A R Rahman out of Oscar race

Indian musician A R Rahman is out of this year's Oscar race after his song 'Na Na' from his Hollywood debut movie 'Couple's Retreat' failed to earn a nomination in the 'Best Original Song' category.

The 44-year-old singer-composer had won the award last year for his superhit composition "Jai Ho" and created history by becoming the first Indian to win two Oscars.

The 'Mozart of Madras' had struck gold at the 52nd Grammy Awards yesterday, bagging two gramophones for his music in the Danny Boyle film 'Slumdog Millionaire' which had won eight Academy Awards last year.

The nominees in the 'Original Sing Category' are "Almost There" from "The Princess and the Frog," by Randy Newman; "Down in New Orleans" from "The Princess and the Frog," by Randy Newman; "Loin de Paname" from "Paris 36," by Reinhardt Wagner and Frank Thomas; "Take It All" from "Nine," by Maury Yeston; "The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" from "Crazy Heart," by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett.

The nominees were announced by actress Anne Hathaway in a ceremony in Beverly Hills.

The ceremony will take place on March 7, hosted by Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.