AR Rahman named 'Entertainer of the Year'

Academy Award-winning musician AR Rahman beat off competition from Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan to be named Indian of the Year in the Entertainment category by CNN-IBN.

Academy Award-winning musician AR Rahman beat off competition from Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan to be named Indian of the Year in the Entertainment category by CNN-IBN.

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With two Oscars and multiple international awards under his belt, Rahman was a natural choice for the honour, said the channel.

"Rahman has redefined contemporary Indian music and is the pride of the entire nation also an idol to millions for making a mark on the global music arena," Rajdeep Sardesai, editor-in-chief, IBN Network 18, said in a press statement.

Bachchan was nominated for "being 68, yet daring to play a 13-year-old in Paa, and entertaining India for forty years".

The other nominees included Bollywood's rising stars Katrina Kaif, Ranbir Kapoor along with TV channel Colors and reality TV stars Prince group of Orissa.

The award will be given to Rahman in a ceremony in New Delhi, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the Chief Guest, on December 21.