In 2002, Briski and Ross Kauffman picked nine children of Sonagachi, taught them photography and tutored them to film the documentary. The film won numerous international awards.

"It feels strange to recollect that I had played a leading role in that documentary," she said, "I was the leader to the group, you see."

Since that year, Preeti has always watched the Oscars on television.

Briski tried her best to give the kids a better future. Preeti, who was in Class IX then, and the rest got an offer to stay back in the US and study. Some did. She backed out.

Briski, it is heard, even gave a hefty sum to Rakhi and asked her to release Preeti. But destiny had something else in store.

What happened to all that money? "I bought a flat at Salt Lake, a car, a mobile repair shop and all other things that a good life should have," Preeti said. "I also gave some money to Ma."

In the picture: Preeti poses with the Oscar for the documentary Born Into Brothels.

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