Ring it home Rahman

As the whole country prays for him, AR Rahman hopes he doesn’t ‘let them down’.

On the eve of the Academy awards, composer AR Rahman, in an interview to HT City says he wants to win “for the sake of the billion people rooting for him back home.” “I personally don’t have any expectations but it would seem that everyone else does. And for their sake I hope I don't let them down,” the maestro adds.

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Talking about his two nominated songs Jai Ho and O Saya, he says, “Jai Ho was with Gulzaar Saab and Sukhvinder and was done pretty fast. O Saya was with MIA. I had a blast working with her in London.” He plays diplomatic when asked which of the two would he like to win and he says, “Every track is special.” We ask him if he will be performing live during the ceremony with Sukhvinder and he replies by saying that there’ve been changes in the rules for live performances and that “things are still being worked out.”

Wishes Galore
Meanwhile, wishes continue to pour in, from all quarters. “He is surely going to make history by bringing an Oscar home —and will complete the hat-trick after the golden globes and BAFTA,” says filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar. Designer Anjana Bhargav says, “I want him to be nominated for oscars every year because he has achieved everything so modestly and over time.”

The residents of Kottucherry-medu, a tiny village in south India are also praying fervently for the man who did a charity concert to raise money when the village was struck by Tsunami a few years back. Hope their prayers — and that of the entire nation get answered.

(with inputs from Neha Sharma and Garima Sharma) himadree.c@hindustantimes.com