Mumbai slums hail Slumdog Millionaire's Oscar triumph
Among those following the Academy Awards with baited breath were hundreds of slumdwellers from the impoverished Mumbai neighbourhood that supplied the child stars who helped make Slumdog Millionaire the evening's outstanding winner.
Scores of people gathered to watch the Oscars ceremony on television in the tiny ramshackle hutments of Garib Nagar, the area where the film's British director, Danny Boyle, found Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10, and Rubina Ali Qureshi, 9, who play the film's lead characters as children.
The announcement that Slumdog had won the award for best picture was greeted with whoops of joy by locals who hope that that the film's success – it won eight awards in all – will rub off on them.
Rubina's mother told The Times: "It is not just important for my daughter that the film won, though she did work really hard: it was important for all of India.
Yakub Abdul Sheikh, a neighbour of Azharuddin's family for 40 years, said: "We prayed to the almighty that the movie would do well at the Oscars and that it could brighten the future of these children."
Garib Nagar, a litter-strewn stretch of shantytown next to a train track, is about as far removed from the red carpet of the glittering Oscar awards ceremony as it is possible to get.
Azharuddin's real-life story plays testament to the hardship's endured by many of Mumbai's slum dwellers. His father usually earns 50-100 rupees a day selling scrap wood, but has been in hospital recently with tuberculosis. His family were recently evicted from their hut and they now live under a tarpaulin on the edge of a slum.
"He's supposed to be the hero in the movie, but look how he's living," his mother, Shameem Ismail, said last week.
On a normal day, dozens of small children run around half naked while flea bitten street dogs suckle their pups. The scenes today were of jubilation, with the families of the child actors feeding each other sweets in celebration.
India was also celebrating the success of A R Rahman, Bollywood's best known composer, who scooped the Oscars for Best Original Music Score and Best Song, cementing his place as a national hero.
Scores of people gathered to watch the Oscars ceremony on television in the tiny ramshackle hutments of Garib Nagar, the area where the film's British director, Danny Boyle, found Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10, and Rubina Ali Qureshi, 9, who play the film's lead characters as children.
The announcement that Slumdog had won the award for best picture was greeted with whoops of joy by locals who hope that that the film's success – it won eight awards in all – will rub off on them.
Rubina's mother told The Times: "It is not just important for my daughter that the film won, though she did work really hard: it was important for all of India.
Yakub Abdul Sheikh, a neighbour of Azharuddin's family for 40 years, said: "We prayed to the almighty that the movie would do well at the Oscars and that it could brighten the future of these children."
Garib Nagar, a litter-strewn stretch of shantytown next to a train track, is about as far removed from the red carpet of the glittering Oscar awards ceremony as it is possible to get.
Azharuddin's real-life story plays testament to the hardship's endured by many of Mumbai's slum dwellers. His father usually earns 50-100 rupees a day selling scrap wood, but has been in hospital recently with tuberculosis. His family were recently evicted from their hut and they now live under a tarpaulin on the edge of a slum.
"He's supposed to be the hero in the movie, but look how he's living," his mother, Shameem Ismail, said last week.
On a normal day, dozens of small children run around half naked while flea bitten street dogs suckle their pups. The scenes today were of jubilation, with the families of the child actors feeding each other sweets in celebration.
India was also celebrating the success of A R Rahman, Bollywood's best known composer, who scooped the Oscars for Best Original Music Score and Best Song, cementing his place as a national hero.
Comments
Shouldn't there be public outcry about this?
They are largely responsible for its success and should reap some of the benefits!
The two little kids go back to the slums after being paid 30 days work. WTF?
Why does this piss me off so much?
Most of what I read about the movie celebrated the child actors ... they really made a huge part of the movie. They pulled on everyone heart-strings and gave the audience the foundation for Jamal's life. Here's 30 days pay now go back to the slums ... have fun in your makeshift plastic tent ... thanks for the Oscar .. and thanks for looking cute on stage.
I think I hate this movie now.