Renowned music composer, singer-songwriter AR Rahman shared intriguing tales about his international accolades and unveiled the reason behind his mother’s practice of storing them in towels.
AR Rahman’s acclaim transcends borders, earning him accolades on the global stage. The multifaceted artist, known as a music composer, singer, songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist, has clinched two Oscars, two Grammys, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and six National Awards. In a recent interview, Rahman disclosed that his late mother, Kareema Begum, used to wrap his international trophies in towels.
Reflecting on his mother’s legacy, Rahman revealed that following her passing, he relocated the awards from the room and entrusted them to the Dubai Firdaus studio.
AR Rahman’s mother wrapped up his international awards in towel
Much like any proud mother, AR Rahman’s mother, Kareema Begum, took immense pride in her son’s accomplishments. Sharing an intriguing anecdote about his awards, Rahman revealed, “There’s a room, and then some of them have not come to me. I think some of the directors have kept them as my souvenirs. I kept the international awards in Dubai because it was wrapped in a towel. My mom wrapped it – she thought it was gold. The rest are in Chennai.”
The composer of Amar Singh Chamkila further disclosed that following his mother’s passing, he retrieved the awards from the room and entrusted them to the Dubai Firdaus studio.
AR Rahman says he has moved past award phase
In the same interview, Rahman elaborated on why he believes his ‘award’ phase has concluded. He expressed his evolution into something new and his quest for fresh endeavors. “Similar to the documentary – can I leverage whatever I stand for, the credibility I’ve garnered, for a greater purpose?” he articulated.
AR Rahman says music is his ‘clubbing’
Rewrite This AR Rahman had a chat with Sucharita Tyagi and shared more about his documentary. During their chat, Tyagi enquired what Imtiaz Ali, writer Irshad Kamil, and he do when they are not making music. To this, the musician responded, “That never happens.”
She further questioned if he ever casually chills or goes clubbing with his pals. The composer replied, “I think there’s no chilling out because I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, so there’s no chilling. Clubbing for me is music.” When asked what he does in his free time, Rahman exclaimed, “I go to Cannes! I’m not making any music. I’m just doing other things, so that’s, in a way, actually chilling out.”
Imtiaz Ali shared his experience of making Vida Karo for Amar Singh Chamkila
As Irshad Kamil, AR Rahman, Mohit Chauhan, and Imtiaz Ali convened for Netflix India, they delved into the creation of the beloved song “Vida Karo.” Describing it as a ‘magical experience,’ the filmmaker reminisced, “All of us were in a certain mood. But he (AR Rahman) said, ‘Let’s put the lights off. Let’s light the candles.'”
Continuing the narrative, Ali recounted how they illuminated candles and sat in silence in various corners of the room. As Rahman played the piano, Imtiaz felt transported to a ‘magical world.’ “Truly, that was the most enjoyable experience, not just of Chamkila, but perhaps of many films combined,” he remarked. Meanwhile, Amar Singh Chamkila, starring Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, is presently available for streaming on Netflix.
AR Rahman’s professional front
Rahman received extensive praise for his soundtracks in Aadujeevitham and Amar Singh Chamkila. His forthcoming ventures include Shankar and Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2, as well as Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam’s Thug Life, among others.