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28 March 2024

UAE-based filmmaker's songs in race for Oscars

3 songs from the movie 'DAM999' qualify for The Academy. (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Ajanta Paul

UAE-based Indian expat director Sohan Roy's movie 'Dam999' made it among the 39 qualifying original songs in this year's race to Oscar.

Thirty-nine songs from eligible feature-length motion pictures are in contention for nominations in the Original Song category for the 84th Academy Awards. With a handful of big names in the running -- 'Dam999' made its cut.

Director Sohan Roy said, "It’s really a proud moment for us and we had full confidence in the music of 'Dam999' as we created the songs with a vision towards the Oscars."

Three films are tied for the most submissions, with three songs each: 'The Muppets,' 'Rio' and 'Dam999'.

'Dakkanaga Dugu Dugu', 'DAM999 Theme Song' and 'Mujhe Chod Ke' are the three songs selected from the movie.

The theme song was sung by Suchith Sureshan and Suvi Suresh. 'Dakkanaga Dugu Dugu' was sung by Suchith, Shakthisree. Renouned Indian vocalist Hariharan lends his voice for the song 'Mujhe Chod Ke'.

The director Sohan Roy himself penned down all the lyrics.

Ousephachan composed the tunes for the movie. He is the winner of the 2007 National Film Award (India) for music direction. This music maestro is also an expert violinist. Ousephachan was associated with Academy winner AR Rahman for most of his films in the late 80s.

Centuries old Vedic chants have been used to perfection to blend with the modern instruments for international music.

Dam999’s screenplay has already been selected to be placed in the archives of Oscar’s Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, providing students, filmmakers and writers with access to the screenplay.

"It is Roy's dream to get a Oscar nomination and all the hard work looks like paying off as he is just one step away from the nomination." says Shyam Kurup, Chief Operating Officer, BizTV Network.

Biztv Network’s 'Dam999' is the story of a set of people who are faced with their own personal tragedies till disaster strikes in the form of a new dam breaking apart, taking many lives in the aftermath.

The movie was released in five different languages — English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Kannada, amidst water controversy in India. The Indian state of Tamil Nadu has decided to suspend the screening of the film by six months.

The competition in the Oscars' Best Original Song category could come down to Elton John vs. Mary J. Blige, or Jonsi vs. Chris Cornell, or Zooey Deschanel vs. Glenn Close, or Elvis Costello vs. will.i.am.

Songs from movies including "The Help," "The Muppets," "Machine Gun Preacher" and "Cars 2" are among 39 contenders for nominations in the Oscars' best original song category.

To be eligible, a song must consist of words and music, both of which are original and written specifically for the film. A clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition of both lyric and melody must be used in the body of the film or as the first music cue in the end credits.
 
Nominations will be announced January 24, and the Oscars will be presented February 26, 2012.

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