Legend Of Music: A. R. Rahman

        

  

             Readers, today we will talk about the precious gems of Indian music, A. R. Rahman who make their name in the world. A. R. Rahman is not only Indian but also the Revolutionary Music Composer of the whole world. Grammy and Academy Award winner musician. This is the story of his being born in the family to the well-known musician of the world. The story of his life is also going to touch your heart like his music.

          The Allah-Rakha Rahman whom we know as A.R.Rahman, was born on January 6, 1967 in a Hindu family in Chennai.  His Hindu name was Dilip Kumar.  His family was very simple;  Father Shekhar, mother Kasturi and three sisters Kanchana, Bala, and Rekha. Father Shekhar used to play good harmonium.  With his skill and hard work and good personality, his father got the opportunity to compose music with South Indian Movie Director.  Due to his good work and diligent nature he was well-known in the local music industry.  Everything was going well but there was a time when the mountains of trouble broke up on the family of Rahman.  When A.R. Rahman was just 4 years old, his father became ill. No doctor could tell the reason for his father's illness. The disease lasted for the next 5 years.  When Rahman was 9 years old, his father died.  By the age of 26, when any woman marries, Rahman's mother became a widow.  It was a period of her life that changed her life completely. It took childhood from a child.

                  The life of Rahman and his family changed after the death of his father, because the whole family was dependent on income coming from him.  Rahman was in the school.  At that time his mother handled the house in some ways. Later on Rahman had the responsibility of the whole family.  After school, it was necessary to bring some earning from part time work.  Due to his father's reluctance in the local area, due to his sympathy towards his family, he got work in a recording studio.  A.R. Rahman went to school in the day and then used to work in the recording studio after school.  He inherited music probably from his father.  He became very interested in music and along with work he learned many musical instrument. But working with the school was very difficult.  He had to leave the school in the middle to go to the recording studio.  One day he felt that he could not do both work properly.  He should focus only on one task.  School or music. He was confused therefore he talked to his mother, "Mother, I am not able to do both the work properly, I have to focus on any one." On that day her mother asked her to leave school and focus on music.  Rahman explains how the decision that his mother took for him made him all that he is today. On that day his mother removed his confusion and put them on the path of his dreams. One such path that will make him a bright star of the whole world, not only of India.  Some years after his father's death were very difficult for him, but Rahman tells how the decision taken by his mother for him made him 'A.R. Rahman'. 

            A.R. Rahman put all his focus on his music.  Where he used to spend more time in recording studio to compose music for other music composers.  At that time there was no plan to make music for film. To maintain his passion on music, he made creative music on his accessible instrument.  At that time he used to create jingles for TVs and commercials.  After working some time, he became an expert in this field and started making ad jingles for the big companies of South India. After all, he left behind a life filled with conflicts and started earning good for his family. It was at that time that Rahman and his family took up Islam instead of Hinduism, due to which they had much problem with their previous life, the problems which caused them much more trouble. At that time he got relief in Islam, then he and his family adopted Islam for a new beginning.

             But now, when everything was alright, was he very happy?  Was he satisfied from his life? No... When he was 25, he was not happy with his life even after getting everything.  Professionally, he was so discreet as he thought about suicide. He was making a lot of money, but according to the music he was making, his creativity was not getting recognition. At the time when he was thinking of all this, an opportunity to change his life completely, was waiting to meet him. 

              Maniratnam was a highly regarded director of South India at that time, who had given one after one big hit movies. People of every section used to watch his movies.  He was working on a new project and famous music composer 'Raja' was about to give it music but due to the dispute between the producer and the Raja he had to choose another composer for music. Maniratnam was known for giving top class and unique music in his films.  He had heard about A.R. Rahman at that time which used to make very creative and unique music. He thought of making his new music with him. When Rahman came to know of this, he became very surprised because Maniratnam was one of the best director of South India at that time.

                   Now when Maniratnam came to hear the samples in his studio, Rahman was very nervous but he gave his best and he listened to some of his melodies. He heard music compositions and went away without giving any remarks or comments.  Rahman probably thought Maniratnam did not have any of his music.  But it was not so.  Maniratnam was fascinated by listening to his music. He signed A.R. Rahman to give music for his film. This movie of Mani Ratnam was named 'Roja'. His music hit not only in Chennai but also in South India and throughout India. It was the first time that the dream of Rahman that 'his creativity and his unique music got a wider recognition' was complete. Then there started the entry of A.R. Rahman's Hindi cinema and then the entry in Hollywood.

         After Rosa, he gave super hit music to films such as Bombay, Rangila, Taal, Rang De Basanti, Guru, Rockstar and Slumdog Millionaire. The music given to 'Slumdog Millionaire' specially 'jai ho' song festered him all over the world. Not only the famous, but also the world's most famous Prestige Awards, Oscar and Grammy, who have only a few people in India.

       Dear readers, this was the story of Allah-Rakha Rahman. A journey from his childhood to an Oscar. Every little thing of his life is interesting and motivational and inspirational.