India celebrates 10 'Slumdog' Oscar nominations

[January 23, 2009]  MUMBAI, India (AP) -- India's film industry basked Friday in the glow of 10 Oscar nominations for "Slumdog Millionaire" as the rags-to-riches story finally hit theaters to rave reviews and predictions of blockbuster sales.

The film, set amid the fetid alleys of Mumbai's notorious slums, continued its surprise run of success since it swept four categories at the Golden Globes, including the prize for best drama.

The movie got the second highest number of Oscar nominations Thursday, including best director for Danny Boyle, best picture and -- generating the most buzz in India -- three music nominations for Indian composer A.R. Rahman.

A front-page headline in the Times of India trumpeted "RAH RAH RAHMAN" while a parade of Bollywood stars attending the Thursday night premiere in Mumbai rejoiced that the celebrated songwriter was earning international accolades.

"I'm at the top of the world," Rahman told the Times of India. "Everything is a blur."

Rahman has long been a national star thanks to his work on a string of Bollywood blockbusters.

"His music transcends," said Rohit Bhatia, a 33-year-old fashion designer in New Delhi. "It's like listening to Beethoven."

"Slumdog Millionaire" tells the story of Jamal Malik, a poor youth who becomes the champion of India's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" television program as he searches for his lost love.

The gritty movie, which features prostitution, religious violence and maimed beggars, has sparked great debate over whether it strikes a blow to India's international reputation.

About two dozen slum residents protested the film Thursday outside the Mumbai home of Anil Kapoor, one of the film's stars, saying the title of the movie was an insult.

The Times of India's film critic told moviegoers to forget "the twitter about aggrieved national sentiment."

Calling it "a piece of riveting cinema," the paper praised the movie as "a Cinderella-like fairy tale with the edge of a thriller and the vision of an artist."

The movie was being released both in English and in Hindi and many predicted it would be a monster hit.

"I am very excited for this movie because I am also from a slum," Mohammed Hamid, 19, said outside a New Delhi movie theater. "I want to meet Danny (Boyle) and star in 'Slumdog 2.'"

Cast members could hardly believe their success.

"To win so many nominations is unbelievable and for two Indians to be in the nominations is great news. We absolutely never imagined this," Kapoor said before the Indian premiere.

"We are really, really emotional today. All of us just can't stop hugging each other," he said.

The film was also nominated for best adapted screenplay, cinematography, sound mixing, sound editing and film editing.

[Associated Press; By ERIKA KINETZ]

Associated Press writer Sam Dolnick contributed to this report from New Delhi.

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