Referencing a story about Michelangelo feigning a change to a sculpture to appease a politician, AR Rahman confirms this is a valid tactic in creative work. It protects artistic integrity while making the stakeholder feel heard, valued, and influential.
The desire to be a worthy role model for the students at his music conservatory is a primary driver for AR Rahman. The responsibility of being their principal compels him to continuously evolve and achieve more, turning his philanthropic work into a catalyst for personal excellence.
Since AI learns from and replicates existing data, human creators can stay ahead by intentionally breaking those patterns. AR Rahman suggests that the future of creativity lies in making unconventional choices that a predictive model would not anticipate.
AR Rahman's spiritual framework allows him to see another person's success not as a slight, but as their pre-ordained "share" from the universe. This kills the root of jealousy and shifts his focus inward, on improving his own "worthiness" to receive what is meant for him.
AR Rahman identified that production quality, language, and "vibe" were barriers to Indian music's global reach. He intentionally blended his wide-ranging influences—from Pink Floyd to Qawwali—to create a new sound in "Roja" that was specifically designed to resonate worldwide.
AR Rahman argues that the standard rectangular movie screen is an outdated model. To compete with high-quality home entertainment, theaters must offer experiences that cannot be replicated, such as the massive, multi-sensory, immersive environments pioneered by venues like the Las Vegas Sphere.
Rahman believes in maintaining a consistent, modest lifestyle, even with immense wealth. This allows him to prioritize spending on tools that enhance his craft, like top-tier studio equipment, rather than on external displays of success, which he views as
AR Rahman believes AI tools that can replace human jobs are a destructive force that must be regulated. He compares it to firearms, arguing that just as there are rules for ownership, there should be rules preventing the deployment of AI that makes entire skill sets worthless.
AR Rahman felt empowered by his home studio because it eliminated the pressure of being watched by other musicians. This private space allowed him to experiment, make mistakes, and develop his unique sound without fear of judgment, which was key to his breakout success.
Feeling inferior to prodigious peers, Rahman's musical ability was forged through relentless work. A key factor was a mentor who intentionally played with mistakes to boost the young Rahman's confidence, proving that clever mentorship can be more effective than raw talent.
Witnessing the thankless nature of the film industry through his father's experience, Rahman intentionally took on fewer projects after his breakout success. This resistance was a strategy to preserve his creative energy, avoid stagnation, and ensure he always had something new to offer.
Instead of liquidating her late husband's music equipment for safe bank interest, AR Rahman's mother started a rental business. This entrepreneurial pivot provided income for years and preserved the tools that would later launch her son's legendary career.