2008 was A R Rahman's year

But for a few delightful scores from the likes of A R Rahman and troika Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, there was nothing much the Bollywood music industry had to cheer about during 2008.

But for a few delightful scores from the likes of A R Rahman and troika Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, there was nothing much the Bollywood music industry had to cheer about during 2008.

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Rahman began the year with Jodhaa Akbar, followed it with Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na and capped them with the score of British director Danny Boyle's film Slumdog Millionaire, for which he has received a Golden Globe nomination, and Ghajini.

Jodhaa Akbar was quite enjoyable though the film bombed. The epic had tracks like Azeem-o-shaan shahenshah, Khwaja mere khwaja and Jashn-e-bahaara that went down well with the listeners.

The youthful music of Jaane Tu...Ya Jaane Na struck a chord with Pappu can't dance becoming a favourite and even prompting many a party to use it during recent poll campaigns.

The 'Mozart of Madras', as Time magazine once dubbed Rahman, with a melange of pop, jazz and retro elements also conjured tracks like Kabhi kabhi Aditi zindagi, Nazrein milaana nazrein churaana Kahin to hogi wo, Jaane tu mera kya hai and Tu Bole, main boloon, which became popular too.

Rahman is found to be at his best in the Slumdog Millionaire score. Be it the O...Saaya, the East meets West Mausam and escape, the folk number Ringa Ringa or the hip-hop Gangsta blues, Rahman just proves he is a cut above the rest.

The music also won Rahman a satellite awards given by the International Press Academy.