugaḻum iṟaivaṉukkē}}" ("All praise to God" in Tamil, a translation from the Quran) before his speech.{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/24/stories/2009022460281200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224225225/http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/24/stories/2009022460281200.htm |archive-date=24 February 2009 |title=Front Page: Great composer, greater human feted |date=24 February 2009 |access-date=23 August 2010 |work=The Hindu |location=Chennai}} In February 2020, Rahman was critiqued for his liberal image after Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen raised a question about his daughter wearing a burqa.{{Cite news |date=16 February 2020 |title=AR Rahman's daughter Khatija trolled by Taslima Nasreen for wearing burqa, replies 'Google up what true feminism means' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/music/ar-rahman-s-daughter-trolled-by-taslima-nasreen-for-wearing-burqa-replies-google-up-what-true-feminism-means/story-EBautTIAXlCpIwZwPWJBcL.html |access-date=23 March 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en}}

In November 2024, A.R. Rahman and Saira Banu announced their separation.{{cite news |title=AR Rahman, wife Saira Banu announce separation after 29 years of marriage |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/music/ar-rahmans-wife-saira-banu-announces-separation-after-29-years-of-marriage-cites-insurmountable-gap-between-them-101732034344624.html |website=Hindustan Times |date=19 November 2024 |access-date=20 November 2024}}{{cite news |title=AR Rahman Divorce News: AR Rahman's wife Saira Banu announces Separation; lawyer releases official statement |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/ar-rahmans-wife-saira-banu-announces-separation-lawyer-releases-official-statement/articleshow/115459813.cms |work=The Times of India |date=19 November 2024 |access-date=20 November 2024}}

Rahman is involved with a number of charitable causes. In 2004 he was appointed as the global ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership, a WHO project. Rahman has supported Save the Children India and worked with Yusuf Islam on "Indian Ocean", a song featuring a-ha keyboard player Magne Furuholmen and Travis drummer Neil Primrose. Proceeds from the song went to help orphans in Banda Aceh who were affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/56622/the-billboard-qa-yusuf-islam |title=The Billboard Q and A: Yusuf Islam |last=Williamson |first=Nigel |date=17 November 2006 |series=Interview with Yusuf Islam; Return to Music |magazine=Billboard |access-date=5 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414034908/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/56622/the-billboard-qa-yusuf-islam |archive-date=14 April 2013}} He produced the single "We Can Make It Better" by Don Asian with Mukhtar Sahota.{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/philpedia/ar-rahman |title=A.R. Rahman {{!}} Hollywood Bowl |website=www.hollywoodbowl.com |access-date=4 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160904235904/http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/philpedia/ar-rahman |archive-date=4 September 2016 }}{{failed verification|date=April 2017}} In 2008 Rahman opened the KM Music Conservatory with an audio-media education facility to train aspiring musicians in vocals, instruments, music technology and sound design. The conservatory (with prominent musicians on staff and a symphony orchestra) is located near his studio in Kodambakkam, Chennai and offers courses at several levels. Violinist L. Subramaniam is on its advisory board.{{cite web |url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/Rahmans-music-conservatory-in-June/285836 |title=Rahman's music conservatory in June |work=Screen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218060027/http://www.screenindia.com/news/Rahmans-music-conservatory-in-June/285836/ |archive-date=18 December 2008}} Several of Rahman's proteges from the studio have scored feature films.{{Cite news |url=http://www.tamilguardian.com/print.asp?articleid=602 |work=Tamil Guardian |title=Briefly Tamil Cinema |date=19 April 2006 |access-date=30 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230719/http://www.tamilguardian.com/print.asp?articleid=602 |archive-date=3 March 2016}} In 2009, he founded Sunshine Orchestra with a vision to introduce India's first symphony orchestra where economically and socially deprived children get free music education by the KM Music Conservatory. He composed the theme music for a 2006 short film for The Banyan to aid poor women in Chennai.{{cite news |author=Sudhish Kamath |title=Netru, Indru, Nalai is back with a bang |work=The Hindu |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/31/stories/2006013102720200.htm |date=31 January 2006 |access-date=5 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512182634/http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/31/stories/2006013102720200.htm |archive-date=12 May 2011 |location=Chennai, India}}

