IIFA Oscar winner Rahman gets best music director award

Shreya Ghoshal
IIFA: Oscar winner Rahman gets best music director award
By Radhika Bhirani

Macau, June 13 (IANS) Internationally acclaimed and double Oscar winning composer A R Rahman was Saturday named the best music director at the IDEA International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards here for his soulful compositions in the historical romance "Jodhaa Akbar".

Rahman couldn't attend the event and director Ashutosh Gowariker received the award on his behalf.

The best male playback singer award went to Javed Ali for crooning "Jashn-e-bahaara" in "Johdaa Akbar", while Shreya Ghoshal was named the best female playback singer for "Teri ore" in hit romantic comedy "Singh is Kinng".

Well-known Bollywood writer Javed Akhtar won the best lyricist award for penning the song "Jashn-e-bahaara" for "Jodhaa Akbar".

Aishwarya Rai, the daughter-in-law of IIFA brand ambassador Amitbabh Bachchan, was honoured with a special award for an outstanding achievement in international cinema.

Director-turned actor Farhan Akhtar got the best male debutant of the year award for "Rock On!", while Asin Thottumkal got best female debut award for action thriller "Ghajini".

"Jodhaa Akbar" bagged the maximum technical awards at IIFA.

While ace designer Neeta Lulla walked away with the best costume design award for "Jodhaa Akbar", best editing trophy went to Ballu Saluja and best art direction to Nitin Chandrakant Desai for the Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai starrer historical romance.

Resul Pokkutty, who made history by winning an Oscar for his work in "Slumdog Millionaire", bagged the best sound recording trophy for Aamir Khan starrer "Ghajini".

The best cinematography award went to Jason West for "Rock On!" and the best choreography award went to Farah Khan for the song "Desi girl" featuring Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and John Abraham in "Dostana".

Among the winners in the technical category, Farah and Jason were not present at the event.

Kamini Mathai's book isn't my authorised biography: Rahman

Kamini Mathai's book isn't my authorised biography: Rahman
By Subhash K. Jha

Mumbai, June 11 (IANS) The much-hyped 'authorised biography' of A R Rahman by author Kamini Mathai has kicked up a storm even before its release because the music maestro says there is "nothing authorised" about it.

"It's a non-authorised biography. The news that it's an authorised biography is wrong," Rahman told IANS.

The book, titled "A R Rahman: The Musical Storm", has been widely hyped and marketed as the "first authorized biography" on him.

The question here is, if the book's author Kamini Mathai in her enthusiasm to sell her book over-stated her facts, why is a publishing house as reputed as Penguin India not setting the record straight?

According to sources close to Rahman, the musician much in the news is not amused by various attempts to cash in on his name after the Oscars. The composer won two golden statuettes for his composition in British filmmaker Danny Boyle acclaimed underdog drama "Slumdog Millionaire".

"Though Rahman is completely oblivious to the outside world and doesn't try to understand the commercial aspects of his superstardom, he isn't oblivious to the 'Cash In On Rahman' factory that flourishes far and wide. Rahman didn't like the way the song 'Jai ho' was flaunted as an electoral signature tune either," said the source.

As far as a biography is concerned, Rahman has plans to write his own story.

A R Rahman being honoured with an honorary degree

Oscar-winner music maestro A R Rahman being honoured with an honorary degree by the Aligarh Muslim University in Aligarh on Sunday.

When Rahman rubbed shoulders with Michelle Obama

When Rahman rubbed shoulders with Michelle Obama
By Subhash K. Jha

Mumbai, June 4 (IANS) Being voted one of the 100 most influential people by Time magazine has seen his popularity soar. Oscar-winning Indian composer A R Rahman not only got an opportunity to share the same platform with US First Lady Michelle Obama, he also had the whole audience in New York chanting "Jai ho".

"At the function I was on the same table as Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and the CEO of Time magazine. When I went up to the stage, a chant of 'Jai ho' (the Oscar-winning song from 'Slumdog Millionaire') went up in the house."

The music maestro, who won two golden statuettes for his compositions in British filmmaker Danny Boyle's underdog drama, says the awards have had a huge impact on his life.

"The impact of 'Slumdog Millionaire' has been tremendous. The western perception of Third World countries has changed. Earlier when some of the most talented musicians of Asia would approach western companies, they'd encounter stumbling blocks. Today that has changed. The west is ready to listen to us," Rahman told IANS in an interview.

Rahman admits that dealing with the huge amount of attention after the Oscars has been unnerving.

"Yes, the Oscar changed my life. I can't even attend places of prayer without being recognised. Even when I'm at malls in the US, kids freeze in recognition when they see me. I need to concentrate on my music. I'm not the kind of guy who can pull himself away from my music, attend functions, give interviews and get back to what I'm supposed to do. It's like entering and leaving new cities," he said.

Ever since the Oscar happened, the music maestro has been doing extensive travelling.

"It's been a full roller-coaster ride for me in the past week... from New York to Dubai to Calicut, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai... every day I've been in two cities. Can't be helped. Everywhere they want to felicitate me and I can't say no. How can I? Everyone was excited about my Oscar and wanted to share their excitement with me," said Rahman, who will be conferred an honorary doctorate by the Aligarh Muslim University June 7.

He admits he is not able to spend time with his children.

"Luckily all three of my children are into music. So my kids and I are on the same wave-length. My wife dreamt of walking the red carpet with me to the Oscars. She can now dream of walking to the Oscars with our children," said the 43-year-old.

"I'm slowly getting back to normal now," said Rahman, now blocking away the Oscar euphoria to focus on his current work.

His forthcoming films are "Blue", "London Dreams" and S. Shankar's Tamil film "Endhiran", which has Aishwarya Rai and Rajnikant in lead roles.

Honorary doctorate for A R Rahman

Honorary doctorate for Rahman

Aligarh, May 27 (IANS) Oscar winning composer A R Rahman will be conferred an honorary doctorate by Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

Rahman shot to international fame with his compositions in Danny Boyle's underdog drama "Slumdog Millionaire" and won two golden statuettes for that.

Apart from Rahman, Gopichand Narang, former president of Sahitya Academy, would also be conferred an honorary doctorate at a convocation June 7, said a press release from AMU.

West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi will be the chief guest at the 59th annual convocation function. AMU chancellor, A.M. Ahmadi, also former chief justice of India, will preside over the annual event.