http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3504102
MSN Indian of the Year: ‘Jai Ho’ Rahman
An overwhelming number of MSN viewers participated in the ‘Indian of the Year’
poll, giving a clear ‘Jai Ho’ mandate to music composer A R Rahman. 22 per cent
viewers voted for Rahman, as against 17% voting for the nearest contender
Sachin Tendulkar. Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi bagged the third slot
securing 16% votes. Nandan Nilekani and Moon man Madhavan Nair got 9% and 7%
respectively.
Here is what makes Mozart of Madras pride of India:
MSN India readers voted Allah Rakha Rahman or A R Rahman as we know him today
as the Indian of the Year 2009. Winning with a thumping majority, among a
line-up of leaders from politics, business and non-government sectors, the ace
music composer proved once again that his music transcends barriers and
generations to create a cult of its own. Known for being at ease equally with
hip-hop, reggae, traditional Indian music, western classical music and Sufi, A
R Rahman's music composition is unsurpassed and devoured by audience the world
over.
The Oscar winning music director has several national, regional and
international awards to his credit. Born in a devout Hindu family, early
struggles in life made him an atheist and subsequently, he embraced Islam
reviving his faith in the universal power.
Early starter
Rahman started music lessons at the tender age of four. Born to R K Sekhar, a
composer, arranger and conductor in Malayalam films, his inclination towards
music was but natural. At a very young age he began to experiment with the
synthesizer, which his father acquired from Singapore. Soon after his father
passed away, he joined Maestro Illayaraja's music troupe as a keyboard player.
After working for several films and jingles he won a scholarship to the Trinity
College of Music at Oxford University and graduated with a degree in Western
Classical Music. Once he got back, he continued working with the advertising
industry, while being an arranger for famous music directors. It was a chance
meeting with the veteran film director Mani Ratnam that changed his fortunes
for good.
Oscar glory
Thanks to Rahman, it was a dream run at the Oscars for India in 2009. Danny
Boyle's rags-to-riches romance set in India, 'Slumdog Millionaire', won eight
Oscar awards. Rahman won the Academy Awards for best original score ('Slumdog
Millionaire') and song ("Jai Ho"). Here is how Rahman summed up his tryst with
Oscar glory, "I want to thank everyone. The essence of the film is optimism and
hope. All through my life I had the choice of love and hate...I chose love and
I am here."
World's top seller
Rahman debuted with 'Roja', and won both raving reviews and critical acclaim.
After a string of hits in Tamil films and Bollywood, he was invited to compose
music for Andrew Lloyd Weber's musical 'Bombay Dreams'. Soon he started
composing music for Hollywood films. Today he holds concerts across the world
and has been nominated for Grammy award. In a career spanning over a decade, he
has sold more than 100 million records of his film scores and soundtracks
worldwide, and over 200 million cassettes, making him one of the world's
all-time top selling recording artists. And there's more to come from this
gifted music composer who is only 43-year
