New Delhi/Mumbai: 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.
"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."
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.
Similar scenes of celebrations were witnessed at the house of Rahman's sister Rehana in nearby Virugambakkam area.
"We were just waiting for his name to be announced. I was praying to God at that time," an elated Rehana said.
"I always wanted him to talk in Tamil after receiving the award and that is the way he spoke; I am happy about it," she said overwhelmed by joy.
Rehana said formal celebrations would be planned after Rahman's return in consultation with his managers, team and fans.
Residents of Dharavi locality here were glued to the TV screens to celebrate the magical run of 'Slumdog Millionaire,' whose backdrop is their locality.
"We plan to celebrate the win. There will be a party tonight. In fact, people are already in a celebratory mood," said Azhar Shaikh, who has been living in Dharavi for the past decade.
Danny Boyle's film is a stark look at Dharavi slum, where lakhs of people live in a square kilometre area.
Family of Rubina, who plays little Latika in the film, is readying to greet her after she returns from the Oscars ceremony.
"We will all be there at the airport when she returns," her father Rafique said.
His neighbours are also happy that the film, shot in their locality, has cornered Oscar glory.
The film had received mixed response across India as some slum dwellers found it offensive, with some critics even labelling it as "poverty porn".
Some like Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen said the movie shows reality.
"When I see 'Slumdog...', I say Mercedes as well as a bullock cart run on the streets of my country," she said.
