Posts Tagged ‘Globes’
Written by Rahul on 27 February 2009
Chennai, Feb 27 (ANI): AR Rahman, who won two Oscars for his original score and original song of the movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, termed the crowning glory as an instance that has enhanced his self respect and also his work.
“This series of awards have given me so much respect and to the kind of work. People like extraordinary composers like Davis Foster and Mike Jagger, all these legends talked to me like equals. So that is a great thing. So we can do extraordinary musical works together,” he said while interacting with media persons at an exclusive press conference here on Thursday.
The 43-year-old music maestro said that the Oscar awards gave him an opportunity to be at par with extraordinary composers.
Further, he noted that an interesting aspect of the movie is people from different countries being associated with its production, distribution and screening.
He viewed this unique angle as a unifying trend at the world level.
“What is good about the whole thing, whole element is the British director, Indian actors, South Indian composer and an American distributor and all doing the same thing. One film that unites us all,” he added.
He is the first Indian composer to strike gold at the prestigious annual Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars.
The maestro is also only the fourth in the world ever to have won two Oscars for best composition and best song in the same year.
Last month, he was named best composer at the Golden Globes.
Despite earlier international credits such as the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical ‘Bombay Dreams’, it is Rahman’s work on British director Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ that has endeared him to Western critics. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 25 February 2009
Washington, February 25 (ANI): Kate Winslet likened her Best Actress Oscar to her mum’s victory in a pickling competition at a local pub in Britain.
After having been nominated five times earlier, the actress finally won the gong for her portrayal of a German woman with a secret Nazi past in the romantic drama “The Reader”.
Speaking after the Academy Awards, the ‘Titanic’ star added her win to her family’s previous accolade at The Retreat in Reading that saw her mum taking home a bottle of vodka in place of a coveted statuette.
“My mum won a pickled onion competition in the local pub just before Christmas and the Reading Evening Post sent me a picture of her holding her jar,” Contactmusic quoted her as saying.
“Well, Reading Evening Post, here’s your next Winslet picture!” she added.
Kate also dominated this season with two Golden Globes, a Screen Actors Guild award, a British BAFTA and a handful of U.S. critics awards. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 25 February 2009
New York, Feb 25 (ANI): It’s time for all those single men to brace themselves up, for actress Megan Fox has called off her engagement with fiance Brian Austin Green, and might be on the look out for a new man very soon.
The ‘Transformers’ beauty has split with Austin Green, whom she met in 2004, and with whom she got engaged in November 2006.
“The relationship had run its course. It’s completely amicable, and they are remaining friends,” the New York Daily News quoted a source close to the couple as telling Us magazine.
The insider also revealed that Fox and Green “are both focusing on their careers.”
Earlier this year, the actress had raised eyebrows when she attended the Golden Globes without her fiance.
But Green, 35, later laughed off rumours of a split with Fox, 22, saying: “We usually go have dinner and have a glass of wine and laugh about it.”
In a recent interview at a GQ bash, the actress played down any wedding plans, and said: “It’s not going to be a big wedding. I’m not one of those girls. If it happens, it will be very low-key and quick and unplanned.”
She also dismissed rumours that she and the former ‘Beverly Hills 90210′ actor might start a family together anytime soon.
She said: “I feel like I need to set my career and do a movie other than ‘Transformers.’ Then I’ll explore family.” (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 24 February 2009
Puri, Feb 24 (ANI): Sculptures of Oscar trophies appeared on the wide expanse of Puri beach in Orissa, drawing many curious onlookers.
Created by renowned sand artiste Sudarshan Patnaik, the Oscar trophies were Patnaik’s way of expressing his happiness and congratulating the team ofSlumdog Millionaire’ on clinching eight awards at the coveted event held in Los Angeles.
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ scooped up eight early Oscar awards including best movie, best adapted screenplay, best song and best original score.
“It is a great honour for our country that it has won so many awards at the Oscars, for the first time. So, we have created eight trophies in sand to commemorate the Oscar win,” said Patnaik.
Hailing India’s high at the Oscars, Zandr, a tourist said that the sculptures gave shape to the joy of Indians at Slumdog Millionaires’ win at the Oscars.
“This gives a shape to the joy of the Indian soul after winning so many Oscars. Winning of the Oscars is unprecedented and these beautiful sculptures equally unprecedented,” said Zandr.
Though directed by a British filmmaker, “Slumdog Millionaire” has a mostly Indian cast.
The movie has already won several awards at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, and the British BAFTA awards.
