VOL: 2 ISSUE 45
23, 2009
AR Rahman creates history,
wins two Oscars
Los Angeles, Feb 23:
Music maestro
AR Rahman created
history by becoming the
first Indian to win two
Oscar Awards in the 'Best
Original Score' and 'Best
S o n g ' c a te g o ri e s fo r
'Slumdog Millionaire' at the
A R Rahman wins two Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire
Academy Awards in LA.
The film had 10
Oscar nominations,
including 3 for Rahman. He
was nominated in the Best
Original Score and Best
Song categories for ‘O
Saaya’ and ‘Jai Ho’
respectively, of which he
won two awards each for
‘O Saaya’ and ‘Jai Ho’.
The composer
was overwhelmed and
interspersed his speech
with Hindi as well as Tamil
after receiving the coveted
trophy here on Sunday.
"There is a dialogue from
an old Hindi film - "Mere
paas ma hai" - which
means I have nothing but a
mother. My mother is here,
I have her blessings. I am
glad she could be here,"
said Rahman. He ended
the acceptance speech
by saying in Tamil 'Ella
P u g h a z h u m
Eraivanukke' meaning
"God is great" , he said
after winning every
award.
He shared the
second Oscar for best
original song for the film's
theme number "Jai Ho"
with noted Indian lyricist
Gulzar.
"All my life I had
a choice between hate
and love. I chose love
and I am here," said
Rahman after receiving
his second golden
statuette.
This honour
comes as recognition of
popular Indian cinema in
the West that for long has
shunned Indian movies
as too long and too full of
song-and-dance
sequences. Rahman's
exuberant score has
shattered all those
perceptions, and shown Slumdog Millionaire
that the West likes the Best Original Song: A R
sound of India. Rahman and Gulzar for
‘ S l u m d o g ‘Jai Ho...’ (Slumdog
Millionaire’ is having a Millionarie)
sweeping win at the The Indian
Oscars, currently on in music maestro, Rahman
Los Angeles. The much wooed the audience with
acclaimed flick won eight ‘O Saya’ and ‘Jai Ho...’
the nominated
songs from
‘Slumdog...’,
a s t h e
nominees for
Best Original
Song were
b e i n g
announced.
Best Original
Score: A R
Rahman for
Slumdog
Millionaire . “I
have nothing
b u t m y
mother and
she is there
with me. I
thank her for
making me
coming all
this way with
h e r feeling just like Penelope
blessings,” said a
proud Rahman.
Best Film
Editing: Chris
awards in all, which Dickens for
include- ‘Best Direction’, Slumdog Millionaire
'Best Original Score', Best Sound Mixing: Ian
'Best Song', ‘Best Sound Tapp, Resul Pookutty
Mixing’, ‘Best Editing’ and Richard Pryke for
‘Best Adapted Slumdog Millionaire.
Screenplay’ and 'Best “This is just not a sound
Cinematography'. award, but a history
THE OSCAR being handed over,” said
WINNERS... Indian receiver Pookutty.
Best Picture: Producer B e s t
Christian Colson for Cinematography:
Slumdog Millionaire. “It Anthony Dod Mantle for
has been collaboration Slumdog Millionaire
between hundreds of Best Adapted
people. All of us are here Screenplay: Simon
to share this moment. Beaufoy for Slumdog
T h i s w a s a n Millionaire. “The cast and
extraordinary journey,” crew of the film told me
says the Slumdog... so much about India and
team. writing,” said a proud
Best Direction: Beaufoy.
Danny Boyle for B e s t
Documentary Short
Subject: Megan Mylan for
Smile Pinki
Best Actor in a Leading
Role: Sean Penn for Milk.
Best Actressin a Leading
Role: Kate Winslet for
The Reader. Breathless
Kate confessed
experiencing the fainting
Cruz. She shouted
onstage and waved at her
father. She said, “I want to
thank my family as they
love me the way I am and
lets me do what I want to.”
By the time she finished
her speech she was
already in tears.
Best Foreign
Language Film:
Departures (Japan)
Best Sound
Editing: Richard King for
The Dark Knight
Best Visual
Effects: Eric Barba for
The Curious Case of
Benjamin Button
B e s t
Documentary Feature
Film: James Marsh for
Man on Wire
Best Supporting
Actor: Heath Ledger for
The Dark Knight . It was a
special moment for
Feb.
actor’s family - mother
Sally, father Kim and sister
Kate who came to receive
the trophy on Ledger’s
behalf.
Best Live action
short film: Jochen
A l e x a n d e r f o r
Spielzeugland Toyland
Best Make-up:
Greg Cannom for The
Curious Case of Benjamin
Button
Best Costume
Design: Michael O’Connor
for The Duchess
Best Art Direction:
Donald Graham Burt for
The Curious Case of
Benjamin Button
Best Animated
Short Film: Kunio Kato for
La Maison En Petits Cubes
Best Animated
Feature: Andrew Stanton
for Wall-E
Best Original
Screenplay: Dustin Lance
Black for Milk
Best Supporting
Actress: Penelope Cruz for
Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
“Has anyone fainted here,
may be I will be the first
one,” exclaimed Penelope
immediately after receiving
the award.
-Agencies
Page 2 Times Chennai E-Paper Feb. 23, 2009

Ruling DMK appeals to advocates

Lawyer-Police imbroglio :
Karunanidhi threatens fast
Chennai:
Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister and DMK
President M Karunanidhi
Sunday night threatened
to launch a fast aggrieved
that the Lawyers and police
were at loggerheads after
the February 19 violence in
the Madras High Court
complex.
In a statement
here, he said until the police
and the lawyers bury their
hatchet and give him an
assurance to remain
united, he would launch the
fast at the hospital, where
he was recuperating after a
spine surgery.
He said police and
lawyers should let him
know whether he should
undertake the fast or not.
''If they don't give the
undertaking, I will soon
announce the date of the
fast'', the octogenarian
leader, who had been in
hospital following back
ache since January 26,
said.
Accusing some
political party leaders
(PMK, MDMK VCK and
CPI) of politicising the Sri
Lankan Tamils issue by
deliberately keeping out the
DMK and the Congress, Mr
Karunanidhi said these
forces, with an ulterior
motive of breaking the
DMK-Congress alliance,
had been indulging in some
mudslinging campaigns.
By instigating people to
launch agitations, these
forces were trying to create
a law and order problem in
the state to destablise the
DMK government.
These forces
have now taken the
February 19 police-
lawyers clash as the main
weapon and not the
protection of Sri Lankan
Tamils, to realise their
dream, he charged.
Stating that he
was convalescing in a
hospital after a surgery
and sutures were yet to
be removed, Mr
Karunanidhi said people
of the state were well
aware of the campaign
being launched by them
against the government.
