'Slumdog Millionaire' not a slumdog at the Box Office

NEW DELHI: Oscar-nominated movie Slumdog Millionaire has managed to earn Rs 13.5 crore on its opening weekend at the domestic box office, as per its distributor Fox Star Studios. The movie, which was released in both English and Hindi languages, opened across 351 screens. The movie, which received 10 Oscar nominations, has globally earned revenue of Rs 360 crore.

Fox Star Studios India CEO Vijay Singh said, "The film was an underdog, yet it got huge crowds. The Hindi version has appealed to the crowds in tier-I and II cities." Mr Singh said he was very delighted with the opening numbers.

Box office collections of the movie were helped by a long weekend and the buzz after its Oscar nominations. However, it faced its share of odds. Since it was released in the US in November 2008, the pirated prints of the movie were available on the Internet and in the form of CDs and DVDs.

As per a film trade analyst, the movie started on a slow note but occupancies picked up on Saturday and Sunday, especially in the metros.