du sponsors AR Rahman Live in Concert

Notes and media contacts

About A R Rahman
Born in 1967 as A.S Dileep Kumar, AR Rahman is a hugely popular and critically acclaimed Indian award-winning composer, record producer and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the finest-ever Indian film composers and his career is considered a turning point in the history of Indian film music. He is also credited with re-energizing the popularity of Indian film music the world over, receiving exceedingly positive reviews and commanding fans in regions as far as the United States.

He debuted in 1992 with the movie 'Roja' (The Rose). TIME magazine listed the film's sound track as one of the "Top 10 Movie Soundtracks of All Time" in 2005. To date he has sold over 100 million copies of his various film scores and sound tracks making him one of the world's top 25 all-time top selling recording artists.

Among his most notable music compositions is for the Hindi movie 'Lagaan' which was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Foreign Movie category. He has collaborated with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber on 'Bombay Dreams' and a Mandarin movie. AR Rahman has won numerous Awards which include Padma Shree - one of the most the prestigious civilian awards from the Government of India. He composed the album 'Pray for Me, Brother,' for the UN's Millennium Development Goals campaign in an effort to increase awareness of poverty around the globe.

AR Rahman's music scores cover a variety of genres, with unconventionally-grouped instruments, and different vocal styles being used and combined, to more traditional orchestral themes with leitmotif techniques composed in others. His works often feature a mix of minimalist songs and evocative, thematic pieces, building on his differing chord progressions and rhythms.

AR Rahman is trained in western classical music from the Trinity College, London. He is also trained in Carnatic music, Hindustani music and the Qawwali style and has a keen sense of experimentation. AR Rahman's own studio 'AM Studios' in Chennai is considered to be the most developed, equipped and high-tech studio of Asia.

About du
du, the integrated telecom service provider in the UAE, launched mobile telecommunication services on 11 February 2007 across the UAE in addition to internet and pay TV services in some of the free zones of Dubai. Call Select, the first of du's nationwide Fixed line services for voice telephony, was launched in July 2007.

Among du's many firsts is its historic Number Booking Campaign for both individuals and business, Pay by the Second billing system, Mobile TV, Mobile Payments, first of its kind 'WoW' recharge card (which offers customers the choice between more credit and more time) and Self Care. du business offers include Closed Business User Group and preferred International Destinations.
du's retail network, currently numbering 16 du shops located in strategic locations across all emirates, was launched on 25 February 2007, supporting the delivery of du services to customers.

du is 40% owned by the UAE Federal Government, 20 percent by Mubadala Development Company, 20 percent by TECOM Investments and 20 percent by public shareholders. It is listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and trades under the name du.

du was recognised as the 'Best Brand' for its innovative branding and outstanding success at the Telecom World Awards Middle East 2007.

For further information on du, please call:

Bina Mathews
PR Manager
du
Tel :+9714 3693828
Fax: +9714 3604440
Mobile: +971 55 4577984