Tamil cinema will undoubtedly be remembered as a powerhouse that produced some of the most celebrated legends in Indian cinema. Among these luminaries, actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, and composer AR Rahman stand out prominently. Interestingly, Rahman composed music for some of the most significant films in the careers of both Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.

Recently, Rahman shared his thoughts on the two superstars, heaping praise on Rajinikanth for his down-to-earth nature and Kamal for his vast contributions to the film industry. “They are like Hydrogen and Oxygen; you need both of them in the industry,” Rahman said during a conversation with Connect Cine. “Rajinikanth has a lot of wisdom and spiritual knowledge. I am a big fan of what Rajinikanth does and the nuggets he brings from his past which he put in his movies. Kamal ji has tried everything. He is an encyclopedia and almost like a university by himself. It’s good to have people like that whom you can look up to,” the Oscar-winning composer added.

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AR Rahman served as the composer for several Rajinikanth films such as Muthu (1995), Padayappa (1999), Baba (2002), Sivaji: The Boss (2007), Enthiran (2010), Kochadaiiyaan (2014), Lingaa (2014), 2.0 (2018) and Lal Salaam (2024). He also composed music for Kamal Haasan’s films Indian (1996) and Thenali (2000). Rajinikanth is currently basking in the success of his latest movie Vettaiyan, after his daughter Aishwarya’s Lal Salaam, wherein he played a cameo role, did not fare well. Kamal Haasan also faced a similar situation this year, with his role as Supreme Yaskin in Kalki 2898 AD winning acclaim, while Indian 2 and his portrayal of Senapathy receiving widespread criticism.

Following the recent release of Raayan, starring Dhanush and featuring his compositions, Rahman is set for the release of his upcoming films: Chhaava, directed by Laxman Utekar and starring Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna, and Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam and featuring Kamal Haasan.