Boyle: awarded for a gritting tale from a gritty man

Los Angeles, Feb 23 (PTI) Danny Boyle's life story
might not be as gripping as that of the protagonist Jamal from
his Oscar winning movie "Slumdog Millionaire" but the
filmmaker has enough struggle written in to be called a 'rags
to riches' story.

From his humble origins in a working class family to
the glittering stage of the Academy Awards, Boyle has sure
come a long way.

Boyle won his first ever Academy award after being
adjudged the Best Director for his Mumbai-based potboiler
"Slumdog Millionaire".

The film reminiscent of Bollywood flicks with ample
doses of romance, suspense and drama swept the award ceremony
taking home the top honour for the Best Film of the year.

Boyle had won critical acclaim for his independent
small budget flicks like "Train Spotting" and "Shallow Grave"
but it took the feel-good Indian saga "Slumdog Millionaire"
for him to bag the much-cherished Oscar.

The film had already won Boyle a Golden Globe and a
BAFTA for 'Best Director' along with the top award at the
Director's Guild of America awards.

52-year-old Boyle has never shied away from
unconventional subjects for his films be it druggies in "Train
Spotting", zombies in "28 Days Later" or futuristic astronauts
in "Sunshine". (

Then came "Slumdog Millionaire", a heart-warming tale
of a young urchin's struggle to find true love in the scathing
underbelly of the city of dreams Mumbai.

Made on a shoe-string budget and with a newcomer cast,
the film has achieved unexpected success, sweeping away all
the major awards of the year, including a splendid crop at the
mother of all award ceremonies, the Academy awards.

Boyle was born in 1956 in Radcliffe into a working-
class Irish Catholic family. His parents had wanted him to
join the clergy but he decided against it much to the gain of
the world of cinema.

He began his career as a film director with the 1994
movie "Shallow Grave" after spending over a decade in the
British theatre scene. The film was a psychological crime
thriller which also marked the debut of actor Ewan McGregor.

"Train Spotting", a film revolving around the life of
a group of drug addicts in recession-hit England, brought
repute for Boyle. The film developed a cult following and was
at the 10th spot by the British Film Institute in its list of
Top 100 all-time British films.

Meanwhile, Boyle's family including his father and
twin sister Maria continue living in his native Radcliffe in
the house where the now celebrated director grew up. PTI