Oscar awards have enhanced self-respect, says Rahman

Chennai, Feb 27 (ANI): AR Rahman, who won two Oscars for his original score and original song of the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire', termed the crowning glory as an instance that has enhanced his self respect and also his work.

"This series of awards have given me so much respect and to the kind of work. People like extraordinary composers like Davis Foster and Mike Jagger, all these legends talked to me like equals. So that is a great thing. So we can do extraordinary musical works together," he said while interacting with media persons at an exclusive press conference here on Thursday.

The 43-year-old music maestro said that the Oscar awards gave him an opportunity to be at par with extraordinary composers.

Further, he noted that an interesting aspect of the movie is people from different countries being associated with its production, distribution and screening.

He viewed this unique angle as a unifying trend at the world level.

"What is good about the whole thing, whole element is the British director, Indian actors, South Indian composer and an American distributor and all doing the same thing. One film that unites us all," he added.

He is the first Indian composer to strike gold at the prestigious annual Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars.

The maestro is also only the fourth in the world ever to have won two Oscars for best composition and best song in the same year.

Last month, he was named best composer at the Golden Globes.

Despite earlier international credits such as the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical 'Bombay Dreams', it is Rahman's work on British director Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire' that has endeared him to Western critics. (ANI)