*Movie catapults composer* *'Slumdog' earns Rahman international fans* NEW DELHI -- The soaring "Slumdog Millionaire" soundtrack's three Oscar nominations and Golden Globe Award marked many Americans' first exposure to the music of A.R. Rahman.
But in his native India, the composer has been a national treasure for years. The 43-year-old composer has been winning awards since he burst on the Bollywood music scene in the early '90s -- blending styles rarely seen in mainstream Indian cinema. Rahman has composed music for more than 130 Indian films, incorporating jazz, rock, Indian pop and Western classical music. "He changed the entire concept of Indian film music," said Subir Malik, another well-known Indian musician, who described Rahman as "a very experimental guy." "He does crazy things and they still sound good. He manages to fit the most unusual chord structures into mainstream Bollywood songs," Malik said. Rahman, who has a degree in Western classical music from the Trinity College of Music in London, experimented with reggae in his debut film, "Roja." His first taste of international recognition came in 2001 when British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber invited Rahman to compose the score for "Bombay Dreams." Rahman also composed music for the stage adaptation of "The Lord Of The Rings" that premiered in Canada in 2006 and London in 2007, but he remained relatively unknown in the United States. That changed when he won the Golden Globe this month for best original soundtrack for Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire." Then he was nominated for three Oscars -- best original score and two in the best original song section. The film tells the story of Jamal Malik, a poor youth who becomes the champion of India's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" television program as he searches for his lost love. Rahman's catchy music seems to mirror the unyielding spirit of the Mumbai slums where the film is set. The two Oscar-nominated songs follow his tradition of mixing globe-spanning styles. "Jai Ho" blends classic Indian pop with electronica and Brazilian-inspired drums. "O Saya" features eclectic British sensation M.I.A., who co-wrote the song with Rahman. http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090128/ENTERTAINMENT0702/301289969 -- regards, Vithur
