Filmmakers Buy New Homes for 'Slumdog' Kids

When I spoke to Danny Boyle a few months ago for Slumdog Millionaire, he said that the children in the film would have their entire educations paid for as a result of appearing in the film. There have been some investigations into the conditions the kids have been living in since the production wrapped, and some photos released by The Telegraph apparently show young Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail still living in squallor just weeks ago. Director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson released statements, as did parents of the kids in the film, saying the Telegraph article was inaccurate and in particular got the amount each child was paid completely wrong. There should be no mistake about it now, however. On the day that Boyle took the kids to Disneyland, he told The Daily Mail that each family will be moving into new apartments on the outskirts of their slums. "These are bricks and mortar flats. They will have electricity, running water and good sanitation," says Boyle. "They will still be close to their friends and extended family." "Their community is very important to them, and they don’t want to move too far away from them." The educations of the children will continue to be paid until they're 18, at which point, each actor will also receive a lump sum payment if they've completed their studies. After that time, the producers of Slumdog will turn the rights of the apartments over to the children's parents. Otherwise, Colson says, "in all honesty, they will sell them" long before the kids have grown. To encourage the kids to stay in school, Boyle and Colson have made it a little bit easier, hiring a rickshaw driver to take them to and from school every day for the next ten years. It's great news for the kids and their families. "It means so much for us to get a proper flat," says the father of Rubina Ali, who plays the youngest Latika in the film. "For three generations we have been living in this slum and we might finally get out of here. It is not a proper place to live and it is always under threat from demolition." There's also the chance that the kids could move into government housing set aside for them for free by a Mumbai housing authority. Amarjeet Singh Manhas of the Maharashtra housing authority, adds, "These children have made the country proud."

Comments

[Calif. Actress]

I say it's about time Boyle did this. It should have been part of their pay to begin with. Why did it take so bloody long?

[Tim]

Why should it be expected for Boyle and Christian to buy the kids homes...I think this is above and beyond and shows how great of people they are. Danny Boyle is one of the greatest directors working today....Slumdog Millionare, 28 Days Later, The Beach, Trainspotting....all amazing.

[Carol]

I think this is a terrific solution to the problem. Neither the families or children are equipped to handle a large influx of cash. What better way to "pay" these children than to ensure them an education and provide a more suitable place to live? It's like the story from the New Testament...rather than "giving them fish", "teach them how to fish".

I wonder about two things, however. I wonder how they chose these children, out of so many who dwell in the slums, to act in this movie? I hope this leads to better things for them and their families and isn't just a small blip on the screen of their lives. Also, there were THREE youngsters who played the parts of the young actors, but you only hear about two of them. What's the story about the third one???

[Get The Big Picture]

I think he's a robot.