Awards

Honorary

  • 1995 – Kalaimamani
    • Contributions to music awarded by the Government of Tamil Nadu
  • 1995 – Mauritius National Award
    • Contributions to music awarded by Mauritius
  • 1995 – Malaysian Award
    • Contributions to music awarded by Malaysia
  • 2000 – Padma Shri
    • Fourth highest civilian award awarded by Government of India
  • 2004 – National Lata Mangeshkar Award
    • Contributions to music awarded by the Government of Madhya Pradesh
  • 2005 – Mahavir-Mahatma Award
  • 2006 – Swaralaya Yesudas Award
    • Swaralaya-Kairali-Yesudas Award for outstanding performance in the music field
  • 2006 – Honorary Award from Stanford University
  • 2008 – Rotary Club of Madras
    • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2009 – Honorary Doctorate from Anna University
  • 2009 – Honorary Doctorate from Aligarh University
  • 2009 – Honorary Doctorate from Middlesex University
  • 2010 – Padma Bhushan
    • Third highest civilian award awarded by Government of India

National

Film awards

  • National Film Awards
    • 1993 – National Film Award for Best Music Direction – Roja
    • 1997 – National Film Award for Best Music Direction – Minsaara Kanavu
    • 2002 – National Film Award for Best Music Direction – Lagaan
    • 2003 – National Film Award for Best Music Direction – Kannathil Muthamittal
  • Filmfare Awards
    • 1995 – Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent
    • 1996 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Rangeela
    • 1999 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Dil Se
    • 2000 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Taal
    • 2002 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Lagaan
    • 2003 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Saathiya
    • 2003 – Filmfare Best Background Score – The Legend of Bhagat Singh
    • 2005 – Filmfare Best Background Score – Swades
    • 2007 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Rang de Basanti
    • 2008 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Guru
    • 2008 – Filmfare Best Background Score – Guru
    • 2009 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
    • 2009 – Filmfare Best Background Score – Jodhaa Akbar
    • 2010 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Delhi 6
    • 2012 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Rockstar
  • Filmfare Awards South
    • 1992 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Roja
    • 1993 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Gentleman
    • 1994 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Kadhalan
    • 1995 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Bombay
    • 1996 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Kadhal Desam
    • 1997 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Minsaara Kanavu
    • 1998 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Jeans
    • 1999 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Mudhalvan
    • 2000 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Alaipayuthey
    • 2002 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Kannathil Muthamittal
    • 2006 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Sillunu Oru Kadhal
    • 2007 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Sivaji: The Boss
    • 2011 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa
    • 2011 – Best Music Direction (Telugu) – Ye Maaya Chesave
  • Bollywood Movie Awards
    • 2002 – Best Music Direction – Lagaan
    • 2003 – Best Music Direction – Saathiya
  • Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA)
    • 2007 – GIFA Award for Best Music – Rang De Basanti
    • 2007 – GIFA Award for Best Background Music – Rang De Basanti
  • International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA)
    • 2000 – IIFA Best Music Direction – Taal
    • 2002 – IIFA Best Music Direction – Lagaan
    • 2003 – IIFA Best Music Direction – Saathiya
    • 2007 – IIFA Best Music Direction – Rang De Basanti
    • 2008 – IIFA Best Music Direction – Guru
    • 2008 – IIFA Best Background Music – Guru
    • 2008 – Outstanding contribution by an Indian in International Cinema
    • 2009 – IIFA Best Music Direction – Jodhaa Akbar
    • 2009 – IIFA Best Background Music – Jodhaa Akbar
    • 2009 – IIFA Music Director of the Decade
  • Sangeet Awards
    • 2004 – Best Music Direction (Critics Award) – Yuva
    • 2004 – Best Music Arrangement (Critics Award) – Yeh Rishta – Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
  • Screen-Videocon Awards / Star Screen Awards
    • 1998 – Best Non-film Album – Vande Mataram (Non-film category)
    • 2000 – Best Music Direction – Taal
    • 2007 – Best Background Music- Rang De Basanti
    • 2008 – Best Music Direction – Guru
    • 2008 – Best Background Music – Guru
    • 2009 – Best Music Direction – Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na
    • 2009 – Best Background Music – Jodhaa Akbar
    • 2010 – Best Music Direction – Delhi-6
  • Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
    • 1992 – Best Music Direction – Roja
    • 1993 – Best Music Direction – Gentleman
    • 1994 – Best Music Direction – Kadhalan
    • 1996 – Best Music Direction – Minsaara Kanavu
    • 1999 – Best Music Direction – Sangamam
  • Zee Cine Awards
    • 2000 – Zee Cine Award Best Music Director – Taal
    • 2002 – Zee Cine Award Best Music Director – Lagaan
    • 2003 – Zee Cine Award Best Music Director – Saathiya
    • 2007 – Zee Cine Award Best Music Director – Rang De Basanti
    • 2008 – Zee Cine Award Best Music Director – Guru
    • 2008 – Zee Cine Award Best Background Music – Guru
  • Vijay Awards
    • 2007 – Vijay Award for Best Music Director – Sivaji

