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

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

A R Rahman, George Flanigen

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

Kurt Elling, Tia Carrere, A R Rahman

Kurt Elling, A R Rahman

By Subhash K. Jha, February 1, 2010

After the Oscars and the Padma Bhushan, it's Grammy time for A R Rahman. On Sunday night, his music for Slumdog Millionaire won two Grammy awards, setting Rahman's global score even higher in 2010 than it was last year.

Reacting to the double Grammy whammy, Rahman said, "I never even dreamt about winning all these awards. I once again want to thank the Almighty, my spiritual Sufi teachers Ameen Peerullah Malik Sahib, Danny Boyle and the whole Slumdog creative team."

After the Grammy, Rahman also had a special word of thanks for his mentor Mani Ratnam and his mentors in Mumbai, Shekhar Kapur and Subhash Ghai and mentor in the West, Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Back home, Rahman is happy to have received the Padma Bhushan. But unhappy about the fact that a lot of the deserving artistes remain unrecognized by the government. "There're so many deserving candidates for National Awards, still unsung. On the other hand, I believe people with dubious records get recognized. That isn't fair. Personally speaking I'm very happy to get the Padma Bhushan. Ever since the announcement my phone hasn't stopped ringing. I think I've received more congratulations for the Padma than for the Oscars."

Rahman says he's prouder of the Padma Bhushan than the Oscar. "It definitely means more when you're recognized by your own people and country. I definitely value this award more than the Oscar or Grammy," said Rahman before flying out to Los Angeles for the Grammys. "My award comes in a category that won't be televised. So it won't be like Slumdog Millionaire where people back home could watch me."

Much has been said about the two Padma winners Rahman and sound designer Resul Pookutty's disappointing follow-up collaboration in Blue after Slumdog Millionaire. But Rahman stands by Blue. "The script was a bummer. But grant the director Anthony D'Souza for the fact that he tried something different. I enjoyed doing Blue."

Our resident Mozart is amused by premature reports in the press that his song 'Na Na' from his first Hollywood soundtrack has been nominated for and Oscar.

Says Rahman, "'Na Na' is short listed. It's one of 63 songs in the race. Not nominated yet. It's an English song."

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A.R.Rahman, Aamir, Rekha, Saif get civilian honours

A.R.Rahman, Aamir, Rekha, Saif get civilian honours (Roundup)

New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) Bollywood star Aamir Khan and celebrated Tamil composers A.R. Rahman and Ilayaraja were Monday named for Padma Bhushan, the nation's third highest civilian award, While actors Rekha, Saif Ali Khan, Arundhati Nag and sound engineer Resul Pokutty got Padma Shri.

Aamir, 44, who struck gold at the box office with his latest outing "3 Idiots" that grossed over Rs.375 crore worldwide, is already a recipient of the Padma Shri.

Allah Rakha Rahman, who shone at the Oscars last year with his double golden statuette win, seems to be on an award winning spree post the success of "Slumdog Millionaire".

In 2008, Rahman scored the music of Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches drama "Slumdog Millionaire" for which he won a Golden Globe. He also bagged two Oscars for the film, becoming the first Indian citizen to do so.

Apart from the Oscars, Rahman has also been awarded with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award, four National Film Awards and 13 Filmfare awards.

Tamil composer Ilayaraja has been a prominent name in the southern film industry since 1976. He debuted with "Annakkili" and is known for integrating Tamil folk lyric with Western music. He won the Indian National Film Award thrice for the movies - "Sindhu Bhairavi", "Rudraveena" and "Saagara Sangamam."

And now Ilayaraja gets the Padma Bhushan.

Bollywood diva Rekha, 55, has been selected for the Padma Shri, the fourth highest honour, after four decades in the Indian film industry.

The daughter of the late southern star Gemini Ganesan, Rekha bagged overnight success with her debut film and went on to become India's sex symbol.

Rekha has acted in over 150 films and maintained versatility in films like "Do Anjaane" (1976), "Ghar" (1978), "Muqaddar Ka Sikander" (1978), "Khubsoorat" (1980), "Silsila" (1981), "Baseraa" (1981), "Utsav" (1984), "Khoon Bhari Maang" (1988), "Ijaazat" (1988), "Kama Sutra" (1996) and "Zubeidaa" (2001), et al.

