/> The awards season has begun in right earnest. And the outcome of the first popular awards at GIFA has left its own trail of mixed responses.

Rakeysh Mehra is more amused than exasperated than by the award for best film and best director being split into two. "These things happen. I've no quibble with Lage Raho Munnabhai getting honoured. It's a fine film."

But the 'best film' going to Lage Raho...Munnabhai has evidently confused 'best director' Rakeysh. "All I can say is, there're some strange things happening in this world. I'm more amused than anything else. But I'm baffled by some of the categories of awards. But no complaints. Kuala Lampur was fun,and the hospitality was heartwarming."

The Rang De Basanti director's joy at his songs going to the Oscars knows no bounds. "Isn't it fantastic for A.R Rahman that three of his songs are going to the Oscars? And two of them are from my film.

I'm pretty certain Indian popular music is destined to make an international impact, provided it's divorced from our cinema. But since the music remains wedded to the screenplay its impact is often somewhat restricted. We need to liberate our music from cinema."

In the same breath Rakeysh admits there's a certain universality to the songs in Rang De Basanti. "When Lataji sings Lukka chuppi it's every mother singing to every child. Khalbalee is a song song that expresses the youth's anxieties."

Even as he readies himself for a prolonged season of awards Rakeysh is immersed in pre-production work for his next film Delhi 6 to be shot April onwards in Delhi. The cast is yet to be firmed in. "But locations and all other details are fully worked out."