Slumdog… ke side effects

Anil Kapoor is reaping the fruits of Slumdog Millionaire’s stupendous victory. If all goes well, Anil will play a key role in the popular

Anil Kapoor More Pics

American TV show, 24. Anil received the offer a few days after the Oscar awards night, which was dominated by Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire which had Anil playing the host of a quiz show. 

Our source reveals, “The new season of 24 begins in May and Anil will be part of that season.”    Though Anil remained unavailable for comment, a close friend of Anil told Mumbai Mirror, “The modalities are being worked out. Anil is very kicked about this offer.”  Jai ho and all that. 

ABOUT 24 

24is an Emmy and Golden Globe winning American television series broadcast in the USA and shown worldwide. A serial action drama television series, 24 is presented in real time, with each season depicting a 24-hour period in the life of Jack Bauer, who works with the U.S. government as it fights domestic threats. Bauer is often in the field for the Los Angeles Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) as they try to safeguard the nation from terrorist threats.The show also follows the actions of other CTU agents, government officials and terrorists associated with the plot

Courtesy: timesofindia.com

Simbu, SPB, Radha Ravi dub for Naanum Koteeswaran

S.P. Balasubramaniam, Radha Ravi and Simbu will dub for the Naanum Koteeswaran, the Tamil dubbed version of Slumdog Millionaire, a film which has become the toast of the cinema world. This film is about a young near-illiterate slum-dweller who emerges a grand winner at the Kaun Banega Crorepathi contest beating all the odds.
Amazed by its unique story and screenplay, Tamil film producer Natarajan bought its Tamil and Telugu dubbing rights for a whopping sum of Rs. 70 lakhs! Natarajan plans to release the dubbed version on February 14th.
Slumdog Millionaire is a British film made with London-based actor Dev Patel (hero), Indian actors Frieda Pinto (heroine), Anil Kapoor and Irrfan Khan. In the Tamil version, while Simbu dubs for the protagonist, S.P. Balasubramaniam and Radha Ravi dub for Anil Kapoor and Irrfan respectively.




Courtesy: galatta.com

Aamir Khan’s arrival, Danny’s pleasure

Aamir Khan made it to the premiere of Slumdog Millionaire at the J W Marriott much to the astonishment of his fans and critics. When Danny Boyle, the film’s director, called Aamir he could not refuse and arrived at the venue. Those who joined the celebrations soon after the show were Aamir,

Danny, Anil Kapoor, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Kapur, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and wife Anupama, Sudhir Mishra and Baba and Tanvi Azmi.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

A.R. Rahman’s absence at the Slumdog preview

A.R. Rahman’s absence was noticeable at the preview of Slumdog Millionaire, which was held at the Satyam’s Six Degree screen. Sources close to the maestro say that he was busy talking to the press people over his nomination to the Oscar Awards and hence could not make it to the preview.

The entire area surrounding the Satyam Theatre complex was swarmed with film personalities as many had made it a point to watch the preview of Slumdog Millionaire. The film was nominated for 10 Oscars and had already bagged three Golden Globe Awards. Those who made it to the event include A.R. Rahman’s mother, wife, daughter and sister, Narain and his wife, Kushbhu, Sundar C, Silambarasan, P.C. Sriram, Suhasini Maniratnam and Y.G. Mahendran among others.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Slumdog Millionaire– Movie Review

Starring: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan Direction: Danny Boyle Music: A. R. Rahman Production: Christian Colson

After cashing in millions at the US box office, this Mumbai-based fairy tale is now here to woo millions of Indians. A young boy from the slums, Jamal Malik(Dev Patel) is on the verge of winning 2 crores from a 'Who wants to be a millionaire' contest (Kaun Banega Crorepati) But the host (Anil Kapoor) is too sure that a person from the slums cant possibly know all the answers, so he brings in an inspector(Irfan khan) who interrogates the boy; both are sure that he cheated. But only during the interrogation does the cop come to know of the life of Jamal, and how all the events that has happened in his life are the

