Indian slum children in Western cinema: sensitive portrayal of stark reality or crass exploitation?

Reports that a ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ (SM) child star was offered for sale by her father has led to criticism of the filmmakers, the girl’s family and the British mediaresponsible for the sting operation and subsequent scoop all over the globe(1). At the center of the story is 9-year-old Rubina, one of only two child actors in the film to actually come from the communities where it is set. There have long been competing claims about her treatment. Was she paid properly? Has she been looked after appropriately in the months since the film came out? Was it right for her to be transported to a film set and eventually to the expansive, spotlit stage of the Oscars and a day trip to Disneyland only to be deposited back to a community where access to clean water, let alone education, is a struggle? Would it distort her life too much?