After a week of controversy over its portrayal of India, Slumdog Millionaire opened to rave reviews today across a country basking in the reflected glory of its four Golden Globes and ten Oscar nominations.

Amid predictions of box office records, the nationalistic grumbling gave way to patriotic celebration, especially over the three Academy Award music nominations for Indian composer A.R. Rahman.

Amitabh Bachchan, the veteran Bollywood actor who led criticism of the film, even announced that he had apologised to Danny Boyle, its British director, although he did not attend its premiere in Mumbai last night.

Mr Bachchan sparked a national debate when he accused the film last week of portraying India as a "third-world, dirty, underbelly developing nation" and causing "pain and disgust among nationalists and patriots".

One Indian slum dweller took the film's Indian stars to court over its portrayal of Mumbai's shantytowns, while another activist is filing a suit today demanding that its title be changed because he says "slumdog" is insulting.

Around 40 supporters of the latter case, including slum children, one of whom carried a puppy, held a silent protest yesterday outside the house of Anil Kapoor, one of the film's Indian stars.

However, Mr Bachchan's blog said today that he had spoken by telephone to Mr Kapoor and taken "the opportunity to clear the air on the media twisted comments, wrongly attributed to me, via the blog".

He said he then spoke to Mr Boyle, who was "gracious and complimentary to me and my work".

"I explain the entire misinterpretation to him and he has a good laugh over it. I extend to him my apologies if this uncalled for misdemeanour has caused him and his film any anguish and grief," he added. "He understands and acknowledges my calling him."

Some Bollywood insiders have suggested that Mr Bachchan's criticism was motivated more by jealousy of Mr Kapoor, who plays the host of the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? in the film.

Mr Bachchan used to host the real version of the television show but was replaced by Shah Rukh Khan, a Bollywood star, who was offered the role in Slumdog but turned it down.

Mr Bachchan and his actor son, Abhishek, who is married to Aishwariya Rai, another Bollywood star, were conspicuously absent from last night's premiere.

But the rest of Bollywood turned out in droves to see the film about a boy from Mumbai's slums who wins Who Wants to be a Millionaire? while searching for his lost love.

Mr Boyle, who has been in Mumbai for the past week, was also there along with his cast and crew, who danced down the red carpet outside the cinema to the beat of traditional Indian drums.

"The city opened its arms to us. I don't want anyone to miss out on the debt of gratitude that we owe to this city," Mr Boyle told a press conference before the premiere.

The film has already won four Golden Globes, including Best Drama, and yesterday garnered the second most Oscar nominations, including best director and best picture.

"The film is going to be a terrific inspiration to kids around India. It's a feel-good film, a film of hope," said Mr Kapoor, who grew up in a Mumbai slum.

He dismissed claims that "slumdog" was offensive, saying: "Children from the slums are actually called much worse names."

Simon Beaufoy, the screenwriter, said: "I just made up the word. I liked the idea. I didn't mean to offend anyone."

Reviews in the Indian media this morning were overwhelmingly positive, with some urging Indian film-makers to learn from Slumdog's success.

"Slumdog has proven that it is possible for films about India to do well globally," wrote the Times of India in an editorial. "British director Danny Boyle has taken the typical Bollywood movie formula, complete with song and dance, and improved upon it to enormous success."

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