Rahman out of Oscar race

Rahman out of Oscar race

Los Angeles, Feb 2 (IANS) Indian music maestro A R Rahman's song "Na na" from the film "Couples Retreat" has failed to bag a nomination in the original song category for the 82nd Academy Awards. The news came just a day after he triumphed at the Grammys by bagging double Golden Gramophones.

Competing with 62 songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures for nomination, Rahman's "Na na" lost out to "Almost there" ("The Princess And The Frog"), "Down in new Orleons" ("The Princess And The Frog"), "Loin de Paname" ("Paris 36"), "Take it all" ("Nine") and "The weary Kind" (Crazy Heart").

"Na na" was penned by double Oscar winner Rahman, Blaaze and Vivian Chaix and crooned by Rahman, Blaaze, Chaix, A.R. Ameen (Rahman's son), Clinton and Dominic.

The 82nd Academy Awards event will take place March 7 in Hollywood, California.

Bollywood cheers as Rahman scoops double Grammys

Bollywood cheers as Rahman scoops double Grammys

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) The Hindi film industry is elated after music maestro A.R. Rahman triumphed at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards by scooping two golden gramophones. From Gulzar and Javed Akhtar to Shyam Benegal and Subhash Ghai, all feel he has taken Indian music places and made the country proud.

Members of Bollywood praised the dedication of the 44-year-old, who is also a double Oscar winner. This is what they had to say.

Gulzar: We all are very proud of him. This magical musician has brought more honour to India, his family, fans, friends and his entire team. Such a young man has made his mark on the music map of the world. All of us should put him on our shoulders.

Javed Akhtar: He is great! Rahman has taken India's music places.

Imtiaz Ali: It fills me with pride. Also makes me think if he is getting this much accolade for 'Jai ho', wonder what the reaction of the West will be when they discover the rest of Rahman? I'm waiting to see the man go from strength to strength.

Shyam Benegal: Fantastic...Rahman is the greatest.

Subhash Ghai: I am proud of Rahman as a special friend and composer who made India proud in the world of music. It's his true dedication towards innovative music and his connection with divine energies. Bravo Rahman!

Sulaiman Merchant: I would like to congratulate Rahman for his consecutive wins at the Oscars and Grammys. He has taken Indian music into the international arena.

Javed Ali: I am feeling on top of the world. I think this is the best award and I have worked with him, that's why I think this is my award too.

Sukhwinder Singh: I am extremely happy for Rahman. As I have said earlier, I had been hoping for international recognition for him since 'Roja'. So I am not at all surprised.

Vishal Dadlani: Two Grammys for Rahman, congratulations! God is great and India is truly proud.

Sunidhi Chauhan: It's great news. He truly deserves it... heartiest congratulations to him.

Manoj Bajpayee: We all are proud of Rahman. He has opened doors for other music directors and we will be thankful to him for his contribution... I have no words to explain it. My best wishes to him.

Mallika Sherawat: Congrats A.R. (Rahman)...congrats India! Jai ho! (I'm) so proud.

Lara Dutta: Rahman congratulations! That's a fantastic achievement. We wish you many more. God bless.

Shreya Ghoshal: What great news to wake up to this morning - double Grammy. This is just the beginning, sir. So proud of you. Hearty congratulations.

Purab Kohli: Rahman's music has always been moving and inspiring. As Indians, we always knew that. It was only a matter of time that the world would notice. Congratulations to him. Jai ho!

Raghav Sachar: Heartiest congratulations, well deserved Grammys, besides "Jai ho", all the work over the years. And thanks for opening the world for India in music.

Rahman is amazing says friend Baz Luhrmann

Rahman is amazing, says friend Baz Luhrmann
New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann congratulated good friend A R Rahman on winning a double Grammy and praised the music maestro as "amazing".

"Congratulations A.R. He is amazing and now he has won two Grammys. To think that only a couple of days ago, we were sitting together and discussing our children and what we love (in terms of creative sensibilities) is like a dream," Luhrmann told IANS here.

"We are friends. Whenever he is in my country or whenever I am here, we catch up. We discuss whether we should have a live concert or any other collaboration. The relationship is precious," he added.

Lurhman is not oblivious to Bollywood song and dance culture as he used the popular Hindi song "Chamma chamma" from the film "China Gate" in his musical "Moulin Rouge".

