INDIA: Danny Boyle arrives to help the homeless child actors of 'Slumdog Millionaire'

Record ID: 1390179

  • Title: INDIA: Danny Boyle arrives to help the homeless child actors of 'Slumdog Millionaire'
  • Date: 27th May 2009
  • Summary: BOYLE, PRODUCER SITTING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE WITH OTHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DANNY BOYLE, DIRECTOR OF OSCAR-WINNING SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, SAYING "It's obviously a concern, a terrible concern, and we obviously one of the reason to set up a Trust, was obviously to try and deal with emergencies like that. And in fact we can say that the Trust is making progress in making sure that they have good, solid legal accommodation to live in, so that they are not vulnerable to things that happened, �������the governments and state governments do, which have nothing to do with the families, and they will always������� be vulnerable������� when they are in a legal accommodation like that, and we have been trying for a long time to move them into legal accommodation, both initially rented and eventually bought by the Trust and held by the Trust so that they are perfectly safe for long term accommodation. And we are happy to say that happy has been made."
  • Embargoed: 11th June 2009 07:08
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA4E4MZDUXHBV6M63UUOSSJ6467
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Once under fire for not doing enough for its impoverished Indian child stars, the makers of Oscar winning movie 'Slumdog Millionaire' said that they had bought a flat for one of them whose shanty, unfortunately was demolished in Mumbai recently.
    This was disclosed by Danny Boyle, director of the movie while interacting with media persons in Mumbai on Wednesday (May 27).
    Earlier, Danny Boyle along with producer Christian Colson flew into Mumbai after pictures of Azharuddin Ismail and Rubina Ali picking through the debris of their demolished homes, which the civic authorities had termed as illegal, were picked up by international media.
    Smiling and hugging the children, Boyle said a home had been bought for Azharuddin Ismail (9), who played the character of Salim as a child in the Oscar winning movie.
    He further mentioned that very soon they would also buy one for Rubina Ali who played the role of young Latika.
    Boyle, who came under fire for not doing enough for the child artistes who lived in squalor despite the film's success, blamed the media for raising the expectations of families by sensationalising their joys and sorrows.
    He also noted that they were given access to a world, an extraordinary and glamorous world, and they understandably want their lives to be completely transformed.
    "It's obviously a concern, a terrible concern, and we obviously one of the reason to set up a Trust, was obviously to try and deal with emergencies like that. And in fact we can say that the Trust is making progress in making sure that they have good, solid legal accommodation to live in, so that they are not vulnerable to things that happened, �������the governments and state governments do, which have nothing to do with the families, and they will always������� be vulnerable������� when they are in a legal accommodation like that, and we have been trying for a long time to move them into legal accommodation, both initially rented and eventually bought by the Trust and held by the Trust so that they are perfectly safe for long term accommodation. And we are happy to say that happy has been made," said Danny Boyle, after greeting Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail with a hug.
    Boyle and Colson disclosed about the setting up of Jai Ho Trust, named after the film's award-winning song. This Trust, they said is meant to pay for the education and basic living expenses of Ismail and Ali until they turn 18.
    In February, consequent to the success of the movie, the government of Maharashtra had announced that it would allot the two child artistes, suitable apartments.
    However, Rafik Qureshi, father of Rubina Ali said that till date, both the families have not heard from the concerned authorities.
    "Government providing us house is a secondary thing. Firstly it is these people's ('Slumdog Millionaire team) responsibility to get us houses as children have done so much hard work in the film. But look at the way they are living now. They are still living in slums only. Isn't it their responsibility to provide them houses? People keep on asking us that when will be getting houses. We are tired of giving excuses and telling them that we'll be getting in a day or two. But it has been six months now that we haven't got any house to live," said Rafil Qureshi, father of Rubina Ali.
    Boyle, whose rags-to-riches romance about a poor Indian boy competing in a TV game show scooped eight Academy Awards earlier this year, said he was hastening with the Jai Ho Trust to find a place for Ali before the onset of monsoon which the meteorologists say would be around June 10.
    A functionary for the Trust said the apartment for Ismail was 'comfortable, in a good neighbourhood, near his school' and cost over 2 million rupees" (42,000 US dollars).
    Boyle and Colson last month also donated 500,000 pounds to a non-profit organisation to support a programme for children in a slum in central Mumbai, where the major part of the film was shot.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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