A. R. Rahman was born Dileep Kumar Rajagopala on January 6, 1967, in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, and hails from a family with a musical background. His father, Late R. K. Shekhar, was a prominent music composer and conductor in Tamil and Malayalam cinema, and his mother was Late Kareema Beegum.

• Parents:
  Late R. K. Shekhar (Father)
  Late Kareema Beegum (Mother)
• Siblings:
  A. R. Reihana
  Fathima Rafiq
  Ishrath Qadri
• Spouse:
  Saira Banu
• Children:
  Khatija Rahman
  Allah Rakha Ameen
  Rahima

A. R. Rahman began studying piano at age four and assisted his father in the studio. 

After his father's death, Rahman faced financial struggles, leading to missed classes and a difficult childhood, where teachers even suggested he beg on the streets instead of attending school.

• He is a man of quiet intensity, a maestro who speaks through the language of music.
• He is known for his humility and dedication to his craft.
• His journey began in the bustling city of Chennai, where he honed his skills as a musician, eventually becoming a household name across the globe.
• His personality is a blend of artistic sensitivity and unwavering professionalism.
• He is known for his meticulous attention to detail, spending countless hours crafting each musical note.
• His dedication to his work is evident in the sheer volume of his output, spanning film scores, albums, and live performances.
• Beyond the music, he is a man of deep faith, often drawing inspiration from his spiritual beliefs. He is also known for his philanthropic endeavors, using his platform to support various social causes.
• His personality is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance, a true inspiration to aspiring musicians and artists alike.

A. R. Rahman completed his schooling at Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan in Chennai. 

He later attended Madras Christian College before pursuing higher studies in music at the Trinity College of Music, Oxford University, where he earned a degree in Western Classical Music.

In 1984, after his younger sister fell seriously ill, Rahman was introduced to the Qadiri Sufi order. At age 23, in 1989, he and his family converted to Islam, adopting the name Allah Rakha Rahman.

• Rahman started his career composing music for documentaries and advertisements, including popular jingles for Allwyn watches and Titan Watches, the latter using Mozart’s Symphony No. 25.
• In 1992, he was chosen by director Mani Ratnam to create the soundtrack for the Tamil film Roja, marking the start of his film career.
• He established his own recording studio, Panchathan Record Inn, which became one of India’s most advanced music studios.
• Rahman's first film soundtrack, Roja, was a critical and commercial hit, featuring memorable songs like "Chinna Chinna Aasai."
• He collaborated on the Malayalam film Yoddha in 1992, working with cinematographer Santosh Sivan.
• In 1993, Rahman won the National Film Award for Best Music Director for Roja.
• He continued his success with popular Tamil films, including Bombay, Thiruda Thiruda, and Gentleman, known for their innovative and catchy songs like "Chikku Bukku Rayile."
• Rahman’s collaborations with directors like Bharathiraaja and K. Balachander produced hits such as Kizhakku Cheemayile, Karuththamma, and Duet, featuring a mix of rural folk tunes and memorable saxophone themes.
• His music for films like Indira, Mr. Romeo, and Love Birds further solidified his reputation in the 1990s.

A. R. Rahman married Saira Banu in 1995.

They have three children - daughters Khatija Rahman born in 1997, Rahima born in 2003, and son Allah Rakha Ameen born in 2005.

• Rahman gained a strong Japanese following after the success of the film Muthu there.
• His music is renowned for blending Western classical, Carnatic, Tamil traditional, jazz, reggae, and rock influences, creating a distinctive sound.
• The Bombay soundtrack sold 15 million copies worldwide, and its iconic "Bombay Theme" reappeared in various films and compilations, including Divine Intervention (2002) and Lord of War (2005).
• Rahman’s Bollywood debut came with the successful soundtrack of Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, followed by notable works for Dil Se... and Taal, with influences from Sufi mysticism.
• "Chaiyya Chaiyya" from Dil Se... and "Zikr" from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose soundtrack featured Sufi elements with elaborate orchestral arrangements.
• His Minsara Kanavu soundtrack earned him his second National Film Award for Best Music Direction in 1997, and a record-breaking six consecutive South FilmFare Awards for Best Music Direction.
• Rahman’s works like Sangamam and Iruvar combined Carnatic vocals, veena, rock guitar, and jazz to create unique musical textures.
• In the 2000s, he composed soundtracks for films like Kandukondain Kandukondain, Alaipayuthey, Swades, Rang De Basanti, and Water, incorporating Hindustani motifs in his music.
• Rahman collaborated with prominent lyricists such as Javed Akhtar, Gulzar, Vairamuthu, and Vaali, and worked with directors like Mani Ratnam and S. Shankar on successful soundtracks for films such as Gentleman, Kadhalan, Sivaji, Enthiran, and 2.0.
• In 2005, Rahman expanded his Panchathan Record Inn studio and set up AM Studios in Chennai, creating one of Asia’s most advanced music studios.
• He launched his own music label, KM Music, and released his score for Sillunu Oru Kaadhal in 2006.
• Rahman ventured into international cinema with Warriors of Heaven and Earth (2003), incorporating Chinese and Japanese classical music, and won awards for his score in Varalaru (2006).
• He co-scored Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) and received a Best Composer nomination for his work on Jodhaa Akbar (2008).
• Rahman’s music has been widely sampled, including in films like Inside Man, Lord of War, Divine Intervention, and The Accidental Husband.
• His score for Couples Retreat (2009) won the BMI London Award for Best Score.
• Rahman’s work on Slumdog Millionaire (2008) earned him a Golden Globe and two Academy Awards, making him the first Asian to win such honors. Songs like "Jai Ho" and "O... Saya" gained international recognition.
• His music for Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na (2008) became popular among Indian youth, and his score for Jodhaa Akbar earned critical acclaim, IIFA awards, and a Best Composer nomination.