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ has also generated controversy in India, where some people find its name, and depiction of poverty, insulting. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 22 February 2009
Mumbai/Varansai, Feb 22 (ANI): As Hollywood’s Academy Awards are to get underway later on Sunday, residents of Dharavi in Mumbai, are hopeful of Oscars for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.
Residents are very happy with the movie’s nomination in ten categories, hopeful that the Oscars glory would encourage slum children to move forward in life.
“If the movie wins Oscar, it would definitely take our country to new heights. After this movie, we know that children from India can do a lot. This movie would especially benefit children from poor families, as they would be encouraged to move forward in life and achieve something in life,” said Zaheer, a resident.
They are hopeful that the movie would pocket a couple of awards, having done good business across the world.
Another resident Mohammad Nafees added, “The movie should get the award. The movie has done a good business. Slum children have also worked in the movie so it would be good for them if it wins.”
The film had received mixed response across India as some slum dwellers found it offensive since it depicts the lives of impoverished Indians and the treatment of the cast.
Its director, Danny Boyle, has faced accusations from some parts of the Indian media that his film was ‘poverty porn’.
Bollywood actor Sushmita Sen disagreed with controversy and said that the movie shows reality, which everybody wants to see.
“People like to look at reality. What are we doing miles away, we don’t even know half the things. And who knows by films like this people will also come forward to want to know India. Because when I see Slumdog, I say Mercedes as well as a bullock cart run on the streets of my country,” said Sen.
Meanwhile, people in Varanasi offered special prayers to the Ganga river for the film getting honours at the Oscars.
“Today at the Ganga river bank, we are offering prayer for the Oscar nominee ‘Slumdog Millionaire’,” said Ravikant Vishvakarma, a resident.
“Slumdog Millionaire” is nominated for 10 Oscars, including best picture and best director. It already has won at the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, and the British BAFTA awards. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 20 February 2009
Washington, Feb 20 (ANI): Slumdog Millionaire’s bosses have confirmed that the film’s child stars Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail will be flown to Los Angeles for the Academy Awards.
It was earlier reported that both the actors would miss the Oscars because their parents had allegedly withdrawn their permission for travelling to Los Angeles with other cast members.
However, a spokesperson for Fox Searchlight has now confirmed that two youngsters will receive A-star treatment at the glitzy ceremony at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre.
“Everybody is really excited about it. It’s nice the whole gang will be together,” Contactmusic quoted Fox Searchlight representative James Finn as saying.
Ali and Azharuddin will travel with relatives and will be put up in a five-star hotel for two days.
The film, of an 18-year-old slum boy from rags to riches, has already triumphed Golden Globes and Baftas, and has been nominated in 10 categories at the Oscars. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 18 February 2009
Washington, Feb 18 (ANI): British actress Kate Winslet credits her toned physique to “a wing and a prayer”, insisting she’s “too busy” to even think about exercising.
The Oscar nominee, who has struggled with weight since she was a teenager, insists she hasn’t been slimming down for the big ceremony.
When asked if she was dieting, Winslet said, “N.O. (I) absolutely do not. I’m very sort of relaxed and vocal about these things. I have not done a stitch of exercise since October. I literally have not had the time.”
“I’m just going to eat normally, I’m not going to make cuts.
“If I’m keeping it together it’s by a wing and a prayer. I just want to enjoy this,” she added.
The 33-year-old actress is winning accolades for her role in The Reader, and is tipped to win the Best actress at the Oscars.
She has already scooped two awards in Golden Globes and walked away with Best actress gong at the Baftas. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 17 February 2009
London, Feb 17 (ANI): Oscar frontrunner Slumdog Millionaire has bagged another clutch of prizes.
Editor Chris Dickens walked away with gong for best-edited feature film at the 59th annual American Cinema Editors (ACE) awards, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, reports the Daily Express.
The film, which tracks the story of an 18-year-old slum boy from rags to riches, has already triumphed the Golden Globes and Baftas, and has been nominated in 10 categories at the prestigious Academy Awards.
Directed by Danny Boyle, the critically acclaimed film also won in the cinematic feature category at the prestigious American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) awards, at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in L.A on the same night.
Slumdog was also named the Best Contemporary Film at the Art Directors Guild Awards. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 16 February 2009
New York, Feb 16 (ANI): Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is at 1:12 odds of winning the Best Picture award at this year’s Oscars, according to an expert.
According to Danny Sheridan, director Boyle is also likely to walk away with the Best Director gong with 1:10 odds of winning, reports the New York Post.
