When the Oscar nominations were announced Thursday, prolific Indian film composer A.R. Rahman had already made history earlier in the month as the first Indian national to win a Golden Globe. Thursday's nominations proved that 2009 is certainly a good year for Rahman. This hugely successful music composer is responsible for three of Slumdog Millionaire's ten Oscar nominations, one for Best Original Score and two for Best Song "Jai Ho" and "O Saya." The news of Slumdog and Rahman's nominations came during the much anticipated Mumbai premiere of Slumdog Millionaire Jan. 22.
Indian media focus on Rahman's nominations (AP Photo/Manish Swarup). Whether the film will be successful in India remains to be seen. Some Indian film critics have slammed the film's depiction of poverty in Mumbai often stating that the film romanticizes or exploits this nation's poverty while others critics have praised the film. Since Slumdog's premiere in Mumbai was Thursday it has yet to be seen how the nation as a whole will react. However, though critical reception of the film has been mixed in India A.R. Rahman's three Oscar nominations has been universally praised in the Indian Press, with the Times of India proclaiming "Rah Rah Rahman." Danny Boyle, A.R. Rahman, Anil Kapoor, Freida Pinto at Golden Globe Awards (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) While this may be the first that many Americans are hearing of Rahman, he has achieved great fame in India and has an impressive career long before Slumdog Millionaire. Dubbed the "Mozart of Madras" by Time Magazine, Rahman is a hugely successful music composer responsible for the soundtracks of dozens of Indian films including Dil Se, Lagaan, and Jodhaa Akbar. In 2007, CNN.com reported that Rahman had sold over 200 million albums worldwide. Since Rahman's "O Saya" and "Jai Ho" are two out of the three nominated songs for the Best Song category, his chances of walking away with an Oscar in 2009 are certainly high. Stay tuned for more Oscar nominee profiles! http://www.examiner.com/x-1378-LA-Foreign-Film-Examiner~y2009m1d24-Oscar-nominee-profiles-AR-Rahman
