Resul Pokutty dedicates Padma Shri to technician community

New Delhi: Academy award-winning sound artiste Resul Pokutty, who has been chosen for this year`s Padma Shri, dedicated the honour to the country`s technician community who "silently and stridently" work away from the limelight.

The Kerala-born Pokutty who brought home the coveted Oscar trophy for his work in the Mumbai-based potboiler `Slumdog Millionaire` said that he was extremely happy and grateful for the recognition. "I feel humbled and elated, it is one of the highest civilian honour of India. I am happy that the award recognises an entire community of technicians who have not been heard before, having silently and stridently kept working behind the scenes," Pookutty told reporters. The 38-year-old also took the opportunity to thank British director Danny Boyle, whose 2008 film became instrumental in bringing three Oscars to India, two for musician AR Rahman and one for Pokutty. "I have to thank Danny Boyle and Christian Colson (the film`s producer). They took me and Rahman from literally nowhere to everything," said Pokutty. The technician who is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures also congratulated Rahman for his Padma Bhushan win. "Every award that Rahman gets is very well deserved. I am sure that in years to come he will start picking up Oscars at the same rate that he wins Filmfare awards," he said. PTI