answers to each and every question. Jamal Malik is not interested in money but he is doing this for his one and only love, Latika. A love which has stood against all odds over one and half decades. Will Jamal prove his innocence and get what he wants? Well that’s something which you have to find out yourself in a theatre near you. As expected it is a classic from the word go. The screenplay is immaculate, the editing is brilliant and there are no dull moments, even though the steam does go down a little in the second half. But the climax makes up for it. But this modern day fairy tale-masterpiece is not without any mistakes. The way the protagonists talk perfect English after living in the streets of India is something which was never justified. And Kaun Banega Crorepati was never a live event. The movie has many such small mistakes but what one cannot deny it has its heart in the right place, makes this a must watch. Technically, the movie is special with some extraordinary work behind the camera. Editing by Chris Dickens is praiseworthy. But special mention should be made of cinematography Anthony Dod Mantle who has shown Mumbai like none other. The chase sequence of the two protagonists as kids chased by a couple of police constables is something which will take your breath away. Dialogues are just right and some like "If not for Ram and Allah I would have still got my mother" linger in your mind long after the screen becomes blank.

Now coming to the Music by our Mozart Rahman who has also received the best original soundtrack Golden Globe and nods for this years Academy, is exquisite. When you see the movie you can sense Rahman's hard work in making each and every tune get along with the overall feel of the movie. Danny Boyle who is quite famous for his movies Trainspotting and 28 Days Later which became cult hits, has at-last given a blockbuster, a ticket to stardom has always eluded this master craftsman but this movie catapulted him to greatness. Dev Patel as Jamal Malik goes through the role quite easily. Freida Pinto also impresses even if she comes in a small role. Ayush Mahesh who acted as Jamal's younger version was a revelation. Irfan khan does his role in a dignified fashion, Saurabh Shukla is efficient as always, Anil Kapoor is passable. Overall, the movie is brilliant and lives up to the hype. If only the credit roll song sequence was pictured properly or removed, it could have elevated the movie much more. This tale about love has all it takes to become the biggest grossing foreign language movie in India. Verdict – Go for it!

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

A.R.Rahman bags three Oscar nominations

Slumdog Millionaire bags ten nominations for Oscars at a ceremony held at Los Angeles, USA. Director of the movie Danny Boyle has been nominated in the Best Director category. Screenplay writer Simon Beaufoy has been nominated in the Best Adapted Screenplay category. The movie itself - Slumdog Millionaire

has been nominated in the Best Motion Picture category.

Music director, A.R.Rahman has been nominated for two catergories - Best Original Score & Best Original Song. Two of the songs – ‘Jai ho!’ & ‘O saya’ have been nominated under Best Original Song category.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

AR Rahman wins ‘Best Composer’ for ‘Slumdog’

AR Rahman has walked away with the Best Music Composer award for Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ at the 14th annual Critics'' Choice awards in America.

The movie, which follows the story of the young boy from rags to riches, has walked away with five gongs at the award ceremony, reports 'Variety'.
Director Danny Boyle won Best Director award. Writer Simon Beaufoy, also won an award for the film.
Actor Dev Patel added another trophy to his credit with the young actor/actress award.
Actor Sean Penn walked away with the top award for best actor for his film 'Milk', while Anne Hathaway for ‘Rachel Getting Married’ and Meryl Streep, for ‘Doubt’ won a combined award for best actress.
Heath Ledger was honoured posthumously for his role as a Joker in 'The Dark Knight'.
Kate Winslet won the supporting actress for her role in "The Reader," and Bruce Springsteen received the song award for 'The Wrestler.'


Courtesy: indianexpress.com

A.R. Rahman's fete!

Slumdog Millionaire has received rave reviews from all quarters, especially for its music that was scored by A.R. Rahman. This film has already bagged some awards. The latest award that it has garnered is the Broadcast Film Critics Association's Fourteenth Annual Critics Choice Awards. A R Rahman made his countrymen proud by

bagging the Best Composer award. Slumdog Millionaire was directed by the English director Danny Boyle. Other awards that this film got were the Best Film, Best Director, Best Writer (Simon Beaufoy), Best Young Actor (Dev Patel). The event took place at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on January 8th, 2009.

