>>Maniratnam's Robot! Hindustan times now. . . .Wonder when our media will reach those standards!
On Thu, Feb 26, 2009 at 7:07 PM, Vithur <[email protected]> wrote: > A smiling yet modest AR Rahman, who made a triumphant return home on > Thursday after winning two Oscars for the music of the film *Slumdog > Millionaire*, said his victory would change apprehensions about Indian > music in the West and was a starting point for him as well. > > "My biggest dream to connect people through music has come true. In a world > where there are enough reasons to separate us, the Oscars have unified us," > Rahman told reporters at the Kodak Theatre. > > "Let's forget about the East and West divide now - it's the closeness now > that has happened. There used to be a lot of apprehensions earlier for > Indian music in the West but this award has changed that perception." > > Rahman won two golden statuettes for *Slumdog Millionaire *for best > original score and best original song for *Jai Ho*. They were among the > eight Academy Awards bagged by the film by British director Danny Boyle > about an underdog-wins story set in India. > > He also ruled out a political role for himself. "I am a musician first and > last and have no apirations for any political activity or office," Rahman > said while reacting to suggestions from reporters about accepting a > nomination to the Rajya Sabha. > > Rahman skirted the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils caught in the crossfire > between the army and the rebel Tamil Tigers. > > "Neither the Oscar ceremony nor this stage are forums to raise political > issues. While I may be personally against any harm to any human being, I > also feel that Tamils should get protection in a peaceful atmosphere in Sri > Lanka, I am above politics," Rahman said. > > With his trademark humility and simplicity, the composer said the song, *Jai > Ho*, which won an Oscar, may not have been his best to date. > > "It may not have been my best. However, the songs matched the sensibilities > of Western audiences with its rhythm, burst of energy and joy and resulted > in a huge impact," Rahman said. > > "The series of awards has got me so much of respect. All the legends like > Mick Jagger and others talk to me like equals now - that's great. We can do > collaborations and some extraordinary work in the future," he added. > > As for his future plans, he said: "I would continue to work in Tamil films > - as much as I do in Hollywood - provided the projects excite me." > > Apart from two golden statuettes, Rahman also bagged the Golden Globes > award and British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) trophy for an > original score in Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches drama *Slumdog Millionaire*. > > > The film, that has won eight Oscars, has also been controversies' favourite > child in India for highlighting the "impoverished underbelly" of the > country. > > But Rahman said the film did not hurt anyone's sensibilities - either > because of its name *Slumdog Millionaire *or for showing India's > underbelly. "Dog is not an expletive," Rahman said. > > According to Rahman, the film focussed attention on Asia's biggest slum - > Dharavi - in Mumbai and its children. > > "If they (the producers) had made the film with a dirty mind, it would not > have got an Oscar. The film shows India in a positive light. It shows that > India is a developing nation. It gives so much mileage to India," he said. > > He said: "I got the Oscar for all of them who wanted to get an Oscar in > this country. So I got two of them. I want the future generation to feel > confident that anyone can get an Oscar. > > "It's an important award. It's a starting point even in my career as the > Oscar is for my work in the film and not my entire talent." > > "I am not saying that I am the biggest or anything. I am a composer and the > only message that I want to give through my music is peace and harmony. One > should have a good intention and work through it and they will definitely be > successful." > > Rahman's future projects include a film with Mani Ratnam's *Robot* and * > Blue*. > > Apart from Rahman, Resul Pookutty too won an Oscar for sound mixing in > *Slumdog > Millionaire*. > > Rahman said his Oscars were akin to the national award he won for his > maiden film *Roja*. "That award established me nationally and the Oscars > have made me internationally known. Else, I am the same," Rahman said. > > > http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=929e13ba-bce8-4a01-848c-2007fb8be88f&MatchID1=4934&TeamID1=3&TeamID2=1&MatchType1=1&SeriesID1=1248&MatchID2=4925&TeamID3=4&TeamID4=2&MatchType2=1&SeriesID2=1244&PrimaryID=4934&Headline=My+Oscars+will+connect+people%3a+AR+Rahman > > -- > regards, > Vithur > > > > >
