Slumdog Millionaire and its Oscars belong to West, not India

Slumdog Millionare, directed and produced by foreigners has brought oscars for showcasing India's poverty and exposing Mumbai's dirty underbelly. Music composer A R Rehman and sound mixer Resul Pookutty got the top honours at the Academy Awards ceremony and from politicians to the film fraternity, everyone is singing Jai ho.

An intense debate has erupted on the way the celebrations have taken place in the last 24 hours. The one section that has left no stone unturned to claim their share of credit are the politicians who are trying their level best to take the maximum from the Slumdog Millionaire hype.

In Mumbai, political parties have put up posters congratulating the Jai Ho team and child actors from the slums have been promised flats. In the poll season all this seems like a vote gaining gimmick.

However, many critics believe India should not celebrate Slumdog Millionaire’s success at all. But here are the reasons why India can and should celebrate the film's Oscar glory.

* The screenplay has been borrowed from Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup's novel Q & A.

* The Co-Director, Loveleen Tandon, is of Indian origin.

* All the characters in the film including the protagonists are Indians.

* The supporting cast of the film includes Indian Bollywood stars like Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Mahesh Manjrekar and Saurabh Shukla.

* The Oscar winning composition for Slumdog Millionaire has been composed by Indian musician A R Rahman.

* The lyrics for Jai Ho have been penned by Indian poet Gulzar.

* the sound for Slumdog Millionaire has been designed and mixed by acclaimed Indian technician Resul Pookutty.