#60: A. R. Rahman – A Life In Music
What an honour to spend some time with the Mozart of Madras, A. R. Rahman, for the HARMAN Audio Talks podcast. We spoke about his early days, from personal tragedy and battling power cuts at his studio, to his global breakthrough with the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack, and his latest VR project, Le Musk. A. R. was very generous with his time to also talk about the importance of authenticity and always achieving the best quality, the evolution of music technology throughout his career, the marriage of traditional Indian and global cultural influences, his incredible philanthropy, and the importance of his Sufi faith.
“All My Life I Had A Choice Between Hate And Love. I Chose Love, And I’m Here.” A. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman is one of the greats of modern music, a SuperHeavy creative giant whose work has moved the hearts of millions through his countless hit songs, epic productions, musicals, concerts, and legendary scores for over 145 movies. He was named one as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine, and his work has been recognised with no less than seven Oscar nominations and two wins.
Join us and meet one of the greatest names in modern music, a creative giant who’s work has moved the hearts of millions with his countless hits like Slumdog Millionaire and Jai Ho: A. R. Rahman, Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer and performer. Host Oisin Lunny speaks to him about his (spiritual) way to success, his career, biggest projects, what inspires him most, and why it’s so important to open the way to music for upcoming generations at an early age.
Audio Talks
A podcast on all things audio presented to you by HARMAN and our family of audio brands including JBL, Harman Kardon and AKG. Host Oisin Lunny, music journalist and audio enthusiast, will interview expert guests, legends of the music industry, and audio scientists to discuss the power of music and audio in all its facets.
About A. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician, multi-instrumentalist and philanthropist.
Described as the world’s most prominent and prolific film composer by Time, his works are notable for integrating Eastern classical music with electronic music sounds, world music genres and traditional orchestral arrangements.
He has won two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, four National Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards and thirteen Filmfare Awards South in addition to numerous other awards and nominations.
His extensive body of work for film and the stage earned him the nickname “the Mozart of Madras” and several Tamil commentators and fans have coined him the nickname Isai Puyal (English: Music Storm). In 2009, Time placed Rahman in its list of World’s Most Influential People.
The UK based World Music magazine Songlines named him one of ‘Tomorrow’s World Music Icons’ in August 2011. Having set up his own in-house studio called Panchathan Record Inn at Chennai, arguably one of Asia’s most sophisticated and high-tech studios, Rahman’s film scoring career began in the early 1990s with the Tamil film Roja.
Working in India’s various film industries, international cinema and theatre, Rahman is one of the world’s all-time top selling recording artists. In a notable career spanning two decades, Rahman has garnered particular acclaim for redefining contemporary Indian film music and thus contributing to the success of several films.
Rahman is currently one of the highest paid composers of the motion picture industry. He is a notable humanitarian and philanthropist, donating and raising money for beneficial causes and supporting charities.
About HARMAN
HARMAN engineers solutions to enhance life’s experiences, simplifying the way people interact with technology and connecting them to the world around them.
HARMAN designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and connected services. Our talented workforce and innovation strength create value for our stakeholders by enabling rich experiences through the connected car, connected enterprise and connected lifestyle.
Audiophiles from every generation call on HARMAN to deliver the best in sound in the studio and on the stage, at home and on the go. HARMAN’s portfolio of legendary audio brands includes AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson®and Revel®. More than 50 million vehicles on the road today enjoy an enhanced driving experience, thanks to HARMAN audio and infotainment. We extend the same spirit of innovation to the world’s leading performance and sporting venues, providing everyone with the best seats in the house.
Seizing the rich opportunities of today’s global markets requires more than legendary sound. HARMAN has reshaped our organization and cost structure to make the Company more agile in a changing world and addressed the rising importance of highly integrated, software-rich products and services. Most importantly, our track record of innovation, which has distinguished HARMAN and its premium audio and infotainment brands for more than 60 years, continues.
Audio Talks is presented by Harman.
To view all of the Audio Talks podcast episodes click here.
For more podcasts click here.
