I recently had the opportunity to watch one of India's most talked about films, Slumdog Millionaire. Slumdog Millionaire; a truly fascinating film that manages to be harrowing, invigorating, stirring up emotions of joy yet tear-jerking, all within its 120 minute screen time. The film depicts modern cinema at its peak. It revolves around a boy named Jamal Malik who grew up in the slums of Mumbai. It begins with the lights dimming, the thematic music sets in with the crowd applauding, depicting the biggest moment of Jamal’s life as he reaches the last question on India’s ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’. On the show, he introduces himself as a call-center assistant; a chaiwala (a person who serves tea) working in Juhu. The concept of person prototype comes into play here. When the host of the show Prem Kumar encounters Jamal, he fails to fit "his description" of someone capable of winning 20 million rupees. How can a boy from the slums of Mumbai know all the answers? It’s a question that leads to Jamal’s arrest, under the suspicion of cheating. Jamal reveals the sometimes joyous but most often tragic events of a childhood living in the slums with his older brother Salim and friend Latika. How their journey of survival lead him to the answer of each question to prove his innocence. The perfectly written screenplay and musical score fit the frame of this careful crafted masterpiece to the tee.
The film has received its fare share of criticism as most Indians question Boyle's depiction India. Slumdog Millionaire is a product of a westerner's view on India and is said to be a stereotype of "India" in the western world."If SM (Slumdog Millionaire) projects India as [a] Third World dirty underbelly developing nation and causes pain and disgust among nationalists and patriots, let it be known that a murky underbelly exists and thrives even in the most developed nations," Mr Bachchan wrote in his blog.
"It's just that the SM idea authored by an Indian and conceived and cinematically put together by a Westerner, gets creative [Golden] Globe recognition. The other would perhaps not." - BBC News
This comment by Mr Bachchan brought to my notice that perception is truly influenced but psychological as well as social factors. Its is obvious that Mr Bachchan being a native Indian would perceive India to be a rapidly developing nation; which it is. As for Mumbai City, know to most Indians as “the city of dreams”, the director has depicted it to be "a city of slums". It is probably our culture or the fact that we have grown up in a country like India that the slums and poverty sometimes go unnoticed.
Answering the charges, Beaufoy, the writer of Slumdog Millionaire told The Daily Telegraph: "I'm puzzled that he would say that. Of course there is brutal stuff in there, but he can't say any of that doesn't happen. None of it is made up, it's all there on the streets for people to see.
"It's strange. I depicted the place as I found it, really. I wandered around the slums for weeks, talking to people. It was very important to me to spend time there because you can't just parachute in as the middle class white guy and say, 'Line up the slum kids.'- Telegraph.co.uk
Here I noticed that psychological factors like the characters the director and writer came accross and also his experiences with the local slum dwellers convinced him to portray India and specifically Mumbai the way he did.
Wrapping it all up, it doesn’t matter what director Danny Boyle is depicting; be it the unsettling scenes of child exploitation or the moments of melodramatic joy, the film has entertainment written all over it. Boyle’s direction exuberates energy that manages to blend together every dramatic shift in chronology, locale and sentiment. The sweeping shots of India’s horrifying poverty and trash field plains encompass the directors knack of aptly portraying his vision. Last but not least, Boyle injects the humility and charm into Jamal’s character that gives the film a satisfying conclusion. So satisfying a conclusion, might I add, that it had me completely overcome with tears of joy. It is a tale of unswerving love that sends you out of theatres feeling like a millionaire!!
And for those of you who haven't watched Slumdog Millionaire yet, here is a short trailer to provoke your interest.....
This entry was quite interesting to read. It mentioned both sides of the major issue and dealt with each respectfully with a non-bias opinion even though the author herself is an Indian who may have felt annoyed with the stereotypes. Well written with a unique perspective.
