FLASH NEWS

A Pakistani air force helicopter evacuated uninjured members of the Sri Lankan cricket team from Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Gunmen attacked a bus carrying the cricket team on its way to play in the Pakistani city.

At least five Pakistani policemen escorting the team bus were killed, while at least five cricketers, and their assistant coach, were injured.

Pakistani officials said about 12 gunmen were involved and grenades and rocket launchers have been recovered.

Officials said the incident bore the hallmarks of deadly attacks in Mumbai in India last November.

The Mumbai attacks were blamed on Pakistan-based Islamic militants.

The BBC’s Barbara Plett says the incident will come as a big blow to Pakistani cricket - already suffering from serious security concerns - and may put an end to international cricket in the country in the short term.

Pakistan had invited Sri Lanka to tour after India’s cricket team pulled out of a scheduled cricket tour on security grounds, following the Mumbai attacks.

Evacuation

Reports suggest 10 to 12 gunmen ambushed the team coach and its accompanying police detail on a roundabout in the heart of Lahore, as the convoy was on the way to the Gaddafi stadium for a Test match.

It was a very heavy firing and I heard at least two explosions at the time Eyewitness In pictures: Cricketers attacked Lahore Test scrapped after attack

Our Islamabad correspondent says accounts suggest the attack was sophisticated in nature, with one group of gunmen firing a rocket-propelled grenade in order to create a diversion, while others then approached, firing guns on the convoy.

She says the gunmen - two of which were shown in TV pictures carrying backpacks - seemed to be well-trained.

At least five policemen were killed.

Officials in Lahore said two members of the Sri Lankan team - Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana - were sent to hospital. At least another four received minor wounds, including assistant coach Paul Farbrace.

“The players are shocked. They have never gone through anything like this before,” former Sri Lankan player Sanath Jayasuriya told an Indian news channel on the phone from Colombo.

There are no reports that any of the attackers were killed or apprehended. Grenades and rocket launchers were found at the site of the incident, police said.

Thilan Samaraweera (L) and Tharanga Paranavitana went to hospital

A Pakistani air force helicopter has now evacuated uninjured members of the Sri Lankan team from Gaddafi Stadium, after Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse condemned the “cowardly terrorist attack” and ordered the players’ evacuation.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also strongly condemned the attack, and ordered an immediate investigation “so that the perpetrators are identified and their motives exposed”, said a statement from his office.

The third day of play in the Second Test was scheduled to begin, but officials said the match has now been cancelled.

Security fears

Pakistan is engaged in a bloody struggle against Islamist insurgents who have staged high-profile attacks on civilian targets before.

India and Australia have pulled out of cricket tours in Pakistan in the recent past citing security concerns.

The sport’s world governing body, the International Cricket Council, last month decided not to hold the 2009 Champions Trophy in Pakistan due to safety worries.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is also waging its own military campaign at home, against Tamil Tiger separatist rebels.

---

6:46

George Binoy:  Terror struck at the heart of cricket when masked gunmen attacked the bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Five cricketers, including Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan captain, and his deputy Kumar Sangakkara, received minor injuries. The attack also left six security men and two civilians dead. Duleep Mendis, the Sri Lanka Cricket chief, said that they were “getting the team back [to Sri Lanka] today”.

