Chidambaram to propose tax exemption for Oscar-winning Rahman

Khatkar Kalan (Punjab)/ New Delhi, Feb 23 (ANI): Congratulating the team of 'Slumdog Millionaire' for its resounding success at the Oscars, Home Minister P. Chidambaram today said he would ask the Finance Ministry to exempt from taxation all cash prizes won by A R Rahman at the Oscars.

"If the Oscars carry any cash award, I would recommend to the Finance Minister that it should be exempt from taxation," Chidambaram said while addressing a public function at Khatkar Kalan in Punjab today.

Not to be left behind, leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the film has ushered India on the world stage of modern cinema.

"It is a very proud movement for India. Advani has warmly congratulated the entire team of the film for this outstanding performance. He has particularly appreciated the very extraordinary and scintillating music of A R Rahman. This is the age of India on world stage in filmmaking and the extraordinary music of Rahman is certainly doing great proud for all the country," said Ravi Shankar Prasad, senior leader of BJP.

The film won eight Academy awards better known as the Oscars, including the Best Picture award.

Bollywood's A R Rahman won Oscars for original score and original song in Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire', becoming the first Indian composer to strike gold at the famed annual Academy awards.

'Slumdog Millionaire' is a movie about a young man looking for love and competing for money on the Indian version of the television game show 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'.

It also earned Oscars for Adapted Screenplay and Cinematography, as the world's top film honours got under way.

The awards bagged by the film are Best Motion Picture of the Year, Danny Boyle as Best Director, A R Rahman and Gulzar for original song 'Jai Ho', Rahman for the Best musical composition, Resul Pookutty for Sound Mixing, Anthony Dod Mantle for Best Cinematography, Simon Beaufoy for adapted Screenplay and Chris Dickens for Editing. (ANI)