On Tuesday, A.R. Rahman was honored with his seventh National Film Award for Best Music Director (Background Music) for his outstanding work in Mani Ratnam’s film Ponniyin Selvan: I.
The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
Following the ceremony, Rahman expressed his deep appreciation for this recognition, stating, “This award is special because this is my seventh National Award. My first National Film Award was for the film Roja with Mani Ratnam. This film is also with him. Whenever I work with him, it is very special; he gets the best out of all of us. And since it’s a National award, I’m really proud of it.”
The winners of the 70th National Film Awards were announced in August 2024, showcasing a range of exceptional talent in Indian cinema.
Ponniyin Selvan: I, directed by Mani Ratnam, features a stellar cast including Vikram, Trisha Krishnan, Karthik Sivakumar, Jayam Ravi, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The film is a cinematic adaptation of the classic Tamil novel by author Kalki Krishnamurthy, which was serialized during the 1950s. This film also marks the third collaboration between Aishwarya and Vikram, following their critically acclaimed film Raavan in 2010.
Rahman’s latest accolade adds to his illustrious career and reflects his continued influence on the Indian music industry. His ability to blend traditional and contemporary sounds has made him a beloved figure, not just in India but around the world.