''My appeal is that
lawyers and police,
inadvertantly, should not
become a scape-goat.''
These forces, by
forgetting the Sri Lankan
Ta m i l s i s s u e , h a d
instigated the lawyers to
launch agitations against
the government and the
lawyers should not fall
prey to such sinister
desgins, he added.
Observing that
he had been constantly
appealing to lawyers and
the police to sink their
differences, Mr
Karunanidhi, however,
said such a cordial
atmosphere was not
forthcoming because of
the venomous attitude of
these political forces.
''But the lawyers were not
able to see through this
and did not understand
the sinister designs of the
venomous forces'', he
regretted.
I t w a s
unfortunate that a section
of lawyers and police had
gone on a course of
confrontation, leading to
law and order problem.
' W h e t h e r
lawyers or police, they
should not fall prey to the
efforts of these forces to
create law and order
problem in the state.
''Both the
lawyers and the police
should function as
brothers of the
government and serve
the people'', he said.
Referring to
Chief Justice of India K.G
Baalakrishnaa's appeal
to find an amicable
solution to the impasse,
Mr Karunanidhi said
some forces were again
trying to instigate the
lawyers and police
through statements.
Asking both
sides to ignore such
statements, Mr
Karunanidhi said ''let
bygones be bygones''.
Appealing to them to
shed confrontation by
heeding to his advise and
the suggestions of saner
counsels, he said if they
accepted his advise he
would be happy.
''If they did not
accept it, he would
launch a fast from his
hospital-bed'', he said
and left the decision
whether to embark on it
or not, to the lawyers and
police.
-Agencies
to end indefinite boycott
Chennai, Feb. 23 adopted at a meeting of agitations, the meeting
The Legal wing
of the ruling DMK on
the legal wing said the
advocates should end
appealed to lawyers to
leave the responsibility of
Sunday appealed to their boycott in public finding a solution to the
advocates to end their interest and with the Tamil Nadu government.
indefinite boycott of hope that Chief Minister Condemning the
courts demanding action M Karunanidhi and the violence in the court
against senior police High Court Chief Justice campus, the meeting also
officials involved in the would take steps for an appealed to the Tamil Nadu
clash between lawyers amicable solution. government to provide
and police personnel at Thanking the adequate compensation to
the Madras High Court advocates for expressing owners of the vehicles
premises on February their solidarity with the damaged in the incident.
19. suffering Sri Lankan -Agencies
A resolution Tamils by organising
HC Committee requests lawyers
not to enter campus by force
Chennai, Feb 23 announcing earlier in the under their control, locking
A five-member afternoon that they would up all the gates on the four
High Court Judges enter the High Court sides of the campus.
Committee constituted premises by force Following this the
by acting Chief Justice S tomorrow and take out a lawyers decided to
J Mukhopadhaya to find procession and observe gatecrash into the High
a solution to defuse the a dharna before Court complex, tomorrow..
confrontation between embarking on a fasting The request of
lawyers and police, agitation. the committee to the
Sunday night requested Under the advocates not to enter the
and directed the direction of the High campus as it could only
advocates not to enter Court yesterday, the city worsen the situation
the High Court premises police took the High further, was released by
for the next two days. Court complex which had the Registrar General of
The request witnessed a bloody clash the High Court.
came in the wake of between advocates and
agitating lawyers police four days ago, -Agencies

HC asks advocates to leave

court premises after duty hours
Chennai, Feb 23
Madras High
Court has restricted the
Advocates from remaining
inside the court premises
after 1800 hrs on working
days and barred them from
entering the premises
during holidays.
According to
official sources, a Bench
consisting of the Acting
Chief Justice (ACJ) S J
Mukhopadhaya and
Justices V Dhanapalan
and K Chandru at a special
sitting at the ACJ's official
r e s i d e n c e y e s t e r d a y,
passing further orders on
suo motu proceedings,
directed the Director
General of Police (DGP) to
ensure that the Police
Commissioners and
District Superintendents
of Police enforce the
decision in their
respective court
premises immediately.
The Bench also
instructed the police to
permit half-an-hour
excess time for
advocates to leave the
court campus after the
duty hours with a
warning. If the advocates
failed to listen, they
should be sent out by
force, they added.
The Bench also asked
the police to remove all
the vehicles from the
court campus after 1800
hrs, except the staff
members of the court.
It may be
recalled that the Court
had issued a show-cause
notice to the Chennai
Commissioner of Police K
Radhakrishnan and the
then Joint Commissioner
( n o r t h ) , M
Ramasubramani asking
them why suo motu
criminal contempt of court
proceedings should not
be initiated against
officers and constables
responsible for the
February 19 violence that
rocked the HC campus.
The concerned police
officials will have to
primarily answer queries
concerning the clashes
between police and
advocates, which lasted a
few hours.
- Agencies
Feb. 23, 2009
TN Assembly witnessess uproar
Chennai, Feb 23:
Noisy scenes
were witnessed in the Tamil
Nadu Assembly when
Public Works Minister
Duraimurugan alleged that
the government suspected
the hand of the Opposition,
AIADMK, in the attack on
Janata Party president
Subramanian Swamy
inside the court hall on
February 17, which
triggered the subsequent
violence in the court
campus on February 19.
Replying to
Deputy Leader of
O p p o s i t i o n O
Panneerselvam charge
(AIADMK) that the
government had failed to
protect the law and order in
the court campus, Mr
Duraimurugan said those
who hurled eggs at Dr
Swamy could not be
lawyers and strongly
suspected the involvement
of the AIADMK in it, in a bid
to create law and order
problem and topple the
DMK government.
Stating that the
protests by Lawyers to
express their solidarity with
the Sri Lankan Tamils had
nothing to do with the
violent incidents, he said
only after the entry of Dr
Swamy to the court hall the
trouble had started and
eggs were hurled at him.
Observing that no
advocates would come to
the court hall with rotten
eggs in their pockets, Mr
Duraimurugan described it
as as a ''planned act'' by
some political parties to
dislodge the DMK
government by creating
law and order problem in
the State.
''Some anti-social
elements in the garb of
advocates could have
made their way to the
court hall and hurled eggs
at Dr Swamy,'' he said.
As the AIADMK
members objected to this,
Mr Duraimurugan
queered the pitch saying
he did not specify any
party by name and why
should the AIADMK get
angry about it. ''Is it the
handiwork of Dr Swamy
and the AIADMK
leadership,'' he asked.
This infuriated
the Opposition camp
which took objections to
h i s r e m a r k .
Pendemonium prevailed
in the House as the
AIADMK members, who
were on their feet,
shouted slogans.
