AR Rahman turns 53: Rare photos of the music composer

As composer-singer AR Rahman turns 53 today, here's a trip down memory lane with photos from Express Archive.

Early in his career, AR Rahman worked with music composers like Ilaiyaraaja and Ramesh Naidu. His frequent collaborators were filmmakers like S Shankar, AR Murugadoss, Subhash Ghai, Ashutosh Gowariker and Imtiaz Ali.

In this photo, Rahman and Mani Ratnam pose for photographers. (Photo: Express Archives)

AR Rahman began his film-scoring career with Roja (1992). He made his debut as a director and writer with English movie Le Musk.

In this photo, Rahman is seen with Nagarjuna, KT Kunjuman, Mammootty, Sushmita Sen and others. (Photo: Express Archives)

AR Rahman aka Mozart of Madras entered the Limca Book of Records in 2006 as "Indian of the Year for Contribution to Popular Music". (Photo: Express Archives)

AR Rahman with music legends Jagjit Singh, Bhupen Hazarika, Asha Bhosle, Pandit Jasraj and Lata Mangeshkar at the making of the video "Jana Gana Mana". (Photo: Express Archives)

In a career spanning almost three decades, the music maestro has won two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe Award, six National Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards, seventeen Filmfare Awards South and the Padma Bhushan Award. He was also a part of the Time 100 list of the world's most influential people (2009). (Photo: Express Archives)

AR Rahman's "Maa Tujhe Salam" from Vande Mataram album became a youth anthem when it was released in 1997.

Rahman is seen on the location of the song's video shoot here. (Photo: Express Archives)

AR Rahman with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. (Photo: Express Archives)

In this photo, AR Rahman is receiving an honorary doctorate from Middlesex University.

He is also a recipient of honours from Aligarh Muslim University, Anna University in Chennai and Miami University in Ohio. (Photo: Express Archives)

Rahman receiving a memento from Nagma. Also seen are filmmaker S Shankar and actor Anil Kapoor. (Photo: Express Archives)

AR Rahman along with Salman Khan and Kapil Sibal. (Photo: Express Archives)

AR Rahman's work in Subhash Ghai's Taal still remains one of his best in Hindi cinema.

He is sharing the frame with Ghai and writer-lyricist Gulzar here. (Photo: Express Archives)