(This article is authored by Alar)

In the symphony of anticipation surrounding the birthday celebration of the musical maestro, A. R. Rahman, who turns 57, fans eagerly await the melodious notes that he is poised to unveil in his upcoming projects. Born as A. S. Dileep Kumar in Madras, Tamil Nadu, on January 6, 1967, Rahman's journey from playing the keyboard at the age of 4, in his father's studio to becoming a globally acclaimed composer is nothing short of extraordinary.

Rahman's initial foray into the world of music involved scoring for documentaries and creating jingles for advertisements and Indian television channels. However, it was in 1992 that he received a defining opportunity from director Mani Ratnam to compose for the Tamil film, 'Roja.' The soundtrack of 'Roja' not only marked Rahman's debut but also secured a place on Time's "10 Best Soundtracks" in 2005.

Venturing into uncharted territories, Rahman directed the 2022 Indian virtual reality thriller film, 'Le Musk.' This innovative project was unveiled at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival, featuring the captivating 'Scent of a Song.'

Rahman's musical explorations are deeply rooted in his love for experimentation. His compositions, characterized by auteurist use of counterpoint, orchestration, and the human voice, seamlessly blend Indian pop music with a unique timbre, form, and instrumentation. The maestro's influence extends to pioneering 7.1 surround sound technology in South Indian films.

Here are the upcoming projects from the Isai Puyal AR Rahman:

Ayalaan:

Among his highly anticipated projects is the sci-fi film 'Ayalaan,' boasting star-studded cast, The film boasts an impressive star cast, including Karunakaran, Yogi Babu, Sharad Kelkar, Isha Koppikar, David Broughton-Davies, Banupriya, Balasaravanan, Kothandam, and Rahul Madhav.

The film is produced by KJR Studios, with Ezhumalaiyan. T as the executive producer. The film also marks the collaboration of A R Rahman and Nirav Shah, who composed the music and handled the cinematography respectively. The film also features the work of Ruben (editor), Muthuraj.R (production designer), Anbariv (action director), and Bejoy Arputharaj and Phantom FX (VFX).

Lal Salaam:

Lal Salaam is an upcoming Indian Tamil-language sports drama film directed by Aishwarya Rajinikanth and produced by Subaskaran Allirajah under Lyca Productions. The film stars Rajinikanth in an extended cameo appearance, while Vishnu Vishal and Vikranth play the lead roles, along with an ensemble supporting cast including Vignesh, Livingston, Senthil, Jeevitha, K. S. Ravikumar and Thambi Ramaiah.

Aadujeevitham:

The survival drama film, 'Aadujeevitham,' based on the novel by Benyamin, is a testament to Rahman's diverse contributions. upcoming survival drama film written, directed, and co-produced by Blessy.The film is a collaborative effort between companies in India and the United States. It features dialogues in Arabic and Malayalam languages and is based on a true incident. The movie is an adaptation of the 2008 Malayalam novel "Aadujeevitham" by Benyamin. It follows the story of Najeeb, a Malayali immigrant laborer played by Prithviraj Sukumaran, who is forced into slavery as a goatherd on a remote farm in Saudi Arabia.

D50:

Further expanding his directorial repertoire, Dhanush's second venture, 'D50,' produced by Sun Pictures, is poised to showcase Rahman's versatile musicality. The film is produced by Kalanithi Maran under the banner Sun Pictures and marks as the second directorial of Dhanush after Pa Paandi (2017). The film also stars an ensemble cast including S. J. Suryah, Sundeep Kishan, Nithya Menen and Kalidas Jayaram.

Thug Life:

In the crime thriller 'Thug Life,' a collaboration with Mani Ratnam, the maestro is set to create magic alongside Kamal Haasan, Trisha, Dulquer Salmaan, and Jayam Ravi The film will showcase the brilliance of Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam, who have previously collaborated in the classic film ‘Nayakan’, which is considered one of the best Indian films of all time.

Genie:

In the fantasy film 'Genie,' directed by Bhuvanesh Arjunan Jr. It is produced by Ishari K. Ganesh under Vels Films International. The film stars Jayam Ravi and Krithi Shetty, alongside Kalyani Priyadarshan and Wamiqa Gabbi.

Kadhalikka Neramillai:

Jayam Ravi and Nithya Menon will grace the screen in 'Kadhalikka Neramillai,' directed by Kiruthiga Udhayanidhi. The movie's cast includes several notable actors such as Yogi Babu, Vinay Rai, Lal, John Kokken, TJ Bhanu, Lakshmy Ramakrishnan, and Vinodhini Vaidynathan, among others. AR Rahman is responsible for the music, while Gavemic Ary will handle the cinematography and Lawrence Kishore will oversee editing. At the moment, there are no further details about the film.

Stepping into uncharted territories once more, Rahman makes his mark in the Arabic film industry with 'Baab,' directed by Nayla Al Khaja, showcasing his global impact. As fans eagerly await the unveiling of these musical masterpieces, Rahman's journey continues to resonate across borders, proving that the language of music knows no bounds.

Continuing his score for Bollywood, Rahman lends his magic to the sports drama 'Maidaan' starring Ajay Devgan, and the Imtiaz Ali-directed film 'Chamkila,' currently in post-production. Additionally, 'Tere Ishk Mein,' produced by Aanand L. Rai and featuring Dhanush, promises to be a musical treat, scheduled for release in 2024. Not limiting his reach, Rahman is also scoring music for Ram Charan's upcoming Telugu film 'RC16' directed by Buchi Babu Sana.