Post Oscar, Rahman lands 3 Hollywood offers
27 Feb 2009, 1200 hrs IST, ET Bureau
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CHENNAI: While speculation is strife about the benefit that A R Rahman’s
win in the Oscars is likely to bring to Indian entertainment and sound
industries,
the music icon who has grown larger than life into a maestro, has landed
himself 3 offers from
Hollywood<http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Media--Entertainment-/Entertainment/Post-Oscar-Rahman-lands-3-Hollywood-offers/rssarticleshow/4199421.cms#>.
“Yeah, I have received 2-3 offers,” he said in his trademark matter-of-fact
tone, albeit with an added touch of euphoria. “Due to the confidentiality in
the agreements, I cannot talk about them any further,” he said. He was
addressing the media in Chennai on Thursday in a mood of jubiliance, having
slept barely seven hours after his arrival from Los Angeles at 3.
The air in the hall cackled with almost as much energy as his Oscar winning
song<http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Media--Entertainment-/Entertainment/Post-Oscar-Rahman-lands-3-Hollywood-offers/rssarticleshow/4199421.cms#>releases.
“Jai Ho! Embodies the release of an extra-ordinary energy,” he
said. “The music enhanced the film, like the jewel on a beautiful ornament.
And it, somehow, also appealed to a western sensibility.”
The musician, who did Tamil proud by addressing a few words in his mother
tongue to the audience at the Kodak theatre on Sunday, admitted that despite
having forayed into different styles of
music<http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Media--Entertainment-/Entertainment/Post-Oscar-Rahman-lands-3-Hollywood-offers/rssarticleshow/4199421.cms#>,
composing for Tamil songs, having grown up with the language. But, that
didn’t stop him from taking wild risks at the international stage.
“Less than one tenth of the budget of Slumdog Millionaire was allocated for
its music. If I had shied away from it, I would have missed all this,” he
said.
He recalled the moment nearly two decades ago, when he stood under the
spotlight receiving a national award for his debut with Roja, directed by
Maniratnam. “I had only as much expectation for this award as I had for that
one!” he said. “Well, after the Golden Globe and Bafta, I had some 5% more
expectation.”
Today, he is all set to source young talent from India, and the rest Asia,
and project them in the international arena; to heights as dizzying as the
one he has achieved. “That was the whole point of starting the KM music
conservatory,” he said. “Also, every
celebrity<http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Media--Entertainment-/Entertainment/Post-Oscar-Rahman-lands-3-Hollywood-offers/rssarticleshow/4199421.cms#>in
Hollywood is keen on collaborating with the Indian cine-industry
today.”
His answer to the school of though that criticizes SM for projecting India
with a colonial mindset in the global arena: “As an artist, I saw the
movie<http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Media--Entertainment-/Entertainment/Post-Oscar-Rahman-lands-3-Hollywood-offers/rssarticleshow/4199421.cms#>depicting
the success of an underdog, after much struggle. But, I suppose
other people could feel differently about the movie, and they are entitled
to feel so.”
“The international spotlight is on Dharavi now. I think those kids will now
be properly provided for, with contributions coming in from all over the
world. Some of them have already been assured education and proper living up
to the age of 16.”
“If the same movie had been shot by an Indian director, would it have won
the Oscars?” a question came whizzing in.
Rahman answered, “Yes, provided the director gets hold of an international
distributor, with whom the movie can be sold effectively worldwide.”
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/Media--Entertainment-/Entertainment/Post-Oscar-Rahman-lands-3-Hollywood-offers/rssarticleshow/4199421.cms
--
regards,
Vithur
