"Slumdog Millionaire" Kids Go To Disneyland (PHOTOS)

The day after "Slumdog Millionaire" dominated the Oscars, the child actors from the film took a trip to Disneyland. For some of the children, like Rubina Ali (young Latika), the trip to Los Angeles was the first time she has left Mumbai or been on a plane.

See photos of the Oscars red carpet and backstage, both sets of which the children are in, and an interview with Ryan Seacrest the children did on the red carpet.

PHOTOS:

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Pictured above are Ayush Mahesh Khedekar (Young Jamal), Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail Sheikh (Young Salim), Rubina Ali Rafiq Qureshi (Young Latika), Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar (Middle Latika), Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala (Middle Salim), Tanay Hemant Chheda (Middle Jamal) and Madhur Mittal (older Salim) he is 20.

Comments

[Bulbul]

Just saw the movie yesterday, now I have lot of questions in my mind....a little behind, I must admit.
Super acting by the young trios and the middle ones too. The young trios have so much potentials . My question, the three middle, I am assuming they are not from the slums, anyone knows ?
Adult Latika actually have a very small role, compared to the other two...

[VictorianNovel]

From THE DAILY MAIL:

Boyle and producer Christian Colson told the Daily Mail that Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail and Rubina Ali and their families will be moved to apartments worth £20,000 each in the coming months.

Producers said they would work with an NGO to find a suitable social worker to liaise with the families to ensure the children’s wellbeing over the next few years.

Boyle said: ‘It is not about throwing cash at the problem – that doesn’t work. It is about investing in the long term. The key thing is to make sure they stay in school.

‘We want the kids to have more than wealth, we want them to have the skills that will set them up for life.

Boyle added that he and the film’s investors and distributors were also setting up a fund for the slum and street children of Mumbai.

So far £500,000 has been set aside as an initial figure but this is expected to rise.

[StarrKissed]

What amazing pics! I am glad that they got to experience going to Disneyland, those kids deserve it! Also, for those of you who haven't seen the movie.. these kids portray such talent and will leave you emotional at the end.. it is such a good movie and so sad knowing that there are many places around the world as poor as the slums... Us Americans should feel blessed with our lives... these kids are going places.. great talent and I am so happy to hear that they will be getting out of living in such horrible conditions­... no one deserves to live like that... I wish them well :-)

[VictorianNovel]

After wiring money to the families to pay for a new house and having the unscrupulous builder in India disappearing after pocketing the cash, the producers now realize that the family on their own can't handle a substantial amount of money without being exploited and cheated by corrupt elements in India.

The film bosses have decided to move the kids and families to new apartments themselves, and are putting the properties in the kids' names (to ensure that no one will try to sell them after they move in and take advantage of them).

There's an article on Huffpo somewhere about this news.

(the Government of India had a second offer to give a home for each child as well, but I don't trust it. It's probably a political move).

[btangeles]

The people behind this film finally had the good sense to do something more lasting for these kids than taking them to the Oscars and Disneyland. They're moving them out of the slums: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/24/film-bosses-buy-slumdog-k_n_169598.html

[FTracy3]

Good grief, the condescending whining here is just ridiculous. Bitching about "disneyland values" or complaining about how money for the trip could have been put to better use (as if it's an either or proposition). The kids are obviously having a blast and why you should want to deny them that ('they're too poor, they'll never recover when they go back to their horrid little lives...") is beyond me.
And all of you complaining that the producers aren't being generous enough or that the Disneyland admission cash should instead be put in a trust fund that the children can enjoy in 15 years, feel free to send them a contribution of your own. Or would you rather just complain about other peoples' money? And I'm sure if you asked the kids they'd want you to save your pity. But it feels good, doesn't it? To think that you care more than others, without having to actually do anything about it.

[FTracy3]

Good grief, the condescending leftist whining here is just ridiculous. Bitching about "disneyland values" or complaining about how money for the trip could have been put to better use (as if it's an either or proposition). The kids are obviously having a blast and why you should want to deny them that ('they're too poor, they'll never recover when they go back to their horrid little lives...") is beyond me.
And all of you complaining that the producers aren't being generous enough or that the Disneyland admission cash should instead be put in a trust fund that the children can enjoy in 15 years, feel free to send them a contribution of your own. Or would you rather just complain about other peoples' money? And I'm sure if you asked the kids they'd want you to save your pity. But it feels good, doesn't it? To think that you care more than others, without having to actually do anything about it.

