Allah-Rakha Rahman ( pronunciation , born A. S. Dileep Kumar on 6 January 1967) is an Indian composer, singer-songwriter, music producer, musician and philanthropist. Rahman's works are noted for integrating Eastern classical music with electronic music, world music and traditional orchestral arrangements. Among his awards are two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, four National Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards and thirteen Filmfare Awards South. Rahman's body of work for film and stage has given him the nickname of "the Mozart of Madras", and Tamil commentators and fans call him Isai Puyal (English: the Musical Storm).
In 2009, Time included Rahman on its list of the world's most influential people. The UK-based world-music magazine Songlines named him one of "Tomorrow's World Music Icons" in August 2011.
With an in-house studio (Panchathan Record Inn in Chennai) Rahman's film-scoring career began during the early 1990s with the Tamil film Roja. Working in India's film industries, international cinema and theatre, Rahman is one of the world's all-time best-selling recording artists. In a notable two-decade career, he has been acclaimed for redefining contemporary Indian film music and contributing to the success of several films. Rahman has become a notable humanitarian and philanthropist, donating and raising money for a number of causes and charities.
Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British drama film directed by Danny Boyle, written by Simon Beaufoy, co-directed in India by Loveleen Tandan, and produced by Christian Colson. Set and filmed in India, it is a loose adaptation of the novel Q & A (2005) by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup, telling the story of Jamal Malik, age 18, from the Juhu slums of Mumbai. As a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? who is able to answer every stage correctly, he is accused of cheating. Jamal recounts his history, illustrating how he is able to answer each question.
After its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and later screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival and the London Film Festival,Slumdog Millionaire had a nationwide release in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2009, in Mumbai on 22 January 2009, and in the United States on 23 January 2009.
Regarded as a sleeper hit, Slumdog Millionaire was widely acclaimed, being praised for its plot, soundtrack and direction. Nominated for ten Academy Awards in 2009 and winning eight—the most for any 2008 film—including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It won seven BAFTA Awards including Best Film, five Critics' Choice Awards and four Golden Globes.
Slumdog Millionaire: Music from the Motion Picture is the soundtrack album of the British drama film of the same name, directed by Danny Boyle. The original score and songs were composed by A. R. Rahman, who planned the score in two months and completed it in 20 days, a far shorter time period than usual. The soundtrack has won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, BAFTA Award for Best Film Music, and two Academy Awards, one for Best Original Music Score and the other for Best Original Song for "Jai Ho". The soundtrack has also won two Grammy Awards, one for the album itself and another for the song "Jai Ho".
Rahman has stated that he was aiming for "mixing modern India and the old India" with the music (see Music of India), but that the film and soundtrack "isn’t about India or Indian culture. The story could happen anywhere." The film's director Danny Boyle, who "hated sentiment" and told Rahman "Never put a cello in my film", wanted a "pulsey" score. Rahman appreciated that Boyle liked how Indian films mix music, saying the director wanted "edgy, upfront" music that did not suppress sound. Composing pieces to fit the images, he noted: "There’s not many cues in the film. Usually a big film has 130 cues. This had just seventeen or eighteen: the end credits, beginning credits." Describing the music as one of the parts he liked most in the film, Boyle wanted to include M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" from early on in production on the score, which appears along with an original track Rahman composed, "O...Saya," featuring the artist. M.I.A., who Rahman described as a "powerhouse" gave brief film notes on some scenes to Boyle upon request during editing. The track "Ringa Ringa" was done as a tribute to the famous Laxmikant-Pyarelal song "Choli Ke Peeche" from the 1993 movie Khal Nayak. Rahman has attributed part of the success of the film soundtrack to Arulpragasam.
(Baar Baar Haan, Bolo Yaar Haan
Apni Jeet Ho, Unki Haar Haan) 2
Koi Humse Jeet Na Paave
Chale Chalo, Chale Chalo
Mit Jaave Jo Takraave, Chale Chalo
Bhale Ghor Andheraa Chhaave
Chale Chalo, Chale Chalo
Koi Raah Mein Na Thaam Jaawe, Chale Chalo
Toot Gayi Jo Ungli Utthi
Paanchon Mili To Ban Gaye Mutthi
Eka Badhta Hi Jaawe
Chale Chalo, Chale Chalo
Koi Kitna Bhi Bahekaave, Chale Chalo
Koi Humse Jeet Na Paave
Chale Chalo, Chale Chalo
Mit Jaave Jo Takraave, Chale Chalo
Koi Na Ab Roke Tujhe, Toke Tujhe
Tod De Bandhan Saare
Mila Hai Kya Hoke Tujhe Nirbal, Tu Hi Bataa
Kabhi Na Dukh Jhelenge, Khelenge
Aise Ke Dushman Haare
Ke Ab To Le Lenge, Himmat Ka Rasta
Dharti Hilaa Denge, Sab Ko Dikhaa Denge
Raja Hai Kya, Parja Hai Kya, Oh Oh Oh
Hum Jag Pe Chhaayenge, Ab Yeh Bataayenge
Hum Logon Ka Darja Hai Kya, Ho Oh Oh Oh
Baar Baar Haan, Bolo Yaar Haan
Apni Jeet Ho, Unki Haar Haan
Ab Darr Nahin Mann Mein Aave
Chale Chalo, Chale Chalo
Har Bedi Ab Khul Jaave, Chale Chalo
Chalaa Hi Chal, Haanf Nahin, Kaanp Nahin
Raah Mein Ab To Raahi
Thakan Ka Saanp Nahin Ab Tujhe Dasne Paaye
Vohi Jo Tera Haaqim Hai, Jaalim Hai
Ki Hai Jisne Tabaahi
Ghar Uska Pachhim Hai, Yahan Na Bas Mein Paaye
Dharti Hilaa Denge, Sab Ko Dikhaa Denge
Raja Hai Kya, Parja Hai Kya, Oh Oh Oh
Hum Jag Pe Chhaayenge, Ab Yeh Bataayenge
Hum Logon Ka Darja Hai Kya, Ho Oh Oh Oh
Jo Hona Hai, Ho Jaave
Chale Chalo, Chale Chalo
Ab Sar Na Koi Jhukaave, Chale Chalo
Koi Humse Jeet Na Paave
Chale Chalo, Chale Chalo
Mit Jaave Jo Takraave, Chale Chalo
Baar Baar Haan, Bolo Yaar Haan
Apni Jeet Ho, Unki Haar Haan
(Toot Gayi Jo Ungli Utthi
Paanchon Mili To Ban Gaye Mutthi)