News: ''Jai Ho'' India for winning World Cup: Rahman

New Delhi, April 3 Music composer A.R. Rahman, whose Oscar-winning song ''Jai ho'' was on everybody''s mind Saturday after India beat Sri Lanka in the cricket World Cup final, hopes many such successes to the country in every field.

New Delhi, April 3 (IANS) Music composer A.R. Rahman, whose Oscar-winning song 'Jai ho' was on everybody's mind Saturday after India beat Sri Lanka in the cricket World Cup final, hopes many such successes to the country in every field.

'Jai Ho, India for winning the World Cup! We are getting all that we want... May we always 'want' the best things that build our country as the most noble nation in the world,' Rahman posted on his Facebook page.

The ace musician, whose version of patriotic song 'Vande Mataram' was played many times at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai during the match Saturday, will launch his biography in Mumbai Wednesday.

'I am on my way to India (Mumbai) for my book launch!' he added.

The book, 'A.R. Rahman: The Spirit of Music' has been penned by renowned writer Nasreen Munni Kabir. It will be launched by filmmaker Mani Ratnam, with whom Rahman has worked in many projects like 'Guru' and 'Raavan'.

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'Jai ho' Rahman at Golden Globe nominations again

New Delhi, Dec 14 : It doesn't get bigger than this for A.R. Rahman. The double Oscar winning Indian composer has bagged a Golden Globe nomination for Danny Boyle's "127 Hours", having already won the trophy once for the director's mega sweep "Slumdog Millionaire" in 2009.

This is the 44-year-old's second flick at Hollywood's second most prestigious annual movie prize after Boyle's Mumbai-based multiple-Oscar award wining underdog drama "Slumdog Millionaire". Rahman won two Oscars and a Golden Globe for his number "Jai ho" in the movie.

The Chennai-based composer is competing in the same section as before - Original Score for a motion picture category - with the likes of Alexandre Desplat ("The King's Speech"), Danny Elfman ("Alice in Wonderland"), Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross ("The Social Network"), and Hans Zimmer ("Inception").

Bollywood was on cloud nine with its leading musician's feat.

"AR Rahman nominated for Golden Globe for '127 Hours' score. Marching to another Oscar?" tweeted filmmaker Shekhar Kapur.

The soundtrack of "127 Hours" includes the popular song "If I Rise", a collaboration between Rahman and pop star Dido.

Starring "Spider-Man" star James Franco, the movie is a biopic about mountaineer Aron Ralston, who was trapped in a canyon in Utah for five days by a boulder that fell on his right arm and he freed himself by amputating the limb.

Ralston recently even complimented the composer on his music in the film by sending him a hand-written note.

It read: "For A.R, Thank you for bringing your amazing music to my story - if only I had your soundtrack in the canyon, I could've lasted another 127 hours. Best Wishes, A.R. (Aron Ralston)."

Fondly called the Mozart of Madras, Rahman was honoured with a Padma Bhushan this year.

The shy musician also has two gramophones on his shelf that he won at the 52nd Grammy Awards for his music in "Slumdog Millionaire".

The only defeat he had had was at this year's Oscars ceremony when his number "Na Na" from his Hollywood debut venture "Couple's Retreat" failed to win a nomination in the Best Original Song category at the gala.

--IANS

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"Padma Bhushan means more to me than Oscar & Grammy" - A.R. Rahman

After the Oscars and the Padma Bhushan, it's Grammy time for A R Rahman. On Sunday night, his music for Slumdog Millionaire won two Grammy awards, setting Rahman's global score even higher in 2010 than it was last year.

Reacting to the double Grammy whammy, Rahman said, "I never even dreamt about winning all these awards. I once again want to thank the Almighty, my spiritual Sufi teachers Ameen Peerullah Malik Sahib, Danny Boyle and the whole Slumdog creative team."

After the Grammy, Rahman also had a special word of thanks for his mentor Mani Ratnam and his mentors in Mumbai, Shekhar Kapur and Subhash Ghai and mentor in the West, Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Back home, Rahman is happy to have received the Padma Bhushan. But unhappy about the fact that a lot of the deserving artistes remain unrecognized by the government. "There're so many deserving candidates for National Awards, still unsung. On the other hand, I believe people with dubious records get recognized. That isn't fair. Personally speaking I'm very happy to get the Padma Bhushan. Ever since the announcement my phone hasn't stopped ringing. I think I've received more congratulations for the Padma than for the Oscars."

