The A R Rahman foundation was founded by the two-time Academy Award winner Dr. A R Rahman and his mother Kareema Begum in 2006.While promoting music education, the foundation has also stood up to its moral responsibility of serving the community.
The Sunshine Orchestra is the marquee project of the A R Rahman Foundation. Socially and economically underserved children with an aptitude in music are provided free group instrumental tuition. Once equipped with the requisite skills, the children are given opportunities to build a career in music, as teachers or as performers. The ARCO Project provides individual tuition for the members of the Sunshine Orchestra (SO). It has also fundraised and supported SO double bassist Anish Franklin who is currently finishing an MMus at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.