Music director Mychael Danna won an Oscar in the Best Original Score category for his work in Ang Lee's Life Of Pi, about a shipwrecked Indian boy.

Danna has had a very close collaboration with Lee as they have worked together in the past for films like The Ice Storm and Ride with the Devil.

Life Of Pi, which is based in India and stars Bollywood actors Irrfan Khan and Tabu, follows the story of a young boy who is lost in the ocean on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger for some 200-odd days.

Danna, who is married to Indian origin Aparna Danna, spent more than a year working on the music for the film with Lee, at first discussing the philosophical elements of Yann Martel's novel, on which the movie is based.

The orchestra was recorded in LA on the 20th Century Fox lot, while various other elements were recorded around the world.

The first composed piece for the film was the song Pi's Lullaby, which he wrote with the South Indian singer Bombay Jayashri.

Danna, who is known for creating distinctive and layered musical palettes, has had a longtime fascination with India as he has previously worked with Indian origin filmmakers Deepa Mehta for Water and Mira Nair for Monsoon Wedding.

Danna recently won a Golden Globe for his Life Of Pi score.