Reiterating that
some political parties
were trying to dislodge
the government, Mr
Duraimurugan said Chief
Minister M Karunanidhi,
who was recuperating in
a hospital after a spine
s u r g e r y, w a n t e d t o
resolve the issue
amicably and even
offered to visit the Acting
Chief Justice S J
Mukhopadahya to find an
amicable solution.
Recalling the
Chief Minister's
announcement that he
would observe a fast to
bring truce between the
police and the lawyers,
the Minister said the
attack on Dr Swamy and
the subsequent violence
was a ''joint conspiracy.''
As AIADMK members
continued to oppose his
r e m a r k s , M r
Panneerselvam said Dr
Swamy had come to the
Times Chennai E-Paper Page 3
A R Rahman's sister elated with win
Chennai, Feb. 23 more... We are Accolades for the music
Musical genius speechless," said the maestro poured in from his
A.R. Rahman's sister
Reihana couldn't stop
ecstatic sister.
Rahman picked
colleagues from the film
industry here.
court to implead himself thanking God and the up the awards for his best Tanvi Shah, who
in a case and there was prayers of millions of original score as also the sang part of the Oscar
no link between the two Indians on Monday for best original song "Jai winning number "Jai Ho",
incidents -- assault on Dr her brother's double win ho" from the film with jumped with joy and said
Swamy and the court at the Oscars for his work lyrics by Gulzar and that Rahman had won the
campus violence. in much acclaimed film Sukhwinder Singh as the Oscars for the whole
There were "Slumdog Millionaire". lead singer. nation.
shouts and counter- "It is God's Asked if she “I'm just so
s h o u t s a f t e r blessing and all the had any special gift in thankful to God for this.
Duraimurugan said since accolades to Him (God)," mind for her brother, Rahman deserves every
the AIADMK was trying to Reihana said as she Reihana said: "I haven't bit of this. This award is for
go to the rescue of Dr watched her brother planned one as yet. But I India," said Tanvi, who
S w a m y, h e w a s stride towards the Kodak think Rahman should watched the entire Oscar
suspecting the stage in Los Angeles to give me a gift since I ceremony with her family.
involvement of the receive his second Oscar prayed so hard for him to "I was crying throughout
AIADMK in the incident. for Danny Boyle's rags- win!" the ceremony and praying
M r to-riches story. She once again really hard for him to win.
Panneerselvam said Mr "We are elated. stressed that it was The one person our team
Duraimurgan attributing Rahman has won, God's blessings that had is missing the most is
motives to the incident thanks to the whole made Rahman triumph sound engineer H.
and linking it with the nation's prayers," at the Academy Awards. Sreedhar, the sound
AIADMK was wrong and Reihana, a well-known “Once he engineer who created the
urged Speaker R Tamil music composer returns, Rahman and I final copy. Sadly, he
Avudaiyappan to and singer said. and the rest of the family passed away recently,"
expunge the remarks. She had not yet will go on thanksgiving she added.
As the noisy called up her brother to pilgrimages to several Madhumita, who sang
scenes continued, the congratulate him, but dargahs (Muslim "Liquid Dance" and
Speaker sought to put an said she would speak to shrines) to express our "Millionaire" in the movie,
end to the issue by him soon. gratitude to God for is also elated.
stating that other issues "I don't want to blessing us so mercifully "Jai Ho Rahman sir! You
would be taken up later disturb him in the middle and in such magnitude," have done our country
and moved to the debate of his glory at the Reihana said. proud. I feel so blessed
on the budget. function, right now. When "We hope this means right now to be a part of
-Agencies he gets back, we will more Hollywood offers 'Slumdog Millionaire' and
express our delirious for Rahman after this," am on cloud nine," she
happiness and much the proud sister added. said.
-Agencies

Lawyers in Chennai go on fast

Chennai, Feb. 23:
A group of around 300 lawyers on Monday went
on a day-long fast in front of the Madras High Court, a day
after their associations decided to indefinitely boycott
courts to press their demands, including action against
police officials for the February 19 lathicharge in the court
premises.
Lawyers belonging to various associations,
including the Madras High Court Advocates Association
(MHAA), began the fast this morning.
MHAA secretary M Velmurugan said the future
course of action would be decided at the end of the fast in
the evening. Meanwhile, courts all over Tamil Nadu
remained closed today as per the order of the High Court
to keep them shut till Tuesday to enable restoration of
normalcy.
Hardening their stand, various associations of
the lawyers on Sunday had decided to boycott the courts
indefinitely and sought the removal of state DGP and the
City Commissioner of Police in connection with the
violence in the court complex.
They had also sought deployment of central
security forces in the High Court complex.
Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi,
convalescing in a hospital after a spine surgery, had said
last night that he would go on a fast if the police and
lawyers failed to find an amicable solution to end the
standoff.
-Agencies
Page 4
It's 'official': Laila-Majnu
buried in Rajasthan
Bikaner: Feb. 23,
According to rural
legend here, Laila and
Majnu were from Sindh and
escaped to these parts and
d i e d h e r e . N o w, t h e
S r i g a n g a n a g a r
administration has taken
up the derelict, open
graves of two lovers —
according to local belief,
Laila and Majnu — in
Bijnore village and decided
to spruce it up as a tribute
to the eternal love icons.
Said assistant
director of Rajasthan
tourism, Hanuman Mal
Arya, ‘‘We discussed
projects to improve
facilities at the border post
of Hindumalkot on the
60+ pilots may be eased out
New Delhi, Feb. 23:
‘‘Senior citizen’’
pilots may eventually be
allowed to fly only private
planes and not schedule
commercial Indian
airliners. The government
had extended pilots’ flying
age in India from 60 to 65
about three years ago due
to a severe shortage of
pilots, owing to an
unprecedented aviation
boom then.
But, now, with the
boom gone bust and
scores of young
commercial pilot licence
(CPL) holders idling after
spending lakhs on their
training, a rethink is on in
the higher echelons of
government. ‘‘The
reducing of upper age limit
can progressively be
2000-yr-old Shiva shrine found
Lucknow, Feb. 23:
Believed to be
among the oldest brick
shrines in India, Lucknow
University’s department of
ancient Indian history and
archaeology has Shiva
temple unearthed by a
team from Lucknow
University's ancient Indian
history and archaeology
department unearthed a
2,000-year-old Shiva
temple as part of its
excavation project recently
in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao
district.
‘‘It’s actually a
complex comprising five
temples,’’ Prof D P Tewari
of the Lucknow University
said. ‘‘While four temples
belong to the Kushana
period (1st-3rd century AD
or 2,000 years ago), it
appears that the primary
temple was constructed
during the Sunga period
(2nd century BC to 1st
century AD or 2,200 years
India-Pakistan border. As
part of this, we decided to
spend Rs 25 lakh on the
beautification of the tomb
of Laila-Majnu,’’ said
Arya.