The film, which tracks the story of an 18-year-old slum boy from rags to riches, has already triumphed the Golden Globes and Baftas, and has been nominated in 10 categories at the Oscars.
British actress Kate Winslet is tipped to win the Best actress award for her role in The Reader with the odds of 1:2, over Meryl Streep for ‘Doubt’ who’s 3:1.
Meanwhile there is a close competition between Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn in the best actor category.
While the ‘The Wrestler’ star is a 5:7 odds of winning Penn is at 7:5 for Milk. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 13 February 2009
Washington, Feb 12 (ANI): Love is blossoming between punk rock star Courtney Love and Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke, according to reports.
According to reports, the pair has even met up for a secret date.
“Courtney has quite a crush on Mickey and finds him utterly compelling. They’ve known each other for years – she’s stuck by him through the good times and the bad,” Contactmusic quoted a source as telling Daily Mirror.
“Now he’s back on the Hollywood A-list, he’s gone up another notch in the desirability stakes,” the source added.
Love and the Rourke apparently reportedly went on a secret date last month and spent the entire evening together.
“Mickey texted Courtney totally out of the blue, around the time of the Golden Globes, asking to take her out for the night,” she said.
“They met up in secret and had an awesome evening. Let’s just say they didn’t stop at holding hands and a chaste peck on the cheek,” she added. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 09 February 2009
New Delhi, Feb 9 (ANI/Business Wire India): The Promotion Marketing Awards of Asia (PMAA) has recently appointed Ambika Sharma as the Zonal Director for India.
2009 will be the 10th year for the PMAA. The PMAA recognizes the very best Promotion Marketing excellence and mastery, throughout Asia. All Gold, Silver and Bronze PMAA Dragons will go on to represent Asia at the MAA Globes.
For 44 years, the Marketing Agencies Association Worldwide (MAA Worldwide) has been the voice and authority of the Promotion Marketing Industry, spanning all continents of the Globe.
The MAA ‘GLOBES’ is the only global Programme which recognizes the distinguished excellence of the Best of the Best in Promotion Marketing Award Programmes from Europe, North America, South America, South Africa, Australia and Asia.
Sharma had earlier served on the jury of the PMAA, as well as the MAA Globes and now in her present role would represent the PMAA in India. Commenting on her new role, Sharma said, “I, on behalf of Jagran Solutions, have been associated with PMAA for long now and I am honored to be chosen to represent the PMAA in India as the Zonal Director.
Post PMAA 2008 The Judging Panel observed that Promotion Marketing techniques and disciplines are now being used by Marketers much more evenly throughout the Region than in the past and many of the strategies and executions were truly World Class.
Marketers are clearly adopting challenging strategies in order to make their brands stand out from the ever increasing market clutter.
It was also very pleasing to see the increase in campaigns for local Asian brands. Of the total PMAA Gold Dragons, awarded from Entries from 13 Countries in 2008, China emerged as an equal Winner with India in the largest PMAA Programme ever.
Sharma added, “Integration, Innovation and Brand Building Campaigns dominated the 2008 Promotion Marketing Awards of Asia. Now with the slow down measurable marketing initiatives and activations have gained center stage, agencies in India have begun to explore quite successfully innovative options in the sphere of promotional marketing.”
“The PMAA provides a platform for recognition and evaluation on a global level. It is important for the Industry to have access to such established global programs. Being on the Jury of PMAA and MAA Globes was an enriching experience, the quality of work from Asia and across the Globe was excellent. We have truly path breaking campaign in India which can excel on global level. We hope to see more such exceptional promotional marketing campaigns in PMAA 2009 from Agencies as well as marketers,” Sharma said.
Sharma has over 14 years of experience holding key positions in leading promotional marketing companies.
At present, she is the National Head for Jagran Solutions, an activation agency specializing in brand activations via consumer connect strategies.
She has been instrumental in making it one of the leading promotional marketing communications companies in India. (ANI)
Tags: activations, africa australia, asian brands, business wire, center stage, clutter, continents, executions, Globes, gold dragons, gold silver, marketers, marketing agencies, marketing excellence, marketing industry, marketing initiatives, marketing techniques, New Delhi, pmaa, promotion marketing
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Written by Rahul on 09 February 2009
Mumbai, Feb 9 (ANI): Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan, slamming critics of Oscar nominated ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ has said that the film presents to the world a ‘visually appealing’ India.
Khan said that there is no reason for people to become cynical if a filmade on Indian uniqueness has made a mark in the world.
