The article which appears below, was originally published on Planet Bollywood in February 2009. ©The rights to this material are reserved to the owner. If you have any concerns or comments, please send an email to info@rahmaniac.com.
The industry reacts with pride and gratification after A.R. Rahman collects the ultimate prize for his multi-award winning musical score for Slumdog Millionaire (including one for his sound engineer, Resul Pookutty). Below are just a sample of the reactions received so far…
Vishal Dadlani: “I feel proud as an Indian, and I feel proud as a musician. Rahman, Gulzar saab, and Resul have opened the floodgates for our aspirations. Previously, an Oscar was an almost unimaginable reward. Now, I hope that a lot of us are going to raise our game, put ourselves in the right place at the right time, and give it an honest go. Rahman as always leads from the front!”
Sowmya Raoh: “ARR said, he had a choice between love and hate, he chose Love, and that’s why he’s there today. I think it quite sums up why this world is what it is today. It’s up to us to choose, every time. Choose good work, good films, good music…encourage all that’s good.”
Onir: “It makes me very happy to see behind the scene people from India getting International recognition. Rahman has always been a phenomena and this only increases his reach. I am especially happy about Resul, not only because we all belonged to a group who started off together… but because technical award for an Indian means a lot.”
Krishna Beura: “Singing for Mr. A.R. Rahman is just like a Pilgrimage. Means if one does not do it his life as a singer is a waste. One does not get ‘moksha,’ if he has not sung for him… I think any award in the whole universe is also less to judge Mr. Rahman’s brilliance. India is really proud of him…He is a true ‘Bharat Ratna.'”
Amit Trivedi: “I have followed his work right from Roja to Delhi 6 and I personally feel that Slumdog Millionaire is great work however not his best. Having said that, I also feel that Slumdog Millionaire is the Oscar he deserves for all the brilliant work he has done so far. And the success of this magnitude that has come to him after 16 years is very, very well deserving.”
Hansal Mehta: “Rahman of course is a true genius and a very precious son of this great country. I hope this award draws the world’s attention to his other gems. My only regret was that Gulzar saab was not there at the ceremony. Ever since Gulzar saab has been a part of Rahman’s music, Dil Se, if I’m not mistaken, this genius has scaled greater heights. Gulzar saab has lent soul to Rahman’s heart.”
Anubhav Sinha: “While the new 747s and 777s are shrinking the size of the world, this evening the road from Kamalistan Studio to the Kodak theatre seems shorter. 1.1 billion people from this part of the world are elated, excited and inspired.”
Hema Sardesai: “From the beginning of his career from bringing in the most original scores, to his ace music arrangement, to always dishing out super hit songs, to giving breaks to upcoming singers and musicians, to singing hit songs and yet being down to earth, it is simply wonderful that this great musician and singer got the most coveted international awards which befits him so completely.”
