Quotes from A. R. Rahman

Your inner voice is the voice of divinity. To hear it, we need to be in solitude, even in crowded places.

I am the kind of person who does not like to carry baggage. In fact, I don't go back and listen to my own music. I believe in closing chapters and moving forward. That's what gives me peace.

Every time I sit for a song, I feel I am finished. It's like a beggar sitting waiting for God to fill your bowl with the right thought. In every song, I ask help from Him. Everybody around is so good, so to create music that will connect with so many people is not humanly possible without inspiration.

I think I can get away, sometimes, with walking in the streets and not getting noticed. I like that. I want my work to get noticed, not me. And it's slowly getting there, which is good.

After a point of time, when you get success and fame, money and everything, the purpose of life has to be redefined. For me, I think that purpose is to build bridges. Artists can do that very easily, more than politicians.

A musician is a professional, whether he or she is successful or not. The profession itself must be regarded as a stable job.

For me, there is no day or night for music. I often work through the night - without phone calls disturbing me.

My mother insisted that I pursue music. I rented out my father's musical equipment and earned some money. As a child, I wasn't sure about a career goal, but I was always fascinated by electronic gadgets, specially musical equipment.

The more I compose, the more I know that I don't know it all. I think it's a good way to start. If you think you know it all, the work becomes a repetition of what you've already done. I try to make sure that I don't repeat my music.

Rather than making money I believe in making people happy, all other things are secondary. Money isn't important, creative satisfaction is

If music wakes you up, makes you think, heals you...then, I guess the music is working.

Music is something that takes you to a world which is very different from the world of hatred,jealousy, and all those negative emotions

Music is all about transporting people, speaking a language which languages fail to express.

Music knows no barrier of age or culture. It isn't about being politically correct or even making a statement. Music is what appeals to the ears and touches your soul.

My biggest dream to connect people through music has come true. In a world where there are enough reasons to separate us, the Oscars have unified us.

The music had to be rooted, and yet had to branch out,like the wild imagination of a child.

I am a big admirer of Sachin and his personality. He is a source of inspiration for the country and just looking at his photographs gives a lot of positive vibes.

There is only one of the two that can reside in our hearts, GOD or ego. If GOD is in ego is out.

When you do something with a lot of honesty, appetite and commitment, the input reflects the output.

Comedy is a universal language. I grew up watching Nagesh, Surilirajan, Thenga Srinivasan and S.V. Shekhar's comedies. And, of course, Charlie Chaplin! These artists are so blessed: they can make other people happy.

I am a friend when I need to be a friend, a father when I need to be a father, a musician when music calls. I switch roles accordingly.

I want to go beyond the restrictions of language, religion and caste, and music is the only thing that allows me to do that.

Each one of us has our own evolution of life, and each one of us goes through different tests which are unique and challenging. But certain things are common. And we do learn things from each other's experience. On a spiritual journey, we all have the same destination.

While my mother wanted me to be a musician, I wanted to become an electronic engineer.