AR Rahman Secures Record-Breaking 7th National Award For Music Direction

The 70th National Awards, celebrating films from 2022, were announced today, with Oscar-winner AR Rahman making it to the prestigious list. He won the National Film Award for Best Music Director (Background Score) for his work in Mani Ratnam's Tamil blockbuster "Ponniyin Selvan - Part 1."

This accolade marks Rahman’s seventh National Award, setting a record for the most wins by any music director in India. Following closely behind is Isaignani Ilaiyraaja, with five National Awards, the most recent being in 2015 for the Tamil film "Tharai Thappattai." Hindi music director Vishal Bhardwaj ranks third with four awards, while Jaidev has won three.

AR Rahman began his illustrious career in Tamil cinema as a music director with Mani Ratnam’s "Roja" in 1992, which marked the beginning of his spectacular journey. He received his first National Award for "Roja," followed by another for "Minsara Kanavu" in 1996. By 2000, Rahman had already begun composing music in various languages, and it was no surprise when he won the National Award for the Hindi film "Lagaan" in 2001, followed by a win for Mani Ratnam’s "Kannathil Muthamittal" in 2002.

After 2002, Rahman garnered numerous international awards, including Golden Globes, Critics' Choice Movie Awards, and Oscars for his work on global hits like "Slumdog Millionaire" and "127 Hours." Despite his international success, it wasn’t until 15 years later that he once again made a mark at the National Awards, winning for both Mani Ratnam’s "Kaatru Veliyidai" and the Hindi film "Mom," starring Sridevi. With his latest win for "Ponniyin Selvan - Part 1," Rahman has firmly established himself in the annals of Indian cinema history as the music director with the most National Awards.

The Mani Ratnam Factor

One of the most significant aspects of Rahman’s music when he entered Tamil cinema was his remarkable ability to reinvent the soundscape. Working out of a small studio, Rahman’s innovative creations caught the attention of acclaimed director Mani Ratnam, who signed him on for "Roja" in 1992. Together, Ratnam and Rahman, often referred to as the Mozart of Madras, have become one of the most successful director-composer duos of our time.

In an interview with Deadline, Mani Ratnam recalled his first encounter with Rahman’s music: “He played something he’d recorded for a jingle, and the sound was just unbelievable. It was something I’d never heard before in such a small studio. But it wasn’t the conventional tools or the conventional form that he was using, so we worked with him for a few months to see if he could fit the story…to see if he could do what we required in terms of six songs and the background score.” According to the "Ponniyin Selvan" director, each film with Rahman was a unique journey, with the composer bringing a fresh sound and new music to every project.

This marked the beginning of a deep and evolving bond between Mani Ratnam and Rahman that continues to this day. Notably, four of Rahman’s National Awards have been for Mani Ratnam’s films. In return, the "Lagaan" music director considers Ratnam as a brother and mentor who has been with him for the past 32 years.

The Unique Appeal of AR Rahman’s Music

When Rahman released the "Roja" album, it was a breath of fresh air that captivated audiences of all ages. The innovative compositions, melodies, and use of new sounds were entirely unexpected, leaving the Tamil film audience mesmerized. His beautiful and soulful fusion of Indian and Western sounds and elements became a turning point in Tamil film music (and possibly in Indian music) and became his signature style for decades.

The "Slumdog Millionaire" music director experimented with sounds, blending Broadway-style orchestrations, jazz, pop, Sufi, reggae, and other world music genres with Indian sounds to create unique compositions for Indian films.

From Madras, Rahman has gone on to perform globally and collaborate with some of the best in Hollywood and international cinema. Summing up his life and music philosophy, Rahman once advised aspiring musicians: “Don’t let other people put you down, just believe in yourself, pursue your passion and one day you will surprise the world. Also, while it is fine to get inspired by someone, find what is charming in your personality, develop it. Then everybody will come to you because no one else can be you.” Indeed, AR Rahman’s music remains irreplaceable, as does the man himself.