According to reports, the ace director now wants to collaborate with Rahman as he wants to make film in India.

Luhrmann was in the capital Monday with Archibald Prize winner Australian portrait painter Vincent Fantauzzo to paint a 14/5ft public mural called Art Gesture at Le Sutra, Mumbai.

Rahman composed a free-of-cost background music for the video that shows the two artists doing the same. It has been shot by Kaizad Gustad. After finishing that, Luhrmann and Fantauzzo embarked on a Classic Tour on Royal Enfield Classic motorcycles to Rajasthan and painted frescoes there.

They will have an exhibition of photographs taken during their Rajasthan tour and proceeds from it will go to the charity DEEDS.

Golden boy Rahman does it again with double Grammy

Golden boy Rahman does it again with double Grammy (Lead)

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Indians went "Jai Ho" once again Monday when music maestro A R Rahman scored a double triumph at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, a year after winning two Oscars for the exuberant "Slumdog Millionaire" music.

The composer bagged the best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture and another one for "Jai Ho" for the best motion picture song at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.

He won the award with veteran lyricist Gulzar and Tanvi Shah who wrote the Spanish lyrics for it.

"This is insane, god is great again," a beaming Rahman said after receiving the award at the biggest show in the music world. The other Indian contenders, Zakir Hussain and Amjad Ali Khan, could not manage to win the golden gramophones.

"Insane eh? I never even dreamt about winning all these awards," Rahman posted on his Twitter page shortly after receiving the award.

Just a year ago, Rahman's music for "Slumdog Millionaire", a screen adaptation of Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup's novel "Q & A", had propelled him to the record books as India's first double Oscar winner.

Besides the Oscars and now the Grammys, the Chennai musician's composition for the film has also won him other prestigious international awards like the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Critics Choice Award and the Golden Globe.

The composer's sister Reihana said winning awards is now "a way of life" for her 44-year-old brother.

"It's a good start of the year. It was Rahman's birthday on Jan 6 and now he wins Grammys. It's a way of life now since he has won so many," Reihana told NDTV after her brother won the award.

"When he was going for the Golden Globes last year, he was doubtful about his win and so were we, but after he got that, it has been awards and awards for him, so we were quite sure that he will get the Grammy as well," she added.

The song was crooned by Sukhvinder Singh, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Vijay Prakash with support from Rahman and Shah.

Global honours may have come his way only since "Slumdog Millionaire", but the unassuming composer has been contributing to world music for quite a while. He composed music for the "The Lord of the Rings" theatre production, for instance, as well as for Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Bombay Dreams".

His talent first came to the fore with "Roja" in 1992, and there has been no looking back since for the musician, who has just been awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award.

The accolades have not stopped.

top winner at Grammy's with six awards

Beyonce top winner at Grammy's with six awards

Los Angeles, Feb 1 (IANS) Pop diva Beyonce Knowles took home six golden gramophones at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards and became the top winner at the star-studded event.

The singer was nominated in 10 categories and won six including song of the year, best R&B song and best female R&B vocal performance awards for the song "Single Ladies" (Put A Ring On It).

American rock band Kings of Leon and teenage singing sensation Taylor Swift were the other top grabbers at the Grammys, the most prestigious event of the music industry that was held at Staples Centre Sunday.

Swift took home four Grammys, including the album of the year award for "Fearless", and Kings of Leon's "Use Somebody" earned the rockers prizes for record of the Year, best rock song and best rock performance by a duo or group with vocals.

Hip hop band the Black Eyed Peas and singer Jay-Z were also triple winners at the mega music event.

While Elton John and Lady Gaga collaborated to open the show, the event also witnessed terrific performances from acts like Green Day, Pink, Dave Matthews Band, Beyonce and the Black Eyed Peas.

But the event's highlight was a star-studded tribute to the late pop legend Michael Jackson. The stunning collaboration was accompanied by a 3-D version of the Earth Song video that Jackson had planned to use as a backdrop during his This Is It concerts last year.

Following the peformance, Jackson's children Prince and Paris came on the stage to receive Lifetime Achievement Awards on their father's behalf.

Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Smokey Robinson and Carrie Underwood teamed up to perform the King of Pop's Earth Song.

Indian presence was strongly felt at the awards ceremony with music maestro A.R. Rahman bagging two Grammys. He was honoured for his compositions in "Slumdog Millionaire". He won best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture award as well as the best motion picture song for "Jai ho", which he shared with lyricist Gulzar and Tanvi Shah.

