LOS ANGELES, CA - ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ music director A.R. Rahman says getting three Oscar nominations is more of a ‘dream come true’ for his wife as she has always wanted him to win the coveted International honor.
‘What can I say? It’s a dream come true not so much for me as my wife. She’d wake up in the middle of the night and say, ‘I want you to win an Oscar.’ And I’d just smile. Today my wife’s dream seems a possibility,’ Rahman said from Chennai where he lives.
‘But I don’t want to get too hopeful,’ he quickly added. ‘Let’s just rejoice for the nomination at the moment. I’m happy not just for myself but Gulzar saab who has been nominated for the lyrics of ‘Jai ho.’ I wish Javed saab had got nominated too. If he had written a song in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ I’m sure he too would’ve been nominated,’ the music director said.
Rahman has received the three Oscar nominations for the music he composed for British filmmaker Danny Boyle’s rags-to-riches film ‘Slumdog Millionaire.’ While one nomination is for best original score, two are for the best original songs – ‘Jai ho’ and ‘O saya.’
The composer said he is glad he was in Chennai with his family when the nominations were announced.
‘My wife and children jumped with joy when they heard the announcement. And my mother is also here with me. It’s all her prayers and support and her upbringing that’s bearing fruit now,’ he said.
Rahman was actually supposed to be in Mumbai for the premiere of the Hindi version of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ on Jan 22.
‘Because of some work in Chennai I couldn’t attend the premiere in Mumbai. It happened for the best. Because otherwise I wouldn’t be here with my family to share this moment.’
Rahman says he wasn’t too sure of making it to the Oscar nominations after he got the Golden Globe. ‘I know the Golden Globes are the precursor to the Oscars. But honestly, it sometimes works in reverse. Bruce Springsteen, who got the Golden Globe, hasn’t gotten the Oscar. Thank God, it went the right way for me.’
He now looks forward to the Oscar award ceremony. ‘The ceremony is on Feb 22. But I’ve business to attend to. So I’ll be leaving for LA (Los Angeles) very shortly. And yes, my wife will be attending the Oscar ceremonies with me. How can she not? She dreamt this dream for me.’
All he asks for now is the prayers of his countrymen.
‘It’s a moment of pride not just for me, India has done it. Pray that I bring home the Oscar,’ he said.
Rahman got his first big break in Mani Ratnam’s ‘Roja’ and later composed music for many films in southern India. His first full-fledged Bollywood project was Ram Gopal Varma’s hit ‘Rangeela.’
The musical genius not only won hearts in India but also made a mark on the global mark scene. He got his first international break when Andrew Lloyd Webber invited him to compose music for the Broadway musical ‘Bombay Dreams,’ which won him immense fame. He also composed for the stage adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ that premiered in Canada in 2006 and in London in 2007.
Soaking in triple Oscar nomination glory, Rahman said he felt on “top of the world” and disclosed that he was getting offers from Hollywood producers to provide the musical score for their films.
Rahman did not give details of the nature of offers beyond saying Hollywood producers have been making several telephone calls to him since his musical score for “Slumdog Millionaire” won the Golden Globe award.
Pressed by newsmen about the offers, Rahman said he cannot reveal anything due to confidentialities involved but would talk about it at an appropriate time.
Asked by newsmen whether the Indian film industry would lose him to Hollywood, Rahman quipped, “ I will do a balancing act.”
The music wizard said representing India at the Oscar nomination was a great energy booster.
“I did not think it will get there. God has been really kind. And I have to really thank the prayers of all the people and their good wishes,” Rahman said.
“Something good is happening and I am really happy about it,” he said, adding there is a kind of optimism in the film and so much of positive vibes as you leave the movie hall.”
Rahman said the inspiration for his musical score which has won him international recognition came from the film “Slumdog Millionaire” itself.
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