"Slumdog" Star's Parent Could Use Some Help

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

05 Mar 2009 12:17 PM

I can't stop thinking about the father of the "Slumdog Millionaire" star, who is accused of kicking his 10-year-old son because he refused to grant an interview to a reporter who was planning to pay for the kid to talk.

It's bad enough that the crazed father thrashed his superstar son in front of dozens of witnesses, but to then blame others for his actions is reprehensible, in my opinion. Apparently in Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail's father's public apology he took aim at "Slumdog" producer Christian Colson saying that if the loaded Hollywood exec made good on his promise to provide better housing for the family, he wouldn't have lashed out at his son.

Forget better housing, Colson should get Azhar's dad some mental help.

So here's the latest: The kids from "Slumdog" are still residing in the slums of Mumbai where they have been since birth. Making matters worse is the fact that the children have got a taste of what life could be like (e.g. running water, functioning bathrooms, electricity, beds, cars, clean air, etc.) during their recent trip to the Academy Awards, and they are having a hard time readjusting to their pitiful living conditions.

Rubina Ali Qureshi's father recently told news reporters: "Getting used to life back here in the slum again is proving tough for her and she has not wanted to see her friends since she got back. She just wants to spend all her time away from the slum now."

Even more heartbreaking is the fact that the 9-year-old girl is reportedly still wearing the ball gown she wore on Oscar night. Reports say the dress is now dirt stained and torn, but the young actress refuses to take it off.

"I don't want to live here in the slum anymore," Rubina told reporters. "I don't want to sleep on the floor anymore. I want a proper bed and live where the air does not smell of poo. I have seen what it is like in America. Here, there is garbage everywhere, people get angry, swear and shout. I have realized how bad life is here. I just want to get out."

Social workers, who were called to assess the situation following Azhar's beating, say the children need to be given protection - either from Danny Boyle and the film production company or the Indian authorities.

"I cannot believe these kids have just been left like this after being taken to Hollywood. It is bound to affect them psychologically," one of the social workers told reporters. What's more, India's Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhary is reportedly "appalled" at the beating that Azhar took at the hands of his father.

I say if nothing can be done to take the kids out of the slums right now, at least get Azhar's father out of the hut so his son isn't in danger of getting beat each time his dad loses his temper.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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