Music composer A R Rahman turns 49

Rahman has thanked his fans for wishing him on his birthday.

"To my dearest friends, fans, family and well-wishers... Thank you for your kind birthday wishes, prayers and affection.
You inspire me to work harder and make even more beautiful music. Luckily I am not yet 50! May the Almighty keep us all united, keep our hearts pure and compassionate. Let us make the world a beautiful place with connected wisdom, love and care," he wrote on Facebook.

Allah Rakha Rahman was born in Chennai in 1967 to music composer R K Shekhar and his wife Kareema Begum.

A prodigious talent, Rahman used it well and wowed everyone with his debut movie Roja (1992). The fresh sound was appreciated by critics and audience alike and Rahman soon became an overnight sensation.

The success of Roja also initiated the successful Rahman-Mani Ratnam bond, as the music composer and film-maker collaborated hence forth.

His ability to fuse Indian and Western music slowly paved way for an international audience and Rahman started composing for foreign films.

After various recognition in the national level, Rahman found international fame in 2009 as he won 2 Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award for his score in the movie Slumdog Millionaire.

He is also the recipient of 2 Grammy Awards, 4 national Awards, 15 Filmfare Awards and 13 Filmfare Awards South among many others.

Though Rahman has broaden his genre, his third movie album, Bombay (1995) remains his highest selling Album and is also one of the highest selling movie album in India.