Posted by Namita Bhandare:
A flat joke about his ‘ma’ and a bland generalisation about love. Here’s the acceptance speech that I would have written for A.R. Rahman for his two-Oscar win for best song (Jai Ho) and best soundtrack (for Slumdog Millionaire).
“Jai Ho to this wonderful audience and to audiences everywhere, including at home in India.
This award represents something awesome. For me, it is the recognition that Indian sounds are truly global. And just as the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sahib took the sounds of his native Pakistan and mixed it to a world beat, working with the talented Peter Gabriel who is my co-nominee for his work in Wall-E, I too hope to be able to use my music to unite one world in one harmonious sound.
Slumdog Millionaire, as you know, is set in Mumbai which was the venue of a devastating terrorist strike on November 26. I don’t wish to trade charges or get into a blame game but I do wish to point out that Slumdog Millionaire is ultimately an affirmative film about hope and love and optimism. This is also the spirit of Mumbai which rose to the challenge of responding to the strikes. And this is also the spirit of human beings everywhere in the world: we will not be cowed down by terror.
[Insert para of people to be thanked, including mother, Danny Boyle etc]
Finally, I wish to thank Allah. I know many of you in this audience are victims of Fox News propaganda. I wish to assure you that the vast, vast majority of Muslims in the world are people like me – people who go about doing their jobs quietly and honestly; people who pray for a better world through music and through love.
Thank you.”
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Bravo.
Brilliant Namita. That is exactly what was required. Err, ever considered applying for a job as a speech writer to the stars?!
All stars welcome to apply — payment against hard currency only! But hey, Andrew, thanks.