Having to chose between two of its babies, Fox Searchlight is evidently purposely underselling M.I.A.’s “Slumdog Millionaire,” track, “O Saya,” in favor of the solo A.R. Rahman track, “Jai Ho,” according to the Golden Derby.
Why would they do such a thing? Well, both ‘Slumdog’ songs are nominated in the Academy Awards’ Best Song category, and Fox Searchlight doesn’t want to split the vote so they are putting what they feel is their best foot forward.
How do we know it’s M.I.A’s track with Rahman that is getting the short thrift? Oscar voters recently receive received their campaign CD and missing from the disc was her original contribution to the soundtrack (one that she came out of retirement to write).
Evidently Fox Searchlight feels, the bouncy “Jai Ho” has more Oscar potential, and while it’s a fabulously fun track (it’s from the celebratory Bollywood dance sequence at the end of the film), it’s the M.I.A/Rahman collaboration that’s actually the stronger track and much more indicative of the film’s thrilling tone.
How does Interscope feel about this? Director Danny Boyle? How does M.I.A. — an expectant mom any minute now — feel about this? No word so far, but we’re sure these reports will force them to address it in some manner. Again, Oscar politics raise their ugly head. Listen to both tracks head to head and gauge for yourself.
O…Saya and M.I.A for lyf.
Jai Ho, while most likely to win even before this endeavor, is so not even close to being the best track from Slumdog.
That’s so stupid. Why whore yourself for an Oscar? What exactly comes with an Oscar anyway? I mean it’s not like this song will be able to go work in more films now that it has won an Oscar!
They should’ve grabbed their balls and picked O..Saya, it is the better song. As chaotic as it is, it’s still more cohesive than Jai Ho.
I love the cut Ringa Ringa, and it has great kinda suggestive but poetic lyrics.
I first liked Jai Ho a LOT more than O…Saya, and Sukhwinder Singh is one of my favorite singers. Hard to root against him, one of the top singers in India.
O…Saya just happens to be the absolute perfect tempo for my walking for exercise (iPod). That means I have been listening to it a lot and it has been growing on me.
I’ll be happy if either song wins. Then maybe people will look to all of ARR’s other fantastic film music: Guru, Rang de Basanti, Lagaan, Jodhaa-Akbar, Swades, Dil Se, the new and great Delhi-6…the list is very long and deserves an audience outside south Asia and the NRI community worldwide.