Adnan’s 14-year old son to cut his own album, Javed Akhtar to pen the lyrics

Adnan Sami’s son Azaan (from his marriage to Zeba Bakhtiar) who’s down in India to visit his ailing grandfather, is all set cut his own album.

Not surprising, considering the boy has already made a short film Meri Kahani which was screened at the Goa Film Festival last year where Azaan was seen with his mother Zeba Bakhtiar.

Says the proud father, “Azaan made that film on computer software Final Cut Pro that I presented him. I think Farhan Akhtar made Lakshya on the same software. And now Azaan has inherited my music sense. My boy has already composed and sung 7 songs for the album without any help from me. He’s all set to release his album long before the age when I released my first album.”

Apparently, Javed Akhtar heard Azaan’s compositions and was impressed enough to agree to write the lyrics. Says Adnan, “Yes Javed Saab loved the songs. He’s perfect to write the lyrics for Azaan’s songs. At the moment Azaan is spending as much time as possible with my father whose face lights up every time he sees his grandson. I don’t want to separate them for even a minute. But my father insisted I take Azaan out to experience the festival of Holi on Wednesday.”

The album is expected to be finalized during Azaan’s Mumbai stay this time. Adds Azaan, “I think my father started his career in music when he was 19. I am starting at 14. So I do have a head start. I’m also writing a script for a feature film. Like my short film Meri Kahani it deals with the problems of the young. At the moment I’m just happy to be with my grandfather.”

Father and son Adnan and Azaan watched Sholay on Tuesday night. Says Adnan, “Azaan saw Sholay for the first time. His comments on the film were so intricate I was bowled over. His short film has been appreciated in Goa. It’s only a matter of time before Azaan makes his first full-length feature film. I’ve already asked him to cast me in the lead.”

Oscar success for the ‘Mozart of Madras’

Indian composer AR Rahman’s double Oscar win for Slumdog Millionaire is his highest accolade yet in a career that has taken him from provincial Indian cinema to the Hollywood red carpet.

In doing so, the 43-year-old once called “the Mozart of Madras” becomes only the third Indian to be honored by the Academy, just weeks after becoming the first person from the sub-continent to win a coveted Golden Globe.

Born A.S. Dileep Kumar in the southern city of Madras (now Chennai) on January 6, 1966, Allah Rakha Rahman’s father, RK Shekhar, was a musical director for movies in the Indian language of Malayalam.

The young Dileep’s father died when he was nine, prompting his mother to convert from Hindu to Islam and forcing Rahman into playing music to support his family.

Rahman, who also switched faiths, went on to write jingles and scores for Indian television and eventually set up a high-tech recording studio in his home city where he still lives and works.

His break into the Hindi-language film industry of Bollywood came in 1991 when he composed the music for the movie Roja. Its box office success won him plaudits among audiences and peers.

Leading Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar described Rahman’s composition as a “masterpiece.”

Rahman has never looked back and is responsible for music on some of the biggest hits in Indian cinema in recent years and is thought to have sold more than 100 million albums.

The legendary Indian film singer Asha Bhosle once said he had “brought about a freshness, a new sound to film music.”

Rahman’s move onto the world stage began in 2001, when British composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber asked him to compose the music for the musical Bombay Dreams. Work on the stage version of Lord of the Rings followed.

Slumdog Millionaire brought him even wider acclaim, with its versatile soundtrack fusing hip-hop and pulsing electronica, haunting ballads, instrumentals and upbeat Bollywood-style numbers.

Hard-working Rahman, a devout Muslim who composes only at night, is not one to court the limelight, preferring instead a simple life with his wife Saira and three children and working on charitable projects.

He even missed the wild celebrations with the cast and crew at the Indian premiere of Slumdog just after the film was nominated for 10 Oscars. He was putting the finished touches to music for a new movie.

The composer’s Golden Globes win, which he dedicated to India, was greeted with drums and dancing in movie-mad India. His Oscar win assures him of immortality.

