INDIAN RECORDS

First Indian to win two Oscars

A R Rahman created history by becoming the first Indian to bag two Oscars for his work in British filmmaker Danny Boyle’s much acclaimed film “Slumdog Millionaire”.

Rahman won two Academy Awards for Best Original Music Score and Best Original Song at the 81st Academy Awards. He won over 15 awards for his score including two Grammys, the Golden Globe and the BAFTA.

Rahman has been bestowed with the 'Padma Bhushan' and 'Padma Shri', two of India's highest national civilian honours, recognizing his contribution to music, in addition to several other awards including 4 Indian National Film Awards and 25 Filmfare Awards, India's leading recognition for films. He has also been conferred with honorary doctorates from the Trinity College of Music, Aligarh Muslim University, Anna University and the Middlesex University. He was also named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, in 2009.

Rahman has expanded his focus to newer horizons like setting up the A R Rahman Foundation to help poor and underprivileged children. He also serves as the UN Ambassador for the 2015 Millenium Development Goals.

In his Oscar acceptance speech Rahman said, “the essence of the film which is about optimism and the power of hope in the lives, and all my life I had a choice of hate and love. I chose love and I'm here. God bless".