AR Rahman Opens Up About Traumatic Childhood and Father’s Struggles

Oscar-winning composer and singer AR Rahman recently opened up about the hardships he faced during his early years. In a candid conversation, he recalled experiencing daily trauma while growing up and watching his father work tirelessly to make ends meet.

Rahman revealed that he had no financial resources to purchase equipment for his first music studio, and it was his mother who encouraged him to pursue music despite the challenges. After losing his father at the tender age of nine, Rahman took on responsibilities to help support the household.

Much of Rahman’s formative years were spent in music studios alongside musicians who were decades older than him. He shared that he had little time for school life or friendships, which made his childhood markedly different from that of other children.

He said, “I spent a lot of my childhood in studios with 40- and 50-year-old musicians. There wasn’t much time to enjoy school life or spend time with friends. That experience shaped me, but it also meant missing out on normal childhood experiences.”

Rahman spoke movingly about his father’s sacrifices, revealing the extent of his financial hardships. “My father worked three jobs at the same time just to keep a roof over our heads. Because of that, his health suffered terribly. We also faced humiliation from family members, which made life even harder,” he shared.

He also spoke about his mother, describing her as a pillar of strength who endured immense challenges to protect and raise her children alone. “My mother was a very confident and strong woman. She took all the pain and went through so much to protect us. She single-handedly brought us up,” Rahman said.

Rahman reflected on how the struggles of his childhood influenced his life and career. “The dark side of my childhood took a long time to overcome. But it also taught me resilience and shaped my perspective on life,” he noted.

AR Rahman is currently receiving praise for his music in Anand L. Rai’s upcoming film Tere Ishk Mein, starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon. The film is set to release in cinemas on 28 November.

In addition to his film work, Rahman is preparing for a live performance in Pune at the MCA Stadium on 23 November, which will feature appearances by Aamir Khan, Boney Kapoor, Sukhwinder Singh, Chinmayi, and Hariharan.

Fans are eagerly anticipating both the film release and his live performance, celebrating not just his music but the inspiring journey that brought him to global recognition.