The iconic
romantic pair made their
first appearance in
Persian literature way
back in the 7th century
through the writings of
Nezami Ganjvir. They
have surfaced in different
cultures, including Indian
and Turkish, at different
times. There’s no
historicity associated
with the story of Qais,
who loved Laila to the
point of madness and
was hence called ‘Majnu’
considered, depending
on the ground situation,
for schedule airlines but
not for private planes,’’
aviation minister Praful
Patel said.
I n d u s t r y
insiders put the number
of 60 plus pilots flying
Indian carriers between
400 and 500. The
aviation boom led
hundreds of young
students to pursue
commercial flying and
procure CPL training at
prohibitive cost. But, now,
with air traffic declining
sharply, airlines have
reduced their current fleet
sizes and cancelled or
delayed future delivery of
aircraft as well. As a
result, there are excess
co-pilots and fresh CPL
ago).’’
The temple site
is a mound in Sanchankot
in Unnao. The
excavations have been
going on since 2004,
when UGC cleared the
project for funding. ‘‘A lot
of things have come to
fore since we began, but
the temple complex has
suddenly given impetus
to our research,’’ said
Prof Tewari.
Spread across
an area of 600 acres, the
temple is made of baked
bricks. In India, most of
the brick temples were
built in the Gupta period
which existed in the
fourth century AD. The
temple’s architecture is
‘apsidal’ (semi-circular or
u-shaped) in nature.
The LU has
many artifacts to
conclude that Lord Shiva
was worshipped in this
temple. Prof Tewari said,
Times Chennai E-Paper
or ‘The Mad’. But people
of Bijnore proudly show a
well, a few metres from
the tomb, which was
supposedly used by the
two lovers. ‘‘If there’s no
truth to their story, how
did the age-old tradition
of an annual fair around
the tomb commence?’’
says Baba Chopdas, the
caretaker of the open
mausoleum.
The two-day
fair in June is attended by
hundreds of newlyweds
and lovers despite there
being no facilities for an
overnight stay.
- Agencies
holders are not getting
jobs. Moreover, with
airlines cutting flights,
even active duty pilots are
also being paid
progressively less.
For instance,
one of India’s biggest
private airline recently
reduced the number of
days its pilots must be
available from 22 days a
month to just 15. ‘‘Airlines
have over 1,000 foreign
pilots and a large number
of pilots above 60 years of
age. While the expats
must be sent back, we
have nothing against our
senior pilots. Only thing is
that in current situation,
fresh openings need to be
made,’’ said a senior pilot.
- Agencies
‘‘A terracotta seal bearing
the legend of ‘Kaalanjar
peeth’ in Brahmi script
was found from the site in
Dec 2008.’’
A shivling,
trishul, nandi bull, and a
river are inscribed over
the seal. The legend of
‘Kaalanjar peeth’ is
inscribed just below the
river.
- Agencies
Tata "Nano" reaches at Khwaja's durbar
Ajmer, Feb 23: Tata "Nano," the people's car from The Tata
Motors, was displayed before Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan
Chisti's Dargah here.
The car manufacturers brought the car to the dargah
yesterday afternoon and held prayers for the successful launch in the
market.
The car was on its pre-launch road test.
The Company Country Head Vikram Sinha and other officials
were present on the occasion
Feb. 23, 2009
TN Assembly greets Rahman, CM
congratulate him for winning Oscar
Chennai, Feb 23: H a i l i n g congratulated Rahman for
The Tamil Nadu Rahman, the speaker winning the Oscar.
Assembly today said ''For the first time in I n a
congratulated music India, that too a person congratulatory message,
maestro A R Rahman for from Tamil Nadu has Mr Karunanidhi said Mr
winning two Oscars for bagged the world's Rahman, hailing from a
his musical score in highest honour given for minority community has
'Slumdog Millionaire.' cinema.'' Stating that a won a place in the hearts of
Soon after the Question Tamilian has taken the six crore people of Tamil
H o u r, S p e a k e r R Tamil film to dizzy heights Nadu and One billion
Avudaiappan informed in the world fora and for people of India.
the House about this the House ‘'I wish him all the
Rahman winning two congratulate him for best for many more such
Oscars which was winning the honour. awards,'' Mr Karunanidhi
greeted with loud Chief Minister M said.
thumping of desk by all Karunanidhi, in a - Agencies
members. statement also
From ‘Best Music’ to
‘Best Film’, Slumdog bags all
Los Angeles, Feb 23: winning the Best Director journey of a slum boy. "This
The much Oscar for 'Slumdog is unbelievable. I share this
stage with two
magicians? I
dedicate this
award to my
c o u n t r y, "
Pookutty said in
his acceptance
speech here on
Sunday.
Simon
Beaufoy bagged
the first Oscar
for this real to the
core movie
based on Indian
slum of Dharavi.
Other films in
contention
included ‘The
Curious Case of
B e n j a m i n
Button’, ‘Doubt’,
‘Frost/Nixon’,
a n d ‘ T h e
Reader’.
While
Anthony Dod
acclaimed flick ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. The much Mantle bagged the Best
Millionaire’ has won as acclaimed flick also got Cinematography Oscar for
much as eight Oscars at laurels to various of its the same.
the 81st Academy technicians including- In his Oscar
Awards ceremony being
held in LA.
Chris Dickens for ‘Best
Editing’, Resul Pookutty
winning speech, Beaufoy
thanked the author of ‘Q&A’
Music maestro for ‘Best Sound Mixing’, Vikas Swarup from whose
Simon Beaufoy for ‘Best
AR Rahman created novel the movie screenplay
history by becoming the Adapted Screenplay’ and was derived from. While
first Indian to win two Anthony Dod Mantle for Anthony thanked Director
Oscar Awards in the 'Best Cinematography'. Danny Boyle for giving him
Rahman bagged the Resul Pookutty the opportunity, and also
Oscars for best original created history by thanked his beloved wife
score in "Slumdog becoming the first Indian for the support.
Millionaire" and its theme to win an Oscar for sound ‘Slumdog’ is in
song "Jai Ho", at the mixing for ‘Slumdog contention for ten awards
Academy Awards in LA. Millionaire’. and is being pitted to have a
' S l u m d o g P o o k u t t y clean sweep at the
Millionaire' has won the shared the award with Ian ceremony.
'Best Film' award, along Tapp and Richard Pryke -Agencies
with Danny Boyle for their work in the
Mumbai-based fairy-tale
- Agencies
Feb. 23, 2009 Times Chennai E-Paper Page 5
Page 6
‘Process for judges’ selection failed’
New Delhi, Feb 23:
Union Law
Minister H R Bhardwaj
Monday said that the
judiciary's in-house
m e c h a n i s m f o r
appointment of judges and
dealing with complaints
against them has
"completely failed" and
there is a need for an
alternative system.