After being awarded with the 2008 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, now Arundhati Nag, a well-known name in the theatre world, wins Padma Shri. She was recently seen in "Paa" as Amitabh Bachchan's grandmother.

Saif Ali Khan, one of the top notch actors in Hindi film industry, has been honoured with the Padma Shri. He became a sought after name after the success of "Dil Chahta Hai" (2001). After that there has been no looking back for the actor who also bagged the National Film Awards for his performance in "Hum Tum".

Sound engineer Resul Pokutty, who won Oscar last year for his work in "Slumdog Millionaire", is honoured with the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri.

A R Rahman Iliyaraja get Padma Bhushan Rekha Padma Shri

Rahman, Iliyaraja get Padma Bhushan, Rekha Padma Shri

New Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) Composers A.R. Rahman, who shone at the Oscars last year with his double golden statuette win, and Iliyaraja have been honoured with the Padma Bhushan, the nation's third highest civilian award, on the eve of Republic Day.

Rahman, who started his career in 1992 with Mani Ratnam's Tamil film "Roja", made his debut in Bollywood with the hit soundtrack in Ram Gopal Varma's blockbuster movie "Rangeela".

Some of his hit numbers are "Chaiyyan Chaiyyan", "Roobaroo", "Tere bina", "Jai ho" and "Masakali" and "Kabhi kabhi Aditi".

In a career spanning almost two decades, Rahman who has his own music label called KM Music, achieved many milestones.

In 2008, Rahman scored the music of Danny Boyle's rags-to-riches drama "Slumdog Millionaire" for which he won a Golden Globe. He also bagged two Oscars the same, becoming the first Indian citizen to do so.

Apart from the Oscars, Rahman has also been awarded with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award, four National Film Awards and 13 Filmfare awards.

The 44-year-old musician has also been nominated for two Grammy Awards, the results of which will be announced Jan 31.

While Time magazine referred to him as the "Mozart of Madras", in 2009, the magazine placed him in their 100 list of "World's Most Influential People".

Iliyaraja has been a prominent composer in the southern film industry since 1976. He debuted with "Annakkili" and is known for integrating Tamil folk lyric with Western music. He won the Indian National Film Award thrice for the movies - "Sindhu Bhairavi", "Rudraveena" and "Saagara Sangamam.

Bollywood veteran Rekha, 55, has been conferred the Padma Shri, the fourth highest honour, after four decades in the Indian film industry.

The daughter of late southern star Gemini Ganesan, Rekha bagged overnight success with her debut film and went on to become India's sex symbol.

Rekha has acted in over 150 films and maintained versatility in films like "Do Anjaane" (1976), "Ghar" (1978), "Muqaddar Ka Sikander" (1978), "Khubsoorat" (1980), "Silsila" (1981), "Baseraa" (1981), "Utsav" (1984), "Khoon Bhari Maang" (1988), "Ijaazat" (1988), "Kama Sutra" (1996) and "Zubeidaa" (2001), et al.

It was Muzaffar Ali's period drama "Umrao Jaan" that catapulted Rekha to unprecedented success and even won her a National Award.

A R Rahman releasing his latest Hollywood film Couples Retreat

Music Maestro A R Rahman releasing his latest Hollywood film ' Couples Retreat ' soundtrack at a function, in Chennai.

A R Rahman's song in Oscar race again!

A R Rahman's song in Oscar race again!

The musician who created history by becoming the first Indian to win two Oscars is in the running for the coveted prize for the second consecutive year. Last year, A R Rahman took the trophy for both 'Best Original Song' and the 'Best Soundtrack'

MUSICIAN A R Rahman is in the Oscar shortlist yet again for 'Best Original Song' thanks to his first Hollywood film 'Couple's Retreat’. The Tamil song 'Na Na' from this movie has been short listed for nomination in the original song category for the 82nd Academy Awards. 'Couples Retreat' a film by Emmy nominated Peter Billingsley revolves around four couples trying to rekindle the magic through a tropical-island vacation.

The song will be in competition with 62 other tracks from eligible feature-length motion pictures. The nominations will be announced on February 2 according to the official Academy awards website.

This will be Rahman’s second run for the coveted prize. He created history by becoming the first Indian to win two Oscars. Last year his compositions in Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire' won him the award for 'Best Soundtrack' while the score 'Jai Ho' got him the trophy for 'Best Original Song' .