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

Ghetto superstar

You know a director is a true master when he can turn shit into dreams.
And if a man can do it twice over, he's a true bloody genius.
In Danny Boyle's 1996 masterpieceTrainspotting, Ewan McGregor's Renton pours himself disgustingly yet poetically through the worst toilet in Scotland for a handful of pills. The search goes from squalid to surreal as the filth is scavenged and the pills found, and for a brief hold-your-breath moment, the film becomes a beautiful ode to joy, before the patently polluted protagonist emerges into harsh reality. 
In Slumdog Millionaire [Images], Boyle's latest masterpiece, pint-sized Jamal Malik (played by a marvellous Ayush Mahesh Khedekar) finds himself barricaded inside a messy Mumbai [Images] latrine with all thoughts of his own constipation forgotten in a starry haze. The lord God Amitabh Bachchan [Images] is descending, via helicopter, into the slums for a brief moment, and our irresistible urchin is a huge fan. Images of Coolie dance before his desperate eyes, he briefly contemplates the pile of excrement below, and jumps -- right into the mess.
Standing up like a swamp monster -- only a hundred times more disgusting -- this creature covered in the goo of strangers holds up a picture of his idol and, repeatedly yelling 'Amitabachchan' as one word, makes his way through a frenzied mob, one that backs away at the sight of this scummy fanboy. Renton hunted for a hit while Jamal hunts for the greatest hitmaker in the land, and his triumphant instant of glory -- when we see that mythic left-hand scribble an autograph just for him -- is an immortal one, reminding us just how magical cinema can be. 
The film tells us the story of this very Jamal Malik, who at 18 has cleaned up to become a call-center chaiwallah capturing India's imagination by occupying the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? hot-seat with unbelievable accuracy. He seems to know every answer in the book, a fact that leads gleefully smarmy show host Prem to calls the cops on him on charges of cheating. The film thus begins with the cops torturing Jamal, but there is only that much of the saala slumdog they can resist as he spins them his tale, and it truly is a tale of wonder. 


Loosely based on Vikas Swarup's novel Q&A, Simon Beaufoy's script uses coincidences instead of commas and weaves a grand drama, a fantabulous reality-mocking story, of love and of loss, of survival and of sweethearts. It is a Dickensian tale set in a merciless, mesmerizing city with no time for minor detailing quibbles, with characters speaking not as they naturally would but as the madcap narrative demands, and reality itself breathlessly bending over backwards to accommodate the frenzied energy of Anthony Dod Mantle's disarmingly honest camera. 
By itself, the story -- set firmly in happenstance and high drama, in fantasy and formula -- could be just another piece of overbearing Bollywood kitsch, but Boyle takes it into his spirited hands and plays havoc, clearly relishing every bit of the high-intensity experience. A third of the film is in Hindi (co-director Loveleen Tandon has kept things impressively real) and Boyle uses up subtitles with delightful whimsy, bobbing about like unobtrusive comic-book speech bubbles instead of stagnating at the bottom of the screen. The result is an exceptionally dynamic energy that gels right into the film's rabid groove, urging the narrative forward even more.
The ensemble cast is uniformly pitch-perfect. Dev Patel is wonderfully woeful as the grown up Jamal, breaking into a smile only as he answers his final question in the film's climax, but young Khedekar pretty much outshines him as tiny Jamal, while Tanay Chheda's middle Jamal does rather well too.
Jamal's brother Salim is played likewise by a trio of three (chronologically: Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala and Madhur Mittal), the performances going from strength to strength.
Frieda Pinto's grown up Latika has a wonderful smile, but the true meat of her character's part lies with her youngest version played by Rubiana Ali, while Tanvi Ganesh [Images]Lonkar's middle Latika has the most haunting moments. 
Irrfan Khan [Images] seems to be in effortless vein as the police inspector, and it's great to see genuine vim in the eyes of the often-underused Anil Kapoor [Images]. As the show's ebullient host Prem, Kapoor finds nefarious joy in tossing seemingly harmless digs at young Jamal, and the actor sinks his teeth into the part as he masterfully alternates between an on-camera and off-camera persona, ego and arrogance giving way to silken charm soon as the lights are on. He shares a bathroom moment with Patel that leads to inevitable goosepimples -- not once but twice, in the moment itself and its eventual aftermath -- and the performance is a chilling one.  


