Rahman, Resul win Oscars for Slumdog

A R Rahman on Monday created history by becoming the first Indian to win two Oscars for his score in Slumdog Millionaire which swept the Academys, winning eight awards including one for sound engineer Resul Pookutty. The film, named the best at the Oscars, also fetched Danny Boyle the Best Director award, Simon Beaufoy best Adapted Screenplay and Anthony Dod Mantle the best Cinematography award. The rags-to-riches drama was also awarded for best Editing. 

"Before coming here I was excited and terrified. The last time I felt that way was when I was getting married," Rahman told in his acceptance speech after bagging the Original Score Academy. "There is a Hindi dialogue 'mere pass ma hai' which means even if I have got nothing I have my mother here. I want to thank her for coming all the way to support me," the 43-year-old musician said. Rahman was again on the dais to accept the Oscar for the best Original Song for the number Jai ho, sung by Sukhwinder Singh and Mahalaxmi Iyer.

Before that he performed a medley of Jai ho and O saya assisted by dancers and singer John Legend. "The essence of the film is about optimism and home. The power of hope in our lives. All my life I had the choice between hate and love. I choose love and here I am," said the musician while accepting the award for best song, penned by Gulzar.

"There is something I say (in Tamil) whenever I win an award: Ella pugazlum iraivanuku, which means 'all the fame and the glory I dedicate to god'," he said.

Rahman had earlier pocketed a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for his music in the Danny Boyle film, which won eight Oscars.

He became the fourth Indian to win the coveted trophy joining the ranks of Bhanu Athaiya and Satyajit Ray and Resul Pookutty, who won the Oscar today for sound mixing in Slumdog Millionaire.

Sound engineer Resul Pookutty became the third Indian to bring Oscar glory for India by winning the award for sound mixing in Slumdog Millionaire said, "I dedicate this award to my country. This is not just a sound award but a piece of history that has been handed over to me."

"I come from a country and civilisation that gave the world the word that precedes silence and is followed by more silence. That word is 'Om'. So I dedicate this award to my country," said Kerala-born sound technician.

Pookutty shared the honours with colleagues Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke. "This is unbelievable. I share the stage with two magicians, who captured the noise and cacophony of Mumbai to create the soul stirring artful sound of Slumdog Millionaire," he said.

Pookutty has won a BAFTA and a more recent Cinema Audio Society (CAS) awards for best sound mixing. He is the first Indian to win the CAS award.