Music could be a favorite pass time for someone. Well! For most of us, it is! But, A R Rahman never took music for his entertainment, instead he soaked it as his passion and now he is a world known composer, music producer, singer-producer, philanthropist and musician.
Rahman was not alone who himself delved into the music world, but it was his father who budded the seeds of music talent into him which grew so wide that its fragrance is now sprawling across the globe.
The very talented A R Rahman was welcomed into this world on 6th January 1967 by R. K. Shekhar and Kareema. He was born and brought up as A.S. Dileep in Madras, Tamil Nadu, where his family resided.
As Dileep, he started learning piano at the very small age. It was his father who made him interested within the same. The reason being, R.K. Shekar was also a film-score composer and conductor for Malayalam and Tamil films.
Rahman is a very dedicated music artist like his father, who kept on practising at home when Rahman was a kid. This is why, he kept his fingers on the keyboard for the first time, when he was just 4.
Despite of knowing that, this is a very small age, his father never let him down by denying to teach. This made him to perform at the age of 5, which is quite exceptional.
He kept on practicing dedicatedly with his father and gave him company in the studio by playing the keyboard.
Usually, at such a small age, kids are forced to attend their school and focus on studies. But, his father realized his keen interest and always took him to the studio.
With his commendable support and lessons, Rahman made his first composition when he was just nine. This was when Rahman touched the first milestone to success.
A. R. Rahman always loved to play various tunes on piano while accompanying his father in studio. When he was 9, he accidentally played a piano tune when R. K. Shekhar was recording for a film. This tune helped his father to complete the wonderful song ‘Vellithen Kinnam Pol’ for the Malayalam film, Penpada. Later the credit was won by his father for the song which was sung by Jayachandran and written by Bharanikkavu Sivakumar.
Unfortunately, R.K. Shekhar passed away when Rahman was just 9 years old. Till that age, he drowned so much into the sea of music that it became difficult for him to skip his music exercises.
Though, his father and trainer, R.K. Shekhar was no more with him, but Rahman never lost his hope and aspiration of learning. Also, he didn’t gave the thought of leaving the passion of music in order to support his family.
Rahman was raised by his mother, Kareema which made him to learn the music with a more passion. Therefore, it can be said that Rahman’s achievements are not the only talent gifted by his father, but also the incredible support by his mother. She never pushed Rahman to earn wages for family by involving in some other work. Instead she always allowed him to participate in various activities.
With his mother’s support and interest towards to music, Rahman joined the band where he played keyboard and became the arranger. Sivamani, Suresh Peters, John Anthony, Raja and JoJo were his friends with whom, Rahman practiced and performed at various events.
Slowly and steadily, Rahman became multitalented by gaining an expertise over synthesizer, piano, guitar, keyboard and harmonium too. He believed that it was the ideal combination of technology and music
Rahman got an excellence in his talent and therefore, he realised that dropping school would be a better idea. So he did and like usual parents, his mother didn’t forced to complete his studies without his will, but she constantly helped him in many other ways so that nothing comes to his way of success.
Since, Rahman got involved by many bands and orchestras, so dropping out school helped him as he wanted to travel across the world with varied orchestras.