Rahman says he's prouder of the Padma Bhushan than the Oscar. "It definitely means more when you're recognized by your own people and country. I definitely value this award more than the Oscar or Grammy," said Rahman before flying out to Los Angeles for the Grammys. "My award comes in a category that won't be televised. So it won't be like Slumdog Millionaire where people back home could watch me."

Much has been said about the two Padma winners Rahman and sound designer Resul Pookutty's disappointing follow-up collaboration in Blue after Slumdog Millionaire. But Rahman stands by Blue. "The script was a bummer. But grant the director Anthony D'Souza for the fact that he tried something different. I enjoyed doing Blue."

Our resident Mozart is amused by premature reports in the press that his song 'Na Na' from his first Hollywood soundtrack has been nominated for and Oscar.

Says Rahman, "'Na Na' is short listed. It's one of 63 songs in the race. Not nominated yet. It's an English song."

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Golden boy Rahman makes India proud with double Grammys

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Indians went 'Jai Ho' once again Monday when music maestro A.R. Rahman scored a double triumph at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, a year after bagging two Oscars for his foot tapping music for 'Slumdog Millionaire'.
The composer bagged the best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture and another one for 'Jai Ho' for the best motion picture song at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.
He won the award with veteran lyricist Gulzar and Tanvi Shah who wrote the Spanish lyrics for it.
'This is insane, god is great again,' a beaming Rahman said after receiving the award at the biggest show in the music world. The other Indian contenders, Zakir Hussain and Amjad Ali Khan, could not manage to win the golden gramophones.
'Insane eh? I never even dreamt about winning all these awards,' Rahman posted on his Twitter page shortly after receiving the award.
Just a year ago, Rahman's music for 'Slumdog Millionaire', a screen adaptation of Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup's novel 'Q & A', had propelled him to the record books as India's first double Oscar winner.
Besides the Oscars and now the Grammys, the Chennai musician's composition for the film has also won him other prestigious international awards like the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Critics Choice Award and the Golden Globe.
'We all are very proud of him. This magical musician has brought more honour to India, his family, fans, friends and his entire team. Such a young man has made his mark on the music map of the world. All of us should put him on our shoulders,' said Gulzar who shares the prestigious award with him.
'I am proud of Rahman as a special friend and composer who made India proud in the world of music. It's his true dedication towards innovative music and his connection with divine energies. Bravo Rahman!' exclaimed filmmaker Subhash Ghai who roped in the composer for his films 'Taal', 'Kisna: The Warrior Poet' and 'Yuvvraaj'.
Director Imtiaz Ali added: 'It fills me with pride. Also makes me think if he is getting this much accolade for 'Jai ho', wonder what the reaction of the West will be when they discover the rest of Rahman? I'm waiting to see the man go from strength to strength.'
The composer's sister Reihana said winning awards was 'a way of life' for her 44-year-old brother.
'It's a good start of the year. It was Rahman's birthday on Jan 6 and now he wins Grammys. It's a way of life now since he has won so many,' Reihana told NDTV after her brother won the award.
'When he was going for the Golden Globes last year, he was doubtful about his win and so were we, but after he got that, it has been awards and awards for him, so we were quite sure that he will get the Grammy as well,' she added.
The song was crooned by Sukhvinder Singh, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Vijay Prakash with support from Rahman and Shah.
Global honours may have come his way only since 'Slumdog Millionaire', but the unassuming composer has been contributing to world music for quite a while. He composed music for the 'The Lord of the Rings' theatre production, for instance, as well as for Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Bombay Dreams'.
His talent first came to the fore with 'Roja' in 1992, and there has been no looking back since for the musician, who has just been awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award.

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A.R. Rahman features in Akon's music video 'Beautiful'

By Bollywood Hungama News Network

Double Oscar winner A.R.Rahman is known to be a very shy and introvert kind of a person. Hence, it took us by surprise when we saw Rahman feature in a video of American hip-hop singer Akon.

The video called 'Beautiful' features Rahman for just a couple of seconds. The Music Maestro is seen posing with a bevy of models and smiling in his trademark coy way. The video also features American pop singer Colby O'Donis and Canadian hip hop artist Kardinal Offishall

After the double Oscar triumph, one must say Rahman is indeed making his presence felt on the international music arena slowly and steadily.

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