“Slumdog”: The Backlash
Every Oscar frontrunner for Best Picture experiences a backlash, and “Slumdog Millionaire” is no different. Last week, it seemed that the controversy would revolve around what some saw as the film’s negative images of India. Now, there’s a new wrinkle: the parents of “Slumdog”‘s child stars — Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail (pictured) — have accused the hit film’s producers of exploiting and underpaying the eight-year-olds, disclosing that both kids face uncertain futures in one of Mumbai’s slums. I don’t think this will derail “Slumdog” from Best Picture, but it does take lustre off the movie’s image.
