CNN-IBN Indian of the Year is the prime and the most plausible awards of the Country. The association is ready to respect and recognize the Indians whose endeavor stood tall in the year 2009.

The CNN IBN Indian of the Year 2009 award was given to A R Rahman and Kamal Haasan by Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh yesterday. According to the PTI report, Academy Award winner A R Rahman won over the Indian of the Year in the Entertainment category from Amitabh Bachchan. Big B was voted for doing the role of a 13-year-old in ‘Paa’, and entertaining the nation for forty years now. Kamal Haasan received the Special Achievement Award form the CNN-IBN team for completing 50 years in cinema.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described A R Rahman's music as inspirational. “Rahman’s music is inspirational... When I heard Rahman in the White House, you cannot imagine the sense of joy and achievement...,” Singh said, after conferring the award in New Delhi.

"It is a triumph for music. I hope it inspires more people and lessens the divide," said the Oscar winning music maestro, who was also given an award for entertainment. He said “lessening the divide” through music was his intention.

When asked what was it about his music that wowed the world Rahman said, "I don't know. I think the philosophy of music playing larger role, being selective and blessings of God."

The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. Praising the maestro, the Prime Minister called him an "inspirational genius", saying "There is only one Panditji and he has been a role model and will be a role model".