That A R Rahman’s small acceptance speech after winning an Oscar should contain the oft repeated dialogue from Deewar, “Mere paas Maa hai” was indicative of his true roots. In Indian cinema.
That he went along and spoke his standard Tamil line too, acknowledging the role of destiny, was again an indication of his Indian-ness.
As an ardent admirer of A R Rahman, it was a special morning for me. Hearing his name being called out for the first time, seeing him gulp down his throat, as he jerked and rushed to the stage to bag his Oscar. Then, coming on stage to render voice on his compositions of two of his Oscar nominated songs from Slumdog Millionaire. Holding his own in front of that august audience. And then ever so humbly, accepting the second of his two Oscars.
What a feeling.
I felt goosebumps. The closest I have ever felt to an event of this kind (where I have not been directly involved) was when India won the World Cup in 1983. It was the same kind of feeling when Rahman picked up his two Oscars today. What a dream come true.
In fact, few days back, the Bombay Times had carried a story about him negotiating a deal with Krishna Shah, who is on the jury at the Academy, to get him to an Oscars show, in return to hearing a script of Krishna Shah’s. Like any other excellent performer of the arts, he did dream about the Oscars. And it was a most fitting climax today, for him to bag not one, but TWO Oscars.
That from yesterday, I have been humming tunes from his latest release, Delhi 6, is a coincidence. I am sure he will delight us for many more years, and I will not be surprised to see him on stage at the Oscars few more time, in his lifetime!
Random Musings 