The interview which appears below, was originally published on Indian Express 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 world is giving him a standing ovation, and rightfully so, even though the Oscars ceremony is over and done with. But music composer A.R. Rahman takes the adulation so nonchalantly that it surprises you. The man who bagged two Oscars for the Best Original Score for Slumdog Millionaire and its foot-tapping song Jai Ho! speaks to BT after catching barely two hours’ sleep after the Academy Awards.
India got three Oscars on one day when the country had been waiting for an Oscar ever since Bhanu Athaiya and Satyajit Ray got Academy Awards for India decades ago. It seems Bollywood magic is finally sweeping the world in a big way.
Ask him about this and the musical wizard says, “Slumdog Millionaire may have served as a catalyst for Bollywood’s recognition, but Indian music has always inspired people all over the world. It has an inherent magical quality, which has a wide appeal. However, to get appreciation from one’s peers is always a humbling experience.”
The world watched in awe as Rahman dedicated his Oscar to god and his mother. Millions of people across the world who were watching the Oscars were bowled over when Rahman said in true Bollywood ishtyle, “Mere paas maa hai!”
How did his mother react when he went to her after receiving the Oscars? “She blessed me and was overwhelmed. I thank god and my mom, whose blessings have always been with me,” he says with his inimitable simplicity.
This is the first time a typical Bollywood number was presented at the Oscars. Is there any chance of this becoming a permanent feature? “There’s no dearth of talent in Bollywood. I’m sure there will be many more such performances from now on. The USP of Indian music is its all-encompassing nature and the entire world is its canvas now,” answers the maestro.
This latest barrage of Oscars has put India on the world creativity map. But Rahman fans have already started fretting about whether the illustrious musician will shift base to Hollywood permanently.
Try telling him this and Rahman quickly reacts, “India is where my roots lie and there’s no question of bidding adieu to my motherland!”
