A.R. Rahman to inaugurate Music Academy’s 99th annual festival
AR Rahman | Photo Credit: PTI
99This Chennai Music Academy’s annual music festival, scheduled to begin on December 15, 2025, will be inaugurated by music composer and Oscar winner AR Rahman.
“He is a music icon. We decided to invite him as he is a famous music composer and Oscar Award winner. He is knowledgeable about a wide range of music, including Carnatic music,” said N. Murali, President of the Music Academy.
The inauguration will also celebrate the election of Sangita Kalanidhi candidate RK Shriramkumar as the chairman of the Academy’s annual conferences and concerts. This year is 250.This It is the anniversary of Muthuswami Dikshitar, one of the triad of Carnatic music, and Mr. Shriramkumar is the authority on Dikshitar’s compositions.
The Academy has long debated the importance of film music and its appeal to both the general public and experts on the subject.
Flutist T. Viswanathan, in his speech as Sangita Kalanidhi in 1988, said, “We should not underestimate its power and the fact that not only is it the dominant music of India today, but also the fact that it is gradually surpassing traditional art music.” Mr. Rahman has composed numerous film songs based on Carnatic ragas.
Director and cinematographer Rajiv Menon, who worked closely with Mr. Rahman, said he was an apt person to inaugurate the event as he is at the forefront of not only Indian music but also global music, creating compositions across languages and geographies by integrating Indian classical music with folk and Sufi elements seamlessly blended with contemporary Western musical styles.
“Rahman has made Indian popular music a pan-Indian phenomenon. It has remained relevant for over 30 years, adapting to the changing tastes of creators, audiences and advancements in technology. From Kodambakkam to Mumbai to Hollywood, it remains a powerhouse of music. This is no small feat. He is both a student and a teacher, and his music school continues to produce scores of aspiring musicians,” said Mr. Rajiv Menon.
It was published – 30 November 2025 15:37 IST
