Canada names city after Ponniyin Selvan and Cobra composer AR Rahman

Academy award-winning music composer AR Rahman has added yet another feather to his cap. The city of Markham in Ontario, Canada has honoured the Ponniyin Selvan and Cobra composer by naming a street after him. The Isaipuyal shared pictures from the inauguration ceremony and wrote that he was honoured and grateful for the recognition. Thanking the Mayor Frank Scarpitti in his recent tweet, the composer also shared a long note extending his gratitude to the people of Canada.

The note read, “I never imagined this in my life. I am very grateful to all of you, the Mayor of Markham, Cananda (Frank Scarpitti), and counsellors, Indian Consulate General (Apoorva Srivastava) and the people of Canada.” 

He added, “The name A.R. Rahman is not mine. It means merciful. The merciful is the quality of the common God we all have and one can only be the servant of merciful. So, let that name bring peace, prosperity, happiness and health to all people living in Canada. God bless you all. I want to thank my brothers and sisters of India for all the love. All the creative people who worked with me, gave me the inspiration to rise up and celebrate hundred years of cinema; with all the legends included. I am a very small drop in the ocean.”

The composer also stated that the recognition comes with a lot of responsibility. “I feel like this gives me immense responsibility to do much more and be inspiring; not to get tired and not to retire…yet. Even if I get tired I will remember that I have more things to do, more people to connect, more bridges to cross (sic).” 

On the work front, Rahman has a number of films in his kitty, including Ajay Gnanamuthu's Cobra starring Vikram, Mani Ratnam's magnum opus Ponniyin Selvan and Gautham Menon's Vendhu Thanindhadhu Kaadu starring Silambarasan TR in the lead.