EXCLUSIVE: AR Rahman Isn’t A Fan Of Using AI To Make Music; Says, “It’s Foolishness To Replace Something Brilliant With A Mediocre Version”

A.R. Rahman isn’t just a musician—he’s a feeling, a force that reshaped the sonic identity of Indian cinema. Known for weaving together classical ragas, global beats, and soulful melodies, Rahman brought a new language to film music—one that spoke to the heart and stirred the spirit. From the haunting strains of Roja to the global resonance of Slumdog Millionaire, his compositions have transcended borders and genres. Rahman’s music continues to evolve while staying deeply rooted in emotion, innovation, and spirituality. He is, quite simply, the music of modern India. In an exclusive chat, AR Rahman talks about using AI (Artificial Intelligence) to compose music.

AR Rahman On Using AI To Make Music

In an exclusive chat with Bollywood Bubble, AR Rahman shares his opinion on using AI to compose music. He says, “It’s like saying you don’t need anybody to construct a building—you know it can’t happen. You need human intervention. Suppose the director comes in—he doesn’t have the time to operate, you know, like a Suno or something and generate stuff. That’s not his job. He needs to concentrate on so many different things. He needs a person who can take care of the mix, the tune—like a mother taking care of the music. He’s not going to save any money by cutting out the composer, and that’s stupidity, right?”

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He added, “If you think you can do everything, then you’re hurting your own work, the intensity of what you’re doing. So, I think leadership and collaboration will never go away. In the same way, I’m not going to put a sitar in AI when I have a great player like Anushka Shankar or Asad Khan. It’s foolishness to replace something brilliant with a mediocre version made by a machine. I might as well use the real thing rather than rely on Frankenstein-like leftovers of human creativity coming at us. It’s nothing original. That said, some of the stuff in generative art is really nice.”

A R Rahman On AI Empowerment

He concluded, “For people who don’t have the resources to generate or shoot something—you can now sit in a room and make a movie, or a documentary. So, that’s empowerment—especially for subjects nobody is going to fund. This is a cool thing. I think giving it to kids, telling them to express themselves or do a story on AI—that’s a great idea. Like Shekharji came up with this idea, and I said, ‘This is a great idea.’”

He said, “I’m going to speak to Sam Altman and see whether we can do this and empower these kids.” So that’s a great idea. There are always good minds and bad minds. Good minds think about how to use AI for empowerment. Bad minds think about how to use it to make cheap or vulgar stuff.”

AR Rahman’s Achievements

A R Rahman is one of India’s most celebrated music composers. He is known for transforming the landscape of Indian film music with his innovative fusion of classical, electronic, and world genres. He has received numerous accolades, such as 2 Academy Awards, 2 Grammy Awards, 1 BAFTA, and 1 Golden Globe for his work. Domestically, he has won six National Film Awards and numerous Filmfare Awards across Hindi and South Indian cinema. In 2010, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award. Rahman’s contributions extend beyond cinema. He’s also known for his humanitarian work, global musical collaborations, and creating empowering platforms for emerging artists through initiatives like the KM Music Conservatory.

Watch The Full Interview

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