It was heartening to see you in that suit and dark glasses thanking India after the Golden Globe? Thanks. I had no idea I would win considering it was an international jury where each member had his or her opinion. I think they have been very kind to the music of Slumdog Millionaire (SM). I just heard that after Golden Globe, the music has become the number one in the US charts. That is great news.
You looked very shy collecting your Golden Globe? In that one week I received three awards in the US. The first was the Critics' Awards. When I received the award, the American media wasn't interested in me - they didn't want my solo photographs. `Can you please stand next to Danny Boyle?' they would say. I think it was a glamour thing. But by the time I came to pick up the third award - the Golden Globe, they said, `Can we have your solo pictures, please?' Whom did you hobnob with at the after-party? I went for only 10 minutes. I don't drink. Not that I don't give company to people who do. But after 10 minutes I get a headache in a loud room. I would rather slip back to my room, watch a movie and go to sleep. How has the Golden Globe changed your life? Everyone from Andrew Lloyd Webber to Danny Elfman, Craig Armstrong (who worked with me on Elizabeth: The Golden Age) got in touch with me to congratulate my win - that spoke volumes. Besides that, I am feeling liberated as a musician - I feel that now I can have a lot more freedom beyond film music. Now I can do my own thing. Hip-hop artiste Akon wants me to write something for him and do a music video with him. But I just want to compose or write, not be seen in his video. Did you see a discernible change in the way people looked at your music? Yes. I remember when Roja happened there was a genuine smile on people's faces. I sensed a déjà vu with SM. Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, (the musician) Sting they all said they loved the film and music. And they meant it. It was a great change for them. Change is always welcome. Why was there so much secrecy while you were working on the score for Slumdog Millionaire? I was working with Danny Boyle for the first time. I wasn't sure I wanted to work with him. I wasn't sure of the sound. When two new people work with each other, the output can go either way. Fortunately, it worked. The main composition and mixing was done in 20 days. I had no choice but to work fast. When you are doing something new, it is much easier to speedup the process. It is when you are asked to bring in a variation in the same format that you need more time. Would you say SM is the most successful Indian music score outside India? It is not an Indian score, because it is not an Indian film. But it certainly doesn't sell Indian poverty to the West. I know a lot of people are saying that. But I don't agree. If I would have thought so for even a second, I wouldn't have been able to do justice to the music. There are so many films that I have refused because I objected to them on ethical, moral or some other ground. I am so finicky about these things. As I see it, SM clearly says India is developing fast and is no longer a third-world country. And why should we hide our darker side? The world is no more about the haves and have-nots. It's a global community. We need to know about one another. In fact, the A R Rahman Foundation is working towards eradicating poverty. And we need global co-operation for that. Has SM contributed to your Foundation? I think the very fact that it has made my way into the West and Hollywood easier, is contribution enough. The film has generated a lot of interest in my music and Hindi music. What work is pending back home? I have to attend to the background music of Delhi 6 immediately. And then there's Ashutosh Gowariker's What's Your Raashee?. What about the Oscars? Until I get nominated I have no plans regarding the Oscars. Right now I am enjoying the Golden Globe. http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/30/2009011720090117021629147d017e9c6/%E2%80%98The-press-in-the-US-didn%E2%80%99t-want-my-solo-pictures-until-the-Golden-Globe%E2%80%99
