'Slumdog' filmmakers pledge to help children

[Coventina]

Source: Los Angeles Times

"Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson met the film's two impoverished child stars Wednesday and reassured them that they will soon have new homes.

Rubina Ali, 9, and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10, both lost their homes this month after authorities demolished parts of their slum in Mumbai. Rubina has been staying with relatives and Azhar has been living in a makeshift shanty of tarps and blankets with his parents.

Relations between the filmmakers and the children's families have grown tense since the phenomenal success of the film, which won eight Oscars and grossed more than $326 million. The filmmakers set up a trust to ensure the children get proper homes, a decent education, a monthly stipend 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 have donated $747,500 to a charity to help slum children across Mumbai.

Nirja Mattoo, who helps oversee the children's trust, said a new home has been found for Azhar's family near to his school and neighborhood. "We are finalizing the deal. Next week it should be done," she said. The hunt for Rubina's house continues, she added.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-quick28-2009may28,0,6953875.story

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It's about time!

[Posteritatis]

1. Interesting how he waited for the kids' home to be publicly demolished (nt)

[qanda]

2. Shame! Shame! Shame!

Why should it take those children to lose their homes for them to do something to get them out of those circumstances? I guess I'm missing something.

[Sequoia]

3. They would have never done anything until their greed was exposed.

Once the spotlight was on them they had to belly up.

[UndertheOcean]

4. Why isn't the Indian Government helping too ?