9:31

Update:  The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also condemned the attack on Sri Lankan cricket players in Lahore. “The BCB is deeply concerned at this unprecedented attack on cricket, which is a symbol of hope and aspiration for millions in the subcontinent and around the world.” SL cricketers injured in terror attack Cricinfo staff March 3, 2009 Security guards inspect a damaged vehicle after the firing in Lahore © AFP Terror struck at the heart of cricket when masked gunmen attacked the bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Five cricketers, including Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lankan captain, and his deputy Kumar Sangakkara, received minor injuries. The attack also left six security men and two civilians dead. Ijaz Butt, the PCB chief, said the Test has been called off. Salman Tasheer, the Punjab governor, said a helicopter will soon evacuate the Sri Lankan players from Gaddafi Stadium and take them to a nearby airbase from where the team will fly back to Sri Lanka. Duleep Mendis, the Sri Lanka Cricket chief, said that they were “getting the team back [to Sri Lanka] today”. There have been terror strikes on the peripheries of cricket, but this is the first time players have been directly targeted. The Sri Lankans were on their way to the Gaddafi Stadium when their bus was attacked by five armed terrorists near Liberty market. Habibur Rehman, chief commissioner of police, said 12 masked terrorists fired at the Sri Lankan team bus. The gunmen shot at the wheels of the bus and also injured the driver. A grenade was also thrown at the bus but it missed. Jayawardene received a cut to the ankle while Sangakkara was injured in the shoulder. Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paravitarana were the ones most seriously injured; Samaraweera received shrapnel in the leg and Paravitarana in the chest. Ajantha Mendis received shrapnel in the neck and scalp. “The bus came under attack as we were driving to the stadium, the gunmen targeted the wheels of the bus first and then the bus,” Mahela Jayawardene told Cricinfo. “We all dived to the floor to take cover. About five players have been injured and also Paul Farbrace [a member of the support staff], but most of the injuries appear to be minor at this stage and caused by debris.” Security concerns in Pakistan September 2001- New Zealand decide not to tour Pakistan following USA’s military action in Afghanistan in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. West Indies and Australia then decide to move their games in Pakistan scheduled for later in the year to neutral venues in Colombo and Sharjah. May 2002 - New Zealand cancel their tour of Pakistan after a bomb blast outside Karachi’s Sheraton Hotel where they were staying. March 2008 - Australia postpone their tour of Pakistan slated for the end of March as a result of security concerns.The decision was taken in the aftermath of Benazir Bhutto’s assasination in December 2007. October 2008 - West Indies call off a proposed tour of Pakistan scheduled for November citing security concerns, a week after the West Indies Women had cancelled the Pakistan leg of their Asian tour. December 2008 - The BCCI call off India’s scheduled tour of Pakistan in 2009 following a directive from the government. December 2008 - The PCB confirm that Sri Lanka will tour Pakistan after India decided not to after the Mumbai terror attack. February 2009 - The ICC decide not to stage the 2009 Champions Trophy in Pakistan after some of the members expressed reservations about touring the country. Sangakkara told CNN-IBN that “all the players are out of danger”. “We are shocked, but apart from that everyone is okay. Thilan [Samaraweera] has a shrapnel wound in his leg, but he is fine. [Tharanga] Paranavitana had shrapnel in his chest, but thank God it wasn’t very deep and just on the surface. “I had shrapnel injuries in my shoulder, but they have all been removed and I’m okay now. Ajantha [Mendis] had shrapnel in his neck and scalp, but he too has had medical attention and is fine. Everyone else is perfectly all right. “It’s very unfortunate that this has happened… I don’t regret coming here to play cricket because that’s what we have been doing all our lives. That is our profession. But… all we want to do now is to go back home to our families, get back home and be safe,” he said. Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, confirmed that the remainder of the tour had been cancelled. “We note with dismay and regret the events of this morning in Lahore and we condemn this attack without reservation. “It is a source of great sadness that there have been a number of fatalities in this attack and it is also very upsetting for the wider cricket family that some of the Sri Lanka players and one match official have been injured in this attack. At this time our thoughts and prayers are with the injured people and also the families of those who have died.” Television footage of several gunmen creeping through the trees, crouching to aim their kalashnikovs then running onto the next target were aired by Pakistan’s private channel Geo. Chamra Ranavira, third secretary and press secretary at the Sri Lankan High Commission in Islamabad, said Samaraweera and Paranavitana had been admitted to hospital, but were out of danger now. “We are communicating with the Pakistan Cricket Board and the high commission has taken action to send the cricket team back home as soon as possible,” he said. The reserve umpire Ahsan Raza was also injured in the attack. Nadeem Ghauri, the TV umpire, who was traveling in a bus behind the Sri Lanka team bus said the firing continued for some time. Umpire Steve Davis, who was on the team bus, called the terrorist attack “terrible”. “I’m lost for words,” he said. Speaking from Sri Lanka, Sanath Jayasuriya said that it was an “extremely unfortunate incident. “We’ve never had this kind of problem,” Jayasuriya told CNN-IBN. “They are all safe, that’s the good news I got when I spoke to Kumar. I don’t think they’ll stay back and play. I think they will come back as soon as possible. Depends on the injuries.” Speaking on Geo TV, Inzamam-ul-Haq, the former Pakistan captain, said: “This is the first time that a cricket team has been seriously targeted… Pakistan’s image will be hit and only time will tell how much damage has been done to Pakistan cricket. The World Cup too might be affected… no country would want to come now to Pakistan… I am worried where Pakistan will get a chance to play, not only in Pakistan but outside as well. This is all so sad.” The Indian cricket board, which called off a scheduled tour of Pakistan last December, expressed its sorrow over the attack. “We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured cricketers, and sympathise with their families and compatriots,” BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan said in New Delhi. “The BCCI stands alongside Sri Lanka Cricket in this hour of crisis.”