In 2008 Rahman and noted percussionist Sivamani created a song, "Jiya Se Jiya", inspired by the Free Hugs Campaign and promoted it with a video filmed in a number of Indian cities for a cause.{{cite web |title=Rahman advocates free hugs for peace |work=Daily News and Analysis |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_rahman-advocates-free-hugs-for-peace_1214284 |date=15 December 2008 |access-date=5 April 2011}} In 2017, he announced one heart foundation which would support people from music industry. Rahman announced Ta Futures, a collaborative culture project that would curate and celebrate the sounds of Tamil Nadu.{{Cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ar-rahman-launches-collaborative-project-to-curate-and-celebrate-the-sounds-of-tamil-nadu/article30498095.ece |title=A.R. Rahman launches collaborative project to curate and celebrate the sounds of Tamil Nadu |author=Staff Reporter |date=7 January 2020 |work=The Hindu |access-date=9 January 2020 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

{{blockquote

|While this idea initially started off like a city symphony project where we were looking at capturing the sounds of the city, I wanted to make it more participatory. In children, particularly, I want it to trigger a whole different thought process as this is not about film music or film stars and I want them to create and compose their future{{Cite news |last=Suganth |first=M |date=6 January 2020 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/rahmans-new-project-will-capture-culture-sounds-of-tn/articleshow/73126727.cms|title=Rahman's new project will capture culture & sounds of TN |newspaper=The Times of India |access-date=23 December 2024}}

- Rahman on announcing Ta Futures project on Chennai

}}

In 2019, Rahman performed a Sufi Benefit Concert at the annual New York gala of Pratham, one of the largest non-governmental organisations in India, which focuses on the provision of quality education to India's underprivileged children. Rahman and his ensemble performed the full dinner concert on a pro-bono basis.{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/oscar-winning-composer-a-r-rahman-to-perform-benefit-concert-at-pratham-s-new-york/article_273da1fc-d6a9-11e9-8219-5bb963b532d9.html |title=Oscar-winning Composer A.R. Rahman to Perform Benefit Concert at Pratham's New York Gala |last=Reporter |first=India-West Staff |website=India West |language=en |access-date=25 April 2020 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308090135/https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/oscar-winning-composer-a-r-rahman-to-perform-benefit-concert-at-pratham-s-new-york/article_273da1fc-d6a9-11e9-8219-5bb963b532d9.html |url-status=dead }} Afterward, he wrote on Twitter that his "long time dream of performing #Sufimusic for human causes came true" and thanked attendees for their respect and generosity.{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/arrahman/status/1173097800588038144 |title=Our long time dream of performing #Sufimusic for human causes came true with this wonderful opportunity with #Pratham at #NewYork #Cipriani..Thank you for being respectful and extremely generous with the cause today.pic.twitter.com/HFnFhVSbaW |last=A.R.Rahman |date=14 September 2019 |website=@arrahman |language=en |access-date=25 April 2020}}

{{main|A. R. Rahman discography}}

• One Heart (2017){{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/one-heart-review-filled-with-music/article19637693.ece |title='One Heart' review: Filled with music |last=Ramanujam |first=Srinivasa |date=7 September 2017 |work=The Hindu |access-date=17 April 2018 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2017/sep/09/one-heart-review-the-music-almost-makes-this-concert-movie-worthwhile-1654268--2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418032631/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2017/sep/09/one-heart-review-the-music-almost-makes-this-concert-movie-worthwhile-1654268--2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2018 |title=One Heart review: The music almost makes this concert movie worthwhile |work=The New Indian Express |access-date=17 April 2018}}

• Everest (telenovela) (2014)
• Harmony With A. R. Rahman (2014)

