Oscar-winning sound editor is going back to college to complete his law degree

Resul Pookutty, who won the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing for Slumdog Millionaire in 2008, is a busy man.

He is not only rendering sound for Shah Rukh Khan's Ra.One and working on several international projects including Last Vision, but he is also caught up completing his law degree.

Why will a world-famous sound editor and designer go back to college? "It was my father's last desire to see me as a lawyer.

Post Oscar, I requested Kerela University for a mercy chance to appear for three papers I could not give in the final year owing to my mom's ill health in 1991, " says Resul, who appeared for the papers last Thursday.

Against the family

It's been 20 years since he chucked education mid-way at the Government Law College, Thiruvananthpuram, and joined the Film and Television Institute (FTII), Pune, much against his parents' wishes.

Currently, shuttling between Los Angeles, London, Jaipur, Mumbai and Kerala for work purpose, RP is grateful for the chance he was given by the univ.

"The earlier date for the exam was cancelled a strike in Kerala last month. I had to request the Vice Chancellor to reschedule the exam on a date suiting me, " says the 40-year-old.

No time to study

"I barely managed to study. I carried hefty books all the time. I had to steal time in between flights and schedules. It's a great feeling to complete all the pending three papers. I can finally fulfill my dad's last vision, " the first Asian to get a technical award at Oscars adds.

Interestingly, it wasn't just Resul, who took advantage of the mercy chance to complete their exams.

Amongst the other students who appeared for the exams were four times Member of Parliament Kodikunnil Suresh, renowned actor-director Balachandra Menon and Congress leader Sarath Chandra Prasad