On February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, the Oscar Awards were held, attended by many prominent figures from the film industry. The moment arrived to announce the winner of the "Best Original Score," and the atmosphere was tense with anticipation. When the winner was announced, everyone erupted in applause for the small-statured individual who made Indians proud. The winner was none other than the renowned Bollywood and South Indian composer A.R. Rahman, who received the prestigious award for his work on the Hollywood film "Slumdog Millionaire," particularly for the songs "Jai Ho" and "O Saya." With this achievement, he became the first person from Asia and India to win both the Oscar Award and the Global Music Award for his outstanding music. Rahman's success was a result of his lifelong dedication and hard work, rather than mere coincidence. A.R. Rahman, born on January 6, 1967, in Chennai as A.S. Dilip to music director R.K. Shekhar and Kareema Begum, grew up in a musical environment. His grandfather sang in a devotional choir, and his father was a composer in the Tamil and Malayalam music industries, tirelessly working to create music for films. Dilip was introduced to music at an early age, often visiting his father's studio and playing various instruments. Musician Sudarshanam was impressed by young Dilip's talent on the harmonium and predicted that he would one day elevate his father's legacy. At just four years old, with Sudarshanam's encouragement, Dilip began learning the piano. The family was initially happy, with R.K. Shekhar's first film on the horizon. However, due to his relentless work ethic, he developed a stomach-related illness that led to numerous hospital visits without improvement. Despite prayers and rituals, he ultimately opted for surgery against the advice of a Muslim saint, which resulted in his passing. Even in his final moments, he continued to work on the music for his first film. Dilip was only nine years old when he lost his father, leaving him and his three sisters behind.

by Sumit Bherwani in Hindi Motivational Stories

Writen by Sumit Bherwani

Category Motivational Stories