Unplugged: A R Rahman 15 Mar 2009, 0000 hrs IST, R SANSKRITI & SRINIVASA
RAMANUJAM
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Text:
His
music<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lifestyle/Unplugged-A-R-Rahman/articleshow/4261261.cms#>is
everywhere; but his personal life lies ensconced within the walls of
his
two-storey bungalow in Kodambakkam! We try to dig out [image: AR
Rahman]<javascript:openslideshownew('/slideshow/4264499.cms?imw=460','541')>
<javascript:openslideshownew('/slideshow/4264499.cms?imw=460','541')>
AR Rahman (AP photo)More
Pics<http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4175015.cms>
lesser-known facts about the fiercely private
musician<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lifestyle/Unplugged-A-R-Rahman/articleshow/4261261.cms#>AR
Rahman
-Nine-year-old Dileep Kumar a.k.a A R Rahman slept late, played carrom and
hated waking up at 7 a.m to practice at the piano!
-Asked to leave school due to lack of attendance, he quit studies at the age
of 15.
-When Rahman’s sister fell seriously ill in 1988, Pir Qadri, who cured her,
advised the family to convert to Islam and they did!
-Dileep had a choice of seven names during his conversion. He chose Allah
Rakha Rahman.
-Call it a filmi coincidence, his name was Dileep Kumar before he converted
to Islam and his wife’s name is Saira Bano!
-His nickname is Isai Puyal.
-Rahman is closest to his mother Kasturi who converted to Kareema Begum.
A true believer, he offers namaaz five times a day.
-Is superstitious about starting work according to the prayer time in the
place of
worship<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lifestyle/Unplugged-A-R-Rahman/articleshow/4261261.cms#>close
to his heart!
-The maestro loves eating rasam-rice. When busy, he eats lunch at 5 p.m and
dinner after midnight!
-Rahman lives in a small two-storey bungalow in Kodambakkam.
-He has three kids Khatija (13), Rahima (10), and son Ameen (5).
-His mother spotted Saira at a dargah and sent a marriage proposal right
away!
-Saira Banu is the sister-in-law of Tamil actor Rahman and the daughter of a
Chennai-based businessman from Kutch.
The musician's wife likes to “dress him up” for important occasions; he is
mostly dressed in black. [image: AR
Rahman]<javascript:openslideshownew('/slideshow/4264499.cms?imw=460','541')>
<javascript:openslideshownew('/slideshow/4264499.cms?imw=460','541')>
AR Rahman (AP photo)More
Pics<http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/articleshow/4175015.cms>
-Rahman loves to shop for music records at the Virgin Records store in New
York. Once he landed in NY at 2 a.m and dashed off to the store.
In Chennai, Rahman takes his family and friends to a Thai joint located
behind The Park Sheraton.
-Rahman's long-time associate drummer Shivamani once cooked fish curry for
him in London while he was working on Bombay Dreams. Rahman loved it. He's a
non-veg but has suddenly stopped eating prawns.
-His Man Friday Swamidurai, fondly called Swami, has been with him since the
begining of his career.
-As a bachelor, he used to often use the abbreviation LFA, which stood for
‘Love Failures Association’!
-Rahman usually sees his children off to school before he sleeps after
working nights!
-He does not let his wife or children inside the studio when he’s working.
-Khatija doesn’t like her dad signing autographs in school and has asked him
not to come there.
-Rahman’s son shares his birthday with him.
-The old keyboard that he used to play as a teenager is still displayed in
his studio.
-A master with instruments, he likes dismantling parts and assembling them.
-A good mimic, he loves to imitate lyricist Vairamuthu, who in turn mimics
Rahman’s style of walking!
-Rahman usually works in the night but he’s made an exception for SP
Balasubramaniam whose songs have all been recorded before 10 pm.
-He likes listening to songs based on the raaga Sindhu Bhairavi.
-When Subhash Ghai once told Rahman during the music of Taal that he would
once win an Oscar, Rahman laughed and reply that Indians can’t.
- Jai Ho was initially composed for Yuvvraaj!
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lifestyle/People/Unplugged-A-R-Rahman/articleshow/msid-4261261,curpg-2.cms
--
regards,
Vithur
