Last week, it seemed the situation for the young child stars of Slumdog Millionaire was coming to a head. After the slum homes of both Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail were destroyed by the government, and Rubina Ali was hospitalized for a viral infection, many were wondering when exactly the Jai Ho Trust money and housing was supposed to kick in for these kids and their families.
That’s when Slumdog Millionaire’s Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson flew to India to meet with the kids and their families. From the pictures (sidenote: why was a press photographer there?), the kids looked beyond thrilled to see their Uncle Danny. But the Huffington Post painted a picture of the meeting that wasn’t so rosy:
The makers of “Slumdog Millionaire” met with the film’s two impoverished child stars Wednesday in Mumbai, but the father of one of the children stormed out of the meeting, saying they’ve been forgotten since the movie won eight Oscars.
Rubina Ali, 9, and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10, both lost their homes this month as city authorities cleared out parts of the slum where they live.
Rubina has been staying with relatives and Azhar has been living in a makeshift shanty of tarps and blankets with his parents.
“We’ve been trying for a long time to move them into legal accommodation,” director Danny Boyle told reporters at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences on the outskirts of Mumbai, where he and producer Christian Colson met the children and their families.
Boyle also said he plans to make two more films set in Mumbai.But Rafiq Qureshi, Rubina’s father, said Boyle has not done enough.
“It has been five to six months,” Qureshi said in an interview after he cut the meeting short in anger. “Everything is available in Mumbai if you have the money. If you really want to get us a house you can get us a house in two days.”
“After the Oscars they forgot about us,” he added.
Relations between the filmmakers and the children’s families have grown tense since the phenomenal success of the film, which grossed more than $326 million.
The filmmakers set up a trust aimed at ensuring the children get proper homes, a decent education and a nest egg when they finish high school. They have pledged to spend up to $100,000 to buy the two families new apartments and donated $747,500 to a charity to help slum children across Mumbai.
Trustees did not respond to requests for comment.
[From The Huffington Post]
Look, I don’t think Danny Boyle is a bad guy, and his heart is definitely in the right place. My problem was that as the months flew by, it seemed like Boyle, Colson and the Jai Ho trustees were dithering while the kids’ lives were falling apart. It’s true that just by hiring these young actors, the Slumdog production didn’t owe the kids or the families anything beyond a paycheck for work delivered. But one of the central points of the film’s promotion was that the studio and producers were going to help these families, and they kept making those promises even as Slumdog picked up all of those Oscars. It’s great that Boyle and Colson flew to Mumbai to see first-hand what was happening, and I really hope that now that they’re there, these kids actually get what they were promised.
Thanks to Barm/Fame Pictures for these photos
Shameful. Where is Danny Boyle staying while in Mumbai?
Like you said, they don’t owe them anything. And it’s wonderful they are trying to help. But remember there is another side to this story. The parents of these kids are obviously a strong IMmobilizing force. More often than not, people in slums or whathaveyou are there because they don’t know any other way of life and don’t have the skills or true desire to change their circumstances.
the same dad who tried to sell his daughter for a quick couple of bucks is now complaining no one gave him a new house fast enough and storming out of meetings like he is dina lohan? give me a break. this guy doesnt give a rat’s ass about his daughter and views her as a cash cow who can enrich his life monetarily.
this whole slumdog kid thing still pisses me off-vilifying the director and producers when so much of the controversy, including that over the film itself, has been manipulated by special interest and political/religious groups within india. next time, I hope boyle is smart enough to take a couple of indian kids who were born in britain and transport them to mumbai to play the parts. these families are not worth the trouble and backlash that comes from hiring them to play roles because of the political machine behind them-the same political machine that does nothing but bulldoze people’s homes while castigating the evil white movie directors.
Calling all allegedly ‘concerned’ celebs who love to adopt orphans and poor kids- here ya go- fresh meat. 🙄
Thanks, Bros, for telling it like it is.
Didn’t the real estate agent hired by the trust show the family 5 or so homes, and the father rejected them all because he didn’t want to move away from where they live now? What – is he expecting the trust to build them a brand new house on the land they were illegally squatting on?
The families want the money – they don’t want it to be in trust for the kids, IMO.
