Nation celebrates Oscar awards

President Pratibha Patil today congratulated the team of 'Slumdog Millionaire' which created sensation by winning eight Oscars. The President is happy that 'Slumdog Millionaire' has won Oscars in various categories. She congratulated the winning team, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson said. "The President is specially thrilled with the remarkable feat achieved by A.R. Rahman, Gulzar, Resul Pookutty and making India proud," the spokesperson said.

The film bagged eight awards including two Oscars for Rahman for Best Original Score and Best Song for "Jai Ho", which was penned by lyricist Gulzar.

Pookutty, a sound technician from Kerala, won the Oscar in the Sound Mixing category. The film went on to bag the award for Best Film, Best Director for Danny Boyle and Best Adapted Screenplay for Simon Beaufoy. Congress President Sonia Gandhi congratulated the 'Slumdog Millionaire' team, particularly Rehman and Resul Pookutty. "I am delighted that A.R. Rehman and Resul Pookutty have won this year's much coveted Oscars for music and sound editing. They have done India proud, as have all the Indian actors, technicians and support staff who participated in the making of 'Slumdog Millionaire'," Gandhi said in a statement. "They represent the finest traditions of our film industry and are an inspiration to all of us," she said.

Home minister P. Chidambaram favoured tax exemption to two Oscars bagged by Rahman for 'Slumdog Millionaire'. "If the Oscars carry a cash award, I will recommend to the finance minister that it should be exempt from taxation," Chidambaram, who is also former finance minister, said.

When asked whether such tax exemption would be given, CBDT chairman S.S.N. Moorthy refused a direct reply, saying this is a policy decision. As Rahman and Pookutty scripted history, members of the film fraternity joined voices to applaud the enviable feat achieved by the duo.

Lyricist Gulzar, who penned the Oscar-winning song 'Jai ho' for which Rahman won an Oscar, said, "It is a great thing to be a part of this composition which has won an award. It is an extra happiness and extra thrill for me." "My first reaction was surprise and thrill but as soon as the programme started my bet was on Rahman. I am very happy for Resul, another Indian technician who brought home the Oscar," said Gulzar, whose name was mentioned by the award presenter Alicia Keys while announcing the nominees.

Chennai, the home city of Rahman, erupted into spontaneous celebrations as the music maestro bagged two Oscars for his score in 'Slumdog Millionaire' at the 81st Academy Awards. As TV channels flashed the news of the Mozart of Madras bagging the coveted award, his fans celebrated it cutting cakes, distributing sweets and bursting crackers. Family members of Rahman and his fans cut a huge cake right in the middle of the street opposite his house in the Kodambakkam area and burst "10,000 wala" crackers. Students of several city colleges also joined the celebrations distributing sweets while the film fraternity, including leading singers, hailed his achievement.