Boyle gave me great recognition: Longinus

New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS) Longinus Fernandes would have been just another Indian choreographer striving to make it big if Danny Boyle hadn't signed him on for "Slumdog Millionaire" and mentioned his name in his Oscar acceptance speech. Fernandes is now on cloud nine with his newly found fame.

"If I can consider someone close to god, then that has to be Danny Boyle. I've been in this industry for 16 years but it is he who has made me somebody," Fernandes told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

"By remembering me and thanking me at a global platform like the Oscars, he has not only won my heart but also my family's. He has given me international recognition and I'll always be grateful to him for that," he said.

The dance director, who did not attend the Academy Awards ceremony at Los Angeles, said he is extremely happy that "Jai Ho", which was choreographed by him, won an Oscar. He has also choreographed "O Saaya", the other song in the rags-to-riches drama.

Fernandes, who has choreographed songs in Bollywood films like "Corporate", "Khushi", "Satta" and "Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na", bagged "Slumdog Millionaire" through the film's production head.

"Amar Butala, who I had earlier worked with, recommended me to Danny. I went prepared but all Danny saw was one of my previous works, and I was on," he said.

Fernandes is convinced that the recognition the song has got will open new doors for him. He is confident that more people will recognise his work now.

So what was his approach while directing the hit song?

"I'm a very simple person and simplicity is what I like reflecting in my dance too. I direct each song from the bottom of my heart because I want the audience to understand what I have prepared. The common man should be able to follow it," explained Fernandes.

He was all praise for Danny Boyle's style of working too.

"Danny gave me total freedom. He told me, 'My artists can't dance and now it's your job to make them do whatever you feel is right, even if it is a simple thing'. He taught me to go with the wind. He just asked me to be myself," said Fernandes.

Another opportunity that "Slumdog�" gave him, he said, was choreographing a song composed by music maestro A.R. Rahman.

"When you choreograph a song composed by A.R. Rahman, you can't afford to go wrong. Every dancer wants to choreograph his songs and I got this opportunity by a fluke. I didn't even know that he was the composer for the film when I came on board," he added.

The choreographer, who became a known face through dance reality show "Jhalak Dikhla Ja", is on a roll with another international project, which will go on floor March 5. He is, however, restrained from divulging any details.

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