'Slumdog' stars get heroes' welcome home

The young cast of Slumdog Millionaire have been given a heroes' welcome on their return to the Indian city of Mumbai.

Large crowds gathered to welcome the child stars as they touched down on home soil following their visit to Los Angeles to attend the Oscars, reports the BBC.

The Danny Boyle-helmed film was the big winner at the 81st annual ceremony, a triumph which was later hailed as "the finest hour" of Indian cinema.

Composer A.R. Rahman, who won two Oscars, received a similar welcome as he arrived in his home city of Chennai.

Indian authorities have apparently promised to rehouse Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismali from the Mumbai slums for bringing "laurels to the country".

The pair, who played younger versions of the film's two main characters, are to be moved to more secure, free homes.