"There has to be
alternative system in place
of existing mechanism. In-
India will respond to information
sought by Pak: Pranab Mukherjee
New Delhi, Feb 23:
India on Monday
promised to respond to any
information sought by
Pakistan in connection
with probe into the Mumbai
attacks but underlined that
the request should come
through official channels
only.
External Affairs
Minister Pranab
Mukherjee said India will
cooperate "as and when"
necessary but ruled out a
joint investigation in the
attacks.
"Whatever
information we get from
Pakistan, we respond to it.
But information must be
house procedure for
dealing with complaints
(against the judges) has
failed completely...,"
Bhardwaj said.
"The collegium
system for appointment
of judges has also failed,"
the Minister told PTI on
the sidelines of a
conference on
'Corporate Governance'
here.
Bhardwaj said,
"I would have changed
made available through
official channels and not
through media," he told
reporters here.
He said India is
ready to cooperate with
Pakistan "as and when it
is necessary" in its
investigation into the
Mumbai attacks and in
this direction referred to
the material provided to
Islamabad about
linkages in that country.
"As far as joint
investigation is
concerned, I have told
you we are having
investigation," he said.
After being
provided the dossier of
Times Chennai E-Paper
the system if I could but
there is need to evolve
broader consensus on
the issue in Parliament".
His remark's assume
significance in the wake
of recent controversy
s u r r o u n d i n g
appointment of judges
and allegations of
corruption against
judges.
-Agencies
evidence on Mumbai
attacks, Pakistan has
sought more information
and in this regard given a
list of 30 questions.
India has said it
is examining it and will
provide whatever
information is possible.
Mukherjee
made the statement as
Pakistan's High
Commissioner Shahid
Malik met Foreign
Secretary Shivshankar
Menon to discuss
aspects related to the
Mumbai attacks.
-Agencies
Supreme Court refers negative
voting issue to larger bench
New Delhi, Feb 23:
The Supreme
Court on Monday
referred to a larger bench
the question as to
whether a voter should be
permitted to cast a
negative vote during
elections.
A two judge
bench of Justices B N
Agrawal and G S Singhvi
said the issue needs to be
examined by a larger
bench as the question
involved interpretation of
a citizen's fundamental
right.
The Bench
'Corporate culture' being promoted by
Modi: Congress
New Delhi Feb. 23:
The Congress
on Sunday hit back at
Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi, alleging
that "corporate culture"
was being promoted by
him and the BJP even as
poor diamond workers
were suffering in the
state.
Reacting to the
statement of Modi in
which he had accused
the Congress of "trying to
puncture the Nano car
project", party
spokesman Shakeel
Ahmed told PTI, "Modi
and BJP are promoting
corporate culture while
the poor diamond
workers are suffering in
the state".
The war of
words between the two
parties began after
requested the Chief
Justice to refer the matter
to an appropriate larger
bench for further
consideration.
People Union
for Civil Liberties (PUCL),
a n N G O , h a d
approached the apex
court seeking directions
to the Centre to ensure
amendment to the
Representation of
People's Act (RPA) so
that a voter can mark
"none of the above" in the
electronic voting
machine.
This is because
Congress general
secretary Rahul Gandhi
charged the Gujarat
government with doling
out incentives worth
crores of rupees to Tata's
Nano project while
neglecting diamond
workers.
"What Rahul ji
has said is right ... We are
not against the Nano car
project but at the same
time, the Gujarat
government is duty
bound to protect the
interests of the suffering
diamond workers,"
Ahmed said.
Another party
spokesman Manish
Tewari alleged that
Modi's neglect of
diamond workers
reflected his "utter
insensitivity" to their
plight and claimed the
Feb. 23, 2009
presently a voter if he or
she desires not to cast vote
in favour of any candidate,
he or she should
mandatorily inform the
presiding officer of the
polling booth.
Such a pre-
condition was violative of
the citizens right under
Article 19(2) (Freedom of
Expression and Speech)
and makes the voter
vulnerable to threats and
intimidation from political
parties, the PUCL had
stated.
-Agencies
workers were being forced
to commit suicide because
of this.
"The CM of
Gujarat can dole out crores
of concession to the big fish
of corporate India but he
has no time or money for
the hapless workers of the
diamond industry whose
blood and sweat has
contributed to the making
of brand Gujarat
internationally," Tewari told
PTI. ]Referring to the
statement of Modi on BJP
members being fishes in
t h e o c e a n , Te w a r i
remarked, "The CM of
Gujarat is absolutely
correct when he calls
himself a fish in the ocean
... But he is the species of a
fish called Pirana."
-Agencies

EC to hold pre-poll meetings CPM asks govt to seek details

New Delhi, Feb 23:
The Election
Commission (EC) will
conduct series of meetings
from Monday before
announcing dates for the
Lok Sabha elections.
Chief Election
Commissioner N
Gopalaswami and other
t w o E l e c t i o n
Commissioners Navin
Chawla and S Y Quraishi
are scheduled to meet
BSP brings out booklet targeting Opposition
Lucknow Feb. 23:
In an effort to turn
the tables on the opposition
parties targeting it on
various issues, the BSP
has come out with a 64-
page booklet highlighting
the "wrongdoings" of its
rivals ahead of the Lok
Sabha polls.
Under fire for
alleged collection of
donations for the birthday
of party supremo and UP
Chief Minister Mayawati
and murder of a PWD
engineer allegedly by a
party MLA in Auraiya, the
BSP has launched a
c o u n t e r o ff e n s i v e b y
"exposing" the scams
Te l e c o m S e c r e t a r y
Siddartha Behura today
t o e x p a n d
communication network.
The Commission will
also meet Home
Secretary Madhukar
Gupta to review the law
and order situation
across the country.
Besides, the
t h r e e - m e m b e r
Commission is likely to
hold discussion on the
during the regime of the
opposition parties.
The BSP is
distributing the 64-page
booklet "Jaise ko Taisa"
among workers and
voters, in a bid to
h i g h l i g h t t h e
wrongdoings of the
opposition parties and
set its record straight
ahead of the Lok Sabha
elections.
The booklet
highlights various scams
during the regime of
opposition parties
including Congress, BJP
and Samajwadi Party
starting from the jeep
scandal of 1957 to Oil for
accessibility of Central
paramilitary forces to
avoid any kind of
untoward incident during
polls.
The team is
already meeting political
parties leaders before
gearing up for the
General Elections and
simultaneous assembly
polls in Orissa, Andhra
Pradesh and Sikkim.
-Agencies
Food scam, besides
disappropriate assets
case against SP supermo
Mulayam Singh Yadav.
The booklet
dedicates 21 pages to
Samajwadi Party, giving
details of the assets
owned by its supremo.
