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Why India’s finest film composer converted to Islam

Nasreen Munni Kabir, Scroll.in

6 hours ago

AR Rahman-Religion-Islam-Hindu

Changing faith.(Reuters/Mike Blake)

When AS Dileep Kumar decided to shed the faith he was born into and adopt a new one, the reasons were several. His father’s untimely death had put several financial pressures on the family, which included four children.

His spiritual-minded mother had met, and gained immense succour, from a Sufi saint, peer Karimullah Shah QadrAnd he had been grappling with minor and major identity issues: he didn’t like the name he was born with, he was looking for direction and purpose, and he wanted to get a handle on his professional future. That man is today known as Allahrakha Rahman, one of India’s foremost composers. He discusses his decision to convert and the impact it had on him in these edited excerpts from AR Rahman: The Spirit of Music by Nasreen Munni Kabir.

How has Sufism affected your attitude to life?

It has taught me that just as the rain and the sun do not differentiate between people, neither should we. Only when you experience friendship across cultures, you understand there are many good people in all communities…

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ChiefSenior Member

Soon Kari will convert Nehru.

KariSenior Member

Originally Posted by Chief:

Soon Kari will convert Nehru.

You bet

KariSenior Member

Soon after the Afghanistan war started after the twin towers' attack, I googled "Karimullah" and two guys came up in the early results - one was the head of Pakistan's Navy and the other was a Taliban leader who had one leg blown off. Go figure!

KariSenior Member

I admire and respect A R Rahman as a musician and an individual. I love his music. I got introduced to his music with 1992's "Bombay".

Sheik101Senior Member

Originally Posted by Chief:

Soon Kari will convert Nehru.

Convert dat brahmin? No way! He's home rite now singing bhagans.

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