Oscar winner still humble, says daughter

KHATIJA Rahman, the daughter of Oscar-winning Indian music director AR Rahman, says she is proud of her father not only because of his musical achievements worldwide but also for the values he has inculcated in her.

On the occasion of the 10-year celebration of the music of Slumdog Millionaire, which won eight awards at the Oscars, including best original score by AR Rahman, Khatija praised her father.

“Though the world knows you for your music and the award that you won, I have immense love and respect for you because of the values you taught us,” she said.

“Your humility matters the most for me.

“Not an atom of your character has changed since you won the Oscar, nothing has changed in you in the last 10 years, except that the time you spend with us has reduced. I think you are making it up now by taking us on short trips!”

“I am deeply inspired by your generosity. There are a lot of things (social work) that you do and people, even I do not get to know about it. This is something that I value the most about my father.”

At the event, when Khatija asked her father to share some advice that he would like to give to his children and to young people in general, Rahman became very emotional.

He paused before replying:

“I do not give advice to people, really. When all three of you were growing up, I made sure that I taught you everything that my mother taught me when I was growing up.

“Now it is time for you to follow your heart and instinct and pray to God and He will guide you. I think your conscience is the best thing to guide you in life.”