[ReesieKitty]

While I am not a big fan of Disneyland, it undoubtedly means something to these kids, and I am sure that is what this visit was about. I think that anything that can broaden their positive experiences in the world can only benefit them later on. As far as going back to their previous lives, I've read that the people involved with the film have tried to get them all placed in good schools and that money has been put in trust for that and for them when they get older, rather than just handing a 'paycheck' over to their desperate parents. I feel for their families, but putting the money away for the kids' futures and getting them an education is more valuable to them than any short-term financial benefits. There are no 'Jackie Coogan' laws in India to prevent the parents from squandering the money.

[jOke]

true story.. hopefully the kids get more work..

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

You know, they have Disneyland all over the world. Japan has a very interesting one...

[maori]

? not sure of the context for this comment.

[Takae]

I think she's trying to point out that Disneyland isn't exclusive to the US because there are some Disneyland spots around the world. It's same with McDonalds, Starbucks and many others as these can be found in Mumbai and Delhi.

[Bulbul]

You are right ....

[maori]

Aww, look at the cuties ;-)
I remember my first trip to Disneyland, I'm sure they had a blast.
And I don't agree that experiencing America will make them unhappy at home, they're having the time of their lives, and I hope they get the whole shebang, McDonald's and the mall included, they deserve it.
And who knows? Maybe they'll be inspired to grow up and change things where they live, they're very lucky, the future is wide open for them, and anything's possible.
I also find it very hard to believe that their worlds at home won't change dramatically, they're stars now, and their community has received the kind of attention that brings in tourist dollars, and opportunities.
I think we've created some new future American citizens, or at least, college students, lol.
Let them have their fun, and mark my words, we haven't seen the last of these lucky, beautiful kids.
Hope won, remember? :-)

[synergie]

India has both McDonald's and malls. Just fyi :-)

[Damaven]

and a lot of our jobs

[boboyaya]

65 million Urban dwellerers in India live in slums. 130 million urban dwellers in Latin America live in slums. I guess India with 1.3 billion people is moving in the right direction.

[LiberalBuzz]

ON one of the morning shows they showed where two of the kids live in real life.

The slums of Mumbai. And those slums make our slums look like freaking Beverly HIlls.

One lives in a tent with dirt floors and the other in a slum dwellling that was appalling.

Somehow the so called prosperity supposedly going on in India is missing quite a few million children. And the millions the movie has made is apparently not going to be shared with these kids or their families.

The sad thing is the two who return to the sordid and horrendous life that is the slums in Mumbai(sp?) might drive them to serious depression or worse after what they have seen and been exposed to.

I hope someone is paying attention.

[LaurenO]

I doubt they'll be going back to the slums. I'm sure they weren't paid a ton for the movie, but the American dollar goes a long way in India so what they've been paid should at least get them a small apartment with their families.

And I can't imagine Bollywood won't be calling them as soon as they get home either, with all the attention the movie is getting in India, too.

I just saw the movie and am still processing the reality of some of the horrors of these kids' lives. There are still millions suffering, but it's nice to appreciate the fortune of these for a moment.

[msfisk777]

2/24/09
2:32pm
Indianapolis Central Library

I am paying attention and I agree with you. I saw the place where they live on BBC News and they should not go back. The possibility of the children becoming depressed is real.

The fact that there is absolutely no way of securing anything they acquire is also a problem. Human nature being what it is, they will lose everything. And I worry about their health.

Somebody please offer them a job here so they don't have to go back.

[mariposa72]

I'm shocked by the number of comments on how the children are going to adjust to their lives back home. Are you all suggesting that they should have never come to the award ceremony? If this is so disruptive to their lives, perhaps they should have never starred in the movie, or, better yet, the movie shouldn't have been made.

Come on. Children are resilient, which the movie shows if nothing else. I've been fortunate enough to not live in poverty, so I'm guessing that the children will regard this moment as the highlight of their lives, and that they'll be "richer" for it, and not disoriented or bitter.

[lemekid]

I agree with you. I believe that this experience will change these kids forever for the better. From here on, I believe they will set their goals on becoming serious actors after going through the experience of visiting America and the monetary benefits they've got so far. I watched the movie and I enjoyed it very very much. One of the best movie I've watched in a long long time. These children were so adorable in the movie. My whole family watched it and I've kept a DVD in order to keep watching whenever I feel like.

[vishix]

some people will never be happy with anything these kids do. they won't be happy if they go to disneyland or if they don't. they won't be happy if they make money or if they don't. they're just happy bitching.

[jbs902]

You are right. If they wanted to do something positive maybe sending a few dollars themselvesso might help. Yes the moviemakers may be dirtballs but now that all of the people who watched this movie have seen the squalor of these kids lifestyles so why not pitch in and help. A little goes a long way.

[Mikeeee]

Why would they take them to a place of fake values like disneyland? Surely Nasa would have been a better choice.