Mumbai: AR Rahman created history in 2009 by becoming the first ever Indian to win two Academy Awards in a single night but the music composer says on the eve of the ceremony, he was “starving” to look in shape.
Rahman bagged two Academy Awards, one for the original score for Slumdog Millionaire and the other for the hugely popular global hit “Jai Ho.”
While things changed dramatically for Rahman post his win, when asked what was his mental space on the eve of the big award event, Rahman said to a news agency, “Actually nothing. I was just starving to look thin for the ceremony!”
The Danny Boyle-directed drama swept the 81st Academy Award with eight trophies out of 10 nominations.
Rahman shot to global fame with his win and went on to get two more Oscar nominations in 2011 for his original score and song for Boyle’s 127 Hours.
Rahman in Dharavi to soak in inspiration for Slumdog…
When asked if it was difficult to move past the shadows of two Oscars, Rahman said, “Yes. I have moved on because it’s a great identity for me and I needed that identity to be in Hollywood. Now, whenever I am mentioned there, people know my name. That helped me move further not just in music, but also producing movies and going into technologies like virtual reality and cinematic virtual reality and so much of the stuff that’s going to come this year. So, all this freedom came with this power.”
The composers was speaking at a special ceremony to celebrate the film’s 10 years of Oscar win, Monday.
The event took place in Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, as an ode to Slumdog Millionaire, which chronicled the story of a boy’s journey from rags to riches.
On the occasion, Rahman narrated an incident how Anil Kapoor missed watching him bag the Golden Globe award as the actor went out to get a drink for him.
“I was sitting next to Anil and I was so thirsty. He was very kind and said he’ll get a Sprite for me. By the time he went and got it, I got the award,” Rahman said.
To which Anil replied, “I’ll never forgive him! I was waiting for him to get an award. But he was thirsty so I said I’ll go. There was so much crowd at the bar counter, by the time I was back he got the award!
“But then I saw the Oscar, which was the cherry on the cake. You don’t know what I felt when he went on stage and the song was played. I wish I could break the protocol and start dancing on stage. I had to control myself,” he added.
Awards won by AR Rahman
Academy Awards
| Year |
Film |
Category |
Result |
| 2009 |
Slumdog Millionaire |
Best Original Score |
Won |
| Best Original Song (shared with Gulzar) (for “Jai Ho”) |
| Best Original Song (shared with M.I.A.) (for “O… Saya”) |
Nominated |
| 2011 |
127 Hours |
Best Original Score |
| Best Original Song (Shared with Dido and Rollo Armstrong for “If I Rise” |
BAFTA Awards
| Year |
Film |
Category |
Result |
| 2009 |
Slumdog Millionaire |
Best Film Music |
Won |
| 2011 |
127 Hours |
Best Film Music |
Nominated |
Golden Globe Awards
| Year |
Film |
Category |
Result |
| 2009 |
Slumdog Millionaire |
Best Original Score |
Won |
| 2011 |
127 Hours |
Best Original Score |
Nominated |
Grammy Awards
| Year |
Film |
Category |
Result |
| 2009 |
Slumdog Millionaire |
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media |
Won |
| Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media (Jai Ho) |
World Soundtrack Awards
| Year |
Film |
Category |
Result |
| 2009 |
Slumdog Millionaire |
Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film |
Won |
| 2011 |
127 Hours |
The Public Choice Award |
Won |
| 2017 |
Viceroy’s House |
The Public Choice Award |
Won |
National Film Awards
| Year |
Film |
Category |
Result |
| 1992 |
Roja |
Best Music Direction |
Won |
| 1996 |
Minsara Kanavu |
| 2001 |
Lagaan |
| 2002 |
Kannathil Muthamittal |
| 2017 |
Kaatru Veliyidai |
| 2017 |
Mom |
Best Background Score |
Tamil Nadu State Film Awards
| Year |
Film |
Category |
Result |
| 1992 |
Roja |
Best Music Direction |
Won |
| 993 |
Gentleman |
| 1994 |
Kadhalan |
| 1996 |
Minsaara Kanavu |
| 1999 |
Sangamam |
| 2014 |
Kaaviya Thalaivan |
Filmfare Awards
Soundtrack
| Year |
Film |
Category |
Result |
| 1996 |
Rangeela |
Best Music Director |
Won |
| 1999 |
Dil Se.. |
| 2000 |
Taal |
| 2002 |
Lagaan |
| 2003 |
Saathiya |
| 2005 |
Swades |
Nominated |
| 2007 |
Rang de Basanti |
Won |
| 2008 |
Guru |
| 2009 |
Jodha Akbar |
