AR Rahman Reflects on Childhood Trauma: Father’s Financial Struggle and Early Loss

Oscar-winning music composer A. R. Rahman recently shared candid details about the immense trauma and financial hardship he experienced during his childhood, including the passing of his father and grandmother.

In a conversation on Nikhil Kamath’s YouTube channel, the musician reflected on how these early struggles shaped his life and career.

💔 The Difficult Early Years

• Loss and Trauma: Rahman was just nine years old when his father passed away. He described seeing “trauma every day” following the deaths of his father and grandmother.
• Father’s Hardship: His father, a film score composer, was reportedly “thrown onto the street by his family members” along with his mother. To provide a home, his father worked tirelessly near Kodambakkam, Chennai, taking three jobs at the same time.
• Health Impact: Rahman believes his father’s relentless workload, driven by the struggle to secure a house, led to his health deteriorating, stating, “because of that, his health went berserk. That’s the dark side of my childhood, and it took a lot of time to get over that trauma.”
• Mother’s Strength: He credits his mother for her resilience as a single parent, calling her “a very confident lady” who withstood “all kinds of humiliations” to protect and raise him and his three sisters.
• Missed Childhood: Following his father’s death, Rahman took on the responsibility of supporting the family. He spent much of his childhood in studios with much older musicians, missing out on school life and time with friends, as he was routinely absent from classes to work.

🎤 Upcoming Work

The composer is currently being praised for his music in director Aanand L. Rai’s upcoming film, Tere Ishk Mein, starring Dhanush and Kriti Sanon. The movie is scheduled to release in cinemas on November 28, 2025.

Rahman is also set to perform live in Pune at the MCA Stadium on November 23, with special appearances by celebrities like Aamir Khan and Boney Kapoor.