A.R. Rahman.

His father R.K. Shekhar, a noted film composer, died when Rahman was nine. The young boy, born A.S. Dileep Kumar on January 6, 1966 in Madras, had to work as a keyboardist and arranger, playing for composers like Ilaiyaraaja. He later earned a degree from Trinity College of Music, London, and built his own studio, Panchathan Record-Inn, in Chennai.

His early exposure to Indian classical and Western pop—he listened to John Lennon and Stevie Wonder—shaped his music. At Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School, he balanced academics with music, often skipping classes to perform. By his teens, he had composed jingles for advertisements and television, blending electronic sounds with traditional Indian instruments.

Director Mani Ratnam offered Rahman his first film in 1991: Roja, a Tamil romantic drama that became a national sensation. The soundtrack, released in 1992, won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction, making Rahman the first debutant to win that honor. He then composed for Bombay 1995 and Dil Se 1998, each expanding his range and growing his audience across India.

His 1997 album Vande Mataram, released for India’s 50th independence anniversary, sold over 1.2 million copies and revived patriotic feeling among Indians worldwide. In 2001, Andrew Lloyd Webber invited him to compose for the musical Bombay Dreams, which opened in London’s West End and later on Broadway. He also scored The Lord of the Rings stage musical in 2005.

Slumdog Millionaire brought him international fame in 2008. The film’s score and the song Jai Ho won him two Oscars, two Grammys, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA. He went on to score Hollywood films like 127 Hours 2010, People Like Us 2012, and The Hundred-Foot Journey 2014. In 2011, he joined the supergroup SuperHeavy with Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, and others.

Rahman married Saira Banu in 1995, and they have three children: Khatija, Raheema, and Ameen. Their daughter Khatija, born in 1998, has also pursued music as a playback singer. Rahman’s sister Ishrath sang in Tamil films, and his brother A.R. Reihana is a music producer.

A devout Muslim, he converted from Hinduism in the late 1980s, taking the name Allah Rakha Rahman. He established the A.R. Rahman Foundation to support underprivileged children, and founded the KM Music Conservatory in Chennai to train young musicians in Western classical music. He keeps his private life low-key, focusing on family and philanthropy.

A.R. Rahman redefined Indian film music by blending classical traditions with electronic, folk, and world music. His influence extends beyond India: Time magazine named him one of the 100 Most Influential People in 2009, and orchestras like the London Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Philharmonic have performed his works. He received India’s Padma Bhushan 2010 and Padma Shri 2000.

Rahman’s scores have inspired a generation of musicians. His collaborations include Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Michael Jackson, and Hans Zimmer. He is one of the few artists to win both an Oscar and a Grammy for the same project, Slumdog Millionaire. His early work on Roja launched his career, and Slumdog Millionaire introduced his music to the world.