Rahman's works are noted for integrating Eastern classical music with electronic music, world music and traditional orchestral arrangements.

Among his awards are two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, four National Film Awards, fifteen Filmfare Awards and thirteen Filmfare Awards South.

Rahman's body of work for film and stage has given him the nickname of "the Mozart of Madras", and Tamil commentators and fans call him Isai Puyal.

In 2009, Time included Rahman on its list of the world's most influential people.[5] The UK-based world-music magazine Songlines named him one of "Tomorrow's World Music Icons" in August 2011.

Rahman was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India in a middle-class Tamil Mudaliar[10] family. His father, R. K. Shekhar, was a film-score composer and conductor for Tamil and Malayalam films.

Rahman's film career began in 1992 when he started Panchathan Record Inn, a recording and mixing studio in his backyard. It would become the most-advanced recording studio in India.

He initially composed scores for documentaries and jingles for advertisements and Indian television channels.

In 1987 Rahman, then still known as Dileep, composed jingles for a line of watches introduced by Allwyn. In 1992, he was approached by director Mani Ratnam to compose the score and soundtrack for his Tamil film, Roja.

Rahman has also been involved in non-film projects. Vande Mataram, an album of original compositions released for India's 50th anniversary of its independence in 1997.

Rahman is involved with a number of charitable causes. In 2004 he was appointed global ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership, a WHO project.

Rahman is married to Saira Banu and has three children: Khatija, Rahima and Ameen.

Rahman introduced 7.1 surround sound technology to South Indian films.