My vision is to provide an orchestra in India

The most popular music director of the country A.R.Rahman, who turned 42 on Jan 6, 2008 did not go to any studio on his birthday. He was busy with opening his training center, KM Music Conservatory, which is meant for training programs and music technology.

“I have finally, opened my music conservatory. In the coming months we will have students and singers training in performances and production,” says Rahman.

The schoolhouse will audition budding musicians and students who can play various instruments including flute, French horn, trumpet, violin and percussion. The handpicked candidates will then enrol for the course that promises to cover Western vocal and instrumental performance, Indian Classical vocal, Western and Indian music theory, music appreciation and ear training.

As far as music technology goes, Rahman intends to train his students in audio engineering. Course in Logic Pro and Digidesign certificate course in Pro Tools will also be a part of the module, says the music director.

So, what prompted Rahman to establish a music training school? “Having the knowledge of both music performances and music technology is invaluable. The skill to perform an instrument combined with production capabilities will ensure many more career opportunities,” he says.

Rahman is presently accumulating musicians for an orchestra in the country. The pass outs from his music conservatory will get to audition for the KM Music Symphony Orchestra. “Indian composers usually travel abroad to record with orchestras. My vision is to provide an orchestra in India,” says Rahman.

Brief Account

A. R. Rahman,  a living legend, is the most important music composer in India, a country that produces 1500 musical films each year. His flair for innovative sounds has transformed the film music in the country with his emphasis on fusion between the western and the traditional music instruments.

Dileep turned Rahman

AR Rahman was born as Dileep Kumar on January 6th 1966 in Chennai to music composer R.K. Sekhar. When Dileep was nine year old his father passed away, after which he started his musical training with a Sufi saint which lead him to embrace Islam and he became Allah Rakha Rahman.

Education

When Rahman was eleven, south music director Ilaiyaraja made him his troupe member. After working for a couple of years, AR Rahman won a scholarship to Trinity College in Oxford University where he went to learn music.

Ramped up with ‘Roja’

AR Rahman returned to India and started his own music studio in Chennai where he composed ad jingles for which he won an award as well. Mani Ratnam was the Chief Guest at the award ceremony and he asked AR Rahman to compose music for his movie ‘Roja’. It was with ‘Roja’ that AR Rahman began his musical journey in Indian cinema and since then has composed music for Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Marathi movies.

AR Rahman also composed music for the famous Broadway musical ‘Bombay Dreams’ in 2002. AR Rahman is regarded as one of the best music directors in India and is believed to charge the highest fee for composing music. AR Rahman composed the musical theme for Cellular Giant ‘Airtel’ and is also the brand ambassador for World Space Satellite Radio.

As Background Sound
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Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
Provoked (2007)
Rang De Basanti (2006)
Mangal Pandey -The Rising (2005)
Swades (2004)
The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)
Lagaan (2001) 

As Music by
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Water (2007) 

As Music Director
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Yahan Ke Hum Sikander (2008)
Jodhaa Akbar (2008)
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na (2008)
Chamki Chameli (2007)
Yuvraaj (2007)
Autograph (2007)
Bajirao Mastani (2007)
London Dreams (2007)
Provoked (2007)
Guru (2007)
Rang De Basanti (2006)
Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha (2005)
Mangal Pandey -The Rising (2005)
BOSE (2005)
Kisna (2005)
Swades (2004)
Yuva (2004)
Lakeer (2004)
Meenaxi : Tale of 3 Cities (2004)
Tehzeeb (2003)
Saathiya (2002)
The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002)
One 2 Ka 4 (2001)
Nayak (2001)
Lagaan (2001)
Zubeidaa (2001)
Fiza (2000)
Dil Hi Dil Mein (2000)
Pukar (2000)
Thakshak (1999)
1947 Earth (1999)
Taal (1999)
Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1998)
Dil Se (1998)
Jeans (1998)
Kabhi Na Kabhi (1998)
Vishwa Vidhata (1997)
Daud (1997)
Sapnay (1997)
Duniya Dilwalon Ki (1997)
Hindustani (1996)
Rangeela (1995)
Rangeela (1995)
Roja (1992) 

As Playback Singer
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Guru (2007)
Rang De Basanti (2006)
Mangal Pandey -The Rising (2005)
BOSE (2005)
Kisna (2005)
Swades (2004)
Yuva (2004)
Saathiya (2002)
Lagaan (2001)
Fiza (2000)
Dil Se (1998)
Daud (1997)
Rangeela (1995) 

Family

Rahman is the second of four children born to R. K. Shekhar and Kareema Begum (Kasthuri). He has three sisters, Raihanah (Kanchana), Fatima Talat (Bala) and Israth. He is married to Saira and has three children - Khadija, Rahima and Amin. Rahman is an alumni of the PSBB Lake Area School, Nungambakkam, Chennai. His nephew G. V. Prakash Kumar, son of sister Raihanah, is a composer in the Tamil film industry.