Particularly laudable also, among the film's many revelations, is Ankur Vikal, who plays Maman, the Fagin of this particular tale, a begging-industry villain with a penchant for a particular Krishna bhajan. His character is the film's only absolute baddie, and he plays it stunningly, repulsively well. As for the bhajan itself, Darshan Do Ghanshyaam was penned by Gopal Singh Nepali and not Soordas, as Slumdog tells us.
But then in a world where Millionaire is broadcast live, where Kareena Kapoor [Images] from Yuva [Images] dances when Kareena from Don should, and where little municipal schools feature Alexander Dumas in the syllabus, the tiniest details clearly don't matter. All that does matter is that everybody -- repeat, everybody -- gets up and dances.  
And A R Rahman more than sees to that, in his own inimitable way. You'll see. That the director is from farflung Ireland and not right here in Mumbai -- not that you can tell, while watching -- is even more reason to celebrate this film. Grin through the joyous end-credits and pour forth your salutations to this magnificent tale of humanity's hope and hurdles, of the director's Bombaylove and his Bachchanmania, and of Jamal and his ridiculously irresistible heart. 
Boylesa'ab, salaam. 
Rediff Rating:  


Courtesy: rediff.com

Nothing is enough, says Rahman

 The 'wow' factor has still not left him, says A R Rahman, after his soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire' won the Golden Globe

nominations, and the number Jaiho' fetched him the Satellite Award. It has been a few days since his return from Los Angeles, but Rahman is already looking at raising the bar.

It has been a long journey for him, from 1992, when he debuted as music director in 'Roja', which Time magazine rated as among the Top Ten movie sound tracks. The four time national award winner made a big impact in the international arena in 2004 with Andrew Webber Lloyd's Bombay Dreams.'

"Though I had been in the field for a while by then, I was not doing pure Indian classical or symphony. Yet, after Bombay Dreams' when Germans and other nationals asked for my autograph, I said wow, it's happening,' to myself," says Rahman. And yet, the man whose music makes your soul dance says he has more depths to plumb.

"Nothing is enough, there is always something coming up in music," he says. He is happy that he met British director Danny Boyle's expectations on Slumdog Millionaire.' "I have done 17 cues, including the songs, Jaiho', Osayan', Ringa ringa' and Gangster blues'. I was so pleased that Boyle gave me three weeks to finish the entire score," he says with a light laugh.

It was a challenging task even without the timeframe. "I knew the way Boyle used music in his films was exotic, an item by itself. When he met me in Chennai a year ago I realised he wanted something completely different," recalls Rahman. He sent entirely unconnected pieces and then made them all come together in a harmonious blend. "Boyle felt it all came together, and so here we are," he says, referring to the awards and accolades.

Rahman has used a largely Indian orchestra. Blaaze and Gulzar have penned most of the lyrics, while Wendy Parr wrote Dreams on fire'. The music director, known for identifying obscure talent, zoned in on Azid, a sitar player from Mumbai who played in Jodha Akbar'. "He interpreted everything that I wanted and his performance in Slumdog..' is a showstopper for me," says Rahman.

Rahman says working in the theatrical production of the Lord of the Rings' was an eye-opener for Rahman. "It took me to another level, the critical side of people, of what they like and don't like about my music. It was a great learning curve working with Mathew Wallace and others like Varttina and Christoper Nightingale," says Rahman.

People have told me that the music of Slumdog Millionaire' is the best they have heard in decades," says Rahman. "It's all a bit scary," says Rahman. "Sometimes you put years into a work but all that energy is wasted when people don't like it. But then I tell myself that God is playing an important role, and balancing things out," he says with his trademark smile. Maybe that is why he is looking at pushing the bar up, constantly.

Emotional and complex, 'Slumdog' hits the jackpot

"Slumdog Millionaire" is a) a new British punk band; b) a hot lowrider; c) the latest Texas lotto game; or d) one of the most inspiring movies of the year?The answer's obvious.
Punkish English director Danny Boyle loves to use loud, pounding music in his movies, has a knack for what's cool and hip in contemporary culture, and loves to take chances as a filmmaker. He also has an eye for gritty realism ("Trainspotting"), a feel for charming underdogs ("Millions"), a taste for the tragic ("28 Days Later") and a true love for stories with moral dilemmas (all of the above).
He puts all of those elements together in the inspired and inspiring "Slumdog Millionaire," a winning film that, like its main character, seems destined for greater things. Destiny is at the core of this inventive story about young Jamal Malik, a product of Mumbai's teeming slums, who beats the odds to compete on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire," or "millunaire," as its self-impressed host says repeatedly.
But Jamal's not there for the 20 million rupees he could win. He's there for love.
The movie opens with a "Millionaire"-like question of its own, then spends two very fast, engrossing, roller coaster hours answering it -- one of many ingenious ways in which Boyle and screenwriter Simon Beaufoy ("The Full Monty") tie the circuitous story's numerous threads together.
It's an emotional journey that's well worth the time, but you might need a strong stomach at times. "Slumdog"

