| GEO World | | 'Slumdog Millionaire' wins seven awards at BAFTAs | Updated at: 1420 PST, Monday, February 09, 2009
LONDON: "Slumdog Millionaire", the rags-to-riches tale of a Mumbai tea boy who wins big, swept the board at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) in London on Sunday with seven prizes including best film. In a star-studded ceremony, Kate Winslet also picked up the BAFTA for leading actress for her role as a former Nazi prison camp guard in "The Reader", while Mickey Rourke took the leading actor gong for "The Wrestler". "Slumdog Millionaire" had been nominated for 11 awards and took home seven, Including best director for Danny Boyle, best-adapted screenplay for Simon Beaufoy and the music, cinematography, editing and sound prizes. Made by a British team but with an Indian cast and crew, the movie is a favourite to win best film at the Oscars on February 22. Producer Christian Colson said he would like to share the best film award with the people of Mumbai, saying, "Our amazing cast and crew in Mumbai realised the dream, with their blood and sweat and tears and love." Before the ceremony, fans braved the rain outside the Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden, jostling for a chance at an autograph from one of the A-listers present, including Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Robert Downey Jr. "Slumdog Millionaire" actor Dev Patel seemed as star-struck as anyone -- he was nominated for leading actor but said he never expected to win, and the main thing he wanted from the night was to meet Pitt. |  |
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