A R Rahman The Legend

There is the international profile to boot. Rahman packages what is now known as global music. He simplifies the main melody, fuses it with sounds from world music and arranges it skilfully. This has made his music more edible and sought after in the international scene. From the remixed versions of Vande Mataram and the Indian national anthem to the Broadway musical "Bollywood Dreams", Rahman is the mascot for new-age nationalism and international merchandising.

In an era when people see rather than hear music, Rahman is also camera-friendly. He comes across as an eclectic fusion of spirituality and youth. He is casual and yet not informal. He exudes humility and confidence at once. He is the cool dude that the young can identify with, and the elderly find endearing. Along with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, he has fulfilled the great Indian populist need for a `national hero'