'Slumdog' bags 8 Oscars

Slumdog Millionaire has turned out to be the big winner at the 81st Academy Awards, with the Mozart of Madras, AR Rahman, bringing home two awards with his Jai Ho... composition. The film won in the following categories

- Best Adapted Screenplay

- Best cinematography

- Best Sound mixing

- Best Film Editing

- Best Original Score

- Best Original Song

- Best Direction

- Best Motion Picture.

The best part is that the little ones were also there to share in the fame, including my absolute favourite: adorable Ayush. Now that's a far cry from that squat toilet scene. The boy is such a sweet sight for sore eyes.

I say Mr Bachan, eat your heart out.

Photo credits: AP

Real 'Slumdog' heroes off to Hollywood

As two children from the Indian slums of Mumbai - Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail - who shot to fame in the film Slumdog Millionaire are on their way to the Oscars ceremony in the US, controvery surrounding their pay grows stronger.

Living legend Amitabh Bachan criticised the film on his blog, but now claims the remarks were only meant to stir a debate. Right ... Fortunately, another Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan lashed out at his fellow countrymen and feels 'Slumdog' does portray India in an appealing way.

And then there is the controversy regarding the wages. Azaharuddin's parents feel their son - who plays the youngest version of Salim - was exploited and claim they know nothing about any trust fund. Azaruddin's father said he has already all the money. Reports about what these kids earned vary. In the BBC video Azhar's dad says that all the money they were given has already been used up. And they want more.

Rubina Ali, who plays the youngest version of Latika, and her family seem more content. The two kids are said to visit Disneyland after rubbing shoulders on the red carpet with the posh and pampered of Tinseltown.

Oh well, probably a story to be continued.

Do see the BBC videoclip which shows where these two gorgeous kids live.

Photo credits
Azaruddin Ismail, from movies.indiatimes.com
Rubina Ali, by Gautam Singh, AP

And the winner is ...

Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, the adorable eight-year-old boy who plays the youngest version of Jamal Malik in Slumdog Millionaire and who jumps into a latrine - filled with shit - just to get an autograph of his idol Indian actor Amitabh Bachan. Of course, it was chocolate they made Ayush jump into ;-)

Rewind. Just got back from Rotterdam where I saw the film Slumdog Millionaire. For what it's worth, this film rocks from beginning to end. The fabulous musical score. The story line which in itself is practically a fairy tale. The vibrant colours - whether from the awesome Taj Mahal or the unspeakable squalor of the slums - bringing to life the magic of India.

Much of Slumdog's sparkle must be credited to Ayush Mahesh Khedekar (youngest Jamal), Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail (youngest Salim) and Rubina Ali (yougest Latika). And they are good!!! No acting experience whatsoever. The latter two are simply two kids from the slums of Mumbai. No worries. These lovelies have now been put into schools and a trust fund was set up for them so that when they finish school they can pursue their studies and hopefully thus ensure a better life. In my humble opinion, a far better investment than simply giving the parents a lump sum of money.

True, not everyone is happy with Slumdog. For one thing, legendary superstar Amitabh Bachchan has criticised Slumdog Millionaire for portraying India as a “Third World dirty underbelly developing nation”.

If you are really desperate for some Bollywood song and dance... well, then you had better wait until the closing credits, for the best is saved for last.

Photo credits

courtesy Imdb.com and Goldderby LA Times

Update back and forth

14 February 1989: fatwa for Salman Rushdie due to the Satanic Verses
14 February 2005: the killing of former Lebanese PM Rafiq Hariri
14 February 2009: Valentine's Day

So sorry for the radio silence, the reason being that Sharida got tricked into presenting a two hour LIVE radio talk show called Oba Live (major gulp)!

I have been doing this since January and believe you me, the first time I was so incredibly nervous, I hardly took in anything the guests were saying. The jitters are getting less, but still...

Oba Live is broadcast every Tuesday evening from 19.00 to 21.00 hrs by NMO/NIO (Radio 5). And if you thought this was radio, well think again mates, because you can actually watch this live on the net. What's worse, the internet streams remain available for eternity. So if you can't wait to see me stammering away through the programme, simply go to NMO.nl.

Anyway, back to my favourite topic: my teenage students at Het Baken. Saw most of my lovelies last Thursday and felt utterly happy afterwards.

And the happiness continues. First, I finished reading the Dutch translation of a wonderful book called Dewey - The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched The World. This is the story about Dewey, an abandoned kitten from Spencer, Iowa, who transforms a sleepy library, inspires a classic American town, and captures the hearts of animal lovers everywhere.

Unfortunately, Dewey died a couple of years ago, but he's got his own website if you want to know more about this cute ginger cat.

And from Dewey to Slumdog Millionaire, the film I am finally going to see tomorrow. Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British drama film directed by Danny Boyle, co-directed by Loveleen Tandan, and written by Simon Beaufoy. It is an adaptation of the Boeke Prize-winning novel Q & A (2005) by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup.

Set and filmed in India, Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of a young man from the slums of Mumbai who appears on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (Kaun Banega Crorepati, mentioned in the Hindi version) and exceeds people's expectations, arousing the suspicions of the game show host and of law enforcement officials.

Slumdog Millionaire won five Critics' Choice Awards, four Golden Globes and seven BAFTA Awards, including Best Film, and has been nominated for ten Academy Awards. The film is also the subject of controversy concerning its portrayal of India and Hinduism as well as the treatment of its child actors.

Source: Wikipedia