Allah Rakkha Rahman (Tamil: ஏ.ஆர்.ரகுமான்) (born January 6, 1967 as A. S. Dileep Kumar in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India), is an Academy Award nominated Indian film composer, record producer and musician. His work has garnered considerable acclaim and a large global fanbase since his film scoring career began in the early 1990s, and has won National Film Awards, BAFTA Award and Golden Globe and also Satellite Award for his work.

Working in several of India’s various film industries, international cinema and theatre, by 2003, Rahman, in a career spanning over a decade, has sold more than 100 million records of his film scores and soundtracks worldwide,^[1] and sold over 200 million cassettes^[2] making him one of the world’s all-time top selling recording artists.

His acclaimed music compositions have led to references to him as the “Mozart of Madras” and several Tamil commentators have given him the title Isai Puyal (Tamil: இசைப் புயல்; English: Musical Storm).

Early life and influences

A. R. Rahman was born to a Tamil Hindu family. His father R. K. Shekhar was a composer and conductor for Malayalam-language films of Keralite cinema. His father died when Rahman was nine years old, and his family rented out musical equipment as a source of income.

He converted to Islam (Sufism) from Hinduism in 1989 along with his family.^[3] During these early years, Rahman served as a keyboard player and an arranger in bands such as “Roots” with childhood friend and percussionist Sivamani, John Anthony, JoJo and Raja.^[4] Rahman is the founder of the Chennai-based rock group, “Nemesis Avenue”.^[5] He played the keyboard and piano, the synthesizer, the harmonium and the guitar. His curiosity in the synthesizer in particular increased because, he says, it was the “ideal combination of music and technology”.^[6] He began early training in music under Master Dhanraj. At the age of 11, he joined, as a keyboardist, the troupe of Ilaiyaraaja,^[6] one of many composers to whom musical instruments belonging to Rahman’s father were rented. Rahman later played in the orchestra of M. S. Viswanathan and Ramesh Naidu, accompanied Zakir Hussain, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and L. Shankar on world tours and obtained a scholarship to Trinity College of Music in London, where he graduated with a degree in Western classical music.^[3]

He has just pocketed the prestigious Golden Globe award and now A.R. Rahman nicknamed “Mozart of Madras” by Time magazine has stunned entire India with 3 Oscars nominations for his work in Slumdog Millionaire. It is a dream come true for India.

Film scoring and soundtracks

In 1992, Rahman began his own music recording and mixing studio attached to the backyard of his house called the Panchathan Record Inn, which was developed into India’s most advanced recording studio.^[7] He initially composed music jingles for advertisements, Indian Television channels and music scores in documentaries, among other projects. In 1992, he was approached by film director Mani Ratnam to compose the score and soundtrack for Ratnam’s Tamil film Roja.^[7] The debut led Rahman to receive the Rajat Kamal award for Best Music Director at the National Film Awards, the first time ever by a first-time film composer. Rahman has since then gone on to win the award three more times (for his scores for Minsara Kanavu (Electric Dreams, Tamil) in 1997, Lagaan (Tax, Hindi) in 2002, Kannathil Muthamittal (A kiss on the Cheek, Tamil) in 2003, the most ever by any composer.^[8]

