'Slumdog' Producers Accused of Exploiting Child Actors

STORY:
Slumdog Millionaire has been nominated for 10 Oscars, won a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

But the film's sparkling success could be losing its shine.

Its makers are under fire over British press reports suggesting child actors in the movie were exploited.

Christian Colson is the producer.

[Christian Colson, Producer]:
"A long time ago, a year and a half, maybe a little bit less than that, immediately after we cast the kids, we put in place a plan of action for their future welfare, over and above the money we paid them; we did that in consultation with their parents. The essential plank of that was education; they never attended school. We enrolled them in school for the first time in their lives, a fund was established to pay for any costs associated with their education, and medical emergencies, other emergencies, basic living costs."

The film's title has also offended some Indians.

They say the use of the word slumdog is offensive and one cinema showing the film was ransacked.

Director Danny Boyle says it's a term of affection and not meant to be humiliating.

[Danny Boyle, Director]:
"For us, slumdog was always a very affectionate term because for us it was a hybrid, a mixture of underdog and rooting for the underdog, and obviously he comes from the slums.

The accusations may have resulted in some bad publicity, but big Oscar hopes remain in store for the feature that could win Best Picture.

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[jeffsst]

they can't, government is like a bunch of manager (poor ones) who manage a company that is way to big for them to handle!

[captainagk]

Please forgive the insecure rich people in my country, who manipulate the poor into following their believes. The poor will someday realize what a great man danny is. I salute you sir

[bepapy]

i saw a video that slumdog millionaire kid actor is still poor

[loveudrogba]

its nothing, juz a dirty politics..

Slumdog millionaire team..thumps up to u.

[Sinner27in]

I think dude has given the best explanation for this issue, ive seen so many answers and the same question in different threads....

"They werent supposed to adopt the kids" thats the hit line..

[BeverlyHillsDude]

my ass... i bet u haven't been to the subcontinent even once. untouchables... wait, are u talking about the 18th or the 19th century???... n sanctioned by the govt... eeehhhhahhahah... keep listening to ur Miley Cyrus shit///

[BeverlyHillsDude]

Ms. SantaBarbaraDianne, with all due respect, I completely disagree.... India has the biggest film industry in the world and there is no question of limited exposure. As it is, the producers have done more than enough for the little kids by providing apartments to their families, taking care of their transportation and education till they turn 18. I bet no one else would have done that for them. + the 2.5 Million rupees when they turn 18. keep in mind, they weren't supposed to adopt the kids.

[SantaBarbaraDianne]

Average adult actors in India make so little due to limited exposure---but Slumdog Millionaire has huge profits that really should be shared more fairly with everyone involved with this awesome movie.

Besides, if you averaged out the pay of all the actors in the U.S. it would probably be less than 100,000 due to all the independent, small-budget and flopped movies out there. So paying by averages isn't necessarily fair.

[SantaBarbaraDianne]

Christian so underpaid the main child actors!! They are still living in deplorable conditions!! Forget the education and trust fund--they need a pot to pee in and food on the table!!

[neelt2001]

Lol. I know. I've lived in India for a few years and things (government related) that I could finish in 4-6 weeks in U.S took me nearly 4-6 months over there!