“I think it’s really nice that it will open doors for people to understand that there is a lot of visual appeal to India. I hear a lot of people saying that India has been shown in bad light. But then my logic to everyone is that why is it that somebody comes from outside and makes a film like Gandhi and Slumdog. It becomes internally acceptable.
All we can say about it is that it is showing India in a poor light,” said Khan while speaking to reporters here last evening.
He added that the music of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is a hit across the globe and that he does not regret declining Anil Kapoor’s role in the film.
Incidentally, the film in which Kapoor played the role of a cynical quiz master was shot when Khan was already hosting ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ (KBC).
Many critics including Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan have said that British filmmaker Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, a hard-hitting but exuberant tale of life in a Mumbai slum, is being lauded because it has a Westerner at the helm.
The movie’s international success has been tempered by objections in India to the name, which some slum dwellers find offensive, its depiction of the lives of impoverished Indians and the treatment of the cast.
Its director, Danny Boyle, has faced accusations from some parts of the Indian media that his film was “poverty porn.” Boyle has said he was trying to capture Mumbai’s “lust for life.”
Dozens of residents of Mumbai where “Slumdog Millionaire” was partly shot have staged protests hurling insults and hitting pictures of its cast and crew with slippers. Slum residents of other Indian states have also staged similar protests.
The low budget film, which has scooped several international awards including the BAFTA film awards on Sunday, triumphed at the Golden Globes last month with four honours including best drama and won ten Oscar nominations.
Shahrukh Khan also took the opportunity to slam the self-styled ‘moral policing’ elements who object to open display in public of affection on Valentine’s Day.
“We should see Valentine’s as a day of friendship and love and not as a western culture attack on the Indian culture. I would say all youngsters should give roses to all the people they love in a good way,” said Khan.
The Bollywood heartthrob, who had called for a news conference to clear the controversy surrounding his forthcoming film, ‘Billu Barber’ against which hairdressers had raised objections to the word ‘barber’ terming it as ‘derogatory’, said that he has read the original book as well as the script and really liked the film. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 07 February 2009
London, February 7 (ANI): Punters are upbeat that Danny Boyle’s film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ will clinch the award for Best Film at the Bafta ceremony on Sunday night.
The film’s odds have been slashed to a derisory 1-6, reports Times Online.
The British drama film is an adaptation of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize nominated novel Q and A by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup.
Set and filmed in India, Slumdog tells the story of a young, uneducated man from the slums of Mumbai who appears on the Indian version of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ and exceeds people’s expectations, arousing the suspicions of the game show host and of law enforcement officials.
After screenings at the Telluride Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, Slumdog initially had a limited North American release on 12 November 2008 to critical acclaim and awards success, and later had a nationwide release in the United States on 23 January 2009 and in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2009.
Slumdog won five of the six awards it was nominated for at the Critics’ Choice Awards and all four of the awards it was nominated for at the Golden Globes, including Best Drama Film.
It has also been nominated for eleven BAFTA Awards and ten Academy Awards. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 07 February 2009
London, Feb 7 (ANI): Hollywood actress Jennifer Connelly credits her 11-year-old son for allowing her to take up quality-acting roles.
The 38-year-old actress is adamant that her son Kai, by photographer David Dougan, played a big part in helping her pick quality role.
The actress won Best Supporting Actress gongs at the Academy Awards, the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes for 2001’s A Beautiful Mind.
“I don’t think I would have been able to do the quality work that followed if it hadn’t been for my son,” Daily Express quoted her as telling Sydney Morning Herald.
“He changed me. He helped me to understand myself and find my place in the world,” she added. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 06 February 2009
Washington, February 5 (ANI): Danny Boyle could not be more grateful that he dumped his early priesthood ambitions to turn to showbiz.
The 52-year-old revealed that as a boy he harboured dreams of becoming a priest to impress his mum, but was talked out of it with no regrets.
“It’s not a joke – actually there (are) loads of directors who as a side-off kind of flirted with the priesthood. Martin Scorsese, John Wood. My mom’s a very devout Catholic from Ireland and she wanted me, her eldest son, to be a priest,” Contactmusic quoted him as saying.
“There was this priest who said to me, ‘I don’t think you should do it. I think you should wait until girls and music and all those things come into your life.’
“And I don’t know if he was trying to save me or the priesthood (but) I’m very grateful to him for it,” he added.
