The Slumdog kids now evidently the new Hollywood darlings. When they got home, however, it was back to reality. Sure they were given a heroes welcome with huge crowds waiting at the airport and in the streets of Mumbai waiting to greet them, but when it was time to go home it was back to the slums they went.
The good news is that Amarjeet Singh Manhas, the chairman of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority, said that Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail are going to be given a new apartment in the suburbs of Mumbai. That was a few days ago and still no news. You would think that with all the money they helped make the producers would dole out a bit more to give them nicer digs – FAST. After all when those in power want something to happen even just a place for rent takes less than a week to find. Hopefully though the good news will come soon.
On a sadder note Azharuddin was given a reality check when father Mohammed Ismail slapped and kicked his son in public (See article Scumdad Millionaire for photos and details). It is said that it happened due to Azharuddin not wanting to go out and instead rest when his father ordered him to do otherwise. A shocker some claim but remember that these kids live in the real world. The father has apologised but still it is not an excuse. Yes. It may be a reality check but this kind of thing is one of the realities we hope will change wherever in the world you may live.
Not wanting to end in a sad note the latest good news connected with the movie is that child sponsorship in India has risen! The sponsors money goes to the education and health care of kids in need. Now called the “slumdog effect’ we hope that the ripples will reach farther and farther as more people see the movie.