PTI
New York, Jan 13: Music maestro A R Rahman on Mondayscripted history by becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Golden Globe award for best original music score for Mumbai-based saga 'Slumdog Millionaire,' with the film hitting the jackpot bagging honours in four categories.
A Mumbai underdog's rags-to-riches story directed by British filmmaker Danny Boyle, the movie swept awards in all the four categories it was nominated for, brightening its chances at the Oscars next month.
WINNING LINE-UP: The cast of Slumdog Millionaire accept the award. From left are A.R. Rahman, Best Original Score; Dev Patel, Best Motion Picture- Drama; Simon Beaufoy, Best Screenplay; Anil Kapoor, Freida Pinto, Best Motion Picture- Drama; Danny Boyl, Best Director- Motion Picture; Christian Colson, Best Motion Picture- Drama.
The film won the best director award for Boyle, the best music score for Rahman, best screenplay for Simon Beaufoy and also the best drama prize. 43-year-old Rahman, who won the coveted award for his music score 'Jai Ho' in the film, thanked the director and his fellow musicians in Mumbai and Chennai, besides the "billion people from India". "Unbelievable..! I thought, I would not win, so anyway thanks to the almighty God for bringing me here... Danny Boyle, Fox pictures, all my musicians in Chennai, Mumbai,.. and the billion people from India," the Chennai-based musician said while accepting the award at a star-studded ceremony in Beverly Hills in California. Boyle's film stars Bollywood actors Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan and British Indian Dev Patel in key roles.
Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, who was at the ceremony to represent India, introduced the film to the foreign audience with 'Slumdog' actress Frieda Pinto. It is also the first Golden Globe for 52-year-old Boyle, who is expected to be among the favourites at next month's Oscars following the phenomenal success of the film at award circuits.
Living up to its reputation of an underdog-winner tale, the 'Slumdog' has emerged a favourite in almost all the pre-Oscar award ceremonies. It has already won the the best film, best director for Danny Boyle, best writer for Simon Beaufoy, best young actor for Dev Patel and best composer award for A R Rahman at the 14th annual Critics Choice Awards by Broadcast Film Critics Association's of America last week.
Boyle's film depicts the heart-warming story of an orphan Jamaal, who goes on to win the Indian version of popular game show 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? to get his love back. The film was adapted from Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup's novel 'Q and A' by screenwriter Simon Beaufoy, best known for 1997 hit 'The Full Monty."
Meanwhile, the other big winners at the award ceremony were late Heath Ledger and British actress Kate Winslet. Australian actor Heath Ledger was honoured posthumously for his portrayal of the villainous character 'The Joker' in Batman sequel 'The Dark Knight'. Winslet romped home with both the best actress and the best supporting actress awards for her performances in 'Revolutionary Road' and 'The Reader' respectively. She beat Meryl Streep 'Doubt', Anne Hathaway 'Racheal Getting Married,' Angelina Jolie 'The Changeling' and Kristin Scott-Thomas in best actress category.
Hollywwod superstar Brad Pitt's drama 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,' which had bagged five nominations along with 'Frost/Nixon' and 'Doubt' failed to get any awards.