Big Comment/ AR Rahman 'totally changed', became disciplined after embracing Islam: Drummer Sivamani

AR Rahman’s frequent collaborator Sivamani recently spoke about the former's growth as a person after his religious conversion. In an interview with YouTube channel O2, Sivamani recalled that he would often accompany Rahman and his mother on their visits to a Sufi shrine, and how these visits completely changed Rahman as a person.

(File photo AR Rahman and Sivamani | Image: X/Sivamani)

‘That phase really brought Rahman the discipline’

Recollecting those visits and Rahman's transformative days, Sivamani stated, “The master would come and teach his Quran and his class happened. We would wait down in the studio." He added, “What I saw in Dilip in those days when he was in the band Roots, he had completely changed from those days." 

Sivamani further said, how from that point onwards, Rahman was, “Very focussed on his path and always stayed calm,” also noting that the Oscar-winning composer reached a point where there would be no talking or discussion in the studio once he would sit down to compose his songs. “That phase really brought him the discipline,” Sivamani added. 

(A.R.Rahman file image | Image: Instagram/A.R.Rahman)

AR Rahman was born Dileep Kumar in a Hindu family. His father RK Shekhar was a musician as well and had worked with leading music directors in the 70s and 80s. When Shekhar passed away, Rahman’s mother Kareema (then Kasthuri) began following Sufism and its teachings. And many years later, Rahman too began his journey towards Islam, and officially converted at the age of 23. 

AR Rahman is composing music for Sunny Deol's next

In the 1990s, Sivamani too had become a popular face on television, especially after his stage appearances with AR Rahman where the former would play unique, innovative percussion instruments for their performances.

On the work front, A.R.Rahman’s upcoming projects include Raj Kumar Santoshi’s next starring Sunny Deol and Sivakarthikeyan-Rakul Preet Singh starrer Ayalaan. Rahman is also the music composer for Ishaan Khatter’s Pippa.