‘Slumdog Millioniare’ symbolises young, achieving India: Congress

The Congress party on Monday said that the Oscar swept by ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ symbolises young, achieving India.

 

“We salute the true heroes of achieving India who are at their best in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. It’s a film of India, for India and by India,” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi told reporters.

Singhvi also said that the achievements of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government along with those of youngsters of India have come to symbolise the young and achieving India.

“We are proud that in the conducive environment of good governance provided by the UPA government India has become achieving India,” he said.

After shining at the Golden Globes and BAFTA, “Slumdog Millionaire”, the Mumbai-based film, swept the 81st Academy awards winning eight Oscars, making the same fairytale journey that its hero had done in the movie.

Indian music maestro AR Rahman picked up the awards for his best original score and for also the best original song “Jai ho” from the film with lyrics by Gulzar and Sukhwinder Singh as the lead singer.

Another Indian, Resul Pookutty, shared the Oscar with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke in the sound mixing category for the rags-to-riches film.

Targeting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) without naming it, Singhvi said: “This is a moment of glory, a matter of great pride for us. We have young India touching the heights of glory, based on hard work without any discrimination. While on the other hand we have political parties which want to take us into dark ages with their trait of gimmickry like Rath Yatras.”

Bollywood congratulates A.R.Rahman for the SM win at the Oscars

 

‘If music be the food of love, play on’. A.R. Rahman played, and he not only won the love of the worldwide audience but also won the hearts of the President of the Academy, founders, members and special guests and celebrities present at the big and the best night called, The 81st Annual Academy Awards, for them to bestow him with the world’s greatest film recognition award – The Oscars, not once, but twice, making him the only celeb taking home two golden statuettes. Within minutes, Bhushan Kumar, the owner of T-Series who backed the rights of the music for Slumdog Millionaire told us, “Yes, we are planning to throw a grand party on Mr Rahman’s return. We will first have to discuss that with him. But the music industry of India has surely decided to honour him”. Saurabh Shukla, who played a small role in the Golden Globe winning, BAFTA winning and Oscar winning film quotes, “The most memorable moment while watching the Oscars early morning was when the screenplay writer, Simon Beaufoy, received the first award of the other seven to follow for Slumdog Millionaire. It felt as if an Indian won it”. Bollywood was ecstatic on Slumdog winning eight awards. Never before have we witnessed such a pandemonium amongst fans, critics and celebrities from India for a Hollywood film. For some, Slumdog Millionaire is a British film, for many it’s a Hollywood movie but for the majority of the Indians, 22nd February 2009 will be remembered as the date, day and the year when India received it’s first ever three Oscars in one night, truly making it an unforgettable event.

Saurabh Shukla:
I had my eye since 7am today on each of the awards given out at the Oscars. I feel honoured, I feel great and I feel so happy for myself, for my dear friends who were present at the Oscars and for all the Indians. This award will not change anybody and that includes Rahman, Resul and our Bollywood. It will definitely change the perception of the market about Indian films, and within India also people will start looking at things in a slightly different way. Hip Hip Hurray.

Bhushan Kumar:
I and T-Series are feeling on the top of the moon today. We are feeling very proud and happy for Mr A.R. Rahman. We’ve done all of Mr Rahman’s music this year, right from Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na to Yuvraaj to Ghajini to Slumdog Millionaire. But Slumdog is special in more ways than one. It is our first Hollywood film venture, thanks to Rahman who had the original rights of the music which he passed on to us. I am personally touched by A.R.Rahman receiving two Oscars. Though my knowledge is restricted only to music, I still feel that Resul Pookutty has done a fabulous job in the film for him to have won an Oscar too. It’s going to be three times the celebrations tonight in India.

Rohan Sippy:
It’s good to know that the world knows the two geniuses whom we’ve known since decades. Both A.R. Rahman and Resul Pookutty are more known for their work in Bollywood but Hollywood taking notice of it is excellent. They will continue to remain brilliant. Good Wishes to them.

