New Delhi - The stars of Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire returned to India Thursday to a rapturous welcome.

There were huge crowds waiting at the airports in Chennai and Mumbai as music composer AR Rahman, sound engineer Resul Pookutty, actor Irfan Khan and the child stars of of the film touched down, PTI and IANS news agency reported.

The crowds were largest in Chennai, AR Rahman's hometown. Well-known drummer Shivamani and his troupe and groups of dancers and musicians performed outside the airport.

A ministerial delegation from the Tamil Nadu, of which Chennai is capital, and hundreds of fans greeted Rahamn as he emerged from the airport. Fans also gathered outside Rahman's home.

The composer said he was overwhelmed and touched by the reception. "They (the fans) almost killed me with their love," he was quoted as saying by PTI.

Rahman, who won two Academy awards - one for best original score and the other for best original song - said he saw the awards not as a climax of his career but a starting point.

"It is a starting point for making a lot of difference in music and in the way people think about music," he said.

"I dedicate the Oscars to the people of the country and young and budding music artists."

Rahman, 42, is one of India's top music composers and has innumerable hits to his name. He is said to have sold more than 100 million albums.

Pookutty and Khan were also greeted with gusto at Mumbai airport as were the child actors of the film who arrived by a later flight.

Dozens of policemen had to escort the children through the thronging crowd of wellwishers.

The children, two of whom live in the Mumbai slums which form the backdrop of the movie, were soon whisked away in waiting cars.

Pookutty took a moment to speak to reporters saying that he hoped his award would pave the way for success of Indian technicians in the global arena.

Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Britisher Danny Boyle and produced by Britain-based Celador films, had a largely Indian cast and crew.

The film, based on a book by an Indian diplomat, won eight Oscars including that for best film, director and cinematography. (dpa)