While flaying
the opposition, the BSP
has made an attempt to
come clean on the
donation controversy by
stating that on the
directives of BSP founder
Kanshi Ram, Mayawati's
birthday is celebrated as
Arthik Sahyog Diwas.
-Agencies
of Swiss bank accounts
New Delhi, Feb. 23
With one of the
Swiss banks agreeing to
provide information to the
US about its account-
holders, the CPM on
Monday demanded that
the UPA government
should seek details of
Indians who have illegally
stashed funds in
Switzerland and other tax
havens.
The CPM Polit
Bureau said it is imperative
that the UPA government
demand details of Indian
account-holders from
Swiss banks and from
banks in other tax havens.
"In the case of
India, it is not only a case of
tax evasion but also of
funds being illegally
stashed abroad, or used
for money laundering," the
CPM said in a statement.
T h e C P M
reminded the government
that UBS, the largest Swiss
Bank, has agreed to
provide information to the
US of account-holders who
are suspected to have
evaded taxes in America
while British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown has also
called for such an action.
"If the (UPA)
government is serious
about stopping black
money and raising
resources to meet growing by Indians, it said adding
economic crisis, it must "these funds amounting to
take steps to bring back the billions of dollars were either
unaccounted or ill-gotten illegally taken out of the
wealth of Indians abroad," country or were deposited in
the party said. Switzerland and other tax
The Swiss banks havens instead of being
with secret accounts are repatriated to India."
known to hold substantial -Agencies
sum of money deposited
Maoists attack Orissa
village; 1 killed
Malkangiri Orissa, Feb. 23:
Maoists struck Gobindapali village in the district,
killing a businessman and setting afire a BSNL control
room, forest office and over a dozen vehicles, police said
on Monday.
Maoists stormed the village, about 50 km from
here on Monday night and attacked the house of
construction contractor Prasanna Swain, who was dragged
out and killed with sharp edged weapons, Superintendent
of Police Satyabrata Bhoi said.
The ultras threw Swain's body on the road and
ransacked his house damaging furniture and household
goods besides, torching two vehicles, he said.
The Maoists also set on fire a BSNL control room
causing extensive damage to the building, he said adding
that the outlaws blocked nearby roads by felling trees and
placing boulders.
A forest range office was also targeted by the
ultras, who ransacked furniture and set afire documents in
the building. A power distribution centre, which was under
construction, was also ransacked and about ten vehicles,
parked in the premises, torched, police said.
The naxals left after putting up posters in the
village against the Naveen Patnaik government. Additional
police force was deployed in the area and a massive
combing operation launched.
- Agencies
Feb. 23, 2009
Business
BSNL to launch "India-Golden 50"
from March one: Karunanidhi
Chennai, Feb 23:
Come March one,
the public sector Bharat
Sanchar Nigam Limited
(BSNL) would launch the
revolutionary ''India-
Golden Fifty'' scheme
under which calls could be
made to any part of the
country at just 0.50 paise.
T h i s w a s
announced by Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister M
Karunanidhi while
launching the BSNL's Third
generation 3G services, by
making the first call to
Union Communications
and IT Minister A Raja from
his hospital-bed, where he
was recuperating after a
spine surgery.
Recalling the
''One India '' scheme
launched by former Union
Minister Dayanidhi Maran,
he said another scheme
CAG pulls up IRDA, SEBI for
retaining their surplus funds
New Delhi, Feb 23:
Official auditing
watchdog CAG has rapped
market regulator SEBI and
insurance regulator IRDA
for keeping their surplus
funds worth over Rs 1,325
crore collected through fee
and penalty outside the
Government accounts in
2007-08.
The practice by
the two regulators are in
contravention of the
instructions issued by the
Finance Ministry that all
m i n i s t r i e s a n d
departments of the
Government would ensure
that funds of regulatory
bodies are maintained in
the Public Account, the
Comptroller and Auditor
General (CAG) said.
"SEBI and IRDA
are retaining their surplus
funds... aggregating to Rs
1,325.49 crore at the end of
March 2008 outside the
government account. This
is in contravention of the
instructions of the Ministry
of Finance," CAG said in its
report on the Union
Government accounts
2007-08.
Mobile number portability by August: Raja
Chennai Feb. 23:
Mobile customers
need no longer worry about
the need to change
numbers when they opt for
a different operator as the
Centre plans to introduce
mobile number portability
in the country by August
this year.
"The mobile
number portability enabling
customers to retain their
old number while shifting
''India-Golden Fifty''
would be launched from
March 1 by the BSNL.
The scheme,
allowing the people to
make a call to any part of
the country at 0.50 paise,
would be useful to the
people and would help in
the growth of the BSNL.
Stating that he
had proved to the nation
that rice could be given to
people at Rs One a kg
under the PDS scheme,
he said he would always
strive for the welfare of
the poor and wanted the
people to ensure that his
government continues
and the Congress-led
UPA Government at the
Centre to save India's
sovereignty.
Apparently
referring to the recent
violent incidents in the
The Sebi has
retained Rs 987.95 crore
surplus fund, while the
Insurance Regulatory
and Development
Authority (IRDA) has
kept Rs 337.54 crore
outside the government
accounts, the report said.
It added that in January
2005, the Department of
Economic Affairs had
directed all ministries
and departments to
ensure that funds of
regulatory bodies are
maintained in Public
Account.
The CAG pulled
up the two regulators
saying that the retention
of surplus funds was not
only a violation of the
government's norm but
also "inconsistent with
the Constitutional
provisions".
According to
constitutional provision,
"These bodies have
been established by Acts
of Parliament...the
money collected by
these bodies should be
credited to government
account."
from one operator to
another would be
launched in major cities
by August this year,"
Union Minister for IT and
Communication A Raja
told reporters here on the
occasion of launch of
BSNL's 3G services.
He said the
service would be
launched in major cities
by August and
subsequently in other
Times Chennai E-Paper
state in the aftermath of
the bloody clashes
between the police and
lawyers, Mr Karunanidhi
urged the people to stop
their agitation, shed
violence and allow the
state and central
governments to
contuinue to serve the
poor.
Mr Karunanidhi
lauded Mr Raja for
launching the scheme for
the first time in India and
that too in Chennai.
He said he had
kept his promise to
launch the scheme
ignoring the advice of the
doctors to show that he
would work to solve the
people's issues and
strive for the welfare of
the poor and the nation till
his last breath.
-Agencies
F u r t h e r, t h e
CAG said the IRDA was
directed by the Finance
Ministry in 2002 to
deposit its funds in the
public account, while the
ministry did not direct the
market regulator despite
continued violation of the
g o v e r n m e n t ' s
instructions.
Apart from
flouting the constitutional
and government norms,
both the regulatory
bodies violated
accounting procedure
too, the report added.
