AR Rahman conferred with Lakshminarayana International Award 2025 in Chennai

Academy Award-winning composer AR Rahman was honoured with the Lakshminarayana International Award for 2025 at a ceremony held at Chennai’s Rasika Ranjani Sabha. Instituted to celebrate outstanding contributions to the arts, the award recognised Rahman’s lasting impact on music and his role in reshaping contemporary soundscapes.

The prestigious honour was presented to Rahman by legendary violinist and composer Dr L Subramaniam, who lauded the maestro’s innovation and transformative influence on global and Indian music. Accepting the award, Rahman described the moment as humbling and expressed heartfelt gratitude for the recognition. The evening was attended by several eminent personalities, including filmmaker Mani Ratnam, actor and filmmaker Suhasini Mani Ratnam, and Padma Shri awardee Kavita Krishnamurti.

Addressing the audience, A R Rahman reflected on his creative journey, stating that exploration and experimentation continue to be the driving forces behind his work. Mani Ratnam and Suhasini, in their addresses, spoke about the deep artistic synergy shared between the two long-time collaborators, adding that the honour fittingly acknowledged Rahman’s originality and enduring legacy.

A musical highlight of the evening was the SaPa Violin Ensemble’s stirring rendition of Dr L Subramaniam’s 1987 composition Journey, which earned an enthusiastic response for its technical brilliance and emotional intensity. The celebrations also featured a visually evocative dance performance choreographed to Rahman’s music, presented by disciples of Radhika Surajit.

During an engaging conversation, Rahman and Subramaniam also touched upon future-forward initiatives, with Rahman exploring projects in the metaverse and Subramaniam working on an app aimed at providing violin training to students without access to formal education. Both stressed the need for stronger institutional backing for music and the performing arts in India.

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