Roja’s score met with high sales and acclaim, in its original and dubbed versions, bringing about a marked change in film music at the time, and Rahman followed this with successful scores for Tamil–language films of the Chennai film industry including Ratnam’s political Bombay, the urbanite Kadhalan, Bharathiraaja’s Karuththamma, the saxophonic Duet, Indira, and the romantic comedies Minsaara Kanavu and Love Birds, which gained him considerable notice.^[9][10] His fanbase in Japan increased with Muthu ’s success there.^[11] His soundtracks gained him recognition in the Tamil Nadu film industry and across the world for his stylistic versatality in his pieces including in Western classical, Carnatic, Tamil traditional/folk, jazz, reggae and rock music.^[12][13][14] The Bombay Theme — from Ratnam’s Bombay, — would later reappear in Deepa Mehta’s Fire and various compilations and media. Rangeela, directed by Ram Gopal Varma, marked Rahman’s debut for Hindi–language films, made in the Mumbai film industry. Many successful scores for films including Dil Se and the percussive Taal followed.^[15][16] Sufi mysticism would form the basis of Chaiyya Chaiyya from the former and the composition “Zikr” from his score of the film Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero for which he created large orchestral and choral arrangements.^[4] Musical cues in scores for Sangamam and Iruvar employed Carnatic vocals and instruments such as the veena with leads of rock guitar and jazz.^[17] In the 2000s Rahman created hit scores for Rajiv Menon’s Kandukondain Kandukondain, Alaipayuthey, Ashutosh Gowariker’s Swades and Rang de Basanti.^[18] He composed songs with Hindustani motifs for Water (2005).

Rahman has worked with Indian poets and lyricists such as Gulzar, Mehboob, Vairamuthu and T. S. Rangarajan (Vaalli). His collaborations with some film directors have always resulted in successful soundtracks, particularly with the director Mani Ratnam who he has worked with since Roja, all of which have been hits, and the director S. Shankar in the films Gentleman, Kadhalan, Indian, Jeans, Mudhalvan, Nayak, Boys and Sivaji.^[19]

Rahman attached and opened a developed extension studio to his Panchathan Record Inn in 2005 called AM Studios in Kodambakkam, Chennai — considered to be the most developed, equipped and high tech studio in Asia.^[20][21] In 2006, Rahman launched his own music label, KM Music.^[22] Its first release was his score to the film Sillunu Oru Kaadhal. Rahman scored the Mandarin language picture Warriors of Heaven and Earth in 2003 after researching and utilizing Chinese and Japanese classical music, and co-scored the Shekhar Kapoor helmed Elizabeth: The Golden Age in 2007. His compositions have been reused in scores within India^[23] and have made appearances in Inside Man, Lord of War and The Accidental Husband.

Rahman has been involved in several projects aside from film. He made an album Vande Mataram (1997) on India’s 50th anniversary of independence to commercial success.^[24][25] He followed it up with an album for the Bharat Bala–directed video Jana Gana Mana, a conglomeration of performances by many leading exponents/artists of Indian classical music. Rahman has written jingles for ads and composed several orchestrations for athletic events, T.V. and internet media publications, documentaries and short films.

In 1999 …, Rahman, along with choreographers Shobhana and Prabhu Deva Sundaram and a Tamil cinema dancing troupe performed with Michael Jackson in Munich, Germany, for his “Michael Jackson and Friends Concert.” In 2002, he composed his maiden stage production Bombay Dreams (2002) following a commission from musical theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, a success in London’s West End. With Finnish folk music band Värttinä, he wrote the music for The Lord of the Rings theatre production and in 2004, Rahman composed the piece “Raga’s Dance” for Vanessa-Mae’s album Choreography.^[8]

In the last six years, Rahman has performed three successful world tours of his concerts to audiences in Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Dubai, UK, Canada, the US (Hollywood Bowl and 3d tour) and India.^[8] He has been collaborating with Karen David for her upcoming studio album. A two-disc soundtrack, Introducing A. R. Rahman (2006) featuring 25 pieces he composed from his Tamil film scores was released in May 2006. His latest non-film album, Connections was launched on 12th December, 2008.

Skilled in Carnatic music,^[26] Western classical, Hindustani music and the Qawwali style of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahman has been noted to write film songs that amalgamate elements of these music systems and other genres, layering instruments from differing music idioms in an improvisatory manner.^[4] Symphonic orchestral themes have accompanied his scores, where he has employed leitmotif. In the 1980s, Rahman recorded and played arrangements on mono, synonymous with the era of predecessors such as K. V. Mahadevan and Vishwanathan–Ramamoorthy, but later his methodology changed. Rahman worked and experimented on fusing traditional instruments with new electronic sounds and technology.^[4]

His interest and outlook in music stems from his love of experimentation.^[3] Rahman’s compositions, in the vein of past and contemporary Chennai film composers, bring out auteuristic uses of counterpoint, orchestration and the human voice, evolving Indian pop music with unique timbres, forms and instrumentation. By virtue of these qualities, broad ranging lyrics and his syncretic style, his themes appeal to several sections of Indian society.^[27]

