Oscar nomination a great honour: Maya Arulpragasam

Maya Arulpragasam, or M.I.A. -- as the Oscar-nominated British rapper of Tamil origin is known -- has a quite eventful month of February ahead.

The London-born Sri Lankan singer-songwriter has been nominated for the Academy Award in the category of Best Original Song for the track from Slumdog Millionaire O Saya, a collaboration with Indian composer AR Rahman. Last month, she had scooped a Grammy nod for her hit "Paper Planes".

The 31-year-old is looking forward to something more with her first child due next month, around the same time as the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on February 8.

The Academy Awards function will be held two weeks later, on February 22.

M.I.A, who released her debut album 'Arular' in 2005 but tasted success with her second album, 'Kala' in 2007, is overwhelmed about the Oscar nomination.

"This is a great honour. Thank you to all the people who are supporting us and the making of a real story of a 'Slumdog Millionaire,... my mum wants everyone to know what wonderful news this is for her," she was quoted as saying by MTV.com.

In a media interview earlier this month, M.I.A. had voiced her admiration for Rahman.

"When I was young as a kid, he was one of my idols. He is great and I enjoyed working with him. He takes music to a different place for me," she had said.