“sidenote: why was a press photographer there?”
Funny, I often wonder the same thing every time I see a picture of Saint Angie during one of her humanitarian missions.
AlaskaJoey: I heard the same thing. Didn’t they already try to move at least one of the families out of Mumbai into an apartment, but the father refused? Why don’t we hear more about that around here?
It’s a double edged sword. I think they should do more for the kids. They did a job for them and have introduced them to a higher level of living but send them right back to the streets after the cameras are off. But at the same time I don’t trust their parents and don’t think they would handle the money well. They can’t take the kids from their parents so they’re between a rock and a hard place.
nobody is asking for more than the paycheck they deserve… nobody asked danny boyle to fly his sorry ass there for hugs and photo ops… why don’t you just pay the kids already?
Funny, I often wonder the same thing every time I see a picture of Saint Angie during one of her humanitarian missions.
But at least now more people are aware of the conditions outside the bubble that is the U.S. We are the only country that dies from having TOO much food. Ridiculous.
Anyway, as far as the Slumdog stuff, I heard the same thing in regards to the parents being shown places and refusing. I think it’s completely 100% correct what bros said. The system in India is unbelievably corrupt and I have no doubt in my mind that there is manipulation going on. In the end, the truth of the matter is, the whole situation seems a hell of a lot more complicated than it should be, but that’s what happens when you throw so many different interests into the mix. I just hope these kids get the better lives that they’ve earned by helping create a $300m+ grossing film.
Oh Annie you are too cute. Always have to stick up for the Saint. It’s downright adorable!
we’re not the ONLY country that has excess food… that’s a bit of a stretch… even some people in india have excess food… that was a ridiculous comment.
no christina-its you who is ill-informed. the actors were paid for their services. its not that he didnt pay them. its that people feel he owes them more than they were paid initially because that amount was based on the film being small, and being released straight to DVD. when it blew up, they had a trust set up for them, offers of new housing, and more money for the acting. implementation is the problem because the families cannot be trusted with large lump sums, and do not seem to be satisfied with housing arrangements, and there was some mismanagement with the people in india in charge of the trust.
as to annies comment: the US has an obesity epidemic so severe that even our poorest people are obese, which is definitely an isolated statistic. literally, we die from too much food (albeit the wrong kind), while other nation’s poor die from too little. hence, we are the only country with people who die from too much food. your retorts are way off base.
bros you’re a real AHOLE if you think they only deserve a couple thousand dollars on a movie that made hundreds of millions and won 8 oscars… those kids MADE the movie what it was… do you really think that if these actors were american, that they would be roaming around the street after the were in a mega blockbuster movie?
your statement that only americans die of too much food is REALLY ridiculous… people die of poor diet related diseases everywhere… some of the richest men on earth are indian… seriously ignorant…
shame on you!
the ignorance in this thread is really ridiculous… my friend’s father had a heart attack… IN INDIA… and no human who was in a mega hit movie that grossed hundreds of millions should be living on the streets… just illustrates how uninformed and ignorant americans are *eyeroll*
and how is it in the same breath you’re talking about how gluttonous and excessive americans are and then claiming that the meager salary those kids got is enough? i don’t get it… what exactly is your point? i’m so annoyed by the lack of sympathy and the quickness to blame the indian government for all this… how hard is it to throw a couple of bucks these kids’ way so they don’t have to live in squalor????
and how elitist to think that no one but the spoiled american movie stars are allowed to act like divas and throw hissy fits? who are you people to say who can and can’t throw hissy fits? so now we shouldn’t pay the kids properly because you don’t like the father’s attitude?
lame!
Amen Christina!
as to annies comment: the US has an obesity epidemic so severe that even our poorest people are obese, which is definitely an isolated statistic. literally, we die from too much food (albeit the wrong kind), while other nation’s poor die from too little. hence, we are the only country with people who die from too much food. your retorts are way off base.
Thank you! That was the point I was exactly trying to make.
Also, Christina, your arguments regarding that there are a handful of people in other countries who die that way holds no water, because it’s some isolated incidents whereas in the US, it’s a serious issue. We’ve seen a twofold increase in obesity in just two decades. Something like 32% of Americans are obese. That’s like what? 1 out of every 3 Americans suffer from obesity.
