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Bollywood music director Ismail Darbar says Slumdog Millionaire did not deserve Oscar,
by Kiran Pahwa on Sat, 05/28/2011

Bollywood, music, director, Ismail Darbar, says, Slumdog, Millionaire, did, not, deserve, Oscar,

Nagpur, May 28: Bollywood music director Ismail Darbar has alleged that the coveted Oscar award conferred upon movie `Slumdog Millionaire' in 2009 was compromised and had been "bought" by the recipients.

Slumdog Millionaire, a small budget British film made by Danny Boyle, was named best picture at the Academy Awards in 2009.

Bollywood music director A. R. Rahman also clinched the Oscars for original score and original song in the film to become the first Indian composer to strike gold at the annual Hollywood awards.

Darbar told the media in Nagpur that he "did not understand how the movie won the prestigious award".

"I have heard that the Oscar awards are often bought by artistes and individuals. I never understood how that movie received the Oscar, it is not an ordinary award after all. I know that it was compromised and bought by the recipients," Darbar said.

Darbar also said that he would not have worked for the venture had he been approached by its producers.

"Slumdog Millionaire, on one hand they are calling our country a dog, while on the other they are giving the movie the Oscar. I do not understand this logic. In any case, I would not have taken up the movie in the first place had I been approached," Darbar said.

Rahman had won the Academy Award for the Best Original Song for his number `Jai Ho'.

Shot on a modest budget of 15 million dollars, the movie told the story of a young man looking for love and competing for money on the Indian version of the television game show `Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'.

The movie was a winner in all ways, bagging Oscars for best director, best cinematography, best sound mixing, best film editing, best original score and best song.

It won rave reviews from critics and crossed over from art house success to delight mainstream audience, grossing nearly 100 million dollars domestically to date. (ANI)