February 24, 2009
 

AR Rahman claimed by all and their slumdogs

After winning two Academy Awards, for Original Score & Song, AR Rahman is now the darling of India. However, just like his music, the list of people associating themselves with him also have a global reach.

Among those claiming him as one of their own ilk are (in no particular order): Hindus, Muslims, the world school drop-outs association, the world religious converts association, alumni of the Padma Seshadri group of institutions in Madras, alumni of the Trinity college of music, the Tamil ad film industry, the Kannada film industry, the silent movie industry (sole member being Mani Ratnam), the Tamil film industry, the betel nut industry (spearheaded by ARR Sugandha paaku), the Hindi film industry and the Indian film music listeners association.

Perhaps, on any other day, Gulzar (lest we forget, he was a joint-winner!) and Resul Pookutty would have been the darlings of India. It was their misfortune that AR Rahman hogged the limelight :)

While I haven't heard all the songs from the movie, I don't think they'd be superior to some of the other stuff he's dished out over the last 16-17 years!

To ensure there was a social responsibility angle for the Indian media's coverage of the Academy Awards, a short-form documentary about a girl in Uttar Pradesh with a cleft-lip won an award.

Labels: academy awards, india, movies, music, oscars, rahman