AR Rahman's mother Kareema Begum passes away

Mumbai - Kareema Begum had been ailing for a while and is reported to have breathed her last in Chennai today.

Kareema Begum, mother of Oscar winning composer AR Rahman, passed away in the city due to age related ailments. Mourning her demise, Rahman, posted a photo of her on his verified Twitter account on Monday afternoon.

Commenting on his tweet, celebrities from the world of music and cinema expressed condolences.

"Your heart is broken, I know. But your mother left you with an inner strength , an inner resilience and belief .. that I have seen and admired for long. Stay strong, my friend," commented director Shekhar Kapur.

"Dear Sir.. deeply saddened by your loss.. may god give you strength. Remembering Amma's wonderful and gentle soul. She will forever remain in our hearts," tweeted singer Harshdeep Kaur.