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A. R. Rahman

A.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

A. R. Rahman is an Indian composer, singer, songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist known for his film scores and soundtracks in multiple languages. Born in Madras, India, he became internationally recognized for his work on films such as Roja and Slumdog Millionaire, and he is widely called the "Mozart of Madras."

Early life

Rahman was born in Madras, India, and is identified in biographical sources as having the birth date 6 January 1967. Some sources note variation in older listings, but 1967 is the most consistently supported date in the results provided.

Career

He began gaining prominence with his score for Roja in 1992 and went on to compose for numerous films across Indian languages and international projects. His work is associated with a broad musical style that blends Indian and Western influences.

Awards and recognition

Rahman has received major international recognition, including Academy Awards for Slumdog Millionaire. He is also widely described as one of the most influential Indian composers of the modern era.

Musical style and influence

Sources describe Rahman’s music as combining Indian classical traditions with electronic music, world music and orchestral arrangements. This style helped reshape contemporary Indian film music and broadened his global audience.

Key facts

  • A. R. Rahman is an Indian composer and musician whose work spans film and stage music.
  • He was born in Madras, now Chennai, in 1967 according to most recent biographical sources.
  • His film-music debut is commonly identified as the 1992 Tamil film Roja.
  • He is known for combining Indian classical, electronic, world, and orchestral elements in his music.
  • He won major international awards for Slumdog Millionaire, including two Academy Awards.
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Canadian context

A. R. Rahman’s music has had global reach, including audiences in Canada through film music, concert performances and streaming, making him a notable figure for Canadian listeners interested in international cinema and composition.

Frequently asked questions

Who is A. R. Rahman?
A. R. Rahman is an Indian composer, singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist best known for film music and soundtracks.
What is A. R. Rahman’s most famous nickname?
He is widely called the "Mozart of Madras."
When was A. R. Rahman born?
Most biographical sources in the results give 6 January 1967.
What was A. R. Rahman’s breakthrough film?
His film-music debut and breakthrough is commonly identified as the 1992 Tamil film Roja.
What awards has A. R. Rahman won?
He has won major honours including Academy Awards for Slumdog Millionaire, along with other international awards such as a Golden Globe and a BAFTA.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/A-R-Rahman
    Supports: Birth date and place; Indian composer; nickname; broad biographical overview
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._R._Rahman
    Supports: Nicknames including 'Isai Puyal' and 'Mozart of Madras'
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006246/
    Supports: Academy Award recognition; career overview; major works and reported sales figures
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._R._Rahman_discography
    Supports: Debut with Roja and multilingual film-composition career
  5. JioSaavn — https://www.jiosaavn.com/artist/a.r.-rahman-bio/HhFyPLvlKN0_
    Supports: Musical style; debut with Roja; awards and general biography