Quotes by A. R. Rahman

About A. R. Rahman:

Allah-Rakha Rahman 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).
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

I compose music for films, and by the grace of God, I've got a few awards. That's it.

A. R. Rahman

Bollywood music is definitely a big part of Indian music and can be a great way to introduce people to the sound. But I hope to continue to incorporate other types of Indian music into my work.

A. R. Rahman

I love great lyrics, and I love the way it could shape a tune into a very unpredictable one, and I also like taking a great melody and putting lyrics into it.

A. R. Rahman

A good film demands its own score, and if you are a musician, your conscience will never allow you to do something mediocre for a good film.

A. R. Rahman

Sometimes, a remix is good because it reaches a whole new generation. But when it gets too much, it's irritating. Also, the original composer needs to be credited properly.

A. R. Rahman

The more I compose, the more I know that I don't know it all. I think it's a good way to start. If you think you know it all, the work becomes a repetition of what you've already done. I try to make sure that I don't repeat my music.

A. R. Rahman

I divide criticism into two categories - one coming from those who understand music, who are worthy of being critical because they are knowledgeable about what they are saying; and then there is another category of people who would criticise you anyw...

A. R. Rahman

I think I can get away, sometimes, with walking in the streets and not getting noticed. I like that. I want my work to get noticed, not me. And it's slowly getting there, which is good.

A. R. Rahman

Wisdom comes from within. Knowledge is acquired and can sometimes put a screen on your wisdom.

A. R. Rahman

After a point of time, when you get success and fame, money and everything, the purpose of life has to be redefined. For me, I think that purpose is to build bridges. Artists can do that very easily, more than politicians.

A. R. Rahman

Success comes to those who dedicate everything to their passion in life. To be successful, it is also very important to be humble and never let fame or money travel to your head.

A. R. Rahman

My music is mostly for the music. And it gives the liberty to do anything which I want. And nobody limits me to one genre of music. But I learn from life and I try to give back to life, in a way, whether it's the thought of the song or whether it's t...

A. R. Rahman

My kids miss me when I'm away, but I don't mind living out of a suitcase. The U.K., U.S., France, Germany, Iraq... it's such a thrill meeting people of different cultures, learning about and from them. It's changed my perception about life, humanity ...

A. R. Rahman

I have too many responsibilities and principles. There's no time for 'guilty' pleasures.

A. R. Rahman

When I travel with my kids abroad, I am not myself, but I'm more a father who wants to protect them. Sometimes, I am even aggressive about certain things and get surprised seeing myself like that: for instance, when people want to take pictures of th...

A. R. Rahman

I was a common man, and I will always remain a common man. No amount of stardom will ever consume my soul. Money comes, money goes. Fame comes, fame goes. I believe every human being is a celebrity in their own right.

A. R. Rahman

My mother insisted that I pursue music. I rented out my father's musical equipment and earned some money. As a child, I wasn't sure about a career goal, but I was always fascinated by electronic gadgets, specially musical equipment.

A. R. Rahman

If you respect a language and culture, it shows in your work.

A. R. Rahman

I basically love classical music. I love a lot of musicians playing together and the whole culture of that, whether it's Indian or it's Western.

A. R. Rahman

It's true that I love to connect with my fans on the social networking sites, but I try not to go overboard, ever. I just give people a peek into my mind space, but never bombard them with my tweets.

A. R. Rahman

I grew up on Bach and Beethoven, and now I'm listening to more modern composers who I can't even name. But since I'm constantly doing music, it's difficult to have that quality time to listen to music and do classical stuff.

A. R. Rahman

Author Bio

  • NameA. R. Rahman
  • DescriptionIndian singer and composer
  • BornJanuary 6, 1966
  • CountryIndia
  • ProfessionComposer; Actor; Singer; Musician
  • AwardsPadma Shri; Academy Award For Best Original Score; Filmfare Awards; Filmfare Awards South; Padma Bhushan; National Film Award For Best Music Direction; CNN-IBN Indian Of The Year