Celebrated Music Maestro AR Rahman Honored with Street in Canada
On his 57th birthday today, January 6, renowned musician AR Rahman is being recognized for his outstanding contributions to the world of music. The Grammy Award-winning composer, widely regarded as one of India’s finest musicians, has received accolades not only on a national scale but also internationally.
The City of Markham in Canada recently named a street after AR Rahman, acknowledging the global impact of his musical prowess. Expressing his gratitude on Twitter, Rahman thanked the Mayor of Markham, Frank Scarpitti, city counselors, Indian Consulate General Apoorva Srivastava, and the people of Canada for this unexpected honor. In 2013, Rahman had previously shared a photo holding a board displaying ‘Allah Rakha Rahman st.’
In a heartfelt message, Rahman stated that the name AR Rahman doesn’t belong to him alone but symbolizes “merciful.” He emphasized that this quality of mercy belongs to the common God shared by all and expressed his hope that the name brings peace, prosperity, happiness, and health to all Canadian residents.
Acknowledging the love from fellow Indians, Rahman recognized his role as a small part of a larger whole, extending thanks to creative collaborators who joined him in celebrating a hundred years of cinema. He expressed a sense of responsibility to achieve more and be a source of inspiration, vowing not to tire or retire just yet.
Rahman, who began his film career in the early 1990s, achieved early success with the music of the Tamil film ‘Roja,’ which remains cherished by audiences. Recently collaborating with ‘Roja’ filmmaker Mani Ratnam for the film ‘Ponniyin Selvan,’ Rahman composed the music for this magnum opus featuring an ensemble cast, including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Trisha, Vikram, and others.