[5 Episodes series at Amazon Prime Video]

• Syamasundara Asianet theme song (1994)
• Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2009 (2009)
• The Kapil Sharma Show (2016)
• Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs 2017 (2017)
• The Voice (Indian TV series) as Super Guru
• Vijay TV Super Singer Season 6

{{main|List of awards and nominations received by A. R. Rahman}}

A seven-time National Film Award winner and recipient of six Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, he has fifteen Filmfare Awards and sixteen Filmfare Awards South for his music.{{cite web |url=http://www.timesnow.tv/articleshow/4335762.cms |title=The golden boy of Indian music A R Rahman turns 44 |work=The Times of India |publisher=Times Now |date=6 January 2010 |access-date=5 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924045000/http://www.timesnow.tv/articleshow/4335762.cms |archive-date=24 September 2014 }} Rahman has received a Kalaimamani from the Government of Tamil Nadu for excellence in the field of music, musical-achievement awards from the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and a Padma Shri from the Government of India.{{cite web |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/01/27/stories/02270005.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103022618/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2000/01/27/stories/02270005.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri awardees |work=The Hindu |date=26 January 2000 |access-date=5 April 2011}}

In 2006, he received an award from Stanford University for his contributions to global music.{{cite web |author=Prakash, B.S. |title=Stanford University honours A R Rahman |work=Rediff.com |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/jul/06bsp.htm |date=6 July 2006 |access-date=16 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207032524/http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/jul/06bsp.htm |archive-date=7 December 2008 |url-status=live}} The following year, Rahman entered the Limca Book of Records as "Indian of the Year for Contribution to Popular Music".{{cite web |url=http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/limca-book-records-felicitates-ar-rahman |title=Limca Book of records felicitates A.R. Rahman |publisher=Radioandmusic.com |access-date=5 April 2011}} He received the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rotary Club of Madras. In 2009, for his Slumdog Millionaire score, Rahman won the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score,{{cite web |title=66th Annual Golden Globe Awards |website=IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2009/globes |access-date=12 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081214041722/http://www.imdb.com/features/rto/2009/globes |archive-date=14 December 2008 |url-status=live}} the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music and two Academy Awards (Best Original Score and Best Original Song, the latter shared with Gulzar) at the 81st Academy Awards.

He has received honorary doctorates from Middlesex University, Aligarh Muslim University,{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/More-laurels-for-Rahman/article15927903.ece |title=More laurels for Rahman |date=2 April 2009 |work=The Hindu |access-date=29 November 2016 |location=Chennai}} Anna University in Chennai and Miami University in Ohio.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/holnus/009200903030131.htm |title=Rahman to be awarded honorary doctorate |date=3 March 2009 |work=The Hindu |access-date=29 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103230113/http://www.hindu.com/holnus/009200903030131.htm |archive-date=3 November 2012}} The composer has won two Grammy Awards: Best Compilation Soundtrack Album and Best Song Written for Visual Media.{{cite news |title=India's A.R. Rahman strikes Grammys gold |agency=Agence France-Presse |year=2010 |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hGgeRMlZ8ASQ9a-5v5AnbvmL0K9Q |access-date=1 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204030253/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hGgeRMlZ8ASQ9a-5v5AnbvmL0K9Q |archive-date=4 February 2010 |url-status=dead}} Rahman received the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour, in 2010.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/padma-bhushan-for-rahman-aamir-segal-gets-padma-vibhushan/story-iqK6QtOLNJc2S7zLUApM9H.html |title=Padma Bhushan for Rahman, Aamir; Segal gets Padma Vibhushan |access-date=29 November 2016 |work=Hindustan Times}}

