Rahman, 44, also has also been nominated in the category of ‘Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media’ for the film Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle.

The song Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino has been included in the ‘Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media’ category.

Besides the two Oscar Awards for ‘Best Song’ and ‘Best Original Score’ for Slumdog Millionaire, Rahman had won the prestigious award for the ‘Best Music Director’ of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).

This is the first time that A R Rahman has been nominated for the Grammy Awards, which is the world’s highest honour for music and also acclaimed as the music Oscar.

Rahman has got nomination for the Grammy Awards along with the legendary Bruce Springsteen for his song The Wrestler for the movie with the same title; a song titled The Climb from the film Hannah Montana: The Movie; and a song from the hit vampire movie Twilight.

At present, A R Rahman is in Los Angeles, where he is working on his latest cross-cultural movie titled Street Dancing, along with David A Stewart, another winner of the Golden Globe Award.

In terms of the number of Grammy Awards nominations, pop star Beyoncé leads, with 10 nominations – followed by Country singer, with 8 nominations. Black Eyed Peas, along with Kanye West and Maxwell, picked up 6 nominations each; while Jay-Z and DJ David Guetta collected 5 Grammy nominations, along with Lady Gaga.

The Grammy Awards is to be held on January 31, 2010, at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles.

AR Rahman with the two 2009 Oscars for Best Music score and Best Song

AR Rahman also won the 2009 Oscar award for Best Music score for a motion picture for Slumdog Millionaire.

Photo: Cast and crew of Slumdog Millionaire at the 2009 Oscar awards

In his 2009 Oscar acceptance speech, AR Rahman said:

“Before coming I was excited and terrified..the last time I felt like that during my marriage. There is this dialogue from my hindi film called meri pass maa hein..which means I have nothing but i have my mother..my mother is here..her blessings are there with me..I am grateful for her to come here all the way.
I want to thank the academy for being so kind…all the jury members. I want to thank all the crew of Slumdog Millionaire, Gulzar, musicians from chennai and mumbai.”

“I want to say something in Tamil, which i normally say at every award Elaa Pugazhum Iraivanukey – God is great!
Thank you,” he finished.

When he took the 2009 Oscar award for the Best Original Song, he praised “all the people from Mumbai and the essence of the film, which is about optimism and the power of hope and our lives”.

“All my life I’ve had a choice of hate and love. I chose love and I’m here. God bless,” he added.

AR Rahman performs the Jai Ho song at the 2009 Oscar awards ceremony

AR Rahman 2009 Oscar performance photo

Photo: AR Rahman performing at the 2009 Oscars

AR Rahman performed the song Jai Ho at the 2009 Oscar award ceremony. Earlier, Sukhwinder Singh was supposed to perform with AR Rahman at the 2009 Oscars but in the end it was only AR Rahman who sang Jai Ho.

Here are the lyrics of Jai Ho.

Lyrics: Gulzar
Vocals: Sukhwinder Singh.
Music: AR Rahman

Jai Ho!

Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley

Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley

Jai Ho!

Ratti ratti sachchi maine jaan gawayi hai

Nach Nach koylon pe raat bitaayi hai

Ankhiyon ki neend maine phoonkon se udaa di

Gin gin taarey maine ungli jalayi hai

Eh Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley

Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley

Baila! Baila! (Dance! Dance!)

Ahora conmigo, tu baila para hoy (Now with me, you dance for today)

Por nuestro dia de movidas, (For our day of moves,)

los problemas los que sean (whatever problems may be)

Salud! (Cheers!)

Baila! Baila! (Dance! Dance!)

Jai Ho!

Chakh le, haan chakh le, yeh raat shehed hai

Chakh le, haan rakh le,

Dil hai, dil aakhri hadd hai

Kaala kaala kaajal tera

Koi kaala jaadu hai na?

Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley

Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley

Jai Ho!

Kab se haan kab se jo lab pe ruki hai

Keh de, keh de, haan keh de

Ab aankh jhuki hai

Aisi aisi roshan aankhein

Roshan dono heerey hain kya?

Aaja aaja jind shamiyaane ke taley

Aaja zari waale neele aasmaane ke taley

Jai Ho!

Slumdog Millionaire bagged the major 2009 Oscar awards, for Best Picture and Best Director. All in all, the movie won eight awards: Best Sound Mixing (Resul Pookutty), Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Music Score, Best Original Song, and Best Film Editing.

AR Rahman to host the Big Band reality show

“There is a huge audience of people who look beyond the typical Bollywood music. Music talents cutting across regions, languages, genres will be performing on the show. Considering the excellent reach of Doordarshan, we will launch the show soon on Doordarshan,” Phat Phish chairman Anand Surapur was quoted as saying at the promotion of the show.

Bands from seven countries will participate in the The Big Band reality show – India, Nepal, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Singapore and Sri Lanka.

At the promotion of the Big Band reality show, AR Rahman said, “We have seen so many reality shows on the television. But what makes it different is that the show is not all about India alone, we have the idea of providing a common platform for all these guys from various places.”

“The Big Band is a unique stage that will give local bands a chance to dive deep into their true artistic depth and create original music, which transcends language and that is universally accessible. We want to present to India and the world at large the story behind what forms and binds a band and how they can be mentored to become world class talent,” he added.

The winner of The Big Band Show will get a three-year recording contract with Phat Phish Records, apart from Rs 10 million in cash, and artist management up to three albums and six music videos, and national as well as international tours and concerts.

Conditions for qualifying for the Big Band reality show

Bands can send their entries, across genres, for The Big Band reality show.

The bands that will take part in The Big Band reality show will need to have 2 – 10 members with at least one lead singer.

To qualify, the participating bands must submit three tunes. The first tune will need to be an original interpretation of a popular folk, regional, or Bollywood song.

The second tune will have to be an interpretation of a melody composed by AR Rahman specially for The Big Band show. The melody will be released on October 24, 2008.

The third tune that the bands participating in The Big Band Show must submit, should be an original composition.

The competing bands that are short listed will be called to take part in the first audition stage where they will be given a choice of three tunes by the judges, one of which they will have to perform.

The format of the Big Band reality show

The Big Band reality show will showcase Rahman’s travel through 15 states in India, scouring for original talent. The reality show series aims to find a few bands from across the sub-continent and nurture talent across different genres.

The Big Band reality show will also showcase the lives of the participating band members.

In another departure from typical reality shows, the Big Band show will do away with the SMS voting format and guest Celebrity judges, inviting laypersons like homemakers and young people to judge the show.

The Big Band show will be aired in the prime time slot by Doordarshan.

Applicants can log on to phatphishrecords.com to send in their entries. The last date for submitting applications is November 15, 2008.

Phat Phish has earlier launched artists like Rabbi, Avial and Da Saz, known for their distinctive music.