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traces Jamal's Dickensian life from childhood to adolescence, growing up Muslim in the steamy slums of Mumbai, back when it was known as Bombay, thus the derogatory "slumdog" nickname.Jamal and older brother Salim lose their mother during a vicious Hindu attack. With Latika -- the object of young Jamal's affection -- in tow, they find refuge with a man one child calls a "bloody saint," a double entendre if there ever was one.
The brothers escape, but leave Latika behind, one of many judgment calls Salim will impose on his cherub-faced little brother. They live on the lam and rely on their wits, be it hustling on trains or scamming tourists at the Taj Mahal. A confrontation with a gun, the same gun that freed them earlier, separates the siblings for several years.
When they meet again, Jamal is a teenager serving tea in one of India's numerous call centers and the unscrupulous Salim is muscle for a local mobster who has Latika in his grubby clutches. That sets in motion the film's uplifting but far from certain final act, which taps some of that "Rocky" rawness with a little of "Whale Rider's" poignancy mixed in as Jamal gets on Latika's favorite game show and tackles some tricky questions.
Boyle expertly jumps the story around in non-linear fashion, from the present to various stages of the past, including his often-brutal interrogation by police for allegedly cheating on the show. His questioner eventually relents, calling his story "bizarrely possible." In the process, we get the stories behind the answers, an intimate look at a country in transition, and a picture of how poverty disenfranchises those in its thrall. It's pretty telling when Jamal knows whose portrait is on the $100 bill, but thinks the Taj Mahal is a hotel.
Boyle wisely cast unknowns in the lead roles, the better to let this story of purity and perseverance shine. British TV's Dev Patel brings the kind of believable wide-eyed, boyish charm to Jamal. Madhur Mittal balances a brotherly sense of duty with an avariciousness and anger that's menacing.
The director's deft touch, and Anthony Dod Mantle's gritty cinematography, keep Beaufoy's complicated script (based on Vikas Sarump's novel "Q and A") and his cast from going off track. A montage in which Mittal sets off a cataclysmic event while in a bathtub full of rupees is a thing of cinematic beauty.
Bollywood vet A.R. Rahman provides a thumping soundtrack that combines the traditional with the contemporary, including a well-placed remix of M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" (for a bit of fun, don't skip the closing credits).
There are weaknesses, of course. "Slumdog Millionaire" is ostensibly a love story, but the object of Jamal's affection is really a secondary character. Freida Pinto, the model-turned-actress who plays the adult Latika, is mere (if lovely) window dressing.
Their love story is an inspired winner. But the real love story, and the movie's real power, is generated by the two brothers.
And that's my final answer.

Courtesy: elpasotimes.com

'Slumdog Millionaire' at North America Top 10

It's been a never-ending critical éclats and laurels for British Director Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire'. The film based on a book by Indian Diplomat Vikas Swaroop has hop-skipped into the list of North American Top 10. Well, the film  has already won awards on various categories inclusive of Best Actor Award for British Indian Actor Dev Patel.

The entire film shot in commercial capital of India Mumbai centers on an 18-yr-old orphan named Jamal in slum regions who ventures for a television game show 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' Anil Kapoor hosts the show while Irrfan Khan dons a prominent character. 

The film has been nominated for 6 nominations inclusive of British Film, Director, British Director, British Actor (Patel), Young British Performer (Patel), and Screenwriter from the London Critics' Circle Film Awards.

After 5 weeks after film's release with limited prints, shows have been screened in around 500 years all over United States. The film has been positioned at No.8 into North American Top 10…. Plans are to release the film soon in India titled 'Slumdog Millionaire – Kaun Banega Crorepathi?'

