Mumbai slum residents protest 'Slumdog Millionaire's' name
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, January 22nd 2009, 7:58 AM
MUMBAI, India — Several dozen Mumbai slum residents protested the award-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire" on Thursday, calling the film's title insulting.
The protest came amid mounting excitement in India — where the movie is set and home to many of its actors — ahead of Academy Award nominations later Thursday.
The film, a rags-to-riches romance set in Mumbai's notorious slums, has been tapped a favorite for several Oscar nominations after it swept its four categories at the Golden Globes, including the prize for best drama.
But not all of Mumbai's slum residents were happy.
"I am poor, but don't call me slumdog," said Rekha Dhamji, 18, one of about two dozen slum residents who protested outside the home of one of the movie's actors, Anil Kapoor.
"I don't want to be referred to as a dog," she said.
Other protesters held up banners reading "Poverty For Sale," and "I am not a dog." One of them carried a puppy.
Nicholas Almeida, a social activist who organized the protest, said he planned to file a lawsuit on Friday to get the name changed.
The film, which tells the story of Jamal Malik, a poor youth who becomes the champion of India's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" television program as he searches for his lost love, has also been criticized for focusing on India's poverty.
On Wednesday the cast and director spoke to the media in New Delhi about the film, and the controversy it has sparked.
"The film is going to be a terrific inspiration to kids around India. It's a feel-good film, a film of hope," said Kapoor, who grew up in a Mumbai slum.
He dismissed claims that the word "slumdog" was offensive. "Children from the slums are actually called much worse names."
Screenwriter Simon Beaufoy said people should not read too much into the word. "I just made up the word. I liked the idea. I didn't mean to offend anyone," he said.
Despite the protests, the film was also generating a lot of excitement in India ahead of the nominations and its official release in the country set for Friday.
The Times Now news channel broadcast a special program called "Oscars Here We Come" as part of wall-to-wall coverage of the Academy Awards buildup.
"We're all so happy, we're beaming just to see our people walk down the red carpet and get the recognition we should get," actress Amrita Arora told Times Now.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, January 22nd 2009, 7:58 AM
MUMBAI, India — Several dozen Mumbai slum residents protested the award-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire" on Thursday, calling the film's title insulting.
The protest came amid mounting excitement in India — where the movie is set and home to many of its actors — ahead of Academy Award nominations later Thursday.
The film, a rags-to-riches romance set in Mumbai's notorious slums, has been tapped a favorite for several Oscar nominations after it swept its four categories at the Golden Globes, including the prize for best drama.
But not all of Mumbai's slum residents were happy.
"I am poor, but don't call me slumdog," said Rekha Dhamji, 18, one of about two dozen slum residents who protested outside the home of one of the movie's actors, Anil Kapoor.
"I don't want to be referred to as a dog," she said.
Other protesters held up banners reading "Poverty For Sale," and "I am not a dog." One of them carried a puppy.
Nicholas Almeida, a social activist who organized the protest, said he planned to file a lawsuit on Friday to get the name changed.
The film, which tells the story of Jamal Malik, a poor youth who becomes the champion of India's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" television program as he searches for his lost love, has also been criticized for focusing on India's poverty.
On Wednesday the cast and director spoke to the media in New Delhi about the film, and the controversy it has sparked.
"The film is going to be a terrific inspiration to kids around India. It's a feel-good film, a film of hope," said Kapoor, who grew up in a Mumbai slum.
He dismissed claims that the word "slumdog" was offensive. "Children from the slums are actually called much worse names."
Screenwriter Simon Beaufoy said people should not read too much into the word. "I just made up the word. I liked the idea. I didn't mean to offend anyone," he said.
Despite the protests, the film was also generating a lot of excitement in India ahead of the nominations and its official release in the country set for Friday.
The Times Now news channel broadcast a special program called "Oscars Here We Come" as part of wall-to-wall coverage of the Academy Awards buildup.
"We're all so happy, we're beaming just to see our people walk down the red carpet and get the recognition we should get," actress Amrita Arora told Times Now.
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