A.R. Rahman uses 'Choli Ke Peeche' track from Khalnayak in Slumdog Millionaire

Rahman, currently in the charts for his haunting ballads 'Tu Muskura' and 'Tu Meri Dost Hai' in Yuvvraaj, is very happy about the international success of Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire. "The success means something positive for Indian tourism. It's brought India to the cultural map again," he smiles.

Though Pyarelal, the surviving-half of the legendary Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo doesn't know it yet, Subhash Ghai knows the big secret. What secret? The controversial chartbuster 'Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai' which Laxmi-Pyare composed for Subhash Ghai's Khalnayak is now part of Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire.

Says Rahman, "The song fitted the mood of the film. It represents that period in the early 1990s... The colour, the swirl and the frenetic pace. So I've re-recorded it in the same two voices Alka Yagnik and Ila Arun, though in a totally re-worked form."

The song will feature in the Slumdog soundtrack when it releases in December. Why is the soundtrack being released after release of the film? "As usual, we took a little more time on it than we thought we needed to produce the album properly, " says Rahman sheepishly, having to live down the not-unfairly earned reputation of being tardy in delivering the complete score. "The sound track is being released on December 12."

He's very excited by the impact that his music in Slumdog Millionaire has made on Westerners. "They released it on a small scale and are gradually increasing the prints. Slumdog releases in America next month. I'll be in the US for the promotion."

Besides the background score, Rahman has done 4 songs in Slumdog Millionaire. "I've also collaborated with rap artist Maya. We co-wrote a song called 'Oh Saya'. She wrote the English lyrics. There's also a version of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's 'Aaj Ki Raat' in the soundtrack."

Slumdog Millionaire is Rahman's second big Western film score after Shekhar Kapoor's The Golden Age. "But that was a period film... a genre that I've been unconsciously associated with the most. Slumdog... is contemporary."

2008 has been plush with projects for Rahman. "I've worked with three generations of directors, and in as many continents. I can tell what they like and dislike. Working with Abbas Tyrewala in Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na was a rewarding experience. Yes, I’ll be doing Abbas' next. I'm as proud of 'Pappu Can't Dance Saala' as 'Tu Muskura'