A R Rahman hails G V Prakash's 3rd National Award: '10th for our family'
Synopsis
A R Rahman's X post celebrating G V Prakash's third National Award revealed a remarkable family milestone: uncle and nephew now hold 10 National Awards between them. The honour, for G V Prakash's background score in Amaran, cements a musical dynasty that spans an Oscar and decades of Tamil and Hindi film music.
Key Takeaways
A R Rahman congratulated nephew G V Prakash Kumar on winning his 3rd National Award via a post on X on 19 July .
The two composers now collectively hold 10 National Awards , which Rahman called 'a proud moment for our family.' G V Prakash won the 72nd National Film Award for Best Background Score for the film Amaran .
Amaran was produced by Kamal Haasan , directed by Rajkumar Periasamy , and starred Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi .
G V Prakash credited sound engineer Jehovasan as a key collaborator in delivering the award-winning score.
Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman on Sunday, 19 July took to X to congratulate his nephew G V Prakash Kumar on winning his third National Award, calling it a proud moment as the duo collectively celebrated their 10th National Award together. G V Prakash received the honour at the 72nd National Film Awards for Best Background Score for the film Amaran, directed by Rajkumar Periasamy.
Rahman's Congratulatory Post
In a post on X, Rahman wrote: “Congratulations @gvprakash on your 3rd National Award. A proud moment for our family as we celebrate our 10th National Award together. Your passion, sincerity, and dedication to music continue to inspire. Wishing you many more milestones ahead. God bless. #EPI”
The message underscored not just personal pride but a rare musical lineage — two composers from the same family collectively holding 10 National Awards, a distinction that stands out even by Indian film music's demanding standards.
G V Prakash's Win for Amaran
G V Prakash Kumar won the 72nd National Film Award for Best Background Score for Amaran, produced by Kamal Haasan. The film starred Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi. This is his third such recognition, cementing his place among Tamil cinema's most decorated composers.
In his acceptance statement, G V Prakash said: “I am deeply humbled and immensely grateful to receive the 72nd National Film Award for Best Music Director for the Movie #Amaran. Winning this prestigious honour for the third time is truly a blessing, and I accept it with a heart full of gratitude.”
Gratitude to the Team
G V Prakash extended his thanks to producer Kamal Haasan, director Rajkumar Periasamy, and the film's cast and crew, including lead actors Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi. He singled out sound engineer Jehovasan for special mention, crediting his “dedication and hard work” as playing an “invaluable role in bringing this music to life.”
He also acknowledged his family, his team of musicians and technicians, and his fans: “Your unwavering love, constant encouragement, and endless faith in me have always been my greatest strength and inspiration. Every note I compose is dedicated to all of you. This award belongs as much to each one of you as it does to me.”
A Family Legacy in Indian Film Music
The Rahman-G V Prakash connection is one of Indian cinema's most celebrated musical families. A R Rahman himself is a multiple National Award winner and the only Indian composer to hold an Academy Award (Oscar). G V Prakash, who began his career under Rahman's mentorship, has now built an independent body of work that rivals the best in Tamil film music. Their combined 10 National Awards reflect decades of craft, discipline, and innovation in the industry.
With this win, G V Prakash joins a rare group of composers who have won the National Award three or more times, and the recognition for Amaran — a film that drew widespread critical acclaim — is expected to further elevate his profile in pan-India projects going forward.
Point of View
He is a peer. What mainstream coverage tends to miss is how rare this uncle-nephew musical dynasty is in Indian cinema, and how the Amaran win — for a film that crossed over to Hindi audiences — positions G V Prakash for a larger pan-India footprint. The question now is whether he can replicate this in a Hindi-language project, which would mark a genuine breakout beyond Tamil cinema.
NationPress
19 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did A R Rahman post about G V Prakash's National Award?
A R Rahman posted on X to congratulate his nephew G V Prakash on winning his third National Award, noting that together they now hold 10 National Awards as a family. Rahman called it 'a proud moment' for their family.
What did G V Prakash win the National Award for?
G V Prakash won the 72nd National Film Award for Best Background Score for the Tamil film Amaran, directed by Rajkumar Periasamy and produced by Kamal Haasan. It is his third National Award.
How many National Awards does A R Rahman hold?
The source does not specify Rahman's individual tally, but together Rahman and G V Prakash hold 10 National Awards between them, as stated in Rahman's own X post.
Who are the key people behind Amaran's music?
G V Prakash Kumar composed the background score for Amaran, with sound engineer Jehovasan playing a key supporting role. The film starred Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi.
Is G V Prakash related to A R Rahman?
Yes, G V Prakash Kumar is the nephew of Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman. G V Prakash began his career in the Tamil film industry and has built an independent body of award-winning work.
