A. R. Rahman's Real Name: Allah Rakha Rahman
A. R. Rahman → Allah Rakha Rahman
Quick answer: The composer is known professionally as A. R. Rahman. Britannica and Masterworks Broadway independently give the name Allah Rakha Rahman. Britannica also gives the original name A.S. Dileep Kumar. Britannica dates the birth to January 6, 1967, in Madras, now Chennai, India. The Fukuoka Prize independently dates the birth to January 6, 1967, and places it in Chennai, formerly Madras. Masterworks Broadway independently places the birth in 1966 in Chennai.
Real name and early life
Independent publishers identify him under the professional name A. R. Rahman, also styled A.R. Rahman, and give the name Allah Rakha Rahman. Britannica also gives the original name A.S. Dileep Kumar, dates the birth to January 6, 1967, in Madras, now Chennai, India, and says he later received a qualification in Western classical music through Trinity College, London, and in his early 20s converted to Islam with his family and adopted the name by which he is now known. The Fukuoka Prize independently dates the birth to January 6, 1967, places it in Chennai, formerly Madras, and records later study at Trinity College of Music, London. Masterworks Broadway independently gives the name Allah Rakha Rahman and places the birth in 1966 in Chennai, with later study at Trinity College of Music in London.
Career highlights
Britannica says he met director Mani Ratnam in 1991 and wrote music for the Tamil film Roja (1992), his first film soundtrack hit. The Fukuoka Prize and Masterworks Broadway independently record Roja (1992) as an early film breakthrough. Britannica, the Fukuoka Prize, and Masterworks Broadway independently record later work on the stage musical Bombay Dreams, with Andrew Lloyd Webber, and later Academy Awards for the score of Slumdog Millionaire (2008) and for "Jai Ho." The official Recording Academy artist page lists two Grammy Awards in 2010 for the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack and for "Jai Ho." Britannica independently records those 2010 Grammy Awards, plus the Padma Shri (2000) and Padma Bhushan (2010).
Name notes for searchers
People looking up A. R. Rahman, Allah Rakha Rahman, or A.S. Dileep Kumar are looking for the same composer, including the later film scores most often associated with his name. Search traffic often uses the professional name A. R. Rahman or A.R. Rahman.
FAQ
What is A. R. Rahman's real name?
Allah Rakha Rahman, according to Britannica and Masterworks Broadway. He works professionally as A. R. Rahman. Britannica also gives the original name A.S. Dileep Kumar.
When and where was he born?
Britannica dates the birth to January 6, 1967, in Madras, now Chennai, India. The Fukuoka Prize independently dates the birth to January 6, 1967, in Chennai, formerly Madras. Masterworks Broadway independently places the birth in 1966 in Chennai.
Which early film score is most often cited?
Roja, from 1992, according to Britannica, the Fukuoka Prize, and Masterworks Broadway.
Which later awards are cited here?
Academy Awards for the score of Slumdog Millionaire and for "Jai Ho," according to Britannica, the Fukuoka Prize, and Masterworks Broadway, and two official Grammy Awards in 2010, according to the Recording Academy.