Director Rajiv Menon reflects on AR Rahman’s journey to Islam and family pressures: 'It was music that helped him...'

Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman and director-cinematographer Rajiv Menon have been close friends for years. Recalling their early collaborations, Rajiv shared that he worked with a young AR Rahman, then known as Dileep Kumar, on advertisements before his conversion to Islam.

Composer AR Rahman, originally named Dilip Kumar, was born in Chennai. Following the passing of his musician father, Shekhar, he and his family embraced Islam. In the interview, Rajiv shared his experience of witnessing Rahman’s spiritual journey, how his family pressure, and recalled serving as a translator when fakirs from Gulbarga visited Rahman’s home for the conversion ceremony.

In a recent conversation with O2 India, Rajiv reflected on Rahman’s journey of embracing Islam, sharing that he had witnessed the composer’s gradual transition towards faith. He mentioned that when fakirs from Gulbarga visited Rahman’s home to guide the family’s conversion, he stepped in as a translator since they did not speak Hindi.

"I have seen Rahman deal with immense pressure from within the family, especially regarding his sisters' marriages. It was music that helped him brave the storm,” he further said talking about the pressure faced by AR Rahman during the conversion.