Jay ho?

So Slumdog Millionaire has conquered that final bastion of international awards and won 8 Oscars in addition to the slew of Baftas, Golden Globes, Critic’s Choice, etc that it had already picked up on its phenomenal rampage across the world.

And whilst India exults in Rahman and Resul’s Oscars we, as a people, are extremely ambivalent towards the extraordinary rise of our very own Freida Pinto who has overnight been catapulted into the international spotlight.

The society pages and cocktail circuit are abuzz with uncharitable chatter about Freida branding her an opportunistic little hussy who dumped her loving, puppy like fiancé at the behest of her International handlers.

Poor Rohan Antao has unwittingly become a household name and found 15 minutes of fame thanks to his old flame. He is now busy doling out Devdas like quotes on how this film has ruined his life.

The British gutter press has also managed to extract some pathetic sound bites about his wanting to confront Dev Patel for stealing away his fiancé — thereby making Rohan India's best known cuckold.

I have heard Bollywood actresses say the most vicious things about Freida — how no wonder Danny Boyle cast her as a slum dweller because that’s what precisely she looks like — a plain Jane from Malad, Mulund, wherever... ouch!

Our local bimbettes are seething with jealousy that she has become the darling of the international chat show circuit with not one but two appearances on Leno! They say she can’t act, she can’t dress, she can’t speak, but still the hunkiest Hollywood heart throbs have been hailing her as a hottie on the red carpet. Double ouch!

The media, always looking to create controversy, also probed and prodded Wendell Rodericks who is credited for having discovered Freida in an effort to paint her as a wretched ingrate who has forgotten her mentor.

Wendell, who has way too much dignity and precious little time for such games, let it be known that he didn’t need a Freida to generate cheap publicity for himself.

Bollywood badshahs have been asked whether they would cast her in one of their films and most have declined saying her performance in the film left a lot to be desired.

Meanwhile, much to her critic’s dismay, Freida is on the cover of this months Indian Vogue and has just been signed by Woody Allen for his latest film proving that her career as an International actress has only just taken off.

It’s inexplicable to most how an ordinary looking, middle class suburban girl with limited acting abilities and no contacts can suddenly become the toast of the International circuit.

But isn’t this precisely the premise of the film that made her an overnight sensation?

That an underdog can overcome all adversity and finally triumph thanks to ones own ambition and the unrelenting force of destiny?  The answer to Freida’s meteoric rise suddenly becomes crystal clear — D. It is written.

I wonder how long it will be before some Bollywood B-grader announces that he is making a film based on Freida’s life. The title — you guessed it — Slumdog Millionairess.