Danny has vowed many with his film ‘The Slumdog Millionaire’, for which he won awards at the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards, along with winning 11 and 10 nominations at the forthcoming British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards (BAFTAs) and the Oscars respectively. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 28 January 2009
London, January 28 (ANI): Britain’s hottest actress Kate Winslet might have clinched two Golden Globes and an Oscar nomination, but she really had to face a lot of difficulties before becoming a star of great stature.
She has revealed that she was turned down for many roles because of her childhood struggle with her weight, and her unfortunate position in alphabetical audition lists.
“I was the fat kid at the back of the line who often didn’t even get seen for the audition because her name began with a W. They would run out of time when they got to R. I often wouldn’t even get in the door,” the Sun quoted her as saying.
Kate recalled how she got her breakthrough role as Juliet Hulme, an obsessive teen driven to kill, in Peter Jackson’s 1994 film Heavenly Creatures.
She revealed that she was very tensed as she waited for any answer from the producers, and finally received the phone call saying that she had the part.
“I was working at a delicatessen at the time. I was in the middle of making a sandwich – it was a pastrami – when the telephone rang. I ran, grabbed the phone, and it was my agent,” she said.
“She said ‘Who’s the clever girl there?’ I said ‘Did I get the part?’ ‘Yes, you got the part’. I burst into tears and had to leave work because I couldn’t cope with the rest of day. I didn’t have the money for the bus fare,” added the actress. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 27 January 2009
London, January 27 (ANI): ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ star Freida Pinto’s amazing rise to fame has come despite her never taking any acting lesson, but her friends are not a bit surprised about her success.
Her proud elder sister Sharon has revealed how Freida has been preparing all her life for becoming an actress.
“I always knew she wanted to do something in front of the camera. As a child she would stand in front of the mirror and imitate actors. She would stick photos up in her room of actors and actresses she liked. For Christmas we would have these little plays and she would write, direct and star in them. They were very amateurish but she would get the kids together to sing,” the Mirror quoted her as saying.
“And every afternoon, she’d sing or put on a play for the family. It’s thrilling to see her on the red carpet, and see picture in the papers,” she added.
Sharon, who is an Indian TV producer, also threw some light on how it felt after seeing Freida triumph at the Golden Globes on the back of the Danny Boyle-directed flick.
“She can’t believe it. It’s so unreal for her. All these people she looked up to and she is now sitting next to them – it’s overwhelming for her. She’s loving it,” she said.
“She’s a real Mumbai girl. The other day she called me up from Los Angeles, all excited, and told me to switch on the TV. And there she was presenting at the Golden Globes with Shahrukh Khan (Bollywood’s top matinee idol)! I was so proud of her,” she added.
Freida’s mother Sylvia, is a school headmistress, recalled how Sushmita Sen’s victory at the Miss Universe contest in 1994 proved to be a defining point in her life.
“When she saw Sushmita Sen win she said, ‘I am going to do something like that some day.’ She cut Sushmita’s picture out and stuck it on the back of her cupboard,” she said.
Freida’s college friend Namit Das, who is also an actor, said: “I always knew she’d make it. She had that vibe about her, that single-mindedness. She was very talented, very loveable, and very good-looking.”
Freida’s college tutor Dr Shefali Balsari-Shah has revealed that she had been a fairly quite girl those days, but her of theatre eventually brought out a more confident character.
The mentor, who is delighted to see her blossom, said: “Freida was very bubbly and lively, but rather dreamy-eyed and quiet until her last year in college. Then she came into her own. She directed a Kafka play for our theatre festival and did a very good job. I was impressed. She had a gift for dealing with all kinds of people, even difficult ones.”
She added: “She’s a genuinely nice, unpretentious person. She called me before the Golden Globes to thank me and the college for giving her the confidence to talk about film and pop culture in her Hollywood interviews. There’s nothing of the prima donna about her.” (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 27 January 2009
London, January 27 (ANI): Poor parents of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ stars have accused the film’s producers of exploiting their children.
They claim that the eight-year-olds were poorly paid for working in the film that has won four Golden Globes, and has been nominated for 10 Oscars.
According to them, Azhauddin Ismail and Rubina Ali were paid less than many domestic servants.
While Rubina is said to have been paid just 500 pounds for a year’s work, Azharuddin received 1,700 pounds.
Fox Searchlight, the film’s American distributors, disputed this by saying the fees were more than three times the average annual salary an adult in their neighbourhood would receive.
“The welfare of Azhar and Rubnia has always been a top priority for everyone involved with Slumdog Millionaire,” the Telegraph quoted a spokesman as saying.
He, however, would not disclose the actual sum paid to the children.
