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Slumdog Millionaire

Rahman delays North American tour dates

Mon, 06/28/2010 - 09:46 by Pankaj Damin

Toronto -- Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman of "Slumdog Millionaire" fame says he is postponing the remaining North American dates of his current concert tour.

Rahman canceled the June 20 Toronto date for his "Jai Ho Concert: The Journey Home World Tour" after a lighting rig collapsed at the Pontiac (Mich.) Silverdome, injuring several crew members, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Rahman said 10 tour dates are affected, including Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Boston, Houston, Dallas, Trenton, N.J., and Raleigh, N.C.

Boyle to direct London Olympics opener

Fri, 06/18/2010 - 10:10 by Rakhi

London -- Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle is to serve as artistic director for the London 2012 Olympic Games' opening ceremony, organizers said.

Boyle told BBC Radio 4's "Today" program Thursday he understands his job is "to provide a thrilling, enthralling, captivating evening."

"Hopefully, it'll take its place in the list of openings, but it'll be a new beginning, as well," he said.

Boyle's film credits include "Trainspotting," "The Beach," "Millions" and "28 Days Later." He is to make his National Theatre directorial debut this winter with a new production of "Frankenstein," the BBC noted.

Copyright 2010 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).

'Slumdog' kids shine at IIFA green carpet

Thu, 06/11/2009 - 22:43 by Inderjit Singh

Macau, June 11-- Three child stars of the multiple Oscar-winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire" stole the limelight as they walked the green carpet at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) event with panache.

The child stars, Tanay Chheda, Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar and Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala, sent the paparazzi into overdrive, clicking away furiously as the trio walked the green carpet with great confidence on the opening day of the IIFA here Thursday evening.

The kids displayed no trace of nervousness.

Chheda (who played young Jamal's friend), Lonkar (who played the middle Latika) and Gajiwala (who played the middle Salim), accompanied some of Bollywood's best stars and won most of the applause.

Danny Boyle left starstruck after meeting Clint Eastwood

Mon, 06/08/2009 - 23:46 by Salinder Kumar

London, June 8: "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle was left starstruck after meeting legendary actor Clint Eastwood during an awards dinner.

The British moviemaker is a big fan of Eastwood's work and was stunned to spot the actor-turned-director at a Hollywood event during this year's awards season in Los Angeles, reports imdb.com.

Boyle was extra excited about the encounter because he was able to boast to his father about meeting a movie icon.

"I met Clint Eastwood, because as part of the awards season they do these dinners for directors who are 'in consideration', as they say, and they put you all together in a room," he said.

Trust finding 'Slumdog' kids new homes

Sun, 05/24/2009 - 07:03 by harsheeb

Mumbai -- The Jai Ho Trust says it will be providing homes for Indian child actors Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and Rubina Ali, who appeared in "Slumdog Millionaire."

Jai Ho trustee Neerja Mattoo said the trust, which has the support of "Millionaire" director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson, will offer the two child actors homes in the wake of the demolition of their shanty homes in Mumbai, Bollywood News said Saturday.

The homes where Ismail and Ali were staying in the Mumbai neighborhood of Bandra was demolished two weeks ago, leaving the young "Slumdog" stars in desperate search for new homes.

The Jai Ho Trust has already found a new home for the family of Ismail, who played a young Salim Malik in the hit 2008 film.

"Slumdog" child star's abode demolished

Fri, 05/15/2009 - 07:54 by Natalie James

New York, May 15: After enjoying a brief sweet taste of worldwide success, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, the 10-year-old child star of 2008 blockbuster Slumdog Millionaire, is back on the streets after Mumbai municipal authorities demolished his shanty house.

Poverty prompts sale of ‘Oscar child’, Clinton offers resolution

Mon, 04/20/2009 - 17:00 by Samia Sehgal

Mumbai, April 20: Slumdog Millionaire’s child actor Rubina Ali, after her brief brush with fame, was put up for sale by her father.

'Slumdog Millionaire' DVD doesn't live up to packaging

Sat, 04/04/2009 - 10:46 by rcrchauhan

London, April 4 -- Thousands of buyers of the DVD of Oscar winning "Slumdog Millionaire" are furious with the content missing from the discs, compared to what was advertised on the packaging.

The movie discs ran into trouble this week as the buyers discovered that the extras, such as the "making of" documentary and deleted scenes, which were advertised on the packaging, were not included, reported contactmusic.com.

The development is a consequence of Fox Home Video's (a division arm of 20th century Fox that produced the film) newly adopted strategy of removing "extras" from its DVDs sent to rental stores.

India films set for global expansion

Mon, 03/09/2009 - 22:55 by Shruti Sharma

New Delhi -- India's movie industry is poised to take advantage of the success of "Slumdog Millionaire" and expand globally, experts say.

Amit Khanna, chairman of India's Reliance Big Entertainment film group, said India's so-called Bollywood could soon be a global cinematic power by developing links with Hollywood, which has its eyes on India's potential, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

"There is a natural synergy between the film industries in India and the United States. India is a democracy, has a massive movie-going market and an open entertainment policy with no government restriction," Khanna said.

Khanna's company has taken steps toward global expansion by signing a six-year deal with DreamWorks SKG that will include 36 movies.

'Slumdog' prompts spike in charity giving

Wed, 03/04/2009 - 08:05 by Rakhi Kaptiyal

Alexandria, Va. -- The Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire" has sparked interest in charities that target problems facing children in India, CAFAmerica said Tuesday.

The organization said it promotes borderless charitable giving as part of the CAF International Network, which spans six continents and has more than $4 billion of charitable funds under management.

"Individuals and organizations that have been touched by 'Slumdog Millionaire' should consider donating to aid Indian children," CAFAmerica Chief Executive Officer Susan Saxon-Harrold said in a statement. "I have seen the excellent work by charities working in the slums in Mumbai. These charities are making a huge impact on the health, welfare and education of children living in poverty with very little by way of resources. The success of the film has thrown a positive spotlight on their efforts. We advise donors on how best to get involved in giving to India as well as how to make donations safely to get the best impact. As well as working with individuals we work with CAF India to help corporations with their corporate community involvement goals in the region."

'Slumdog' children return to India

Thu, 02/26/2009 - 22:11 by Shruti Sharma

Mumbai -- The child stars of "Slumdog Millionaire" have returned to India after attending the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles this week.

The film earned eight Academy Awards at Sunday's prize presentation. Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10, and Rubina Ali, 9, attended the awards show, as well as parties that took place after it, then went to Disneyland the following day.

The Press Trust of India said they were given heroes' welcomes from family, friends, reporters and fans Thursday when they returned to India.

The youngsters were escorted by security through Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and driven to their homes where neighbors waited to congratulate them on their success, setting off firecrackers and dancing to the Oscar-winning song "Jai Ho" in celebration, PTI said.

Better housing planned for 'Slumdog' kids

Wed, 02/25/2009 - 23:45 by Shruti Sharma

Mumbai -- Indian housing officials say they are helping two of the child stars from the Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire" secure better places to live.

Rubina Ali, 9, and Azharuddin Ismail, 10, played young versions of characters Latika and Salim in the movie. The child actors were discovered by casting agents in Mumbai's Garib Nagar slum and were still living there after the movie became an international sensation. Rubina reportedly has been residing in a one-room shack with her family, while Azharuddin has been living under a tarp with his father, who has tuberculosis.

The children traveled to Los Angeles last week, attended the Oscars ceremony Sunday night and reportedly went to Disneyland the next day.

Local housing association chairman Amarjeet Singh Manhas told the BBC: "Since the children have made the nation proud, they must be given free houses. The chief minister of the state has approved this."