Other awards

  • Planet-Bollywood People’s Choice Awards
    • 2006 – People’s Choice Best Music Award – Rang De Basanti
    • 2006 – People’s Choice Best Background Music Award – Rang De Basanti
  • Sunfeast Tamil Music Awards
    • 2008 – Best Music Composer of the Year – Sivaji: The Boss
  • Tata Indicom Mirchi Music Awards
    • 2009 – Music Director Of The Year – Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
    • 2009 – Technical Award For Film Background Score – Jodhaa Akbar
    • 2009 – Album Of The Year – Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
    • 2009 – Tata Indicom Mirchi Listeners Choice Song Of The Year – “Kabhi Kabhi Aditi” (Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na)
    • 2009 – Tata Indicom Mirchi Listeners Choice Album Of The Year – Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
  • V. Shantaram Award
    • 2007 – Best Music – Guru
    • 2008 – Best Music – Jodhaa Akbar

International

Film awards

  • Academy Awards (Oscars) (United States)
    • 2009 – Best Original Music Score – Slumdog Millionaire
    • 2009 – Best Original Song – “Jai Ho” – Slumdog Millionaire
  • Golden Globe Awards (United States)
    • 2009 – Best Original Score – Slumdog Millionaire
  • British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) (United Kingdom)
    • 2009 – Anthony Asquith Award for Best Film Music – Slumdog Millionaire
  • Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (United States)
    • 2008 – Critics’ Choice Award for Best Composer – Slumdog Millionaire
  • Black Reel Awards
    • 2008 – Best Original Soundtrack – Slumdog Millionaire
  • Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards (United States)
    • 2008 – Best Music Score – Slumdog Millionaire
  • New York Film Critics Online Awards (United States)
    • 2008 – NYFCO Best Score Award – Slumdog Millionaire
  • Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
    • 2008 – Best Original Score – Slumdog Millionaire
  • San Diego Film Critics Society Awards (United States)
    • 2008 – Best Score – Slumdog Millionaire
  • Satellite Awards (United States)
    • 2008 – Satellite Award for Best Original Score – Slumdog Millionaire

Other awards

  • Grammy Awards
    • 2009 – Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media – Slumdog Millionaire
    • 2009 – Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media – “Jai Ho” – Slumdog Millionaire
  • Just Plain Folks Music Awards
    • 2009 – * Just Plain Folks Music Award For Best Music Album – Varalaru
  • MTV Awards
    • MTV Video Music Awards
      • 1999 – International Viewer’s Choice Awards (MTV India) – “Dil Se Re” – Dil Se
    • MTV Asia Awards
      • 2003 – MTV Asia Award for Favorite Artist India
    • MTV Immies
      • 2003 – Best Music Composer (Film Category) – “Saathiya” – Saathiya
  • UK Asian Music Awards (United Kingdom)
    • 2009 – Outstanding Achievement by an Asian in music field
  • World Soundtrack Awards
    • 2009 – Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film – “Jai Ho” – Slumdog Millionaire

Nominations

National

  • International Indian Film Academy Awards
    • 2001 – Best Music Direction – Fiza
    • 2009 – Best Music Direction – Ghajini
  • Filmfare Awards
    • 2005 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Swades
    • 2009 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Ghajini
    • 2009 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award – Jodhaa Akbar
  • Filmfare Awards South
    • 2009 – Filmfare Best Music Director Award (Tamil) – Sakkarakatti
  • Screen Weekly Awards
    • 2002 – Best Music Direction – Lagaan
    • 2002 – Best Background Score – Lagaan
  • Zee Cine Awards
    • 2005 – Best Music Direction – Swades
    • 2005 – Best Background Score – Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities

International

  • Academy Awards (Oscars) (United States)
    • 2009 – Best Original Song – “O Saya” – Slumdog Millionaire
  • Asian Film Awards (Hong Kong International Film Festival)
    • 2009 – Best Composer – Jodhaa Akbar
  • Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
    • 2008 – Critics’ Choice Award for Best Song – “Jai Ho” – Slumdog Millionaire
  • Dora Mavor Moore Awards (Canada)
    • 2006 – General Theatre Division – Outstanding Musical Direction – The Lord of the Rings (along with Värttinä)
  • Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
    • 2008 – CFCA Best Original Score – Slumdog Millionaire
  • Houston Film Critics Society Awards
    • 2008 – Runner-up: Best Original Score – Slumdog Millionaire
    • 2008 – Runner-up: Best Original Song – “Jai Ho” performed by Sukhwinder Singh, written by A. R. Rahman and Gulzar
  • Laurence Olivier Awards (United Kingdom)
    • 2003 – Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical – Bombay Dreams
  • Satellite Awards (United States)
    • 2008 – Satellite Award for Best Original Song – “Jai Ho” – Slumdog Millionaire
  • MTV Awards
    • MTV India
      • 2006 – MTV Youth Icon of the Year
    • MTV Movie Awards
      • 2009 – Best Song From a Movie – “Jai Ho” – Slumdog Millionaire
  • World Soundtrack Awards
    • 2009 – Best Original Score of the Year – Slumdog Millionaire
    • 2009 – Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film – “O Saya” – Slumdog Millionaire

Longlisted

This section refers to awards where Rahman has been considered for a nomination but has not been nominated.

  • Academy Awards
    • 2007 – Best Original Song – “Lukka Chuppi” – Rang De Basanti
    • 2007 – Best Original Song – “Khalbali” – Rang De Basanti
    • 2007 – Best Original Song – “Chan Chan” – Water
    • 2010 – Best Original Song – “Nana” – Couples Retreat