ReplyDeleteEven though I've never watched this film before, it sure felt as if I've just finished watching it. I feel that stereotyping is subjective too. In fact, "I feel that you're stereotyping" can be a stereotypical view as well. Unless it's a documentary to provoke discussions, I suppose Slumdog Millionaire can be taken at face value. Just put yourself in the main character's view, feel his joys and conflicts, and enjoy the movie.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I want to say, "I WANTED TO WATCH THIS MOVIE!"
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I do agree that it shows the sterotype of India. However, a lot of the "stereotypes" come from movies FROM India! Yes this is a western movie but we perceive it as if it's from India. This is a typical "poor boy getting a chance to do something but gets in trouble" type of movie. A lot of stereotypes go into this type of movie.
You can't really blame the director for making his film the way he did because he SAW India that way. Maybe he just went to the slums of India and they were we see it in the movie. Some of us may never know, but the movie gives us an insight of it. It might convince us that this is how all Indians are, giving us either a good or bad first impression (that is, if you've never seen an Indian). So ... that's my two cents about this =D
I'm planning to watch this movie soon!
ReplyDeleteI believe a movie's director has his own right to decide as to how go about filming the show etc. So, i think we should simply treat this as a movie and not make such a big issue over how the director did the movie.
That was my opinion too.As for Mr Bachchan I think its just a case of sour grapes.He wasnt even asked to be a part of the movie being the host of the Indian version of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire'.Im from Mumbai and believe me, fifty percent of it is occupied by slums.However, I was bewildered by the fact that the director hasnt shot a single scene showing the more wealthy side of Mumbai or for that matter India...
ReplyDeleteWell this has been a very apt potrayal of both the negative and well as positive sides of this movie..It is a very diplomatic view by the author covering the really touching side of the movie,of the hard life n struggle and destiny of Jamaal and the reality of the poverty existing in India being targetted by the film-makers.Overall,its a great analysis of what is 'DESTINED' to be a movie which captures the imagination of the West and a lot of world wide acclaim!!!
ReplyDeleteive watched this after my coms tcher told us about it in class. I certainly liked it and never thought tat it would be this good. Also made me realise just how fortunate i am living in Singapore too. Extremely touching and i applaud the main actor .
ReplyDeleteI have yet to go see this movie, seems better than all that mindless rubbish coming out these days. I was saying does Mr.Bachchan walk around with Rose tinted glasses!! I mean India has always been a 'developing country' since kingdom come and will continue to be so for donkey's years to come! and by the way Slums are part of our 'culture' no matter how westernized we get. lets face reality here...a major chunk of most of India is made up of them...where are we running to???...
ReplyDeletei do agree with you Joel....
ReplyDeleteslums are a part of India culture whether we like it or not...but i guess the movie has given so much importance to the slums that it has failed to show "Bombay's" beauty...i mean the Gateway...the queens necklace...all these are the stunning aspects of Bombay...i do agree that the movie is titled "SLUMDOG Millionaire" but you don't have to live in a palace to see to gateway!!
Slumdog Millionaire was apprecaited globally by the audience but there were mixed views on the movie in India. Danny Boyles depiction of India and the slums would give the world a wrong picture of India. The beautiful country with its rich cluture and fun loving people is what India is all about. Yes, the manner in which he potrayed the slums and the lives of the poor slumdwellers is commendable. But as you have very beautifully expressed in this blog that the film is very entertaining especially with the tale of answering love added a special charm to the film.
ReplyDeleteaccording to me what i learned from the movie is that its in the blood of the INDIANS to fight till the very end and prove themselves.Its just a basic story about a guy who achieves something out of nothing.This is a lesson as specially for all we youngsters that we must never loose hope as hard work will gain u success some how one or the other day.I suppose this was what the picture was meant to say.But somehow the focus was on how INDIA has been depicted in it.So if we as a nation are criticizing the work of the movie makers why do not we understand that the slums have been a part of our nation.So its the best time that the politicians take this opportunity and turn these slums into millionaires so that when in the future if another such movie is made it should be about how a nation with 40% of slums turns into a number 1 nation..
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