Imphal, February 23 2009: Smile Pinki, a 39 minute documentary tracing the transformation in a 6 year old Pinki's life after she was operated for her cleft lip, won an Oscar at the 81st Academy Awards in the 'Documentary Short' category Monday.

The documentary directed by the acclaimed American Documentary Film Maker Megan Mylan, traces the transformation of 6 year old Pinki from a tiny village in Mirzapur, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, who used to live in extreme poverty besides the life of shame and isolation due to her cleft lip deformity.

She had no friends nor used to mingle with anyone in the village for 6 long years.

Little could have they imagined how their life would transform after the surgery.

They were directed to a Smile Train partnered centre in Varanasi and was operated for her cleft lip by Dr.Subodh Singh.

The documentary was nominated and was today adjudged the best and got the Oscar at the 81st Academy Awards at Kodak Theatre, USA.

It's recognition of the excellent work of the Smile Train centers, the surgeons and teams of some of the most dedicated professionals are doing day in and day out all over India.

Says Satish Kalra, Director- South East Asia, Smile Train Inc., "�this is a triumph not just for Megan Mylan and Dr Subodh Singh, it's a recognition of the excellent work Smile Train centers, the surgeons and teams of some of the most dedicated professionals are doing day in and day out all over India.

We are proud to be associated with you and on behalf of everyone in The Smile Train I'd like to once again thank you for all your wonderful efforts � and congratulate you in this triumph that is as much yours as anyone else's".

Smile Train Shija Cleft Project, a proud partner of the Smile Train Inc., in Manipur congratulates Pinki, Dr.Subodh and his team and Megan Mylan for putting across such a wonderful masterpiece and changing the way the world looks at clefts.

We share the pride in being partner of the Smile Train Inc., USA.

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