His work in 127 Hours won him Golden Globe, BAFTA, and two Academy Award nominations (Best Original Music Score and Best Original Song) in 2011.{{Cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_127-hours-gets-ar-rahman-2-oscar-nominations_1499034 |title=127 Hours gets AR Rahman 2 Oscar nominations |work=Daily News and Analysis |location=India |date=25 January 2011 |access-date=25 January 2011}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Rahman-gets-BAFTA-nomination-for-127-Hours/Article1-651823.aspx |title=Rahman gets BAFTA nomination for 127 Hours |work=Hindustan Times |agency=Indo-Asian News Service |location=India |date=18 January 2011 |access-date=18 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119101911/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Rahman-gets-BAFTA-nomination-for-127-Hours/Article1-651823.aspx |archive-date=19 January 2011 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/blog/2010/12/the-68th-annual-golden-globe-awards-nominations |title=The 68th Annual Golden Globe Award |publisher=Golden Globe Award |date=14 December 2010 |access-date=14 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225113948/http://www.goldenglobes.org/blog/2010/12/the-68th-annual-golden-globe-awards-nominations |archive-date=25 December 2010 }} Rahman is an Honorary Fellow of the Trinity College of Music.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/UJPJTpATdzM Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130728202627/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJPJTpATdzM Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite video |people=Ashanti Omkar, A.R. Rahman |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJPJTpATdzM |title=A.R Rahman interview 2010 part 1 – Vinnaithandi Varuvaayaa (VTV) – Thai Pongal special |medium=Web interview |publisher=Thamarai.com |location=London, UK |date=13 January 2010}}{{cbignore}}

On 24 October 2014 Rahman was awarded an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music during a concert paying tribute to his music featuring an international cast of students. Upon receiving his award he commented that being honoured by Berklee illustrates how his life has come full circle, as at the start of his career, he had planned to study at Berklee before being offered the opportunity to score Roja.{{cite web |last1=Hirsch |first1=Mark |title=With Berklee Honorary Degree, A.R. Rahman Comes Full Circle |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2014/10/25/with-berklee-honorary-degree-rahman-comes-full-circle/hjGu55LAXAv1GDpgyvMelI/story.html |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=29 October 2014}} During his 7 May 2012 acceptance speech of his honorary doctorate from Miami University in Ohio, Rahman mentioned that he received a Christmas card from the family of the President of the United States and an invitation to dinner at the White House.{{cite web |url=https://www.indiaglitz.com/hindi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812210144/http://www.indiaglitz.com/hindi |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 August 2014 |title=Bollywood Cinema News – Bollywood Movie Reviews – Bollywood Movie Trailers – IndiaGlitz Bollywood |website=IndiaGlitz.com}} A street was named in his honour in Markham, Ontario, Canada in November 2013.{{cite web |title=Now a street named after AR Rahman in Canada |url=http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/now-a-street-named-after-ar-rahman-in-canada-1214455.html |work=6 November 2013 |date=6 November 2013 |publisher=Firstpost.com |access-date=27 November 2013}}

On 4 October 2015, the government of Seychelles named A. R. Rahman Cultural Ambassador for Seychelles in appreciation of the "invaluable services contributed to enhance Seychelles' Arts and Culture development."{{cite web |title=A.R. Rahman – Mobile Uploads {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/arrahman/photos/a.10151911212826720.1073741826.63441126719/10153132046566720/?type=3&theater |website=www.facebook.com |access-date=8 October 2015}}

In January 2018, He has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador of the Sikkim government. A.R. Rahman will promote and project the state's achievements nationally and globally.{{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/a-r-rahman-sikkim-brand-ambassador-5225307/ |title=AR Rahman appointed as the Brand Ambassador of Sikkim |date=20 June 2018 |website=The Indian Express |access-date=20 September 2019}} Rahman was honoured with the Pride of Indian Music award at the first Zee Cine Awards Tamil, held on 4 January 2020 in Chennai.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/zee-cine-awards-tamil-2020-was-a-grand-affair-imagegallery-kollywood-ubho6zdafcife.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107223714/https://www.sify.com/movies/zee-cine-awards-tamil-2020-was-a-grand-affair-imagegallery-kollywood-ubho6zdafcife.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 January 2020 |title=Zee Cine Awards Tamil 2020 was a grand affair! |website=Sify |language=en |access-date=9 January 2020}}