Nominated |
| 2009 |
Ghajini |
| 2009 |
Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na |
Won |
| 2010 |
Delhi 6 |
| 2012 |
Rockstar |
| 2014 |
Raanjhanaa |
Nominated |
| 2016 |
Tamasha |
Background Score
| Year |
Film |
Category |
Result |
| 2003 |
The Legend of Bhagat Singh |
Best Background Score |
Won |
| 2005 |
Swades |
| 2008 |
Guru |
| 2009 |
Jodhaa Akbar |
| 2018 |
Mom |
Nominated |
Special Awards
| Year |
Category |
Result |
| 1995 |
Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent |
Won |
Filmfare Awards South
Tamil
| Year |
Film |
Category |
Result |
| 1993 |
Roja |
Best Music Director |
Won |
| 1994 |
Gentleman |
| 1995 |
Kadhalan |
| 1996 |
Bombay |
| 1997 |
Kadhal Desam |
| 1998 |
Minsaara Kanavu |
| 1999 |
Jeans |
| 2000 |
Mudhalvan |
| 2001 |
Alaipayuthey |
| 2007 |
Sillunu Oru Kadhal |
| 2008 |
Sivaji: The Boss |
| 2011 |
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa |
| 2014 |
Kadal |
| 2016 |
I |
| 2017 |
Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada |
| 2018 |
Mersal |
Telugu
| Year |
Film |
Category |
Result |
| 2011 |
Ye Maaya Chesave |
Best Music Director |
Won |
IIFA Awards
Soundtrack
| Year |
Film |
Category |
Result |
| 2000 |
Taal |
Best Music Director |
Won |
| 2002 |
Lagaan |
| 2003 |
Saathiya |
| 2007 |
Rang De Basanti |
| 2008 |
Guru |
| 2009 |
Jodhaa Akbar |
| 2012 |
Rockstar |
Background Score
| Year |
Film |
Category |
Result |
| 2008 |
Guru |
Best Background Score |
Won |
| 2009 |
Jodhaa Akbar |
| 2012 |
Rockstar |
Special Awards
| Year |
Category |
Result |
| 2008 |
Outstanding Contribution by an Indian in International Cinema |
Won |
| 2009 |
IIFA Music Director of the Decade |
Other Awards
- BIG Star Entertainment Awards
- 2011 – BIG Star Most Entertaining Song – “Saadda Haq” (Rockstar)
- Bollywood Music Awards
- 2000 – Best Music Direction – Taal
- 2000 – Best Song – “Taal Se Taal Mila” (Taal)
- 2002 – Best Music Direction – Lagaan
- 2003 – Best Music Direction – Saathiya
- Cinema Express Awards
- 1993 – Best Music (Hindi) – Roja
- 1994 – Best Music (Tamil) – Gentleman
- 1995 – Best Music (Tamil) – Kadhalan
- 1997 – Best Music (Tamil) – Kadhal Desam
- 1999 – Best Music (Tamil) – Jeans
- 2013 – Best Music (Tamil) – Maryan
- IIFA Utsavam
- 2017 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada
- CineGoers’ Award
- 1993 – Best Music (Tamil) – Roja
- 1994 – Best Music (Tamil) – Gentleman
- 1995 – Best Music (Tamil) – Kadhalan
- 1996 – Best Music (Tamil) – Bombay
- Global Indian Film Awards (GIFA)
- 2007 – GIFA Award for Best Music – Rang De Basanti
- 2007 – GIFA Award for Best Background Music – Rang De Basanti
- Film Fans’ Award
- 1993 – Best Music (Tamil) – Roja
- 1994 – Best Music (Tamil) – Gentleman
- 1995 – Best Music (Tamil) – Kadhalan
- 1996 – Best Music (Tamil) – Bombay
- Kalasaagar Award
- 1993 – Best Music (Tamil) – Roja
- 1994 – Best Music (Tamil) – Gentleman
- 1995 – Best Music (Tamil) – Kadhalan
- 1996 – Best Music (Tamil) – Bombay
- Sangeet Awards
- 2004 – Best Music Direction (Critics Award) – Yuva
- 2004 – Best Music Arrangement (Critics Award) – “Yeh Rishta” – Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities
- 2005 – Best Music Direction (Critics Award) – Swades
- Screen Videocon Awards / Star Screen Awards
- 1998 – Best Non-film Album – Vande Mataram(Non-film category)
- 2000 – Best Music Direction – Taal
- 2007 – Best Background Music- Rang De Basanti
- 2008 – Best Music Direction – Guru
- 2008 – Best Background Music – Guru
- 2009 – Best Music Direction – Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na
- 2009 – Best Background Music – Jodhaa Akbar
- 2010 – Best Music Direction – Delhi-6
- 2012 – Best Music Direction – Rockstar
- Screen-Videocon Awards South
- 1997 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Kadhal Desam
- 1998 – Best Music Direction (Tamil) – Minsara Kanavu
- South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA)
- 2017 – Best Music Director (Tamil) – Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada
- Zee Cine Awards
- 2000 – Zee Cine Award Best Music Director – Taal
- 2002 – Zee Cine Award Best Music Director – Lagaan
- 2003 – Zee Cine Award Best Music Director – Saathiya
- 2007 – Zee Cine Award Best Music Director – Rang De Basanti
- 2008 – Zee Cine Award Best Music Director – Guru
- 2008 – Zee Cine Award Best Background Music – Guru
