AR Rahman's students' songs shortlisted at Oscars

CHENNAI: Their mentor and Mozart of Madras, A.R.Rahman had won two Oscars in 2009 for the film Slumdog Millionaire for Best Original Score and Best Original Song. Now, an ensemble of student musicians from AR Rahman’s music academy KM Music Conservatory - A.H. Kaashif, Jerry Silvester Vincent and N. D Santhosh of Qutub-E-Kirpaa -have been shortlisted for the Best Original Song at the 2018 Academy Awards.

The three numbers shortlisted from the Hollywood film Lake of Fire directed by Raj Thiru Selvan include I ‘ll be Gone, Have you Ever Wondered and We’ll Party All Night.

Qutub-E-Kirpaa, who had been co-credited with A. R. Rahman for the background scores of O Kadhal Kanmani and 24, have now been working in 2017 Shankar’s high budget venture starring Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar 2.0.

An excited Fathima Rafiq, Director of KM Conservatory and sister of ARR said, “Being the beginning of the 10th year of KM Academy, I feel so happy and blessed to know that our students’ compositions have been short listed for 90th Oscars . We sent 3 songs and the background score of the movie. We were surprised to know that all are short-listed. The director Raj Thiruselvan was very encouraging and he was mentioning that we would go to Oscars and Grammy all the time during the recording. His positive words have brought us to this level.”

She adds, “My brother and principal DR A. R. Rahman is the man behind this success he wanted to give a platform to the younger generation and also made it through the production company Qutub E Kirpaa . This is the beginning and we are hoping we will get more opportunities and success by the grace of God.”

Apparently A.H Kaashif is Rahman’s nephew and Fathima’s son. Talking about his effort she said, “Kaashif did the number ‘I’ll be gone’ which is a love song and the melody was very smooth.  Riangali Bowmick has sung the song. Kaashif always comes and asks me to hear the tune once he composes. I give him the feedbacks. This opportunity was director Raj’s choice. He heard the Po Po single of him and he insisted Kaashif does one song in this movie.”

Rahman’s yet another sister and composer Isshrathquadhre who has also composed the motivational song Kanavugal Palithidum in Lake of Fire says, “I feel extremely happy that my team members have been short-listed at the Oscars. All the 6 composers have done hard work and now you are seeing its results. The director of the movie was very confident that our compositions would make it at Oscars. It has come to the first level. All credits goes to my anna Rahmanji as they are all products of his school.”