khoji parkCelebrities · Los Angeles · 2009
A. R. Rahman Walked Away From One Oscars Night With Two Awards
Composer A. R. Rahman wins two Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire.
Read in slides1. Musical Beginnings
A. R. Rahman established a recording studio in Chennai before composing for Indian films. His score for the 1992 Tamil film Roja earned his first National Film Award for music direction. He continued writing scores for films in several Indian languages, using recorded performances and electronic instruments. His later work included the music for Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.
The British film brought his score and songs to the Academy Awards.
2. Slumdog Millionaire Collaboration
In 2008, British filmmaker Danny Boyle enlisted Rahman to compose the musical score and songs for the drama film Slumdog Millionaire. Set in Mumbai, the film required a dynamic soundtrack that captured the vibrant energy and gritty realities of the city's urban landscape. Rahman integrated contemporary electronic elements with traditional Indian percussion and orchestral arrangements to shape the auditory experience. The resulting soundtrack became an instant commercial and critical success worldwide. The distinctive musical cues heavily supported the narrative tension and emotional beats throughout the motion picture.
The cinematic release propelled his music onto a massive global stage.
3. Academy Award Nominations
Following the global release of Slumdog Millionaire, the film garnered multiple nominations at the 81st Academy Awards held in Los Angeles. Rahman's work received recognition in three distinct categories, including two nominations for Best Original Song alongside a nomination for Best Original Score. His intricate orchestration and memorable thematic motifs stood out among competing Hollywood productions that year. The double nomination for Best Original Song featured both Jai Ho and O Saya. Industry critics praised the unique cross-cultural appeal of his melodic arrangements.
Anticipation grew around the composer's potential success at the upcoming ceremony.
4. Winning Best Original Score
At the February 2009 Academy Awards ceremony, Rahman received the award for the original score of Slumdog Millionaire. He went on stage to accept it and acknowledged people connected with his work and family. The ceremony was not over for him: Jai Ho was also nominated in the original-song category, whose award had yet to be presented.
Another nominated contribution to the same film was still in contention.
5. Securing Best Original Song
Rahman received the Academy Award for the original score of Slumdog Millionaire and another for its song Jai Ho at the 2009 ceremony. The song award was shared with lyricist Gulzar, who was not there to accept it on stage. The two categories recognized different contributions to the same film, giving Rahman two awards during the evening.
The song award recognized the composer and lyricist together.
6. Global Accolades and Honors
The monumental success of Slumdog Millionaire brought Rahman a cascade of international and domestic honors following the 2009 Oscar ceremony. In addition to his two Academy Awards, he received a Golden Award and a BAFTA Award for his film music contributions. The Government of India conferred upon him the Padma Bhushan, which stands as the nation's third-highest civilian honor. Time magazine also included him on their annual list of the world's 100 most influential people. These accolades reflected the massive cultural impact of his cross-cultural musical style.
His global profile expanded significantly across the entertainment industry.
7. Continuing International Projects
Building upon his Oscar success, Rahman continued to compose for various international and Hollywood feature films in the subsequent years. He provided the musical score for Danny Boyle's 2010 survival drama film 127 Hours, which earned him two additional Academy Award nominations. His later international film credits included the sports drama Million Dollar Arm and the biographical comedy-drama The Hundred-Foot Journey. He also expanded his creative output into virtual reality storytelling by directing the thriller project Le Musk. His continuous output demonstrated sustained versatility across different artistic mediums.
He maintained a steady workflow across international cinematic ventures.
8. Philanthropy and Education
Alongside his commercial composition work, Rahman dedicated substantial resources to music education and philanthropic causes in India. In 2008, he established the KM Music Conservatory in Chennai to provide comprehensive training for aspiring young musicians in sound design and performance. The following year, he founded the Sunshine Orchestra to offer free music education to socially and economically underprivileged children. He also served as a global ambassador for various health and humanitarian initiatives coordinated by international organizations. His educational institutions fostered a new generation of professional musicians and orchestral players.
His philanthropic efforts provided vital artistic opportunities for local youth.
9. Appointment at Trinity Laban
In December 2024, the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance formally appointed Rahman as its new Honorary President for a five-year term. This high-profile appointment built upon more than 15 years of institutional collaboration between Trinity Laban and Chennai's KM Music Conservatory. In his new capacity, Rahman aimed to support student artistic growth while further strengthening educational relationships between institutions in the United Kingdom and India. The appointment placed him alongside legendary classical conductors and musicians who previously held the prestigious role. University leaders praised his enduring commitment to cross-cultural artistic excellence.
He assumed leadership responsibilities at the prominent British conservatoire.
10. An Enduring Legacy
At the 2009 Academy Awards, Rahman won for Slumdog Millionaire’s original score and shared the original-song award for Jai Ho with lyricist Gulzar. They were two separate awards from the same film. Gulzar was not beside him accepting on stage. The published winners’ record established the double result, while later performances and adaptations of the music were separate from that ceremony.
The same film brought him two awards that night.