Slumdog'accused of showing Indian charity in negative light'

London, Feb 19 (ANI): 'Slumdog Millionaire' has inadvertently caused negative publicity for The Hope Foundation, a charity that provides shelter for orphaned and abandoned children in Kolkata, it has emerged.

The charity has received hundreds of calls and emails from worried members of the public who confused it with the fictional 'Hope Orphanage' featured in the film.

In Danny Boyle's flick, a criminal gangmaster tours the Mumbai slums in an orange minibus with 'Hope' written on the side and offers to 'rescue' the children, only to force them into a life of begging and prostitution.

In one horrific scene, staff gouges out a boy's eye with a spoon because blind beggars earn more money.

The Hope Foundation uses the same orange livery and also feature the word 'Hope' on its buses.

Staff at the charity is dismayed by the negative publicity.

"We are a well-recognised organisation and it would not have taken very much research to find out our name," the Telegraph quoted a source, as saying.

And now, the makers of the Oscar frontrunner have been forced to give an explanation after the film implicated the real-life charity in the abuse of Indian street children.

Celador Films, which made the film, has not apologised to the charity but its chairman, Paul Smith, issued a statement confirming, "There was no intention to imply a connection with the Hope Foundation". (ANI)