Salva Mubarak Senior Features Writer

A.R. Rahman has proven time and again that his unofficial title ‘Mozart of Madras’ is something that he truly deserves. The genius music composer has created countless memorable songs and tunes over the years. His compositions have earned him worldwide recognition in the form of the highest honours in the industry, including two Oscars and two Grammys. Through his melodies, Rahman has changed the face of music in India and enriched our playlists with songs that never fail to transport us to another world when we listen to them.

Like any artist, Rahman’s work has taken different shapes as the years have gone by. His passion and conviction towards music in its purest form shines across his discography, but the evolution of technology and changing cultural landscape in India has brought about a marked change in his music from when he started back in the early ’90s to this day in 2023.

While this in no way means that his newer music is any less than his early works, there was a unique charm in his music in the ’90s that remains unmatched.

His work in Mani Ratnam’s Roja earned him a National Award and was named by Time Magazine as one of the ‘10 Best Soundtracks’ of all time. He went on to create magic with tracks for Tamil movies like Gentleman (1993) and Kadhalan, or Hum Se Hai Muqabla, (1994), before he added Bollywood to his roster with superhit albums for movies like Rangeela (1995), Dil Se (1998), and Taal (1999).

A R Rahman Songs

If you want a reminder of Rahman’s best early works, take a look at our curated tracks from the 90s that we’re still obsessed with…

‘Kadhal Rojave’ from Roja (1992)

‘Thee Thee Thithikkum Thee’ from Thiruda Thiruda (1993)

‘Mukkabala’ from Kadhalan (1994)

‘Uyire Uyire’ from Bombay (1995)

‘Hai Rama’ from Rangeela (1995)

‘Vennila Vennila’ from Iruvar (1997)

‘Chanda Re’ from Sapnay (1997)

‘Poovukkul’ from Jeans (1998)

‘Chaiya Chaiya’ from Dil Se (1998)

‘Kissa Hum Likhenge’ from Doli Saja Ke Rakhna (1998)

‘Nahi Saamne Tu’ from Taal (1999)

‘Khamosh Raat’ from Thakshak (1999)