Oscar Rahman & Slumdog Millionaire

After much expectations, and heightened media attractions,
Slumdog Millionaire, did end up winning 8 Oscars in 2009 Academy Awards.  Even though, I am still reluctant to call Slumdog as the Indian entry to Oscars, I am happy for the fact that among those who were awarded there were also 3 Indians, in Resul Pookutty, AR Rahman, & Gulzar.

I am extremely happy for Music Magician Rahman, that he finally got the accolades with two awards, which he deserved for long.  I don’t rate Jai Ho as one of his best renditions, because there were instances of genius a long time before in Movies like Roja, Dil Se, to the recent one of Jodha Akbar.  So, he was destined for glory, and it seems it has come at a right time, when he is gunning to touch international heights.

More than the Songs, Rahman did his marvellous work on the Background score.  Something which he seems to have become mastered just like Song compositions, of late.  The background score during the Police chasing slum kids through the locality, is a top pick.  The momentum is kept up until the last scene, where it blasts of full of joy with Jai Ho with end credits.  Simply Music Magician at his best.

So, why he got it for SM, now? I believe it is all to do with Slumdog Millionaire, which even though was pictured in India with Indian Actors, conveying a rags-to-riches story, it was heavily involved with Foreigners doing the core of the work.  Even Pookutty, who won the Oscar Award for Sound Editing, did so because he had two foreigners in the team.

I go with the comments of Cine Industry heavyweights like Kamal Hasan, Amitabh Bachchan, and Amir Khan; that even though Oscar is rated higher, it is never an International recognition which we should be craving for.  Let’s face the facts, it was originally an award ceremony targeted for the American Films.  Much like, how Filmfare Awards is for India.  So, it is prominent that they would be choosing movies which satisfies their taste.  So, when the low life version of a developing country like India, was shown to them, it is natural that it would have appeased some of their feelings.  So, the rest is history.

With all said and done, Slumdog Millionaire, deserves a hearty applause for how the movie was scripted and delivered, where Danny Boyle deserves the credit.  With the way the worst in store in our slum life was portrayed, It’s certainly a slap in the face for all those Indians, to bring us into reality.  So, rather than going into a denial mode, let’s aim our efforts in improving the Slum dwellers life in India. 

If not for anything, at least Slumdog gave a footprint for Indian talent, on a global stage. I am extremely proud for what Pookutty, Rahman & Gulzar have achieved it for India.  Hopefully, this would be a launch pad for other talents to get International Fame.

Two end-notes on Rahman

• During the Award Ceremony:  Rahman ending his Thanks speech by saying “எல்லா புகழும் இறைவனுக்கே” . Would make any Tamilian happy.
• After the Award Ceremony: “I gave it away to my friends” – On the query of what he did with Champagnes he got as Gift.  Rahman at his modest self.

லோக்கல் மேட்டர்: ஆஸ்கார் அவார்டு பற்றி நாம் மனம் நிறைந்து கொண்டாடும் வேளையில், நமது லோக்கல் அரசாங்கத்தின் சார்பாக தரப்படும் கலை சேவைக்கான கலைமாமணி விருது கூத்தை நினைத்தால் சிரிக்காமல் இருக்க முடியவில்லை.

2009 வது வருட விருதுகளுக்கு அவர்கள் தேர்ந்தெடுத்தது 70+ நபர்களை. குப்பன், சுப்பனுக்கெல்லாம் விருது கொடுத்து, 50 வருடங்களுக்க மேல் குடுக்கபட்டு வந்த, அந்த விருதையே கீழ்படுத்தி இருக்கிறார்கள். அடுத்த வருடம் குலுக்கல் நடிகைகளான ஷகீலா மற்றும் அல்போன்ஸா அம்மணிகளுக்கும் கலைமாமணி விருது கிடைத்தாலும் ஆச்சரியபடுவதுக்கில்லை. என்ன சார் கொடுமை இது?