Happy birthday AR Rahman: 5 Best moments when the 'Mozart of Madras' made India proud

Music maestro AR Rahman, the only Indian to have won both Grammy award and Academy Award. Rahman has always made India proud and what excites us more is the fact that the living legend turns 50 on January 6, 2017.

Born in 1967 as A. S. Dileep Kumar, the singer, composer, songwriter, music producer and philanthropist is known as the ‘Mozart’ of Madras. Described by Time as, “world’s most prolific and popular composer”, if we start listing his awards and recognitions, words would not be enough to describe the accolades that Padma Bhushan AR Rahman has received- a BAFTA, a Golden Globe award, fifteen Filmfare Awards, thirteen Filmfare Awards South are to name a few.

Here are five best moments when AR Rahman made India proud:

• 81^st Academy awards:

The whole world echoed with the 2008 anthem Jai Ho when our very own music composer performed on the prestigious stage of AMPAS in Los Angeles. He even went on to win two academy awards, one for “Best Original Score” and the other one for “Best Original Song” which he shared with another Indian legend Gulzar who had penned the lyrics of the song.

• 52^ndGrammy Awards:

There was no stopping for AR Rahman after he had made an unforgettable composition Jai Ho which itself signifies victory as soon as it is played. He had also garbed 2009 Grammy Awards in two different categories, “Best compilation soundtrack album for a motion picture, television or other visual media” and “Best song written for a motion picture, television or other visual media”

• When the two international superstars performed together:

While Coldplay’s lead singer Chris Martin along with his band was mesmerizing the audience with his performance on his own hits like Yellow and Hymn for the Weekend, AR Rahman made a special entry and the audience went crazy. He got Chris Martin to sing along his popular patriotic song Maa Tujhe Salaam.

• The third highest civilian award:

The Government of India honored AR Rahman with the third highest civilian award Padma Bhushan in 2010. Rahman was given this honor for his outstanding and unforgettable contribution to Indian music and the songs that he had composed and sung irrespective of any language or region of the country.

• The Allah-Rakha Rahman Street:

The world remembers AR Rahman’s music as charming and fresh and in 2013 he left his permanent mark in Canada, as the perfectionist was honored for his contribution to the world of music and a street was named as Allah-Rakha Rahman street.