A. R. Rahman

This award-winning Bollywood personality does not need any introduction. He is an Indian music composer, singer, song writer, music producer, multi-instrumentalist and philanthropist. Born as A.S.Dileep Kumar on 6th January, 1966, his original name is Allah-Rakha Rahman. He is beat known for his work 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 Award, four National Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards and thirteen Filmfare Awards South, in addition to numerous other awards and nominations.

At the age of 9, once he had accidentally played piano at his father's recording studio and from there on, he got his hand firm on almost all the music instruments. Rahman had faced enormous crisis in his early days, as his father died when he was too young and his family had to rent out his father's musical equipment as their source of income. During these formative years, Rahman served as a keyboard player and an arranger in bands such as 'Roots', with childhood friend and percussionist Sivamani, John Anthony, Suresh Peters, JoJo and Raja. His hard-work has really paid off as he is world renowned musician and also owns in-house studio high-tech called Panchathan Record Inn at Chennai. Rahman's film music career began in 1992 with Mani Ratnam's Tamil film, which was remaked in Hindi as well, 'Roja'. He has composed music for many Indian languages films as well as for foreign languages movies.

Vande Mataram, an album of his original compositions released on India's 50th anniversary of independence in 1997, enjoyed great commercial success. And many Bollywood movies namely, 'Bombay', 'Rangeela', 'Dil Se', 'Taal', 'Lagaan', 'Swades', 'Rang De Basanti', 'Guru' (2007), 'Rockstar', 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' and many more. Also, he has provided jingles to many of the advertisements, Airtel tune being the popular one.

Some of his Hindi popular tracks are foot-tapping 'Humma Humma' from the super hit film 'Bombay', sensuous 'Haye Rama Ye Kya Hua' from 'Rangeela', catchy dance number 'Chhaiya Chhaiya' from 'Dil Se', soothing 'Taal Se Taal Mila' from the musical wonder 'Taal', patriotic 'Chale Chalo' and 'Ye Jo Des Hai Tera' from 'Lagaan' and 'Swades' respectively; emotional 'Lukha Chuppi' from 'Rang De Basanti', romantic 'Tere Bina' from 'Guru (2007)', youth anthem 'Sadda Haqq' from 'Rockstar' and the hit song list would never stop.

Skilled in Carnatic music, Western classical, Hindustani Music and the Qawwali style Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahman has been noted to write film songs that amalgamate elements of these music systems and other genres, layering instruments from differing music idioms in an improvisatory manner.

Considering A. R. Rahman's dedication and perfection in his work, he can truly be called as the musician of the millennium.