Freida Pinto - Movie Star

When I first read Q & A, 4 years ago, little did I know that, a then 20 year old Manglorean girl would be going on to star in its acclaimed movie adaptation that would fetch India its first Golden Globe.


Frieda Pinto was born in Bombay, but of Manglorean parents - her dad Frederick Pinto (Neerude) is a senior manager with Bank of Baroda and her mother Sylvia Pinto (Derebail) is the principal of St. Johns High School in Goregaon.

Frieda started her career as a model with Elite Model Management and anchored a Travel show for Zee Asia Pacific before getting her first break in movies. and what a break it was, being handpicked by Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire - a movie that has just won 4 Golden globes including the first Golden globe for an Indian - A R Rahman for the Best Original Musical score.



Its not a large role, but Freida has created a huge buzz in the industry and has been recognised for her beauty and her talent and hopefully this will lead to us seeing more of this lovely lass onscreen.

She looked stunning in a mustard dress at the Golden globes and her pictures have been published in all the major fashion columns following the event. She has a captivating smile which she uses to her advantage.

She seems to be immaculately dressed for every public event unlike another Manglorean beauty - Aishwarya Rai - who has faced a lot of criticism in the past for her choice of outfits, especially at Cannes in 2003.

Here is an interview of hers with daijiworld in which Frieda says "I’m proud myself to be an Indian first and a Mangalorean ‘cause my parents are from Mangalore. My dad is from Neerude and my mom is from Derabail. I have been there few times and I love Mangalore."

We wish her all the very best successes in her future.

Aravind Adiga wins Man Booker Prize 2008

Aravind Adiga who won the Man Booker prize this year (2008) for his debut novel The White Tiger
is a Manglorean who studied at Canara High School and St Aloysius High School where he completed his SSLC in 1990 topping the state boards.

Congratulations Aravind!

The novel is about a protagonist - Balram - who will use any means necessary to fulfill his dream of escaping impoverished village life for success in the big city. It also studies the contrast between India's rise as a modern global economy and the lead character, who comes from crushing rural poverty.

Aravind has also written a collection of short stories "`Between the Assassinations" which refers to the period between the two assassinations of Former Prime Ministers of India, Indira Gandhi and her son, Rajiv Gandhi. This anthology was written before White Tiger, but was published Second. People who have read the book say that a lot of the characters in the stories are easily recognisable as teachers at St Aloysius and other Mangloreans. :)