As A R Rahman and Resul Pookutty scripted history by picking up three Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire, members of the film fraternity here 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.
"What a film and what a team to work with. The spirit of the film is reflected in its team," he said and crediting Rahman with "changing the entire face of Indian film music".
Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar hailed Rahman saying, "May he win such an award every year. He is a genius. Rahman's music is a blend of a little South Indian music and what we commonly call Hindi film music."
Sister and veteran singer Asha Bhonsle, who has sung for Rahman in many films, said, "Rahman is a genius and has made the world sit up and take notice of Indian talent with his success. He has put the Indian film industry on the world map."
Asha said her close association with the ace music composer began in 1995 when she first sang Rangeela re from Ram Gopal Varma's Rangeela. "I have seen him grow and I am very happy with his achievement," she said.
Percussionist Sivamani, who has closely worked with the maestro since the very beginning, said," It is wonderful. Rahman has made every Indian proud. He deserves each Oscar that he has won. He won it because of his talent, his dedication, his simplicity and humility. We all should be proud."
South Indian composer M K Arjunan, who gave Rahman his first musical break by giving him a chance to play keyboards in a film, said, "I knew that this boy would make it big in the music world." A close friend of Rahman's father R K Sekhar, Arjuna said besides being a born talent, his dedication, hard work and ability to pay attention to the minutest detail had helped Rahman to emerge as a musical legend of contemporary India.
R Madhavan, who has featured in many of Rahman's songs said, "This is just the beginning and Rahman you will take India and your music to great extent in the years to come."
Lyricist Prasoon Joshi said, "I think it is not his best work. He has done much better work in the past but this will lead people in the West to look up to the other works that Rahman and India have done."