Vatsal Seth:
I think both Rahman and Resul truly deserved the Oscars. They have created an opening for India worldwide. One thing I’d like to mention is that there is also an award won under the Short Documentary category which went to an Indian docu called ‘Small Pinki. The Oscars is only going to make A.R.Rahman very busy from being just busy (laughs). Congratulations!

Mugdha Godse:
I was watching the Oscars all morning. It’s so nice to see him receive the Oscar in front of the best of the best. I’ve been a great admirer of Rahman’s work and he damn deserved it. I loved the way Resul delivered his speech after he won the Oscar trophy. These Oscars are truly Indian in spite of the film being called Hollywood. India is over whelmed!

Adah Sharma:
You always get what you deserve and I think no one deserves more than A.R. Rahman. This is his Oscar for Dil Se, Bombay, Roja, Rangeela and all the films he has given music for in his illustrious film career so far. He has given flawless music for each of his films. Congratulations to him and Resul Pookutty too.

Apoorva Lakhia:
A.R.Rahman is a genius and Oscar is not going to change him as a person. This is just another award for him which he will take in his stride again. But he is slowly progressing and developing into this world famous music composer. He has got the world recognition which he so dearly deserved, an Oscar. I’ve worked with Resul in Bombay Boys while I was an assistant. He is a fantastic human being and I am really happy for him. Three cheers for the three Oscars!

Minissha Lamba:
As we’ve always said that this Oscar for him was long overdue. I wasn’t able to see the Oscars on the tele as I was shooting for my Shyam Benegal film. We’ve got top technicians in every department and I am so glad that a film like Slumdog Millionaire happened with so many Indian technicians, A.R. Rahman’s music and many Indian actors. India salutes the two musketeers.

Bollywood celebrates Rahman’s Oscar win

Indian music maestro AR Rahman’s wife used to wake up in the middle of the night and say “I want you to win an Oscar”. Now he has won two. It’s not only her dream that has turned into reality at the 81st annual Academy Awards, it’s a milestone for Bollywood too.
 
Bollywood celebrated as Rahman bagged the Oscars for best original score in “Slumdog Millionaire” and its theme song “Jai Ho”.
 
Bollywood director Anurag Kashyap is all praises for the singer-composer. He said: “This is a happy moment for all of us. We all should celebrate because he (Rahman) has made us proud. Finally we did it!
 
Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who has worked with Rahman for his films “Rang De Basanti” and “Delhi-6″, says the singer-composer truly deserved the award.
 
“I am proud and so happy that it’s A.R. He brought north and south India together when he started composing music and now he has successfully bridged the gap between the east and the west. It’s incredible! There are more people in the west who know him now than they know about his work,” Mehra told IANS.
 
Rahman, the first Indian musician to win the annual Academy Award, was listed for three of the film’s ten Oscar nominations – one for his original score and two others for songs composed by him, “O Saya” and “Jai Ho”.
 
According to singer Mohit Chauhan who has sung in Rahman’s latest hit composition “Masakalli” from “Delhi-6″, this Oscar win is an inspiration for the Indian music industry.
 
“It is very encouraging. Rahman is a great inspiration for all the musicians in the country. And it’s a great honour also. Our films are going places and so is our music. We can look ahead to good times,” said Chauhan.
 
Veteran filmmaker and critic Aziz Mirza says: “The international recognition that Rahman has earned for himself makes every Indian proud. He deserves it more than anybody else for his wholehearted dedication to music. It’s a rare honour. I congratulate Rahman.”
 
Southern actor R. Madhavan feels Rahman should have won an Oscar the very first time he composed music because he truly deserves it.
 
Actress Divya Dutta hails the composer and says she is extremely proud of his win.
 
“Like every Indian, I am very happy about the win. I was sure Rahman will come back with the award. The film was amazing,” said Dutta.
 
Before this, only two Indians have won the Oscar in its 80 year history – Satyajit Ray was given the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992 and Bhanu Athaiya won the best costume design Oscar along with John Mollo for the 1982 film “Gandhi.”