Manisha Pandit could have danced in the streets of Louisville on Monday afternoon over the big win for “Slumdog Millionaire,” just as many were doing in India to celebrate the movie’s eight Oscars.
She, her husband and 10-year-old daughter were glued to the TV for the Academy Awards on Sunday night, where “Slumdog” won best picture, among other awards.
“It was like, ‘Oh my God,’ ” said Pandit, who was born in Mumbai, India, a city whose slums set the stage for the movie. “The 10 nominations by itself was a big deal, but that was unbelievable.”
Pandit recounted how the movie was barely made, then nearly released straight to DVD, then rose as an underdog to be king of Oscar Night.
“That’s a Bollywood story right there,” she said.
Colorado could be in line for a rags-to-riches tale if it hooks its movie-making star to Bollywood, said Purnima Voria, founder of the Denver-based National U.S. India Chamber of Commerce. “Slumdog” has opened America’s eyes to Bollywood, and Colorado could open Bollywood’s eyes to many similarities between the two locations, she said.
“I think that with the success of this movie, you’re going to see Hollywood and Bollywood working together more,” Voria said. “Colorado needs to be on the forefront of offering Bollywood incentives to film in Colorado.”
She said Colorado is a lot like Kashmir, a beautiful mountainous region in northwest India that is all but closed off to film-making because of decades-long conflicts and three wars between India and Pakistan.
“It’s the peaceful Kashmir of the U.S.,” Voria said.
One of India’s biggest movie stars, Madhuri Dixit, lives in Englewood with her husband, a heart surgeon. She could not be reached for comment Monday. Paparazzi photos show her at the movie’s premiere in Mumbai last month, but she did not have a role in the film made up of relatively unknown actors.
Many of Bollywood’s biggest song and dance numbers will be performed in Denver by children and adults Saturday. The India Association of Colorado’s Republic Day Celebration begins at 4 p.m. at Merrill Middle School at 1551 S. Monroe St. Tickets are $6.
“It will be a good show for people who liked the movie,” said Deepak Kaithakkapuzha, president of the association.
Besides movie tunes and choreography and Indian food booths, the event will feature a tribute to those injured and killed by terrorist attacks on Mumbai in November.
Pandit offered some advice for those whose only knowledge of Bollywood is “Slumdog.” Enjoy the rich images and beautiful costumes, but the story lines are often “ridiculous,” she said. “Bollywood is a form of entertainment where you unzip your head, take out your brain and enjoy the show,” she said.
Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com
