Slumdog's Rahman In London For Independence Day

Double Oscar winner AR Rahman says his decision to play a greatest hits concert in London on Indian Independence Day was due to the shared history between the two countries.

Speaking to Sky News, the Bollywood composer, who has won international acclaim, said: "There's a lot of history between India and England. (The decision) was a friendly notion. I've been working in England for 15 years…You have a great crowd here."

He said it was important to move forward from the colonial past and instead share positives like "knowledge, wisdom, love and music".

Rahman's career, spanning 23 years, has seen him compose 100 soundtracks, sell 200 million albums and appear on Time Magazine's most influential people list. 

His soundtrack to Danny Boyle's 2009 film Slumdog Millionaire earned him two Oscars, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe Award and two Grammys.

Describing how difficult it would be to narrow his music down into one night, he said: "It's a tough thing to do but I go with my instinct. Certain songs become iconic and part of the history of people's lives."

His fusion of eastern and western musical styles revolutionised the Indian film industry and thrust him onto the international stage.

"Music should be for all. I love western music, I love eastern music and I wanted my music to have the same philosophy. There's so many things we can share and it all requires connecting with small steps."