His first soundtrack Roja was listed in TIME’s “Top 10 Movie Soundtracks of All Time” in 2005. Film critic Richard Corliss felt the “astonishing debut work parades Rahman’s gift for alchemizing outside influences until they are totally Tamil, totally Rahman.”^[28] Rahman’s initial global reach is attributed to the South Asian diaspora. Described as one of the most innovative composers to ever work in the industry, his unique style and immense success transformed film music in the 1990s prompting several film producers to take film music more seriously.^[29]

The director Baz Luhrmann notes

“I had come to the music of A. R. Rahman through the emotional and haunting score of Bombay and the wit and celebration of Lagaan. But the more of AR’s music I encountered the more I was to be amazed at the sheer diversity of styles: from swinging brass bands to triumphant anthems; from joyous pop to West-End musicals. Whatever the style, A. R. Rahman’s music always possesses a profound sense of humanity and spirit, qualities that inspire me the most.^[30]

Main article: List of A. R. Rahman awards

Rahman is the 1995 recipient of the Mauritius National Award and the Malaysian Award for contributions to music. He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for his first West-End production. A four time National Film Award winner and conferred the Padma Shri from the Government of India, Rahman has received six awards for Best Music at the Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and eleven awards for his scores at the Filmfare and Filmfare Awards South each. In 2006, he received an honorary award from Stanford University for contributions to global music.^[31] For his score of Slumdog Millionaire, Rahman won the 2008 Critics’ Choice Award, the Golden Globe^[32] and the British Academy Award. He has also received three Academy Award nominations in 2009—Best Original Score and two different Best Original Songs.^[33]

A. R. Rahman is married to Saira Bano. The couple have three children, Khadijah, Rahima, and Aman. Rahman is related to the southern Indian actor Rashin Rahman. Rahman is the uncle of composer G. V. Prakash Kumar.

Rahman is involved in various charitable causes. In 2004, he was appointed as the Global Ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership, a project by WHO.^[8] He has shown support to charities including Save the Children, India, and worked with Cat Stevens / Yusuf Islam for his song “Indian Ocean” . The song featured a-ha keyboard player Magne Furuholmen and Travis drummer, Neil Primrose. The proceeds of the song went towards helping orphans in Banda Aceh, one of the areas worst affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. He also supports charities such as Save the Children and has also produced the single “We Can Make It Better” by Don Asian alongside Mukhtar Sahota.^[34] In 2008, Rahman opened his KM Music Conservatory partnered with Audio Media Education facility to tutor and train aspiring musicians in vocals, instruments, music technology and sound design. The conservatory – with preeminent musicians on its panel and a newly founded symphony orchestra – is located near his studio in Kodambakkam, Chennai, offering courses at Beginners, Foundation and Diploma level.^[35] Rahman composed the theme music for a short film for The Banyan in 2006, in aid of destitute women in Chennai. In 2008, Rahman, along with percussionist Sivamani created a song titled “Jiya Se Jiya”, inspired by the Free Hugs Campaign and promoted it through a video shot in various cities in India.