Courtesy: indiaglitz.com

Rahman's magic makes Slumdog a must-have

It's a bit of a disservice to try and rank a musical score as one would a normal soundtrack, since so much of its desired effect is achieved through using it in bits and pieces, in background and in snatches... as opposed to full-scale gaanas like we usually see in our movies.
Yet AR Rahman is up for a Golden Globe for his work on Danny Boyle's phenomenally well-reviewed Slumdog Millionaire, and before we watch the movie, here's a peek at the 13 tracks on the disc.


O Saya:
By the way, it's 'Say-aah,' like a particularly tuneful dentist would sing it, not 'Saaya' as in shadow. Rahman's the man ostensibly asking you to open wide, and he sounds uncharacteristically mellow with his exhortations before breaking into some Cheb Mami style freestyle vocal wildness. Ha. M.I.A sounds just about okay, but breaks the rhythm of the song effectively enough. It's the kind of song that'll grow on you.
Riots:
There's a discordant moaning accompanying the thudding rhythm of this track, suggesting it's about a city -- and its very bowels -- in deep agony. Something is clearly wrong, and the track lets you know it. Very unsettling.
Mausam And Escape:
The composer decides to leave the electronica for later, and just concentrate on a beautiful soundscape. This is where the classical showoffing is done, and Rahman masterfully builds on layer over layer as the track rises to an overwhelming crescendo. The mood shifts right through the middle of the song, and this is Rahman in look-at-me mode. It's a startling track, its frenetic high ebbing gradually, beautifully into silence. Wow.

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Paper Planes:
M.I.A soars with this ridiculously catchy track. The words -- 'I fly like paper, get high like planes; If you catch me at the border I got visas in my name' -- are very fun, but not as much as the sound effects: 'All I wanna do is,' M.I.A sings, before the track shudders with gunfire, bang-bang-ing away to glory. Good fun.
Paper Planes (DFA Remix):
ARR clearly listens to more American music than we expect him to. Suddenly the M.I.A track comes with a significantly moody intro, and by the time the girl's vocals kick in, the song already sounds very different from the one we just heard. The real fun bit? Rahman kills the guns, making it impossible to tell what M.I.A wants to do anymore.
Ringa Ringa:
This is Choli Ke Peechhe, not that they ever sing that line. The essence of Laxmikant-Pyarelal runs deep through this song. Ila Arun sings Ringa-Ringa with such unforgiving intensity you almost wish she'd say 'roses' and break the spell, while Alka Yagnik [Images] sounds better than she's done in quite a while. The melody is obviously haunted by the ghost of a provocative Madhuri Dixit [Images], but Rahman soaks the track in nineties-ism with such joy. The once merely sexy song here becomes a saga of betrayal and helplessness, and the effect is mesmeric.
Liquid Dance:
A hyperactive tabla bol crossfades frantically from centre to left to right and back again even before the actual beat kicks in. There is much electronica, and a theme -- reminiscent of Rahman's lovelyBombay signature theme, definitely intentionally -- takes over, and by now you're hooked. The composer weaves in several disparate layers, and each rolls back to give the dhu-na-ki-tak-dhini bol pride of place. Very cool, very trippy, and one can only imagine the mad visuals this track will accompany and, doubtlessly, elevate.
Latika's Theme:
There is much wistfulness on hand as Suzanne D'Mello melodically hums her way through this simple, pretty piece of music. Somewhere in the middle it seems to dip into a poignant melancholy, but we're probably just second-guessing the film here. A fine, intentionally unspectacular theme.
Aaj Ki Raat:
Yeah, it's Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's track from the new Don. There is some slight remastering, but the song remains the same. I'm betting there'll be a small portion, or snatches, of the song played somewhere in the background.
Millionaire:
The first thing you notice about this track is its urgency, about how the heavily syncopated music tries to be racing ahead of itself. It might sound like generic electronica at first go, but there is a grim undertone to this song, clearly the kind of thing that could accompany a great chase visual. Or a montage.
Gangsta Blues:
Incoherent whispers lead us into this gangster-by-numbers track. Rahman's frequently used rapper Blaaze sounds less objectionable than he ever has, but this remains a very standard-issue 'bad guy' track, right down to the oh-oh-oh-oh Aguilera-esque chorus by Tanvi Shah, though the way she does the final 'oh' every time deserves, um, commendation.
Dreams On Fire:
The melody is innocuous, but D'Mello sounds a bit like she's trying too hard. The words are maudlin, and don't ever quite soar out of the Hallmark range. Nothing special, though Boyle could change that visually.
Jai Ho:
Aha, this one's a keeper. Rahman always uses Sukhwinder Singh to the optimum, and as soon as he sings out the first two lines -- lovely, evocative lines about the sky stretching out like a sparkling blue shamiana -- you know you'll love this song. Tanvi Shah and Mahalakshmi Iyer are used with whimsy, and the words are those of a dreamer. I dare you to not love this song.
What a way to end the album. So yes, there are a few stellar tracks -- Liquid Dreams, Jai Ho, Mausam And Escape and Ringa Ringa are absolutely incredible -- and it's a safe bet the rest will either grow on you or impress you once Mr Boyle's had his way with the music.
All I can promise is that listening to this music makes you want to watch the film real bad.
Rediff Rating: 


