Inching closer towards an Oscar, composer A R Rahman today got himself nominated for three Academy awards for his score in British-Indian movie "Slumdog Millionaire", which was also shortlisted for seven other categories, including best film and best director.
"Something good is happening and I am really happy about it," was the reaction of Rahman, who became the first Indian to win a triple Oscar nomination.
Rahman was nominated for Best Original Score and the numbers 'Jai Ho' and 'O Saya' were shortlisted for the Best Original Song.
Close on the heels of the dual-language film winning four Golden Globes, including one for Rahman, earlier this month, Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy were shortlisted for best director and best adapted screenplay categories.
The film also won nominations in cinematography, sound mixing, sound editing and film editing.
David Fincher's romantic periodical "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", starring Brad Pitt, topped this year's race with a whopping 13 nominations.
The nominations were announced at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Samuel Goldwyn Theatre by Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker. The winners will be named on February 22 at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.
Only two Indian have won the coveted Oscar till date -- Bhanu Athaiya (for costume design in "Gandhi") and Satyajit Ray, who was given an honorary Oscar for his contribution to films.