While British director Danny Boyle has spoken of how he set up trust funds for Rubina and Azharuddin and paid for their education, their families say that they have received no details of the trust funds set up in their names.
The parents say that they hoped the film would be their ticket out of the slums, but both kids continue to live in grinding poverty.
Their parents say that the film’s success made them realise how little their children had been paid.
Rubina and Azharuddin live a few hundreds yards from each other in a tangle of makeshift shacks alongside Mumbai’s railway tracks at Bandra.
The illegal hut Azharuddin’s family resided in has been demolished by the local authorities, and he currently sleeps under a sheet of plastic tarpaulin with his father, who suffers from tuberculosis.
“There is none of the money left. It was all spent on medicines to help me fight TB. We feel that the kids have been left behind by the film. They have told us there is a trust fund but we know nothing about it and have no guarantees,” Azharuddin’s father, Mohammed Ismail, said.
Rubina’s father, Rafiq Ali Kureshi, a carpenter by profession, broke his leg during filming and has been out of work since.
“I am very happy the movie is doing so well, but it is making so much money and so much fame and the money they paid us is nothing. They should pay more. I have no regrets. I just had no knowledge of what she should have been paid,” he said.
Boyle and the film’s producer Christian Colson defended their arrangements for the children.
“(We have) paid painstaking and considered attention to how Azhar and Rubina’s involvement in the film could be of lasting benefit to them over and above the payment they received for their work,” they said in a written statement.
The statement added: “The children had never attended school, and in consultation with their parents we agreed that this would be our priority.Since June 2008 and at our expense, both kids have been attending school and they are flourishing under the tutelage of their dedicated and committed teachers.
Financial resources have been made available for their education until they are 18. We were delighted to see them progressing well when we visited their school and met with their teachers last week.”
It further said that a “substantial lump sum” would be paid to the children on completion of their studies.(ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 26 January 2009
Mumbai, Jan.22 (ANI): By bagging triple nominations for his latest film Slumdog Millionaire at the 81st Oscar Academy Awards on Thursday, the all entrancing musician A. R. Rahman has brought a wave of cheer among music lovers of the country.
Rahman has been nominated in the Best Original Score category and twice in the Best Original Song section.
Slumdog Millionaire, a rags to riches story about an Indian boy of Mumbai slums, has bagged 10 nominations in all including Best Motion Picture category, Best Director – Danny Boyle and Best Adapted Screenplay – Simon Beaufoy.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a drama in which Brad Pitt plays a man who ages backwards, led the field of Oscar contenders with 13 nominations, organizers said on Thursday.
“Slumdog Millionaire” has continued its unstoppable run with a host of nominations, including best picture, best adapted screenplay and best director for Danny Boyle. he film will contest with another British film, Frost/Nixon, for best picture category, along with The Curiuos Case of Benjamin Button, Milk and The Reader.
Meanwhile, Slumdog Millionaire and Kate Winslet lead the British nominations for the Oscars.
Winslet has one best actress nomination for The Reader but nothing for Revolutionary Road. The 33-year-old won Golden Globes for both performances. eaving the Oscar ceremony empty-handed would make Winslet the biggest loser among actresses in the history of the event. She has been nominated five times but never won. (ANI)
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Written by Rahul on 21 January 2009
London, Jan 21 (ANI): Critically acclaimed ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ might be a frontrunner at the Oscars, but director Danny Boyle says that the film’s success in India is above the prestigious honour at the moment.
The tale of an 18-year-old Mumbai boy from rags to riches has already won four awards at the Golden Globes, and garnered 11 nominations in Baftas.
Boyle is eager to know the response the film receives in India.
“The most important thing for us this week is absolutely the opening here. Big time. That’s serious,” Times Online quoted him as saying.
“You can’t expect anything really. You should always expect to get knocked down by a bus tomorrow morning, which is the only healthy thing to feel about success. It could all end at a moment’s notice,” he added.
Many onlookers initially felt that the film, which will be given its premiere in the country on Jan 23 in India, would prove too “edgy” for conservative audiences found outside the big cities.
With the poster campaign that focus on its well-known Indian stars, Anil Kapoor and Irrfan Khan, critics feel that stands a good chance of winning over the crowds.
Moreover, the film is being released in Hindi version titled ‘Slumdog Crorepati’ with an eye on tapping widespread commercial success.
Meanwhile, Boyle is planning to direct another project in India’s “Maximum City”, which might be a modern thriller set largely at night when Mumbai’s inhabitants are sleeping. (ANI)
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