Rahman hopes DAM 999 brings back Oscar

Oscar-winning Indian composer AR Rahman hopes Sohan Roy’s DAM 999, which stands to win nominations in the Best Film and Best Original Song categories at the 84th Academy Awards, will bring laurels to the nation just as he did for his work in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.“It’s very exciting and I want someone to join my league,” Rahman told reporters here on the sidelines of the music launch of Ek Deewana Tha.What better than the symbol of love, the Taj Mahal, as the backdrop to the launch of a romantic music album, said Rahman after the launch.“The movie has so many romantic songs, so what can be the perfect way to project my songs with Taj as a backdrop. I always want people to recognise my music and this is what I am trying to do (through this album),” Rahman told reporters here on the sidelines of the music launch.“The film is the perfect expression of love and that’s what the songs speak,” he added. Rahman was accompanied by the film’s cast, Prateik and Amy Jackson. Directed by Gautham Menon, the film revolves around an aspiring filmmaker from Mumbai, who falls in love with a woman from a strict orthodox Christian family. It is the remake of Tamil film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, which was also directed by Menon. DAM 999 is among 265 films contending for the Best Picture nomination at the Oscars.Besides, three of its songs are among 39 shortlisted numbers that are up for nomination in the Original Song category.The three songs from the film that are vying to be in the final nomination list are “Dakkanaga Dugu Dugu,” “DAM 999 Theme Song” and “Mujhe Chhod Ke.” “I hope one of the songs wins the Oscar trophy,” said Rahman.He picked the double honour for Best Original Score and Best Original Song (“Jai Ho”).He was also nominated for the Oscar this year for 127 Hours, but lost it to Randy Newman, who won it for “We Belong Together” in “Toy Story 3”.For now, everyone is upbeat about the fate of DAM 999 at the announcement of the final 84th Academy Awards nominations on Jan 24, 2012, at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theatre.