A R Rahman won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction, Filmfare Award for Best Music Director, Tamil and the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director for his work. In 2005 the album received critical acclaim and was also listed in Time magazine's "10 Best Soundtracks" of all time.
Singer SP Balasubramaniam was very reluctant when he walked in AR Rahman's studio to record the song Kadhal Rojave and asked "How can this studio produce cinematic sound with threadbare recording equipment and a small voice cubicle"? But was very impressed with the final outcome after the theatrical release, and appreciated AR Rahman and told him that "you have proved that music could be produced anywhere".
'Roja' made Time magazine's '10 Best Soundtracks' list - December 2007.
Two time academy winner AR Rahman's Tamil feature film debut.
A major chunk of the film was to be shot in Kashmir but was shot in other hill stations that resembled it due to extreme terrorism there.