The UK-based world-music magazine Songlines named him one of "Tomorrow's World Music Icons" in August 2011.{{cite news |title=A. R. Rahman named in Songlines Tomorrow's World Music Icons' |work=ARC Music |url=http://www.arcmusic.co.uk/index.php?page=news#d240811 |access-date=24 August 2011}} For years, he has been regularly listed one among The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world.{{Cite web |title=The Muslim 500: Allah Rakha Rahman |date=28 May 2018 |url=https://www.themuslim500.com/profiles/allah-rakha-a-r-rahman/ |language=en-US |access-date=14 April 2020}}{{Cite news |title=Times of India on 22 most influential Muslims in India |website=The Times of India |date=12 October 2015 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/22-Indians-among-worlds-influential-Muslims/articleshow/49315830.cms |language=en-US |access-date=14 April 2020}}

On 17 November 2024, Rahman received the XTIC Award for Innovation in recognition of his VR film Le Musk.{{Cite news |title=A.R. Rahman honoured with 'XTIC Award 2024 for Innovation' for VR film Le Musk |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/ar-rahman-honoured-with-xtic-award-2024-for-innovation-for-vr-film-le-musk/article68879559.ece |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X |date=17 November 2024 |access-date=20 November 2024}} The award was presented at IIT-Madras.

• {{cite book |author1=Nasreen Munni Kabir |title=A. R. Rahman: The Spirit of Music |title-link=A. R. Rahman: The Spirit of Music |year=2011 |publisher=Om Books International |isbn=978-93-80070-14-8}}
• {{cite book |last=Mathai |first=Kamini |title=A. R. Rahman: The Musical Storm |title-link=A. R. Rahman: The Musical Storm |date=2009 |publisher=Viking Press |isbn=978-06-70083-71-8}}

• AR Rahman Foundation
• KM Music Conservatory
• List of films directed by Mani Ratnam featuring A. R. Rahman
• List of Indian winners and nominees of the Golden Globe Awards
• List of Indian winners and nominees of the Academy Awards
• Qutub-E-Kripa
• Sunshine Orchestra
• Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios

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• {{Cite book |last=Cowie |first=Peter |title=Variety International Film Guide 1995 |year=1994 |page=204 |edition=31st|location=London/Hollywood|isbn=978-0-600-58516-9 |oclc=221419104}}
• {{Cite journal |title=Cinemaya 1998 |year=1998 |page=9 |issue=39–41 |periodical=Cinemaya |location=New Delhi |issn=0970-8782 |oclc=19234070}}
• {{Cite book |last=Eur |first=Andy Gregory |title=The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002 |chapter=A. R. Rahman |isbn=978-1-85743-161-2 |publisher=Routledge |year=2002}}
• {{Cite book |last=Ganti |first=Tejaswini |title=Bollywood: A Guidebook to Popular Hindi Cinema |publisher=Routledge |year=2004 |isbn=0-415-28854-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/bollywoodguidebo0000gant}}
• {{Cite book |last=Ramaswamy |first=Vijaya |title=Historical Dictionary of the Tamils |publisher=The Scarecrow Press |year=2007 |location=Michigan |isbn=978-0-8108-5379-9}}
• {{Cite book |title=Continuum encyclopaedia of popular music of the world |first=John |last=Shepherd |year=2005 |publisher=Continuum |location=London, New York |volume=3–7 |isbn=0-8264-6321-5 |pages=80–81 |oclc=444486924}}
• {{Cite book |last=Slobin |first=Mark |author2=Gregory Booth |author3=Joseph Getter |author4=B. Balasubrahmaniyan |title=Global soundtracks: worlds of film music |chapter=Tamil Film Music: Sound and Significance |publisher=Wesleyan University Press |year=2008 |location=USA |isbn=978-0-8195-6881-6}}
• {{Cite book |last=Terska Ciecko |first=Anne |title=Contemporary Asian Cinema: Popular culture in a Global Frame |publisher=Berg Publishers |year=2006 |location=Berg |isbn=1-84520-237-6}}
• {{Cite book |last=Todd Titon |first=Jeff |author2=Linda Fujie |author3=David Locke |author4=David P. McAllester |author4-link=David P. McAllester |title=Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World's Peoples |chapter=India/South India |publisher=Thomson Shirmer |year=2005 |location=USA |isbn=978-0-534-62757-7}}
• {{Cite book |last=Todd Titon |first=Jeff |title=Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World's Peoples |chapter=India/South India |edition=5th |publisher=Schirmer Cengage Learning |year=2009 |location=USA |isbn=978-0-534-59539-5}}
• {{Cite book |title=Tamil Cinema: The Cultural Politics of India's Other Film Industry |last=Velayutham |first=Selvaraj |year=2008 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-39680-6}}
• {{Cite book |last=Vishwanathan |first=T. |author2=Matthew Harp-Allen |title=Music in South India: The Karṇāṭak Concert Tradition and Beyond: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture |url=https://archive.org/details/musicinsouthindi00visw |url-access=registration |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2004 |location=USA |isbn=978-0-19-514591-5}}

