I want Mani Ratnam to also come with Rahman and me for the Oscars.
If the Oscar comes my way, it tells me that I am not tired yet Gulzar speaks on the much-celebrated Oscar nominated number, Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire By Subhash K Jha Posted On Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 11:22:18 PM Your song 'Jai ho' with Rahman is being hummed all over the world? I was attending a literary festival in Jaipur when the announcements were made. People started congratulating me and I was called on stage. Vikas Swarup, who wrote novel Q & A, based on which the film is made, was also in Jaipur. All of us greeted each other with Jai ho. That's when I realised that 'Jai ho' had become a catch-phrase. Did you write a catch-phrase so that it could gain global recognition? Not at all. You can't predict a child's horoscope. How could I predict what kind of an impact my words would have? I have always been using catch-phrases in my lyrics, whether it was Chaiyyan chaiyyan in Dil Se or Chhai chhap chhai, chhapak chai in Hu-tu-tu. How do you feel about the Oscar nomination? To get an Oscar nomination at this stage of my career is like a big thump on my back. If the Oscar comes my way, it tells me that I am not tired yet. An Oscar is always looked upon as a very high benchmark for excellence. Would you say that our films and music have gone global? I will definitely say that we have come a long way. Today, our cinema is in the global league. Earlier, when Indian films were released on an international platform, the songs would be cut out. Now a foreigner has not only come forward to make a film on Mumbai but has also incorporated Hindi songs in it. Also, now the songs in our films are left intact when released abroad. That a very Mumbai-centric film and not a mainstream American film, is nominated for the Oscars is a very big achievement by itself. And I want to thank director Danny Boyle for that. How has Rahman contributed to the globalisation of Indian music? Rahman has made a world of difference to the Indian film music. If I deserve one thump for the Oscar nomination, Rahman deserves three. His song Chaiyyan chaiyyan in Dil Se created a global impact. In fact, the song was used in a Hollywood film - Spike Lee's The Inside Man. His songs in the musical, Bombay Dreams were also appreciated. You seem to be very fond of Rahman. Yes I am. When he had curly hair, I used to call him bal bhagwan. He has a strong hand in taking Indian music to the global platform. When we work together, he is the rider on the horse, while my poetry is the lagaam. Put Mani Ratnam with us, and we are quite a team. I hope Mani doesnt ask me ever to leave this team. You are known for your poetry. Do you feel that the poetry is missing from the average film song nowadays? The younger generation does want poetry, but in the way they find palatable. We harp on the music from the past. But where are the films where the boatman sailed across a river while the heroine sat on the bank drawing lines in the sand with her toes. We can't live in the past. If we did, there would be no Jai ho exciting the audience. That is why todays generation wants remixes. If they shy away from poetry, it is because the words do not reach out to them. With Rahman, I am able to draw a balance between poetry and accessibility. Among todays lyricists, Prasoon Joshi and Swanand Kirkire are able to create that balance. What will you wear for the Oscars? No one has blown the whistle from LA. We will cross the bridge when we come to it. Stop deciding the colour of my socks prematurely. But one thing is for sure, for next year, I want Mani Ratnam to also come with Rahman and me for the Oscars. * If I deserve one thump for the Oscar nomination, Rahman deserves three Gulzar
