Nicholas Almeida, a social activist and slum dweller himself, has filed a complaint in a local court against director Danny Boyle, producer Christian Colson and the distributor, saying the film's title was damaging and discriminating.

The movie, shot largely in a Mumbai slum, charts the rags to riches tale of a mendicant boy who wins a fortune on a quiz show.

"When the British ruled India, they called Indians 'dogs'. Why do we want to call these poor children 'dogs' 60 years after we got independence?" Almeida, an elected member of the city civic body who lives in a suburban slum, told Reporters.

Almeida said he would continue to press for the movie's title to be changed, but has meanwhile held a naming ceremony for stray dogs in the slum to publicise his cause.