Other winners at the event were:

Best New Artist: Zak Brown Band

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Make It Mine" - Jason Mraz

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals: "Lucky" - Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat

Best Pop Instrumental Performance: "Throw Down Your Heart" - Bela Fleck

Best Pop Instrumental Album: "Potato Hole" - Booker T. Jones

Best Pop Vocal Album: "The E.N.D." - The Black Eyed Peas

Best Dance Recording: "Poker Face" - Lady Gaga

Best Electronic/Dance Album: "The Fame" - Lady Gaga

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: "Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden" - Michael Buble

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance: "Working On A Dream" - Bruce Springsteen

Best Hard Rock Performance: "War MAChine "- AC DC

Best Metal Performance: "Dissident Aggressor" - Judas Priest

Best Rock Instrumental Performance: "A Day In The Life" - Jeff Beck

Best Rock Album: "21st Century Breakdown" - Green Day

Best Alternative Music Album: "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix" - Phoenix

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: "Pretty Wings" - Maxwell

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: "Blame It" - Jamie Foxx & T-Pain

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "At Last" - Beyonce

Best Urban/Alternative Performance: "Pearls" - India.Arie and Dobet Gnahore

Best R&B Album: "Blacksummers'" Night - Maxwell

Best Contemporary R&B Album: "I Am... Sasha Fierce" - Beyonce

Best Rap Solo Performance: "D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)" - Jay-Z

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group: "Crack A Bottle" - Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: "Run This Town" - Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West

Best Rap Song: "Run This Town"- Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West

Best Rap Album: "Relapse" - Eminem

Best Female Country Vocal Performance: "White Horse" - Taylor Swift

Best Male Country Vocal Performance: "Sweet Thing" - Keith Urban

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: "I Run To You" - Lady Antebellum

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals: "I Told You So" - Carrie Underwood & Randy Travis

Best Country Instrumental Performance: "Producer's Medley" - Steve Wariner

Best Country Song: "White Horse" - Taylor Swift

Best New Age Album: "Prayer For Compassion" - David Darling

Best Contemporary Jazz Album: "75" - Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate

Best Jazz Vocal Album: Dedicated To You: "Kurt Elling Sings The Music Of Coltrane And Hartman" - Kurt Elling

Best Improvised Jazz Solo: "Dancin' 4 Chicken" - Terence Blanchard

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group: "Five Peace Band Live" - Chick Corea & John MCLaughlin Five Peace Band

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: "Book One" - New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

Best Latin Jazz Album: "Juntos Para Siempre" - Bebo Valdes And Chucho Valdes

Best Gospel Performance: "Wait On The Lord" - Donnie MCClurkin Featuring Karen Clark Sheard

Best Gospel Song: "God In Me" - Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Mary Mary Featuring Kierra 'KiKi' Sheard)

Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album: "Live Revelations" - Third Day

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: "The Power Of One" - Israel Houghton

Best Southern/Country/Bluegrass Gospel Album: "Jason Crabb" - Jason Crabb

Best Traditional Gospel Album: "Oh Happy Day" - Various

Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: "Audience Of One" - Heather Headley

Best Latin Pop Album: "Sin Frenos" - La Quinta Estacion

Best Latin Rock, Alternative or Urban Album: "Los De Atras Vienen Conmigo" - Calle 13

Best Tropical Latin Album: "Ciclos" - Luis Enrique

Best Regional Mexican Album: "Necesito De Ti" - Vicente Fernandez

Best Tejano Album: "Borders Y Bailes" - Los Texmaniacs

Best Norteno Album: "Tu Noche Con... Los Tigres Del Norte" - Los Tigres Del Norte

Best Banda Album: "Tu Esclavo Y Amo" - Lupillo Rivera

Best Americana Album: "Electric Dirt" - Levon Helm

Best Bluegrass Album: "The Crow / New Songs For The Five-String Banjo" - Steve Martin

Best Traditional Blues Album: "A Stranger Here" - Ramblin' Jack Elliott

Best Contemporary Blues Album: "Already Free" - The Derek Trucks Band

Best Traditional Folk Album: High Wide & Handsome: "The Charlie Poole Project" - Loudon Wainwright III

Best Contemporary Folk Album: "Townes" - Steve Earle

Best Native American Music Album: "Spirit Wind North" - Bill Miller

Best Hawaiian Music Album: "Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2" - Various

Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album: "Lay Your Burden Down" - Buckwheat Zydeco

Best Reggae Album: Mind Control: "Acoustic" - Stephen Marley

Best Traditional World Music Album: "Douga Mansa" - Mamadou Diabate

Best Contemporary World Music Album: "Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 Africa Sessions" - Bela Fleck

Best Musical Album For Children: "Family Time "- Ziggy Marley

Best Spoken Word Album For Children: "Aaaaah! Spooky, Scary Stories & Songs" - Buck Howdy

Best Spoken Word Album: "Always Looking Up" - Michael J. Fox

Best Comedy Album: A Colbert Christmas: "The Greatest Gift Of All!" - Stephen Colbert

Best Musical Show Album: "West Side Story" - David Caddick & David Lai, producers (Leonard Bernstein, composer; Stephen Sondheim, lyricist) (New Broadway Cast with Matt Cavenaugh, Josefina Scaglione & Others)

Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media: "Up" - Michael Giacchino

Best Instrumental Composition: "Married Life" (From Up) - Michael Giacchino

Best Instrumental Arrangement: "West Side Story Medley" - Bill Cunliffe, arranger (Resonance Big Band)

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): "Quiet Nights" - Claus Ogerman, arranger (Diana Krall)

Best Recording Package: "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today" - Stefan Sagmeister, art director (David Byrne & Brian Eno)

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package: Neil Young Archives Vol. I (1963-1972) - Gary Burden, Jenice Heo & Neil Young, art directors (Neil Young)

Best Album Notes: The Complete Louis Armstrong Decca Sessions (1935-1946) - Dan Morgenstern, album notes writer (Louis Armstrong)

Best Historical Album: "The Complete Chess Masters" (1950-1967) - Andy MCKaie, compilation producer; Erick Labson, mastering engineer (Little Walter)

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: "Ellipse" - Imogen Heap, engineer (Imogen Heap)

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical: Brendan O'Brien

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: "When Love Takes Over" (Electro Extended Remix) - David Guetta, remixer (David Guetta Featuring Kelly Rowland)

Best Surround Sound Album: "Transmigration" - Michael Bishop, surround mix engineer; Michael Bishop, surround mastering engineer; Elaine Martone, surround producer (Robert Spano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Choruses)

Best Engineered Album, Classical: "Mahler: Symphony No. 8"; Adagio From Symphony No. 10 - Peter Laenger, engineer (Michael Tilson Thomas & San Francisco Symphony)

Producer Of The Year, Classical: Steven Epstein

Best Classical Album: "Mahler: Symphony No. 8"; Adagio From Symphony No. 10 - Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; Ragnar Bohlin, Kevin Fox & Susan MCMane, choir directors; Andreas Neubronner, producer; Peter Laenger, engineer/mixer; Andreas Neubronner, mastering engineer (Laura Claycomb, Anthony Dean Griffey, Katarina Karneus, Quinn Kelsey, James Morris, Yvonne Naef, Elza van den Heever & Erin Wall; San Francisco Symphony; Pacific Boychoir, San Francisco Girls Chorus & San Francisco Symphony Chorus)

Best Orchestral Performance: "Ravel: Daphnis Et Chloe" - James Levine, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra; Tanglewood Festival Chorus)

Best Opera Recording: "Britten: Billy Budd" - Daniel Harding, conductor; Ian Bostridge, Neal Davies, Nathan Gunn, Jonathan Lemalu, Matthew Rose & Gidon Saks; John Fraser, producer (London Symphony Orchestra; Gentlemen Of The London Symphony Chorus)

Best Choral Performance: "Mahler: Symphony No. 8"; Adagio From Symphony No. 10 - Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor; Ragnar Bohlin, Kevin Fox & Susan MCMane, choir directors (Laura Claycomb, Anthony Dean Griffey, Elza van den Heever, Katarina Karneus, Quinn Kelsey, James Morris, Yvonne Naef & Erin Wall; San Francisco Symphony; Pacific Boychoir, San Francisco Symphony Chorus & San Francisco Girls Chorus)

Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra): Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 - Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor; Evgeny Kissin (Philharmonia Orchestra)

Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra): Journey To The New World - Sharon Isbin (Joan Baez & Mark O'Connor)

