Rasul Pookutty wins BAFTA award

Slumdog Millionaire, based on India's diplomat-author Vikas Swarup's novel Q&A, emerged as the biggest winner at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards (BAFTA) on Sunday evening, taking home the prize in seven categories: Best Film, Best Director, Original Screenplay, Music, Cinematography, Editing and Sound. The awards ceremony was held at London's Royal Opera House.

Danny Boyle won the best director award; India's music maestro A.R. Rahman won the award in the best music score category. Besides Rahman, Keralite sound technician Rasul Pookutty received the prize for the best sound. "I am humbled and honoured and this is great news for all technicians back home," Pookutty reportedly said after winning the award. A.R. Rahman and Rasul Pookutty are the first Indians to win the BAFTA award.

Rahman's composition 'Jai Ho' for Slumdog Millionaire earned him the Critics' Choice Award for Best Composer in 2008 and the Golden Globe in the category of Best Original Score. The British Academy Film Awards, presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, is considered England's version of the Academy Awards. The film, which received 10 Oscar nominations, is now poised to win laurels at the Oscars on February 22.