Why are you calling us ignorant? For stating facts? Or because we don’t agree with you?
As for so what, you’re insane. I’ve never seen someone despise another person they don’t know so heavily.
christina, you seem to be suffering from willful ignorance, reading comprehension problems, fact-allergies, hypertension, and missing the point-itus.
my suggestion to you is to go back through the threads which have diligently covered this issue from day one before spewing your insults and flying high on your self-righteousness when you are clearly ignorant of the evolution of this story.
and PS “my friend’s dad had a heart attack in India” ??? WTF?
Oh Annie Annie Annie. You just DON’T get it. I have no hate for her. Just go back to Evangeline Lily page and read it please.
i don’t think there’s any way to misunderstand the statement “only americans die of too much food”
this statement is NOT TRUE… and irrelevant anyway. i don’t want to have to repeat myself.
and to explain the heart attack statement because apparently you’re a bit dense… he was overweight, ate too much bad food and had a heart attack… AND he wasn’t an american… is that clear?
and no amount of explaining… in this thread or otherwise… could explain why these kids were in a blockbuster film but have no home… NONE!
I think some of you are arguing now for the sake of it.
The point was that there is a high number of obese people in the US while there are still many countries that don’t have enough food (for whatever reason) for the majority of the population.
Obesity isn’t the sole cause of a heart attack. Physically fit people have heart attacks.
If I understand this correctly, this was a small independent film that turned out to be a huge blockbuster, so that the profits were also huge because they probably had a very small budget.
Because they’re not psychic, they offered what they thought was a decent salary to the kid actors.
Then the sad stories, possibly manipulated, came out about the kid’s horrific lifestyles, so the movie tries to make good by offering the kids’ families homes.
Is that correct so far?
And this isn’t the first place I’ve read about the parents refusing to relocate.
What are the details about the new homes anyway? Are they so far away that it would be difficult for them to visit their relatives still living in Mumbai? Do the parents have jobs in Mumbai that they’d lose if they relocated?
Or are the parents just refusing because they think they’re not being given enough? What are they being offered? A free home?; taxes paid?; monthly allowance for food?; and the actual actors get some kind of trust fund or scholarship once they become adults?
Maybe things are more difficult because local officials aren’t allowing things to go through unless their palms are greased too?
More story on this please, I’m interested 😎
yes i get it, there are fat people in the US… this point has been beat to death. however, the statement that “only americans die of too much food” is incorrect…we may have more obese people, but that doesn’t mean obesity doesn’t exist in other countries… it does… as i explained with my friend’s father, he ate too much, became unhealthy and had a heart attack… i KNOW obesity isn’t the only cause for heartattck… no need to state the obvious… in this particular case, it was.
Are you all fucking serious? This kid played in a multi multi million dollar film that made the Oscar’s. You don’t think this kid deserves to live in more than a 250 sq. ft. apartment? My fucking bathroom is that big. Someone put hundreds of millions in their pockets. Jesus people when does greed have enough greed to satisfy itself. Wake up mo fo’s. A select few don’t mean more than the rest of the fucking world! Or they should start there own country and stay there and have each other.
Are you all fricking serious? This kid played in a multi multi million dollar film that made the Oscar’s. You don’t think this kid deserves to live in more than a 250 sq. ft. apartment? My frickking bathroom is that big. Someone put hundreds of millions in their pockets. Jesus people when does greed have enough greed to satisfy itself. Wake up mo fo’s. A select few don’t mean more than the rest of the fricking world! Or they should start there own country and stay there and have each other.
bros, those kids deserve something better. maybe in your life u have not been given what you wanted. please dont be jealous. be considerate, please. i think boyle did a good job. if you are not into social welfare, i cant blame you for that. stop complaining when other people are trying to help the less fortunate ones. everyone in this world deserve helping hands. but of course their parents may not be trusted and apparently Rubina’s father who is a bastard. bear in mind that the kids are innocent. i am out of words to say to you bros. i am disappointed with your screwed up mindset. think it over on what i have just said before you say anything else.