So, ARR not the first one to win Oscar for India ? :( *Mumbai:* Even as AR Rahman readies for his big outing at the Oscars this year, we spoke to India's first Oscar winner, costume designer Bhanu Athaiya about her days of glory at the Academy Awards and also about India's next potential Oscar winner Rahman.
"I'm no speech maker, so I decided to keep it short and sweet, what I said was 'This is too good to believe, thank you Sir Richard Attenborough for focusing world attention to India," Bhanu said. Those were the very words with which Bhanu walked away with the Oscar for the best costume design for Attenborough's *Gandhi*. She brought home India's first ever Oscar back in 1982. "I was working with the world's best team, there was no question of not doing your best. If you have done your homework it will be seen and recognized," Bhanu said. And this veteran costume designer who is also on the Oscar's voting panel, sees the same potential in this year's nominee music director AR Rahman. "One knows that Rahman has worked and given music in different films, there was always this belief that he will give his best. I'm happy to say that Rahman has brought us closer to another Oscar. One hopes the Oscar will come to India in less than a month's time. I wish him all the best," Bhanu said. A word of encouragement from an Oscar winner to an Oscar hopeful. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/indias-first-oscar-winner-wishes-rahman-luck/83550-8.html
