Another day, another "stating the obvious" segment from myself... It's hard being right all the time *spins in chair*. Realistically though; not being the pinnacle of uber-intelligence, I am instead in possession of a handy level of cop on. For example - if you take young children from a slum, bring them to the Oscars/five star hotels/Disneyland for five days and then drop them back to the slums, it's going to have a negative impact. So, why didn't the powers that be think of this before rubbing the highlife in their little faces?
Yesterday, it was reported that Azharudden, the ten-year-old boy who played Jamal, was recently beaten by his father. Ismail senior wanted to "show him off outside their home" and Azharudden refused as he was "tired from his long flight." Afterwards, Azharudden's father said: "I was very sorry I did what I did. I was confused and stressed by my son's homecoming and I did not know myself for a minute. I love my boy and I am very happy to have him home." Don't beat him then, you insecure muppet.
As it turns out, Azharudden wasn't just suffering from tiredness, he also developed a fever and was said to be vomiting as he returned to school at the weekend. Maybe his body had gotten used to the bottled water in the States, who knows. According to The Sun, his mother said: "It has all become too much for him. He is very ill and has not recovered from going to America and all the media interest since we got back." Azharudden added: "I am very sad. I feel sleepy, hot and sick all the time. I can't get to sleep here - there are too many mosquitoes and it is so hot. I just wish I was in America still." He's not the only one to be affected; his 9-year-old co-star Rubina Ali is "also upset to be home - and is refusing to take off the blue dress she wore to the Oscars ceremony."
A social worker who works in Mumbai's Dharavi slum said: "I cannot believe these kids have just been left like this after being taken to Hollywood. It is bound to affect them psychologically." Believe it - they've served their purpose, and sure they're kids, they'll bounce back, right?! Schmormative years - PAH!
