India celebrates Slumdog Millionaire’s eight-Oscar victory

India finally laid claim to Slumdog Millionaire – after weeks of controversy the country basked in the glory of the film’s eight Oscars, the most of any movie this year, including the top prize of best motion picture.

News channels broadcasting live commentary of the Hollywood event called the presentation of the best film award – when Slumdog’s vast cast and crew took to the dais – a “victory for India”. Shown repeatedly was the clip of the movie’s producer Christian Colson speaking of the “shared love of the extraordinary city of Mumbai”.

Cameras shot celebrations erupting in the family homes of AR Rahman, the composer who took home two golden statuettes, and Resul Pookutty, the Bollywood sound engineer who was part of the winning sound mixing team.

The star for India was definitely Rahman, known as the Mozart of Madras, who picked up the Oscar for best original score before scooping the best song award moments later.