Best Chamber Music Performance: Intimate Letters - Emerson String Quartet

Best Small Ensemble Performance: Lang, David: The Little Match Girl Passion - Paul Hillier, conductor; Ars Nova Copenhagen & Theatre Of Voices

Best Classical Vocal Performance: Verismo Arias - Renee Fleming (Marco Armiliato; Jonas Kaufmann; Orchestra Sinfonica Di Milano Giuseppi Verdi; Coro Sinfonica Di Milano Giuseppi Verdi)

Best Classical Contemporary Composition: "Higdon, Jennifer: Percussion Concerto" - Jennifer Higdon

Best Classical Crossover Album: "Yo-Yo Ma & Friends: Songs Of Joy And Peace" -Yo-Yo Ma

Best Short Form Music Video: "Boom Boom Pow" - Black Eyed Peas

Best Long Form Music Video: "The Beatles Love: All Together Now" - Various

Lifetime Achievement Award: Leonard Cohen

Lifetime Achievement Award: Michael Jackson

Lifetime Achievement Award: Loretta Lynn

Lifetime Achievement Award: Bobby Darin

Lifetime Achievement Award: Clark Terry

Lifetime Achievement Award: David 'Honeyboy' Edwards

Lifetime Achievement Award: Andre Previn

Trustees Award: Walter C. Miller

Trustees Award: Florence Greenberg

Trustees Award: Harold Bradley

Presidents Merit Award: Doug Morris

Presidents Merit Award: Placido Domingo

Presidents Merit Award: Ken Ehrlich

MusiCares Person of the Year: Neil Young

I've never dreamt of winning these awards: Rahman

I've never dreamt of winning these awards: Rahman

Los Angeles, Feb 1 (IANS) Indian music maestro A R Rahman, who won two awards at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony here, says he never dreamt of winning honours of this stature.

"Insane eh? I never even dreamt about winning all these awards," Rahman posted on his Twitter page after receiving the award.

He was honoured for his compositions in Danny Boyle's fairytale drama "Slumdog Millionaire" - he won for the best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture and the best motion picture song for "Jai ho", which he shares with lyricist Gulzar and Tanvi Shah.

The composition in the film has won Rahman the most prestigious international awards including two Oscars, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Critics Choice Award and the Golden Globe.

The singer-composer has thanked a string of people through the micro-blogging site.

"I once again want to thank the Almighty, my spiritual Sufi teachers - Ameen Peerullah Malik Sahib, Danny Boyle, Fox, the whole 'Slumdog...' creative team, all the awesome actors in the movie and Resul Pookutty. My whole team, Gulzarji, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Vijay Prakash, my friend and sound engineer the late H. Sridhar....

"My agents Sam Schwartz and Amos Newman, my mentors Mani Ratnam, Shekhar Kapur and Subhash Ghai, and mentor in the west, Andrew Lloyd Webber, folks at id-PR, Allison and Courtney... extraordinary musicians from Chennai and Mumbai, my mother, my father, my sisters and my lovely wife and children... And all my well wishers from the world who keep me going... Jai ho India!" he posted.

Rahman started his career with director Mani Ratnam's 1992 Tamil film "Roja" and has never looked back since.

Winning awards is a way of life for Rahman: Sister

Winning awards is a way of life for Rahman: Sister

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Winning awards is "a way of life" for A R Rahman who triumphed at the Grammys by winning a double honour, the composer's sister said.

"It's a good start of the year. It was Rahman's birthday on Jan 6 and now he wins Grammys. It's a way of life now since he has won so many," Reihana told NDTV after her brother won the award.

"When he was going for Golden Globes last year, he was doubtful about his win and so were we, but after he got that, it has been awards and awards for him so we were quite sure that he will get the Grammy as well," she added.

The 44-year-old was honoured for his compositions in Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches drama "Slumdog Millionaire", getting the awards for best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture and "Jai ho" being the best motion picture song.

The composition has won Rahman the prestigious international awards, including the Oscars, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards, Critics Choice Award, The Golden Globe and now the world music industry's biggest honour - the Grammys.

Back home he was recently honoured with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award.

Grammy Awards ceremony took place at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles, Sunday.

Jai ho fetches a bouquet of global awards for Rahman

Jai ho' fetches a bouquet of global awards for Rahman
New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) When Indian music maestro A R Rahman was composing the song "Jai ho", he didn't envisage that the composition would become such a rage and win him laurels and awards across the globe.

