Pinki`s tale fetches Oscar for Mylan

Los Angeles, Feb 23 (PTI) "Smile Pinki", the tale of a
girl from India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh and her
fight against the social stigma of a cleft-lip, won the Oscar
award for Best Documentary (Short).

Directed by Emmy-award winning Megan Mylan, the film
was shot in Mirzapur and Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh.

Elated at the victory, Mylan thanked the eight-year-
old girl, who could not smile due to her cleft-lip and was
teased as "othkatti' (one with a cut lip) for letting her tell
her story.

"Thank you Pinki. Thank you for letting me tell your
incredible story," said Mylan while accepting the Oscar.

Pinki then underwent a simple surgery with the help of
social workers that almost changed her life.

Mylan also thanked the NGO Smile Train, which funded
the surgery and Pinki's Los Angeles trip to attend the Oscars.

Mylan also thanked Dr Subodh K Singh, who performed
the surgery.

"Smile Pinki" edged past "The Final Inch", which was
also shot in India and documents the struggle of polio workers
as they travel from village to village to administer polio
drops under the polio eradication programme of India, to win
the award. PTI