as Music Director

Year Film Language/Industry Notes 1992 Roja Tamil Winner, National Film Award for Best Music Direction Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director Yodha Malayalam 1993 Pudhiya Mugam Tamil Gentleman Tamil Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director Kizhakku Cheemayile Tamil Uzhavan Tamil Thiruda Thiruda Tamil 1994 Vandicholai Chinraasu Tamil Super Police Telugu Duet Tamil May Madham Tamil Kadhalan Tamil Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director Pavithra Tamil Karuththamma Tamil Pudhiya Mannargal Tamil Manitha Manitha Tamil Gangmaster Telugu 1995 Bombay Tamil Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director Indira Tamil Rangeela Hindi Muthu Tamil 1996 Love Birds Tamil Indian Tamil Kadhal Desam Tamil Fire Hindi Mr. Romeo Tamil 1997 Anthimanthaarai Tamil Minsara Kanavu Tamil Winner, National Film Award for Best Music Direction Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director Iruvar Tamil Daud: Fun On The Run Hindi Ratchagan Tamil Mona Lisa Tamil Vishwavidhaata Hindi Kabhi Na Kabhi Hindi 1998 Jeans Tamil Dil Se… Hindi Earth Hindi Doli Saja Ke Rakhna Hindi 1999 En Swasa Kaatre Tamil Padayappa Tamil Kadhalar Dhinam Tamil Taal Hindi Sangamam Tamil Winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director Jodi Tamil Takshak Hindi Mudhalvan Tamil Taj Mahal Tamil 2000 Pukar Hindi Alaipayuthey Tamil Kandukondain Kandukondain Tamil Fiza Hindi 1 song Rhythm Tamil Thenali Tamil Zubeidaa Hindi 2001 One 2 Ka 4 Hindi Nayak: The Real Hero Hindi Love You Hamesha Hindi Lagaan Hindi Winner, National Film Award for Best Music Direction Star Tamil Parthale Paravasam Tamil 2002 Alli Arjuna Tamil Kannathil Muthamittal Tamil Winner, National Film Award for Best Music Direction The Legend of Bhagat Singh Hindi Baba Tamil Kadhal Virus Tamil Saathiya Hindi 2003 Parasuram Tamil Boys Tamil Warriors of Heaven and Earth Mandarin / Japanese Enakku 20 Unakku 18 Tamil Kangalal Kaithu Sei Tamil Tehzeeb Hindi 2004 Udhaya Tamil Warriors of Heaven and Earth English Lakeer - Forbidden Lines Hindi Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities Hindi Aayitha Ezhuthu Tamil Yuva Hindi New Tamil Naani Telugu Dil Ne Jise Apna Kahaa Hindi 3 songs Swades Hindi Kisna - The Warrior Poet Hindi 2 song 2005 Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero Hindi Mangal Pandey - The Rising Hindi Anbe Aaruyire Tamil Water Hindi 5 songs 2006 Rang De Basanti Hindi Sillunu Oru Kaadhal Tamil Varalaru Tamil 2007 Guru Hindi Provoked Hindi Sivaji: The Boss Tamil Azhagiya Thamizh Magan Tamil Elizabeth: The Golden Age English With Craig Armstrong 2008 Jodhaa Akbar Hindi Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na Hindi ADA: A Way of Life Hindi Sakkarakatti Tamil Yuvvraaj Hindi Ghajini Hindi Slumdog Millionaire English / Hindi Winner, BAFTA Award for Best Film Music Winner, Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score Nominated, Academy Award for Best Orginal Score Nominated, Academy Award for Best Original Song for “O..Saya” Nominated, Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Jai Ho” 2009 Delhi 6 Hindi Nair San Japanese Mandarin Mongolian English subtitles Filming Blue Hindi Filming Puli Telugu Filming Ashokavanam Tamil Filming Raavan Hindi Filming Chennaiyil Oru Mazhaikalam Tamil Filming Eight By Ten Hindi Filming Sultan The Warrior Tamil Filming Vinnai Thaandi Varuvaaya Tamil Filming 2010 Endhiran Tamil Filming The 19th Step English / Tamil / Japanese Filming

A R Rahman at the making of Jiya Se Jiya :- photo courtesy arrahman.com

He was nominated one for Best Original Score and Best Original Song categories for two of his compositions — ‘Jai Ho’ and ‘O Saya’.

The film Slumdog Millionaire has got 10 Oscar nominations, while AR Rahman 3 nominations. Click here for the 81st Academy Awards Nominations Full List. The Oscars will be handed out in Hollywood on February 22.

List of Rahman’s  Oscar Nominations

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

• “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” - Alexandre Desplat
• “Defiance”- James Newton Howard
• “Milk” - Danny Elfman
• “Slumdog Millionaire”- A.R. Rahman
• “WALL-E”- Thomas Newman

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

• “Down to Earth” from “WALL-E”  - Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman Lyric by Peter Gabriel
• “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire” - Music by A.R. Rahman Lyric by Gulzar
• “O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire”  - Music and Lyric by A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

Certainly Allah Rakha Rahman has put India on the global entertainment map

15.4 TH OVER the whole INDIAN country thought the game is over,but the brothers erased the thoughts what every Indian cricket fan was thinking.

India in Sri Lanka T20I Match Sri Lanka v India

2008/09 season

Played at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on 10 February 2009 - day/night (20-over match) Result India won by 3 wickets (with 4 balls remaining)