*Slumdog* gang in Hollywood http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090222/jsp/frontpage/story_10573807.jsp
Shortly afterwards, we will know whether A.R. Rahman has done it, and whether Ashok Amritraj's prediction to The Telegraph — "*Slumdog* will sweep" — has indeed come to pass. Slumdog Millionaire hot favourite at Oscars http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/22/stories/2009022259630100.htm "It would be the biggest upset in modern Oscars history to see *Slumdog Millionaire* lose," said Pete Hammond, an awards season expert and Hollywood film critic. Music maestro A.R. Rahman, who has three nominations for *Slumdog Millionaire*, was in Los Angeles preparing to perform at the ceremony. He said "it would be a great honour" although he did not think the awards were "a referendum on Bollywood." He did not have an acceptance speech ready and was concentrating on a performance of "Jai Ho," the lilting song from the film, for U.S. television. Danny Boyle's very good year, Slumdog's worldwide appeal http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1460827.php/Danny_Boyles_very_good_year_Slumdogs_worldwide_appeal After the wins from the Golden Globe Awards and BAFTA for the Indian composer A.R. Rahman, ABC news reveals that India is intently watching the outcome of the Sunday broadcast of the Academy Awards, noting the bookies in Mumbai have given favorable odds to the film to take Best Director, Best Motion Picture and Best Music. Rahman is one of the most prolific film composers in India, and he has three Oscar nominations for "Slumdog Millionaire." The film itself has scored ten total nominations for the Academy awards which include a Best Achievement in Cinematography nomination for Anthony Dod Mantle; a Best Achievement in Directing for Danny Boyle; a Best Achievement in Editing for Chris Dickens; a Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score for A.R. Rahman; aBest Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song also for A.R. Rahman, Maya Arulpragasam for the song "O Saya"; a Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song for A.R. Rahman (music) -Sampooran Singh Gulzar (lyrics) for the song "Jai Ho"; a Best Achievement in Sound for Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty; a Best Achievement in Sound Editing for Tom Sayers and Glenn Freemantle; a Best Motion Picture of the Year for Christian Colson; and a Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published for Simon Beaufoy. See the movie, do the dance, it's a Bolly boom http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/film/see-the-movie-do-the-dance-its-a-bolly-boom/2009/02/21/1234633133011.html The feel-good sequence and the infectious rhythm of its song, *Jai Ho* — tipped to win the best song Oscar for composer A.R. Rahman — is creating something of a boom for Melbourne's Bollywood dance schools. Marshie Perera Rajakumar, from the Jhoom-Bollywood Dance Company, last week recorded her biggest class numbers since opening in 2005. "I had close to 35 in my beginner class and about 80 people altogether for the week, which is huge," she says. "*Slumdog Millionaire* has definitely created more awareness of Bollywood dancing even though it's not actually a Bollywood movie. The end sequence is just a great advertisement for Bollywood dancing." Do the Slumdog http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/film/do-the-slumdog/2009/02/19/1234632973920.html He might not be a household name around these parts but *Slumdog Millionaire's* composer, A.R. Rahman, is up there with Madonna, Bob Marley and the *Rolling Stones* when it comes to album sales. What sets him aside, perhaps, is the fact that he's sold twice as many cassettes as CDs - younger readers might be wondering what a cassette even is. But in music-mad India, Rahman is number one. No one's better qualified to introduce Bollywood music to the Western charts. Two of the three songs nominated for this year's best song Oscar were penned by Rahman for*Slumdog* and compared to the only other contender - Peter Gabriel's cutesy-but-disposable *WALLlE*theme, *Down to Earth* - it's a good bet that Rahman will take home the gold. Rahman's style combines classical Indian arrangements and influences from across the globe (Jai Ho is interrupted by a pulsing Latino section, for instance). The composer has even re-recorded the song with the Pussycat Dolls, but with any luck it will be the original we hear at tomorrow's Academy Awards. And it's more than likely that *Slumdog's*festive closing sequence will be re-created live on stage. Especially as Gabriel threw a tanty and refuses to perform his song at the ceremony. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Oscars/comments?type=story&id=6924444 he country's residents are betting big on the success of"Slumdog Millionaire" <http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6851102>at the Oscars this Sunday, according to bookies in Mumbai. The odds are in favor of the film to sweep Best Director, Best Motion Picture and Best Music -- at up to 1.53:1. A nod from the Academy would be a source of great national pride, as the Golden Globe and BAFTA award wins by Indian composer A.R. Rahman were. Pride is likely the reason for the extended, if now subdued, debate over the film's depiction of Mumbai life. The question has been raised of whether "Slumdog Millionaire"<http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6847509> is a Bollywood film, an Indian film or an international film. (Note: It's critical to bear in mind that Bollywood cinema by no means equals Indian cinema, although it's certainly the most popular style of cinema coming out of India). (ARR effect??) And the award goes to… http://www.hindu.com/mag/2009/02/22/stories/2009022250010100.htm A.R. Rahman's multilayered score, which beats in resonance to the rhythms of India's largest, wealthiest and densest metropolis, is a sure winner. "Slumdog", which took the Best Picture, Director, Screenplay and Score awards at both the Critic's Choice Awards and the Golden Globes, is the frontrunner at the Academy Awards as well. The real bets are elsewhere: What will Anil Kapoor do? Will he guffaw? Will he simper? Will he wear a Gauri Khan sequined cravat/necktie below his shirt?
