Mani Ratnam's "Robot" ???????? woooooooooo! On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 6:55 PM, Gopal Srinivasan <[email protected]>wrote:
> > My Oscars will connect people, says A.R. Rahman > By IANS | February 26, 2009 > Chennai, Feb 26 (IANS) A smiling yet modest A.R. Rahman, who made a > triumphant return home > 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://allbollywood.com/news/bd/2009/0226/389972/ar_rahman/index.shtml > > >
