Rahman received the award from renowned Oculus co-inventors, Professors Steven LaValle and Anna Lavalle, visiting faculty at IIT-M, during the two-day XR Summit, India’s inaugural XR Academy-Industry meet. Expressing gratitude, Rahman emphasized the significance of ‘Make in India’ and urged the development of cutting-edge technologies within the country.

“Why shouldn’t the next Apple or NVIDIA originate from India?” he stated, advocating for government support. Rahman also shared insights on emerging AI technology, cautioning against over-reliance. “AI is growing rapidly, but creativity knows no bounds. Research is exploring music’s therapeutic potential,” he noted, underscoring AI’s role as a tool.

‘Le Musk’, directed by Rahman, is a 37-minute VR thriller integrating scent, motion, and music for an immersive cinematic experience. The film follows Juliet Merdinian’s journey, guided by memories of scents, showcasing Rahman’s unique blend of jazz, orchestral, and world music.