• We Are the World 25 for Haiti (2010): Rahman contributed to this charity single, raising funds for Haiti after the earthquake.
• Compositions for India: Rahman composed "Jai Jai Garavi Gujarat" for Gujarat's 50th anniversary, "Semmozhiyaana Thamizh Mozhiyaam" for the World Classical Tamil Conference 2010, and "Jiyo Utho Bado Jeeto" for the Commonwealth Games 2010.
• World Tour (2010): Rahman began his Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour in June 2010, covering 16 cities worldwide.
• Collaboration with Michael Bolton (2011): Rahman worked on Michael Bolton's album Gems – The Duets Collection, reworking "Sajna" from Couples Retreat.
• SuperHeavy Supergroup (2011): Rahman joined Mick Jagger, Dave Stewart, Joss Stone, and Damian Marley to form SuperHeavy, releasing a self-titled album in September.
• Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg (2012): Rahman performed with KM Music Conservatory musicians on a tour celebrating Indian cinema’s centennial.
• London Olympics (2012): Composed a Punjabi song for the opening ceremony, celebrating Indian influence in the UK.
• Qyuki Platform (2012): Rahman and Shekhar Kapoor launched Qyuki, a platform for story writers to connect and exchange ideas.
• "Infinite Love" (2012): Rahman released this single to spread hope, peace, and love.
• Rahmanishq Tour (2013): Rahman announced his Rahmanishq tour, performing across various cities.
• Nenaje Yezhu (2016): Rahman performed in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai, with proceeds going towards flood relief and cancer awareness.
• The Flying Lotus (2017): Rahman released a 19-minute orchestral composition reflecting on demonetisation.
• Harmony Series (2018): Rahman hosted a 5-episode series on Amazon Prime Video.
• ARRived (2018): Rahman launched India's first YouTube Original to find the best singing talent, with him as the main judge.
• NEXA Music (2019): Rahman launched a platform where he mentored 24 artists to create international music.
• The Voice (2019): Rahman served as a judge on the show The Voice on StarPlus.
• Marvel Anthem (2019): Rahman composed and sang a promotional track for Avengers: Endgame in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
• "Ahimsa" with U2 (2019): Rahman collaborated with U2 on a single, promoting non-violence and peace, reflecting India's spiritual diversity.

• In 2010, Rahman composed original scores and songs for several notable films, including the romantic Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, the sci-fi romance Enthiran, and Danny Boyle's 127 Hours.
• He also worked on the soundtrack for Imtiaz Ali's musical Rockstar, which became a critical and commercial success.
• In 2012, Rahman composed for Ekk Deewana Tha and the American drama People Like Us. He also collaborated with director Yash Chopra on Jab Tak Hai Jaan, all of which were positively received.
• By the end of 2012, Rahman’s music for Mani Ratnam’s Kadal topped the iTunes India chart for December.
• In 2013, Rahman had two successful releases: Raanjhanaa, which was nominated for several awards, and Maryan, which was named the iTunes India Tamil Album of 2013.
• 2014 was a particularly busy year for Rahman, as he worked on 12 films in different languages. His first release of the year, Highway, received positive reviews.
• He then composed for the animated film Kochadaiiyaan, a Rajinikanth starrer, which was long-listed at the Academy Awards for Best Original Score.
• Rahman also worked on the scores for two Hollywood films, Million Dollar Arm and The Hundred Foot Journey, both of which made it to the Oscar nomination shortlist for Original Score.
• Rahman composed for the period drama Kaaviya Thalaivan, collaborating with director Vasanthabalan for the first time.
• He followed up with music for Shankar’s thriller I and K. S. Ravikumar’s period action film Lingaa.