- 2012 – Zee Cine Award Best Music Director – Rockstar
- Vijay Awards
- 2006 – Most Favourite Music Director
- 2007 – Vijay Award for Best Music Director – Sivaji
- 2008 – Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan Award for Excellence in Indian Cinema
- 2010 – Vijay Award for Best Music Director – Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa
- 2013 – Vijay Award for Best Music Director – Kadal
- 2014 – Vijay Award for Best Background Score – Kochadaiiyaan
- 2018 – Vijay Award for Best Music Director – Mersal
- 2019 — Vijay Award for Best Music Director — Sarvam Thaala Mayam
- Vikatan Awards
- 2011 – Best Music Director – Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa
- 2016 – Best Music Director – O Kadhal Kanmani
- 2017 – Best Music Director – Mersaland Kaatru Veliyidai
- V Shantaram Award
- 2001 – Best Music – Taal
- 2007 – Best Music – Guru
- 2008 – Best Music – Jodhaa Akbar
- CineMAA Awards
- 2011 – Best Music Director – Ye Maaya Chesave
- CNN-IBN Song of the Year Award
- 2006 – “Roobaroo” (Rang De Basanti)
- 2007 – “Tere Bina” (Guru)
- 2008 – “Kabhi Kabhi Aditi” (Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na)
- Mirchi Music Awards
- 2008 (Tata Indicom Mirchi Music Awards)
- Music Director of the Year – A. R. Rahman for Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
- Technical Award For Film Background Score – Jodhaa Akbar
- Album of the Year – Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
- Tata Indicom Mirchi Listeners Choice Song of the Year – “Kabhi Kabhi Aditi” (Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na)
- Tata Indicom Mirchi Listeners Choice Album of the Year – Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
- 2009 (Airtel Mirchi Music Awards)
- Music Director of the Year – A. R. Rahman for Delhi-6
- Album of the Year – Delhi-6
- Best Song Arranger and Programmer – “Masakali” (Delhi-6)
- Song of the Year – “Masakali” (Delhi-6)
- 2011
- Album of The Year – Rockstar
- Listeners’ Choice Album of the Year – Rockstar
- Listeners’ Choice Song of the Year – “Naadan Parindey” (Rockstar)
- Music Composer of The Year – “Naadan Parindey” (Rockstar)
- Music Composer of The Year – “Sadda Haq” (Rockstar) – Nominated
- Song of The Year – “Naadan Parindey” (Rockstar) – Nominated
- Song of The Year – “Sadda Haq” (Rockstar) – Nominated
- 2012
- Background Score of the Year – Jab Tak Hai Jaan – Nominated
- 2014
- Best Background Score – Highway – Nominated
- Planet-Bollywood People’s Choice Awards
- 2006: People’s Choice Best Music Award – Rang De Basanti
- 2006: People’s Choice Best Background Music Award – Rang De Basanti
- SuMu Music Awards
- 1993: R. D. Burman Award for Best New Composer
- Sunfeast Tamil Music Awards
- 2008: Best Music Composer of the Year – Sivaji: The Boss
- Black Reel Awards
- 2008 – Best Original Soundtrack – Slumdog Millionaire
- BMI London Awards
- 2010 – Best Score – Couples Retreat
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards (United States)
- 2008 – Critics’ Choice Award for Best Composer – Slumdog Millionaire
- 2010 – Critics’ Choice Award for Best Song – “If I Rise” – 127 Hours
- Denver Film Critics Society Awards
- 2010 – Best Song – “If I Rise” – 127 Hours
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards (United States)
- 2008 – Best Music Score – Slumdog Millionaire
- New York Film Critics Online Awards (United States)
- 2008 – NYFCO Best Score Award – Slumdog Millionaire
- Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
- 2008 – Best Original Score – Slumdog Millionaire
- San Diego Film Critics Society Awards (United States)
- 2008 – Best Score – Slumdog Millionaire
- Satellite Awards (United States)
- 2008 – Satellite Award for Best Original Score – Slumdog Millionaire
- Just Plain Folks Music Awards
- 2009 – * Just Plain Folks Music Award For Best Music Album – Varalaru
- MTV Awards
- MTV Video Music Awards
- 1999 – International Viewer’s Choice Awards (MTV India) – “Dil Se Re” – Dil Se..
- MTV Asia Awards
- 2003 – MTV Asia Award for Favorite Artist India
- MTV Immies
- 2003 – Best Music Composer (Film Category) – “Saathiya” – Saathiya
- UK Asian Music Awards (United Kingdom)
- 2009 – Outstanding Achievement by an Asian in Music Field
- World Soundtrack Awards
- 2009 – Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film – “Jai Ho” – Slumdog Millionaire
- 2011 – The Public Choice Award – 127 Hours
