Oscars for Rahman, Pookutty; Slumdog's total haul is 8

Los Angeles, Feb 23 (PTI) A R Rahman Monday became the
first Indian to win two Oscars for his scintillating music in
"Slumdog Millionaire" which swept the Academy awards winning
eight with one going to sound engineer Resul Pookutty.

"Slumdog Millionaire", a rags-to-riches story of a
Mumbai slum dweller, who goes on to win USD 20 million in a
quiz show, was adjudged the best film.

It also fetched Danny Boyle the Best Director award,
Simon Beaufoy best Adapted Screenplay and Anthony Dod Mantle
the best Cinematography award. The film was also awarded for
Best Editing.

A beaming 43-year-old Rahman said: "Before coming here
I was excited and terrified. The last time I felt that way was
when I was getting married.

"There is a Hindi dialogue 'mere pass ma hai' which
means even if I have got nothing I have my mother here. I want
to thank her for coming all the way to support me," Chennai-
born Rahman said in his acceptance speech after bagging the
Original Score Oscar.

The foot-tapping number 'Jai ho', with lyrics by
Gulzar, was adjudged the Best Song.

Pookutty, who hails from Kerala's Kollam district,
received the award for Best Sound Mixing with co-recordists
Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke.

"Slumdog Millionaire", based on Indian diplomat Vikas
Swarup's novel "Q & A", came to the 81st Academy Awards
ceremony with 10 nominations and failed to win only in the
Sound Editing category. Rahman had also received a nomination
in the Best Song category for 'O saya' in the film.

Veteran filmmaker Satyajit Ray was awarded a lifetime
achievement Oscar in 1992 and prior to that Bhanu Athaiya won
one for costume design in Richard Attenborough's "Gandhi" in
1983.

There was more good news as "Smile Pinki", the tale of
a Uttar Pradesh girl and her fight against the social stigma
of a cleft-lip, won the Oscar award for Best Documentary
(Short). Directed by Emmy-award winning Megan Mylan, the film
was shot in Mirzapur and Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh.

"Slumdog Millionaire" edged past Brad Pitt-starrer
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", which had 13
nominations. The film won three Oscars.

Kate Winslet won Best Actress Oscar for her role as a
Nazi prison guard in "The Reader" while Sean Penn was awarded
the best Actor Oscar his portrayal of a gay-rights activist
for "Milk".

Heath Ledger bagged the Oscar posthumously for best
Supporting Actor for his diabolic role of 'Joker' in "The Dark
Knight". Penelope Cruz picked up her first Oscar as she was
named the Best Supporting Actress for the role in "Vicky
Cristina Barcelona".

Rahman, wearing a black bandhgala, also performed a
medley of 'Jai ho' and 'O saya' assisted by dancers and singer
John Legend.

The singer, who shot into fame in Bollywood with his
score in Mani Ratnam's Roja, had earlier pocketed a Golden
Globe and a BAFTA for his music "Slumdog Millionaire" besides
a host of other awards.

It was an "unbelievable moment" for the "Slumdog
Millionaire" team which stole the show at the red carpet with
lead lady Frieda Pinto being the cynosure of all eyes in her
elegant blue John Galliano gown.

She was joined by co-star and the film's lead
protagonist British-Indian Dev Patel, clad in a black tuxedo.

Also dressed for the occasion in tuxedos and beautiful
frocks were the two 'Salims' (Mohammad Azharuddin and Ashutosh
Gaajiwala) and two 'Latikas' (Rubina Ali Qureshi and Tanvi
Lonkar) were visibly excited to be present at the greatest
awards night in Hollywood. PTI ZMN
SAK