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Rival studios trying to sabotage Slumdog’s Oscar chances?

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ANI

Posted: Feb 02, 2009 at 1421 hrs IST
Slumdog millionaire

New York The mounting criticism surrounding Oscar-frontrunner ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is believed to be the result of negative campaigning from rival studios, which are trying to sabotage the film’s chances of winning the prestigious award.

According to a story by ‘LA Times’, the Indian audiences were not impressed with the movie's "white man" depiction of the subcontinent as a land of squalor and corruption.

It also attracted criticism for portraying India as "third world dirty underbelly".

Director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson are also tackling the accusations for underpaying its child actors Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail, and they were still living in poverty with no access to education.

However, according to Britain’s ‘Daily Telegraph’, Boyle and Colson refuted the claims insisting that welfare of the child actors was the top priority of people working at the critically acclaimed film.

"Due to the exposure and potential jeopardy created by the unwarranted press attention, we are looking into additional measures to protect Azhar and Rubina and their families,” the Fox Searchlight said in a statement.

The film, which tracks the story of an 18-year-old boy from rags-to-riches, has been nominated in 10 categories at the Academy Awards.

Although there's no proof that Fox rivals are behind any of the slams, some within the studio are convinced it is dirty trickery.

"It's a sad state of affairs for the industry that the race for Oscar has to come down to this level," the ‘New York Post’ quoted an insider as telling the ‘LA Times’.

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Slumdog is Topdog by Eddy on 03 Feb 2009

If a film about India and Indians is among the Oscar contenders, I will support it. I was born and raised in Bombay about a mile from the slums of Dharavi. The movie is based on fictional characters who live in real-life situations. Those who protest this film are nothing but professional protesters. They will protest at anything that takes their fancy. IT IS AFTER ALL A FILM!

'Slumdog' is malicious by Rajeev Goel on 02 Feb 2009

Its a mediocre movie at best. The storyline is intended to see the worst side of India - it borders on the malicious. If it wins an Oscar or two, Westerners will flock to watch it. With the movie showing on fleecing of foreign tourists, even in Taj Mahal precincts, its watchers will have to be foolhardy to ever set foot in India unless they have already been here and experienced India as it is.

Slumdog Stereotynaire by Fair dude on 02 Feb 2009

Have you guys seen the movie?I have and I think the best part I found was the interval.The movie isnt as good as it seems. Its writer loosely copied it from 1970 Indian movies and filled with typical stereotypes seen for Indian people abroad.Ater all why did the Taj Mahal scene be necessary for a slum boy who lives in Mumbai ?Are there no tourist attractions in Mumbai ?This movie is released quite late in India - IT is THUS NOT AN INDIAN MOVIE.Tare Zameen par is an Indian movie.Just for the sake of the oscars dont let some foreigner make fun of Us Indians

slumdog millionaire by seshagopalan on 02 Feb 2009

The screen play and the music was excellent and one can't deny that there are no slums in India. This film deserves Oscar.India

Slumdog by Indivam on 02 Feb 2009

Maybe the Indians have been living too long outside India. The film's technique was excellent - especially the short anecdotes for each question/answer. Poverty in India is a reality and the film touched very lightly upon it.

The spoilsports too got the attention because its a hugely successfully movie. by Sanjoy Gupta on 02 Feb 2009

The spontaneous positive commentary even in India far far outweigh any malicious utterances. For Amitabh Bachhan it is understandably sour grapes.

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