Courtesy: rediff.com

Rahman nominated for Golden Globe

British director Danny Boyle's film 'Slumdog Millionaire,' about a Mumbai teenager's rags-to-riches story has received four nominations for the 66th Golden Globe Awards, with music director A R Rahman being nominated for Best Original Score. "It is good to hear about all these nominations," Rahman told reporters on the sidelines of a press conference. "I always feel that I am just one of the elements and then combining it with other elements it becomes something else. So with the same instinct I had done the music in two to three weeks," he said.
The film has bagged nominations for Best Picture-Drama, Best Director for Boyle and Best Screenplay for writer Simon Beaufoy at the awards that would be announced on January 11 in Los Angeles.
Boyle's film is based on the book 'Q and A' by Indian author Vikas Swarup. It details the story of a slum-dweller Jamal, who wins twenty million rupees at a reality game show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', the Indian version of US TV show 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'.
The film was extensively shot at various locations in Mumbai, including the Victoria Terminus, which was hit by terrorists last month.
"It is wonderful, wonderful news obviously for everybody in Mumbai who helped make this film. There are lots of people, who worked in the film for a tough couple of weeks," director Danny Boyle told a TV channel.
Earlier this week, the film also won two awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association - Best Director for Boyle and Best Music for Rahman. It also won the runner-up prize for Best Cinematography for Anthony Dod Mantle.
'Slumdog Millionaire' is expected to be a strong contender for the Oscar race as Golden Globe are often assumed as a key indicator to the Oscars.
The Golden Globe Awards are held annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) in the US and the ceremony is scheduled to be held on January 11, 2009.

Courtesy: screenindia.com

A.R Rahman's Hollywood award

The 2008 Los Angeles Film Critics Association award for Best Music Score has gone to A. R. Rahman for Slumdog Millionaire. Set in Mumbai, and directed by Danny Boyle of Trainspotting fame, Slumdog Millionaire has become an unexpected box office hit in the U.S. and U.K. It will be released in India in January. Based on Vikas Swarup's

bestselling novel, Q&A, it tells the story of a poor young man who wins the ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ quiz show. Rahman's brilliant score for the film has also been bestowed with another stupendous honor: the coveted Golden Globe nomination for best music score. On behalf of all his fans in India, Behindwoods congratulates Rahman for this fantastic double achievement.The other major awards were: Best Film: Wall-E directed by Andrew Stanton Best Foreign-Language Film: Still Life directed by Jia Zhangke Best Documentary: Man on Wire directed by James Marsh Best Animated Film: Waltz with Bashir Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire Best Actress: Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk Best Screenplay: Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky Best Cinematography: Lik Wai Yu, Still Life Runner-up: Anthony Dod Mantel, Slumdog Millionaire Best Production Design: Mark Friedberg, Synecdoche, New York

