HYDERABAD: The iconic figure of modern Indian music industry, Allah Rakha Rahman, who has won two Oscars for Slumdog Millionaire, was honoured at a special function organised in the city on Saturday.And felicitating him was no less than P Susheela, the melody queen and legendary playback singer who ruled the south Indian film industry for over half a century. Honouring his success at the Baftas and the Oscars, the eminent singer admired Rahman’s greatest melodies like Anjali Anjali Pushpanjali, Vande Mataram and Jai Ho. “Rahman’s compositions are pieces of art and the meanings are beautifully explained in his songs,’’ she said.
Recollecting the times when they had worked together, Susheela said Rahman had once insisted on her that she come at once for recording a song barely 24 hours after she had returned form America.
Talking about the encouragement he provides to budding singers, she said, “The singers introduced by Rahman are all talented and have all carved a niche in their career.’’ Praising his mother, Karima Begum, for inculcating good qualities in her son, Susheela said, “Rahman would have been born in a ‘golden time’. I noticed him as a boy who was always shy and barely spoke.
The boy has now grown into a giant winning such laurels as Oscar.’’ Acknowledging the special honour and the deafening applause, the Mozart of Madras said, ``If I adore any singer in the world it is she (Susheela). It is out of love for her that I am here. I feel completely special, it is a great honour and a dream come true for me.’’ Tracing the roots of his career to the Telugu land, he said, ``When I was a beginner and studying eleventh standard, I got a call from Ramesh Naidu to work with him. With my mother’s consent I left the school and started chasing my dreams. Composer Koti had supported me for six years and am very grateful to this place.’’ Thanking the people of Hyderabad for loving his music, he said, ``My career and my life started here and coming back here is like coming a full circle, God is great!’’ Rendering the Oscar-winning song Jai Ho, he left the audience clap with delight.
Rahman was honoured with a golden crown and a shawl. Noted Telugu poet and film lyricist C Narayana Reddy bestowed the title Sur Shahenshah on the composer.
``If Rahman were born ten years before, he would have set my songs to tune,’’ the Jnanpeeth awardee said. Winning the Oscar was like ek teer se do nishana, Reddy said, explaining that Rahman had won two Oscars at once, a remarkable achievement.
