"Slumdog Milliionaire" young star now homeless - makes you wonder

NOTE TO SELF: PASS ON RENTING "SLUM DOG MILLIONAIRE"

Let's say... you're a film company who travels to Mumbai, India, to shoot a film focusing upon and that takes place in the Mumbai slums.

Let's say... you come accross some children living in the slums that would be perfect for your film and a decision is made to use them. The word "use" being the key word here.

The film becomes a huge success beyond everyone's wildest dreams and is nominated for an Academy Award. As a perk and perhaps even a promotional gimmick, the child actors are brought to the awards show all dressed up as movie stars usually are. Once the hoopla is over the young actors are returned home and back to their former lives of subsisting from day-to-day, living in shacks. One day a celebrity and now a homeless person.

Young 10-year old "Slumdog Millionaire" star, Azharuddin Ismail, was asleep when awakened and told to leave his family's home as part of a demolition of dozens of Mumbai shanties. It was among 30 shacks razed by city workers. As if that wasn't bad enough and according to Azhar, he was hit by a police officer. For their part authorities are saying that his family will be given a new home elsewhere.

Although the film earned US $326 million in box office receipts, the lives of the Mumbai "actors" haven't benefited from their appearing in the film.

"Slumdog" filmmakers set up a trust, called Jai Ho, after the hit song from the film, to ensure the children get proper homes, a good education and a nest egg when they finish high school. They also donated $747,500 to a charity to help slum kids in Mumbai.

Given this recent setback, it would seem that Azhar needs some of that charity money right away to get a roof over his family's head. Thing is - will he get it.

"WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL": HIGHLY RECOMMENDED DOC. FILM

NOTE TO SELF: very rewarding film worthy of a high recommendation and more

Last night I watched a very moving and beautiful documentary film, "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill." Shown on a PBS station it was part of the Independent Lens series and featured an hour-and-a-half that passed by like a flash, focusing on a very special man, Mark Bittner and his relationship with the group of wild parrots that make their home in the San Francisco area.

A former musician Bittner arrived in the city a while back to further his musical career but instead ended up sharing his life - and love - with a flock of birds that live there. Like the people who have to survive the urban jungle, the green parrots must fend off predators like hawks and cats who enjoy them as a snack or main course.

For photograph buffs - this is a feast for the eyes in addition to the soul with images of green parrots being themselves. Just didn't want it to be over...

Don't know if it will be repeated but if you see it on your PBS schedule, make a point of watching it. It's that good.

Click here for more information about the film: http://www.wildparrotsfilm.com/

Other interesting sites worthy of a look:

http://www.the-oasis.org/residents/cherryheads.php

http://www.mickaboo.com/