Courtesy: behindwoods.com

The film that drew A R Rahman

Even before he had completed watching the rough cut of the movie Slumdog Millionaire, A R Rahman knew he wanted to compose music for it.
"It was going to be a very different challenge to me," said Rahman, who is currently in Los Angles, promoting Danny Boyle's film. Slumdog Millionaire is playing in about 80 theatres and is steadily expanding across America and Canada. "It was gritty, serious and moving. It was also about redemption."
He never thought whether the film would be a success. "I was totally drawn to the film and I felt it was unusual at every turn," he said. Though Boyle wanted him to compose the songs only, including the theme number, Rahman offered to do the entire score. "I like to be immersed in a film," he said, adding that that wasn't an easy decision to make.
"I had to make a big sacrifice," he said. Taking up Slumdog Millionaire would mean having to say no to Ashutosh Gowariker with whom Rahman had worked for three films -- Lagaan, Sandesh and Jodha-Akbar.
"I could not compose for his What's Your Rashee?," he added. "But surely, we will have more opportunities to work together. ButSlumdog Millionaire was something that was going to happen very soon and I was hooked by the way Danny had directed it. I wanted to be a part of the film. In my career, I have taken up many films which were out of the box. And I thought this film was one such project."



One of the best reviewed films of the year, it has already been declared the year's best by the National Board of Review, and received many top nominations including the best director and best screenplay writer categories for 13th Annual Satellite Awards given by the International Press Academy.
Rahman's musical score has also been nominated, along with the rousing Jai Ho as the best song of the year. Other musical nominees include Quantum of Solace, Wall-E andAustralia.
Rahman's mandate was to compose half a dozen songs which are used in the background for about a minute. But the songs get the full treatment on the CD. You hear them in the voices of Alka Yagnik, Ila Arun, Palkkad Sriram, Madhumitha, Mahalaksmi Iyer and Sukhvinder Singh, who belts out the rousing Jai Ho number. Rahman is also heard, as well as M I A (whose given name is Maya Arulpragasam), one of the biggest names on the alternate music scene.


Tanvi Shah is featured in two numbers: Gangsta Blues with BlaaZe and the Jai Ho item. Suzzanne not only lends her voice to Latika's Theme but also for the number of Dreams on Fire.
"Danny trusted my instincts," Rahman said. "But I kept overloading him with one little tune after another and gave him plenty of choice."
The composer told the trade publication, Variety, 'The energy of the film takes you through a roller coaster, and that's one of the main inspirations for the whole music.'
The number Latika's Theme originally had words in it. "Danny said the words were beautiful but he was afraid they might distract the audiences from the film's narrative," Rahman recalled.


The score, which might get an Oscar nomination, has been singled out by major reviewers in America. 'Danny Boyle has upped the ante by hiring the great A R Rahman, the king of Bollywood music,' wrote Kenneth Turan in Los Angeles Times, 'to contribute one of his unmistakable propulsive scores.'
'The propulsive score, by Bollywood soundtrack auteur A R Rahman, is hip-hop fusion of a very up-to-date kind,' Kurt Loder announced on MTV.Com.
In Rolling Stone, Peter Travers wrote, 'The film is a visual wonder, propelled by A R Rahman's hip-hopping score and Chris Dickens' kinetic editing.'
The soundtrack also has two remix numbers by M I A from her Grammy nominated album Paper Planes, and features the London-based singer sharing a song with Rahman, O... Saya. Danny Boyle says she approached him in London to discuss the possibility of using her songs in the film. She told him she wanted to work with Rahman.
Rahman and M I A had not met before the Slumdog Millionaire project came up over a year ago, though she had done much of the recording and the mixing of her album Kala in his Chennai studio about 18 months ago.
"Her musical is unusual," he said. He had heard her music, and wondered who this girl was. When he met her, he was surprised to know that M I A knew his work very well, and admired it.
He also remembers telling her, 'Cut the crap, this 'my idol' crap. You have to teach me.'


Boyle knew how the music would sound right from the start, and how Rahman could do wonders to his film.
"There would be delicate music as well as edgy and loud numbers," Boyle said. "In the West, we are afraid of using music that loudly announces the emotions. In India, they are not afraid of using music that is loud and melodious at the same time. Rahman's work has elevated the film immensely."
The crowd-pleasing number Jai Ho, Rahman added, "has on the surface the typical texture of a Hindi film song. But as you continue listening, it emerges as a tune and singing that is quite different than our usual songs."
But why didn't he sing it himself? "I think I was lazy," he said, chuckling. "But hasn't Sukhi (Sukhvinder Singh) done an excellent job?"





Courtesy: rediff.com