Celebrations in India for ‘Slumdog’ Oscars

Public celebrations broke out in India as the Mumbai-set, feel-good movie Slumdog Millionaire won eight Oscars, including best picture, CNN said.

Smile Pinky, which was also made in India, earned the best short documentary prize at the 81st annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles Sunday night, which was Monday morning in India.

This is the finest hour of Indian cinema in the global scenario, Anand Sharma, India’s junior external affairs minister, told CNN.

I cannot describe this feeling, said Mumbai resident Nikhil Jyonti. I’m bursting with pride for India.

CNN reported that Indians crowded around TV sets in dorm rooms, restaurants and homes to watch the star-studded Hollywood prize presentation. They reportedly high-fived and hugged each other, yelled and cried as Slumdog picked up award after award throughout the show.

A television was set out in a street in the Mumbai slum of Dharavi where many of the scenes in Slumdog were filmed, so people could watch the ceremony, CNN said.