Rahman notches up 3 Oscar nominations

Continuing his spectacular run, A R Rahman today became the first Indian to get three Oscar nominations for his score in British-Indian movie Slumdog Millionaire, which was also nominated for seven other categories, including best film and best director.

Rahman has been nominated for Best Original Score and the numbers ‘Jai Ho’ and ‘O Saya’ have been shortlisted for the Best Original Song. Close on the heels of the dual-language film winning four Golden Globes, including one for Rahman, earlier this month, Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy have been shortlisted for best director and best adapted screenplay categories, respectively.

The film also won nominations in picture, cinematography, sound mixing, sound editing and film editing. The nominations were announced at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theatre by Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker. The awards will be announced on February 22 at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.

This is the first time that an Indian has won more than one nomination in the history of Oscars. Reacting to the nominations, Rahman said: “I did not think it will get there. God has been really kind. And I have to really thank all the people for their prayers and their good wishes.

“Something good is happening and I am really happy about it,” he said, adding there is a kind of optimism in the film and so much of positive vibes as you leave the movie hall.

Co-director Loveleen Tandon said: “We have proved everyone wrong. It's a crazy feeling beyond words. Ten nominations is something unbelievable.” She said Rahman’s work has been awarded and the “world has finally woken up to his talent”. In the original score category, Rahman will compete with Alexandre Desplat (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), James Newton Howard (Defiance), Danny Elfman (Milk) and Thomas Newman (WALL-E). Rahman will compete with Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman (‘Down to earth’ from WALL-E) in the original song category. Gulzar has penned the lyrics of ‘Jai Ho’ and Maya Arulpragasam ‘O Saya’.

The romantic periodical The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt, topped this years Oscar race with a whopping 13 nominations. The films in the race for best picture are Milk, Frost/Nixon, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Reader.

Those nominated in the best director category along with Boyle are David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Stephen Daldry (The Reader), Gus Van Sant (Milk) and Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon).