Incredible journey from 'Roja' to 'Slumdog Millionaire': Rahman

CHENNAI: If you were trying to grab a bite at a prominent hotel in Vadapalani a little after four on Thursday evening, chances of getting your order on time would have been remote. For the staff, including chefs and managers, had lined up to watch AR Rahman give his first press conference after his return from the Oscars. Thanking his fans and well-wishers for their prayers and blessings, Rahman said, ���It���s been an incredible journey from ���Roja��� to ���Slumdog Millionaire���. I���ve realised that when you work without thinking about awards and money, it pays off.���

Having composed the track with hardly any time on hands, the 43-yearold said he did not have the slightest expectation of winning two Oscars. ���I thought maybe I had a five per cent chance of winning the award,��� he said. ���Lagaan��� was one movie which could have probably won an Oscar, he added later. But the lack of expectations didn���t make it any easier to sleep the night before the Oscars. ���All this while, India had been the only country not to have won an Oscar for music. This award legitimises our music and the aspirations of hundreds of other musicians,��� he said.

Rahman���s ���Jai Ho��� was composed as an after-thought for ���Slumdog Millionaire���. ���Originally, that section of the film was shot to the song ���Aaj Ki Raat��� (from ���Don���). But since the song was from another movie, it wouldn���t have been accepted under the original score category for the Oscars. So I created ���Jai Ho���,��� said Rahman, who won two Oscars for Best Song and Best Original Score.

The maestro already has a couple of Hollywood projects, but the schedules haven���t been laid out. Putting to rest rumours that he might shift his focus to Hollywood, Rahman said, ���If a good film comes by, I will surely take it up. Music doesn���t have a language. I manage to achieve creative freedom in Hindi, English and Tamil though the latter does seem to have an edge.���

Ever since ���Jai Ho��� has been winning awards on the international scene, there has been talk that the track isn���t the maestro���s best yet. On Thursday however, Rahman, put to rest the allegation, saying, ���This was a song that catered to the sensibilities of the western audience. It was something different for them. It may not have appealed here. But I have created no masterpieces. Danny���s film was like a beautiful woman. My music was just an ornament that added to its beauty.���