"Retention of
funds by IRDA and Sebi
outside the government
account is also not
consistent with the
accounting procedure
followed by other
similarly placed
independent and
regulatory bodies such
as TRAI, which are
maintaining their
accounts as part of
government accounts,"
the report added.
-Agencies
cities by end of this year.
Reacting to the
announcement, BSNL
Chairman Kuldeep
Goyal, who was also
present, said that it "was
a welcome step" and
expressed hope BSNL
would get many new
subscribers because of
this.
-Agencies
SBI sees 25 % growth in SME advances
Mumbai, Feb 23:
The country's
largest lender, State
Bank of India (SBI), has
said that its advances to
small and medium
enterprises are likely to
grow by 25 per cent in the
current fiscal.
The lender has
targetted a similar growth
in the portfolio in the next
fiscal as well, a senior
SBI official said.
"We expect a
25 per cent growth in our
SME advances this
fiscal. The growth is likely
to be in this range during
the next financial year as
Room for RBI to cut rates: PMEAC
New Delhi, Feb 23:
W i t h t h e
inflation falling below four
per cent, the Prime
Minister's advisory panel
on Sunday said there is
room for the Reserve
Bank to signal further
interest rate cuts to spur
industrial growth, which
turned negative for the
second time in December
this fiscal.
"There is room
for rates cut by the RBI,"
Prime Minister's
Economic Advisory
Council Chairman
Tendulkar told reporters.
He, however, declined to
specify the percentage of
rate cuts that he
expected, saying the
decision is with the RBI's
domain and the apex
bank "will take a call on
that".
After more than
a year, inflation fell below
four per cent to touch
3.92 per cent by the end
of the first week of
February from close of 13
per cent in August 2008,
raising hope for the
central bank to slash
rates.
The industrial
production has
contracted for the second
time in December by 2
per cent.
Minor ports need infrastructure
plan: Cochin Port Trust head
Kochi, Feb. 23:
A systematic
action plan is required for
greater utilisation of
infrastructure available at
minor ports, Cochin Port
Tr u s t C h a i r m a n N .
Ramachandran said.
"The more we
start using these facilities
the more facilities would
develop," he said
speaking at a function
here late Sunday.
It is important to
integrate road transport,
inland water transport
and coastal shipping to
bring about a reduction in
well," the official said.
The bank
expects to disburse Rs
23,000 crore loans in the
portfolio in 2008-09 as
against the targetted Rs
26,000 crore, the official
said.
"We had earlier
targetted to disburse Rs
26,000 crore. Given the
current market
situations, the bank may
be able to achieve Rs
23,000-crore by March-
end," the official said.
SBI has seen a
decline in credit demand
in its SME portfolio this
fiscal due to slowdown in
Before this, the
industrial output fell for
the first time in 15 years in
October 2008 by 0.3 per
cent.
RBI Governor D
Subbarao had himself
said in Tokyo, "There
certainly is room for
cutting rates."
Even though
the RBI has released
over Rs 4,00,000 crore
into the system by a
series of cuts in policy
rates and other tools, it
refrained from making
any changes in these
rates in the third quarterly
review of its monetary
policy.
Commerce and
Industry Minister Kamal
Nath had also said,
"(The) RBI is looking into
the monetary policy and
will perhaps respond to it
(sliding inflation)."
India's largest
private lender ICICI Bank
CEO K V Kamath had
said, "when inflation is
going towards two per
cent, there is scope for
interest rates to go
down."
When asked
whether the fiscal deficit
would be a problem for
India in the next few
years as pointed out by
the financial services firm
total cost in the supply
chain, he said.
The existing
pattern of coastal
shipping service is
mainly port-to-port
whereas shippers
require value-added
door-to-door services, he
said.
T h o u g h
passenger traffic is
concentrated mainly
between the mainland
and the islands of
Andaman and Nicobar as
well as the Lakshadweep
Islands, there is
tremendous potential for
Page 7
export-oriented sectors
such as gems and
jewellery, textile and auto,
the official said.
"This (lower
disbursements) is due to
the fact that the economic
slowdown has hit
segments like textile, gems
and jewellery and auto,"
the official said.
Many of SBI's
SME clients were not even
availing the sanctioned
advance limits due to
adverse market
conditions, the official said.
-Agencies
Goldman Sachs, Tendulkar
said, "I do not subscribe to
that at all."
On Friday,
Goldman Sachs had said in
a research report that
India's deficit would not
come down substantially
over the next few years due
to increase in spending,
especially on higher wages
and unemployment
benefits as well as a large
increase in the
governments interest
burden.
The report added
India's fiscal deficit,
including both the Centre
and the states, would be
among the highest in the
world. It is likely to be 10.3
per cent of the Gross
Domestic Product in the
current fiscal and 10 per
cent in the next fiscal.
The Centre's
fiscal deficit is projected to
be 6 per cent in the current
fiscal against 2.5 estimated
earlier. For 2009-10, the it
is projected to be 5.5 per
cent.
If items like oil,
fertiliser bonds are also
taken into account, the
Centre's deficit would soar
further than projected in the
budget.
-Agencies
promoting coastal shipping
targeting leisure travellers,
particularly considering the
sops being offered by the
shipping and tourism
ministry for promoting
tourism.
There needs to be
a very strong drive for a
model shift to coastal
shipping from trucking by
giving financial and other
incentives to the shippers,
he said.
Freight transport
demand was likely to grow
significantly during the next
few years, he said.
-Agencies
Page 8 Times Chennai E-Paper Feb. 23, 2009
Feb. 23, 2009
Los Angeles, Feb 23:
I t w a s a w a v e s o n t h e
remarkable journey from
Chennai to Hollywood for
music maestro Allah
Rakha Rahman who on
Monday made a billion
Indians proud, adding
another feather in his cap
by bagging two Oscars for
his score in ‘Slumdog
Millionaire’.
It was a 'Jai ho'
for the soft-spoken
Rahman, hailed by Time
Magazine as the 'Mozart of
Madras', when he walked
to receive the award for
Best Original Score and
Best Song 'Jai Ho'.
The 'Mozart of
Madras', who redefined
contemporary Indian
music and has been a role
model for millions of
Indians, has already won a
Golden Globe and a
BAFTA for his music in
Oscar-winning film
‘Slumdog Millionaire’.
The 43-year-old
music wizard, who has
enthralled audience in the
country and abroad with
his heart-warming
Prez, PM congratulate
Slumdog Millionaire team
New Delhi, Feb 23:
With Slumdog
Millionaire creating history
at the Oscars, President
Pratibha Patil and Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh
said the entire team of the
film including musician AR
Rahman have done India
proud.
The Prime Minister
"congratulates A R
Rahman, Resul Pookutty
(sound engineer), Gulzar
(lyricist), and entire
Slumdog Millionaire team
for the success at the
Oscars," a PMO
spokesperson said.
