India celebrates 'Slumdog' Oscar wins

MUMBAI, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Public celebrations broke out in India as the Mumbai-set, feel-good movie "Slumdog Millionaire" won eight Oscars, including best picture, CNN said.

"Smile Pinky," which was also made in India, earned the best short documentary prize at the 81st annual Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles Sunday night, which was Monday morning in India.

"This is the finest hour of Indian cinema in the global scenario," Anand Sharma, India's junior external affairs minister, told CNN.

"I cannot describe this feeling," said Mumbai resident Nikhil Jyonti. "I'm bursting with pride for India."

CNN reported that Indians crowded around TV sets in dorm rooms, restaurants and homes to watch the star-studded Hollywood prize presentation. They reportedly high-fived and hugged each other, yelled and cried as "Slumdog" picked up award after award throughout the show.

ABC News said hundreds of people in Mumbai's Garib Nagar slum gathered around a small TV set up outside, cheering and singing the Oscar-winning song "Jai Ho" as "Slumdog" continued its winning streak.

Two of the film's young stars -- Rubina Ali, 9, and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, 10 -- are from the area but had traveled to Los Angeles to attend the Oscars ceremony.

"The whole country is happy about this," Azharuddin's father, Mohammed Ismail, told ABC News. "They are very happy that the boy from the slums is now a star. I'm also very happy."

"It's not just important for me, it's important for the whole country," said Rubina's mother, Munni Qureshi.