A Grammy recipient, a double Oscar winner and the winner of multitude Filmfare awards, music composer and singer AR Rahman is undoubtedly an icon to India and its music industry. His fame is so widespread that there’s a street in Markham, Ontario, Canada named after him! Popularly nicknamed as ‘The Mozart of the West’, Rahman has given us several great scores from Slumdog Millionaire to Lord of War.
Celebrating the singer-composer turning 54 today, here’s a list of his most popular tracks:
- Agar Tum Saath Ho (2015)
If heartbreak was a Bollywood song, this would be it. The composition and the lyrics not only perfectly capture the pain of separation as Rahman’s voice soothes the pain away.
- Kun Faya Kun (2011)
Kun Faya Kun is a Qawwali, a religious song about placing your belief in God. The song composed by Rahman obviously strikes a chord in all those who hear it, and was even rendered by Berklee students.
- Nadaan Parindey (2011)
Another iconic song from the film ‘Rockstar’ is about a naïve bird and when you hear it in the backdrop of when Jordan (Ranbir Kapoor) has lost everything he holds dear, it sure is hard to hold back the feels.
- Urvasi Urvasi (1994)
An oldie but a Goldie! This iconic song from the 1995 film ‘Hum Se Hai Muqabala’ may have many remixes, but we believe the originals (Tamil/Hindi) are the best.
- Masakali (2009)
Like Rahman, we too prefer the original version of Masakali. The upbeat and lighthearted tune is perfect to cheer you up on a dull day!
- Tere Bina (2006)
With strong middle eastern and qawwali influence, this song was dedicated to the memory of Pakistani qawwali singer Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. An excerpt of the song was also used in Disney’s animated film Planes.
- Jai Ho (2008)
Jai Ho was everywhere, from dance covers to remixes, this song touched every part of the world. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy! Not to mention it was also the official campaign song of the Indian National Congress during the 2009 election.
Here’s to the legendary artist- Happy Birthday!
(Contributed by Nikhita H.)