’Mera Murga Mar gaya!’

Azharuddin Ismail's prized fighter cock came under the BMC bulldozer while shanties, including his, were being demolished yesterday

'Mera Murga Mar gaya!'

Azharuddin Ismail's prized fighter cock came under the BMC bulldozer while shanties, including his, were being demolished yesterday

Azhar's shanty and those of seven other 'Slumdog' kids were among the 30 that were razed. The demolition started at 11 am, when Azhar was sleeping. Said Azhar, "A cop dragged me out of my hut. He was going to hit me, but stopped when someone told him that I was a Slumdog actor. My home is gone and so is my pet. I had bought 10 cocks after returning from the Oscars, as I enjoy cock fights. But the BMC bulldozer killed my big black fighter cock."

Mumtaz B, Azhar's aunt, who was visiting the family, said, "Azhar cried for an hour after his cock died."

Mohammed Ismail, Azhar's father, said, "It was because of these innocent slum kids that the film got so many awards. And today, a constable dragged my sleeping son out of the house. Is this the respect an artist gets for making his country proud? Everyone was happy with the Oscars and the film, but now these kids don't even have a shelter."

Preventing floods

The BMC, however, can't afford to back down from their duty. Umashankar Mistry, assistant municipal commissioner H (east) ward, said, "Every monsoon we bring down illegal structures on nullahs. This year the demolition has attracted attention because the kids from Slumdog lived in this slum. But we have to remember that their encroachment reduced the width of the nullah from 25 feet to eight feet. If we don't do this work, then the nearby areas will get flooded during the monsoon."u00a0u00a0u00a0

Rs 1.3 lakh
The amount Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail was paid for the film
Rs 2,000
The amount Azhar's father earns a month from selling scrap
Rs 200
The cost of each of Azhar's fighter cocks
u00c2u00a3 15million
The budget (Rs 112 crore) of the film, far less than Hollywood standards

Rubina's house safe
Rubina Ali, who played the youngest Latika in Slumdog Millionaire, still has her house. She was playing outside her uncle Mohiddin Qureshi's house, which is at a little distance from Azhar's shanty and was unwilling to interrupt her game. "Don't ask me for interviews when I am playing. I went to see Azhar's place, but came back soon. Azhar and I are not friends. We don't talk much or even play together."

Rubina's father Rafiq Qureshi said, "We will see how we can help that family. At this point, I doubt if any politician will help them."

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