Academy award-winning composer A.R. Rahman bagged his seventh National Award for best music director. Rahman won it for the background score of Mani Ratnam’s Tamil blockbuster, Ponniyin Selvan — Part 1 at the 70th National Film Awards announced on Friday.
This marks a new record for the most wins by any music director in India. Rahman has surpassed Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja, who has five National Awards in his kitty, the most recent being in 2015 for the Tamil film Tharai Thappattai. Vishal Bhardwaj is in third spot with four National Awards.
Rahman’s illustrious career as a music director began with Mani Ratnam’s Roja in 1992, which earned him his first National Award for best music direction. He won his second National Award for Minsara Kanavu in 1996, and his third for Lagaan in 2001. Mani Ratnam’s Kannathil Muthamittal in 2002 fetched him his fourth award.
It wasn’t until 2017 that Rahman added another National Award to his collection, this time for Mani Ratnam’s Kaatru Veliyidai and the Hindi film Mom starring Sridevi.
Apart from winning accolades in India, Rahman has also won top honours globally. His work on the Slumdog Millionaire’s (2008) soundtrack earned him two Academy Awards — one for Best Original Score and another for Best Original Song for the track Jai Ho.
In addition to his Oscar victories, Rahman won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score for Slumdog Millionaire, becoming the first Indian to receive this honour. The same film also brought him a BAFTA Award for Best Film Music and a Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Composer, solidifying his status as an internationally recognised composer.
Rahman won two Grammy Awards in 2010 — one for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media, and another for Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media; both were for Jai Ho.
The Chennai-based composer’s influence extends beyond film music. He was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2009, recognising his contribution to music on a global scale.