Slumdog Millionaire Hot Favourite at Oscars

Slumdog Millionaire, director Danny Boyle's neo-realastic film with 10 Oscar nominations stood poised to ride into ultimate cinematic fame at 81st Academy Awards at Los Angeles. Powered by a non-stop winning streak in other international awards, the story of a Mumbai slum teaboy's unlikely road to riches was the favourite to win the most coveted Oscar-Best picture award.

As the countdown began for the awards ceremony at the kodak theatre and British bookmakers listed it their clear favourite, child actors,10 year old Azharuddin Ismail and 9 year old Rubina Ali went round Mumbai on Friday. They excitedly spoke to the Media and acknowledged the collective enthusiasm of the city. Music maestro A.R.Rehmann, presently in Los Angeles preparing to perform at the prestigious ceremony told it would be a great honour if the film could grab the award.

Nine children who acted in the film were being hosted for the exciting awards ceremony function and Fox Searchlight was paying for visas, travel and accommodation. The film has won rave reviews and sharp reactions for its slum and poverty slot, competes for the best picture with the period drama "The curious case of Benjamin Button", the political story.

With Danny Boyle and his film heavily favoured to win the Best Director and Picture, Oscar watchers are looking to the acting honours for suspense at the ceremony.