MAA TUJHE SALAAM , BAHUT YAAD AATI HO TUM , AMMA, A R RAHMAN APNI MAA KO HAR GHADI YAAD AATI HAI

There is one more very prominent name to be included in the list of sons who worship their mothers - Ali Peter John

The name to be added along with names like Dilip Kumar , Raj Kapoor , Dev Anand , M F Husain and Shah Rukh Khan is A R Rahman .

The multiple award - winning genius lost his mother , Kareema Begum some time ago , but in spite of his very tight schedules and odd working hours ( it is a well-known fact now that Rahman works only in the night ) , he misses his mother all the time and there are times when he even gets very emotional , but rarely shows his emotions in public .

The day he lost his "Amma" was the most painful day in his life , he has said on several occasions.

And Rahman has every reason to miss his mother . She was Kasturi Shekhar , a house wife who was married to K R Shekhar , a musician who played in the orchestra of Ilaiyaraja and other leading composers .

A S Dileep Kumar was their son who followed in his father's footsteps and started playing different instruments for different composers and was recognised as a child prodigy by leading composers , directors and even stars .

Dileep Kumar lost his father when he was only in his 40s and Rahman and his mother had to live a very tough life , with their even having to sell off Dileep's father's instruments .

It was while they were in this poor state that Kasthuri took charge of the home and especially of Dileep's life and career.

Kasthuri kept looking for peace of mind and for a breakthrough for her son . Together with her son , she visited the holy places of every major religion .

And it was only after an encounter in a Muslim dargah that she saw the light and decided to convert to Islam and took the name Kareema Begum and Dileep Kumar who agreed willingly to get himself converted received the name Allah Raakha Rahman from his mother .

It may have been destiny , coincidence or Allah , but the life of Allah Raakha Rahman changed completely after the conversion to Islam .

Kareema Begum who was hardly educated and who knew very little or nothing about music , however knew that her son was very talented .

She was his only source of inspiration and he kept growing from scoring music for documentaries , short films , and jingles, till he was the independent composer of Mani Ratnam 's "Roja," after which "Allah" and his mother's prayers led him to be known as " the Mozart of Madras " and to be one of the most awarded and outstanding composers of the world .

Rahman now knew that he was what the world accepted him as only because of his Amma .

He openly talked about his Amma and her prayers and blessings that were responsible for his gaining the fame and recognition he had .

He took his Amma to all his major music Recordings in different parts of the world . And if he and his Amma never forgot to carry with them , it was their chattaai ( prayer matt ) on which they sat and prayed five times a day , even if they were on international flights and five and seven star hotels .

His Amma had instilled the importance of praying to her son . He once introduced his Amma by saying , " the character of Shashi Kapoor in " Deewar" became almost immortal when he spoke those four words " mere paas maa hai " "but I say I have everything in my mother " Rahman was telling the truth about his mother without whom and without whose permission he couldn't do anything or take any step in his life .

It was time for Rahman to get married and when he decided to get married , it was to the girl chosen by his Amma and what a coincidence it was when the one time Dileep Kumar married Saira Banu .

( The Emperor of acting , Dilip Kumar had married the beautiful actress Saira Banu 45 years before A R Rahman married his Saira Banu ) .

The couple have three daughters who are named Khatija , Rahmeena and Ameen and they too follow Islam but their father has given them the freedom to follow what their hearts tell them .

Some months ago Khatija wore a hiqad ( veil) to one of her father's functions and she was trolled , but it was the father who gave a fitting and fighting reply to them which quietened them down . All the three daughters are very good suports for Rahman .

Rahman is known all over as a humanitarian and a benefactor who keeps supporting and helping various causes .

He has a school to train aspiring lyricists and composers called The Sunrise Orchestra . He helps several orphanages , homes for the aged and educational institutes .

This feeling of service to humanity has also come to Rahman from his mother who had always told him that when he was successful and had enough , he must help people in as many ways as he could .

His debut as a producer of films with "99 Songs " is also his way of being of help to young people who have talent, but no opportunities to use them .

And A. R Rahman who is only 54 now has a very lot way to go , many ambitions , dreams and desires to fullfil and many other tributes to offer his Amma .

MAA KO JITNA BHI SALAAM KARO KUM HI HAI . MAA WOH KHUDAH KI DEN HAI JO SIRF EK BAAR MILTI HAI . JO BETA YA BETI APNE MAA KI SHAAN RAKTE HAI , UNHE JANNAT JAANE KI ZAROORAT NAHI PADEGI . AUR JO BACCHE APNI MAA KI SHAAN KI BADNAAMI KARENGE , UNKO NARK MEIN BHI KABHI JAGAH NAHI MILEGI