{{refend}}

{{Wikiquote}}

{{Commons category|A. R. Rahman}}

• {{Official website|url=http://www.arrahman.com}}
• [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p278580|pure_url=yes}} A. R. Rahman] at AllMusic
• [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=a.r. rahman|bio=true}} A. R. Rahman] at Billboard.com
• {{IMDb name|id=0006246}}
• [https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/ar-rahman A.R. Rahman Interview] at NAMM Oral History Collection (2013)

{{A. R. Rahman|state=expanded}}

{{Navboxes

|title = Awards for A. R. Rahman

|list =

{{AcademyAwardBestOriginalScore 2001-2020}}

{{AcademyAwardBestOriginalSong 2001–2010}}

{{BAFTA Award for Best Original Music}}

{{Black Reel Award for Outstanding Original Score}}

{{CineMAA Award for Best Music Director}}

{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Composer}}

{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song}}

{{FilmfareAwardBestMusicDirector}}

{{Filmfare Award for Best Music Director – Telugu}}

{{FilmfareAwardBestTamilMusicDirector}}

{{Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media}}

{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Music}}

{{NationalFilmAwardBestMusicDirection}}

{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2010–19}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}

{{Satellite Award for Best Original Score}}

{{TamilNaduStateAwardForBestMusicDirector}}

{{WSA for Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film}}

{{WSA – Public Choice}}

}}

{{Subject bar

|commons = yes

|commons-search =

|d = yes

|wikiquote =yes

|d-search =

|portal1 = Biography

|portal2 =

}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rahman, A. R.}}

Category:Living people

Category:1967 births

Category:Alumni of Trinity College of Music

Category:Best Original Music BAFTA Award winners

Category:Best Music Direction National Film Award winners

Category:Best Background Score National Film Award winners

Category:Best Original Song Academy Award–winning songwriters

Category:Best Original Music Score Academy Award winners

Category:Indian Tamil people

Category:Tamil playback singers

Category:Bollywood playback singers

Category:Columbia Records artists

Category:Filmfare Awards winners

Category:Filmfare Awards South winners

Category:Golden Globe Award–winning musicians

Category:Golden Globe Award winners

Category:Grammy Award winners

Category:Indian Muslims

Category:Indian male playback singers

Category:Indian Sufis

Category:Singers from Chennai

Category:Musicians from Tamil Nadu

Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts

Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts

Category:Tamil film score composers

Category:Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winners

Category:Telugu playback singers

Category:Zee Cine Awards winners

Category:Telugu film score composers

Category:Indian Academy Award winners

Category:Tamil Muslims

Category:Jingle composers

Category:Indian male film score composers

Category:SuperHeavy members

Category:Qadiri order

Category:IIFA Utsavam winners

Category:Converts to Islam from Hinduism