Singh said "they
have done India proud".
Lok Sabha
Speaker Somnath
Office: F 5 and 6 1st Floor, Leo Complex, New No: 41, Madley Road, T.Nagar, Chennai 600 017. Ph: 42867771, Fax -4286 7772
The remarkable journey of AR Rahman
symphonies, is creating
international stage with
his composition in
‘Slumdog Millionaire’.
Born as AS
Dileep Kumar in a
musically affluent family
in Chennai on January
06, 1966, he changed his
name to Allah Rakha
Rahman after his family
converted to Islam in the
late 1980s.
Rahman was
forced to shoulder the
responsibilities of his
family at the age of nine
after his father RK
Shekhar, who was a
composer, arranger and
conductor for Malayalam
movies, died due to
illness.
The music
genius came to the
limelight with his music
for a Bombay Dyeing ad
and Leo Coffee in 1980s
which became very
popular.
But the major
break in his career came
when noted filmmaker
M a n i R a t n a m
Chatterjee also
congratulated the
Slumdog team on
bringing laurels to India
by winning the Oscars.
The film bagged
eight awards including
two Oscars for Rahman
for Best Original Score
and Best Song for the
song "Jai Ho", which was
penned by lyricist Gulzar.
P o o k u t t y, a s o u n d
technician from Kerala,
won the Oscar in the
Sound Mixing category.
The movie also won the
award for Best Film, Best
Director for Danny Boyle
and Best Adapted
Screenplay for Simon
Beaufoy.
-Agencies
Owned Edited and Published by S. Raghunathan Editorial and Advertisement
Times Chennai E-Paper
approached Rahman,
who was then a keyboard
player with composer
Illayaraja, to compose for
his film 'Roja' in 1992.
The music of the
film, which was a
refreshing change from
the run-of-the-mill
renditions, made
Rahman a star overnight
and brought him his
maiden Best Music
Director trophy at the
National Film Awards, the
first time ever by a
debutante film composer.
Rahman was introduced
to the Hindi film industry
in Ram Gopal Verma's
‘Rangeela’. The music of
the film became a rage
and the genius continued
to give some brilliant
compositions for films
such as ‘Bombay’, ‘Dil
Se’, ‘Taal’, ‘Lagaan’ and
‘Rang De Basanti’ among
others.
What made
Rahman's music click
with the listeners was the
refreshing use of
percussions, sound and
melody, most of which
were inspired from the
Indian folk music.
R a h m a n
developed a trademark
by mixing traditional
Rahman's win gives Bollywood big reason to celebrate
New Delhi, Feb 23:
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 AR. He
brought north and south
India together when he
started composing music
Indian tunes with
International beats from
African drums to
electronic funk. The
composer is also famous
for his fondness to the
newest sound and
technologies in the world
of music.
His 1998 super-
hit composition 'chaiyya
chaiyya' which was
deeply rooted in Sufi
mysticism, became a
rage among Indians and
is still considered one of
the best compositions of
the musician.
R a h m a n
gradually became a
known face on the
international platform
and in 1999 he
performed with Michael
Jackson in Munich for
'Michael Jackson and
Friends Concert'.
In 2002, he
gave the music for his
maiden stage production
‘Bombay Dreams’
directed by legendary
musical theatre
composer, Andrew Lloyd
W e b b e r. R a h m a n ' s
music was also a hit from
London's ‘West End’ to
New York's ‘Broadway’.
In 2004, with
Finnish folk music band
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 said.
Rahman, the
first Indian musician to
win the annual Academy
Award, was listed for
three of the film's 10
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
Page 9
‘Varttina’, he composed National Award and a
the music for ‘The Lord of Malaysian Award.
the Rings’ theatre The music
production. director, who is known for
Rahman's his humble demeanour,
composition ‘Jai Ho’ for gave a new definition to
British director Danny patriotism with his modern
Boyle's 'Slumdog r e n d i t i o n o f ' Va n d e
Millionaire' has been Mataram'. His latest tract
lapped up by western 'Jiya Se Jiya' is another
audiences and made attempt to send the
headlines when world message of peace and
renowned fashion love through music.
designer John Galliano Rahman, who
used it as a theme during maintains a low-profile,
his fashion show. tied the knot with Sairo
The music has Bano in 1995 and the
already earned him the couple has three children -
Critics Choice Award for - Khadijah, Rahima and
Best Composer in 2008 Aman.
and the Golden Globe in The music
the category of Best composer is also involved
Original Score. with charitable causes and
A four-time had conducted concerts to
National Award winner, raise funds for cancer
Rahman was honoured patients.
with the Padma Shri and In 2004, Rahman
received six awards at was appointed as the
the Tamil Nadu State global ambassador of the
Film Awards, besides 11 Stop TB partnership, a
awards for his scores at project by the World
the Filmfare and Filmfare Health Organisation
Awards South each. (WHO).
In 2006, he He also recently
received an honorary launched the AR Rahman
award from Stanford foundation, which is a step
University for his towards eradication of
contributions to global hunger and poverty.
music. In 1995, he also -Agencies
received the Mauritius
makes every Indian "Like every Indian, I am
proud. He deserves it very happy about the win. I
more than anybody else was sure Rahman will
for his wholehearted come back with the award.
dedication to music. It's a The film was amazing,"
rare honour. I said Dutta.
congratulate Rahman." Before this, only two
Southern actor R Indians have won the
Madhavan feels Rahman Oscar in its 80 year history -
should have won an Satyajit Ray was given the
Oscar the very first time prestigious Lifetime
he composed music Achievement Award in
because he truly 1992 and Bhanu Athaiya
deserves it. won the best costume
Actress Divya Dutta hails
the composer and says
design Oscar along with
John Mollo for the 1982 film
she is extremely proud of
his win.
‘Gandhi’.
-Agencies
Mumbai dwarfs the Oscar
statue: Danny Boyle
Los Angeles, Feb 23:
British filmmaker Danny Boyle, who received
the ‘Best Director’ Oscar for his movie "Slumdog
Millionaire" that tells the heart-warming tale of a Mumbai
slum boy who goes on to win a multimillion dollar quiz
show on TV thanked Mumbai and its people.
Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire" highlights the
pain and misery of the impoverished section who lives in
the slums of India. He set his story in Mumbai's teeming
slums in Nehru Nagar and nearby Dharavi, which is
home to more than a million people and is the largest
slum in Asia.
In his speech Boyle said, "I want to thank my
dad, my sisters and my wife... one person we haven't
thanked is the choreographer who directed the last song
in the film - Longines. I want to thank him too”.
In a tribute to Mumbai, the director exclaimed,
“Mumbai dwarfs even this statue (Oscar)”.