The song features in British filmmaker Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire", which is a screen adaptation of Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup's novel "Q & A".

The composition in the film has won Rahman the most prestigious international awards including, the Oscars, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Critics Choice Award, The Golden Globe and now the music industry's biggest honour - the Grammys.

The song that was penned by lyricist Gulzar and Tanvi Shah, was crooned by Sukhvinder Singh, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Vijay Prakash with support from Rahman and Shah.

Rahman, who started his career with director Mani Ratnam's 1992 Tamil film "Roja", made his presence felt and has gone up several notches in terms of popularity after the super success of the song "Jai ho". It made Rahman the most successful Indian composer in the global arena.

Rahman Gulzar Tanvi share Grammy for Jai ho

Rahman, Gulzar, Tanvi share Grammy for 'Jai ho'
Los Angeles, Feb 1 (IANS) Music maestro A R Rahman shared the Grammy award for the best motion picture song \"Jai ho\" with veteran lyricist Gulzar and Tanvi Shah who wrote the Spanish lyrics for it.

Rahman, Gulzar and Shah made the Indian presence felt at the 52nd edition of the Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Centre here.

"Jai ho", that has won various international awards including the Oscars last year, is from Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches film "Slumdog millionaire". The song was sung by Sukhvinder Singh, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Vijay Prakash along with Rahman and Shah.

A R Rahman bags two Grammy awards

Rahman bags two Grammy awards

Los Angeles, Feb 1 (IANS) Indian music maestro A R Rahman has bagged two awards at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony here Sunday.

The double Oscar winning composer was honoured for his compositions in Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches film "Slumdog Millionaire", getting the awards for best compilation soundtrack for a motion picture and "Jai ho" being the best motion picture song. Rahman shares the Grammy with lyricist Gulzar who penned "Jai ho".

"This is insane, god is great again," Rahman said as he accepted his second award.

"Jai ho" has been sung by Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Vijay Prakash and Rahman himself. This is the first time Rahman has been nominated for a Grammy. He joins other Indian music greats like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Zakir Jussain, Vikku Vinayak and Vishvamohan Bhatt who have won a Grammy in the past.

Rahman's rivals in the soundtrack category included Steve Jordan for "Cadillac Records," Quentin Tarantino for "Inglourious Basterds", and the producers of "Twilight" and "True Blood."

In the best song category Rahman's beaten rivals included Bruce Springsteen for his song "The Wrestler", from the Oscar-nominated movie of the same name.

Will India repeat Oscar glory at Grammys ?

Will India repeat Oscar glory at Grammys?
New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) With two nominations for composer A R Rahman and one each for sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and tabla veteran Zakir Hussain at the 52nd Grammy awards, the country is keeping its fingers crossed for them to bring the Oscar glory back home Sunday night.

Rahman has been nominated for two Grammy's in the best soundtrack for motion pictures, television or other visual media category for "Slumdog Millionaire", and in the best song for motion picture, television and other visual media category for "Jai ho".

Written by lyricist Gulzar, "Jai ho" has been sung by Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Vijay Prakash and Rahman himself.

Nominated for the first time at the Grammy's, Rahman triumphed at the 2009 Oscars by winning double golden statuettes and at the Golden Globe Awards by winning the best original score award.

Amjad Ali Khan has been nominated in the best traditional world music album category for his album "Ancient Sounds", a joint-venture with Iraqi oud soloist Rahim Alhaj.

Zakir Hussain, who won a Grammy last year, has been nominated in the best classical crossover album category for his album "The Melody of Rhythm", which features works by Leonard Slatkin, Bela Fleck, Hussain and Edgar Meyer (Detroit Symphony Orchestra).

The 52th edition of the Annual Grammy Awards will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

ग्रैमी में भी 'जय हो' की धूम

ग्रैमी पुरस्कार संगीत की दुनिया में नोबेल पुरस्कारों के समकक्ष माने जाते हैं.

ऑस्कर और गोल्डन ग्लोब के बाद स्लमडॉग मिलियनेयर का गाना 'जय हो' ग्रैमी पुरस्कारों में भी छाया रहा.

अमरीका के इस प्रतिष्ठित म्यूज़िक अवॉर्ड में जाने माने संगीतकार एआर रहमान को दो ग्रैमी पुरस्कार मिले.

