Original song: ‘Jai Ho’ from ‘Slumdog Millionaire,’ by A.R. Rahman and Sampooran Singh Gulzar

A.R. Rahman (music) and Gulzar (lyrics)

“Jai Ho”

“Jai Ho” was one of two songs composed by Rahman that was nominated for original song from “Slumdog Millionaire.” It beat out the other song, “O Saya,” which was punctuated with stylish vocals from M.I.A., as well as Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman’s “Down to Earth” from “Wall-E.”

“Jai Ho” was the more accessible of the two “Slumdog” songs, an uplifting theme also threaded with tension. With lyrics by Sampooran Singh Gulzar, who often goes by the singular name Gulzar, “Jai Ho” was one of eight awards for “Slumdog Millionaire” and Rahman’s second Oscar of the night.