हालाँकि पॉप स्टार बियोंसी को सबसे ज़्यादा छह वर्गों में ग्रैमी पुरस्कार मिले हैं.

रहमान को जय हो के लिए सर्वश्रेष्ठ साउंड ट्रैक और सर्वश्रेष्ठ फ़िल्मी गीत इन दो वर्गों में पुरस्कार मिला है.

ख़ास बात ये रही कि 'बेस्ट मोशन पिक्चर सॉंग' वर्ग में उन्होंने ब्रूस स्प्रिंग्सटन के चर्चित गाने 'द रेसलर' और बियोंसी के 'वन्स इन ए लाइफ़ टाइम' को पीछे छोड़ कर ये सफ़लता हासिल की.

ये दीवाना बना देने वाली ख़बर है, ऊपर वाला दोबारा मेहरबान हुआ है.

एआर रहमान

ग्रैमी पुरस्कार जीतने के बाद रहमान ने कहा, ''ये दीवाना बना देने वाली ख़बर है, ऊपर वाला दोबारा मेहरबान हुआ है.''

ग्रैमी पुरस्कार संगीत की दुनिया में नोबेल पुरस्कारों के समकक्ष माने जाते हैं.

ग्रैमी में रैप,रॉक,पॉप और शास्त्रीय संगीत की 109 शैलियों में कलाकारों को पुरस्कृत किया जाता है.

वैसे रहमान के लिए अवॉर्ड कोई नए नहीं हैं.

रहमान ने इसके पहले स्लमडॉग मिलियनेयर के संगीत के लिए ऑस्कर पुरस्कार जीतकर इतिहास रचा था.

रहमान की जय जयकार

बियोंसी को सर्वाधिक पाँच ग्रैमी मिले.

स्लमडॉग के संगीत के लिए रहमान को कुछ ही दिन पहले क्रिटिक्स अवार्ड भी मिला था.

ग़ौरतलब है कि मुंबई की पृष्ठभूमि पर बनी इस फ़िल्म का संगीत अत्यंत लोकप्रिय रहा.

52वें ग्रैमी पुरस्कारों में इस बार भारतीय संगीत की चार जानी-मानी हस्तियों, ऑस्कर विजेता एआर रहमान, उस्ताद ज़ाकिर हुसैन, उस्ताद अमजद अली ख़ान और गीतकार गुलज़ार को नामांकित किया गया था.

उल्लेखनीय है कि 'जय हो' को जाने माने गीतकार गुलज़ार ने लिखा है.

अमजद अली ख़ान को उनकी अपने ही एल्बम एंशिएंट साउंड्स के लिए बेहतरीन पारंपरिक विश्व संगीत की श्रेणी में नामांकित किया गया था.

इस एल्बम ‘एंशिएंट साउंड्स’ में उस्ताद अमजद अली ख़ान और इराक़ी-अमरीकन संगीतकार रहीम अलहज पहली बार एक साथ आए हैं.

इस एल्बम में सात गाने हैं जिन्हें खुद अमजद अली ख़ान ने लिखा और स्वरबद्ध किया है.

पिछले वर्ष ग्रैमी पुरस्कार जीत चुके उस्ताद ज़ाकिर हुसैन को उनके एल्बम, 'द मेलडी ऑफ़ रिदम' के लिए बेहतरीन शास्त्रीय क्रॉसओवर एल्बम की श्रेणी में नामांकित किया गया था.

बियोंसी का जलवा

दस श्रेणियों में नामांकित पॉप स्टार बियोंसी छह ग्रैमी झटक कर समारोह के केंद्र में रहीं. इसमें साल के सर्वश्रेष्ठ गीत का ग्रैमी भी शामिल है जो उन्हें 'पुट अ रिंग ऑन इट' के लिए दिया गया.

द ब्लैक आईड पीज़, टेलर स्विफ्ट को तीन-तीन जबकि लेडी गा गा, किंग्स ऑफ लियोन, जे ज़ी और एमिनेम को दो-दो ग्रैमी पुरस्कार मिले.

बीस साल की टेलर स्विफ्ट को बेस्ट कंट्री एल्बम का पुरस्कार मिला. उन्हें ये पुरस्कार उनके एल्बम फ़ियरलेस के लिए दिया गया है.

पुरस्कार समारोह की शुरुआत लेडी गा गा ने की

A R Rahman receive award at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards