The film - ostensibly based on the novel Q&A - begins with a teenage orphan from the ghettos of Mumbai just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on a game show! But just as the show breaks for the night, the police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a unschooled chai-wallah like Jamal Malik know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence to an initially unappreciative police inspector, Jamal tells the frenetic Dickensian tale of his life in the slums where he grew up with his irascible brother, of their adventures together hustling and stealing on the road, and of the girl he meets along the way.
All for you Latika!
Well, wasn't I lucky they only asked those questions to which I knew the answers?
As he tells the story, each chapter reveals a clue to the varied questions asked during the gameshow ranging from the Hindu god Rama to a US hundred dollar bill. And along the way we're treated to the amazingly vivid sights, sounds and smells of a changing India from the desperate slums of the metropolis to the crowded commuter trains snaking endlessly through the subcontinent.
Not forgetting the unforgettable soundtrack by A. R. Rahman.
Certainly brings back memories of my district posting for medical school - where we spent endless summer days going through a treasure trove of Bollywood films from Taal to Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham. Just like one of the ads advocating racial harmony, we had colleagues from all different races sitting down to catch these movies! We even had a Malay girl - in a burqa no less - who could perform every song in Taal.
Despite the worldwide accolades for Slumdog Millionaire, not everyone's as happy with the treatment of it. The Indian nationalists might balk at the poverty porn shown in the movie - highlighting the misery, depravity and violence in the slums of Dharavi - but I don't think it actually hurts to give everyone an eye-opening view of what actually goes on there. Reality bites.
And come on, seriously is there any way of making the slums look like a wonderful place to live?
So makes sure you watch the movie. Especially this shockingly gross scene of falling into a steaming pile of crap. You might have thought of it but the cruel reality is so much worse. I should know. :)
Is this my cue to fall into a disgusting pit?
7 comments:
I heard that the music and the movie is damn good. Haven't had the chance yet. Will definitely buy myself a DVD and watch it.
Hoho! I am going to watch this with my friends tonight! Hope it's going to be good as you said! xD
Better than Milk?
Havent been watching movies lately....but I'm sure i won't miss this. ^_^
+Ant+
Yes the movie is brilliant. Any other movie winning would be an upset tomorrow~
The director won an award? Must be good deh. I wonder if Benjamin Button is better.
Oh dude, forgive me for saying this but you really didn't know what you just said. :)
I mean yeah... the facts are correct, but being from India, ask me about this. Also, I m quite a movie critic and have written almost 181 reviews till date.
Slumdog Millionaire is an overhyped 'normal' movie which got the limelight just because it showed the Englishmen what they were gladly missing. Trust me, if you like this movie because of the harsh reality of the slums of Mumbai and the like ( or so it seems from your post), there are many other better movies made than this. Also, A. R. Rehaman has given far better music than this in his past. It won the Oscars just because there were no other nominees ( apart from Wall-E, which we all know wasnt the best!)
Another important thing which people are missing is that the movie is not about the slums and the boy who lived there. It is about choices, all the way long. Apart from the questions fro Who wants to be a millionaire, I talk about Latika's choice to give up upon Jamal initally, unless Salim makes a choice for her in the end; about Jamal's choice to choose 'D' instead of 'B' when he doesnt even know the answer.
there are so many gitches in the movie. Living in America, one might know what Benjamin Franklin looks like. I can't hardly imagine how an illiterate bum from Indian Slums who begs for Indian dimes ( which value almost 1/45th of a US dollar!) possibly know that a guy who is old and had long hair would be Benjamin Franklin?
I pretty much was dissapointed with the movie. may be because it really doesnt deserve the hype it received, which was obviously because of it being a British film. Ypu wanna watch a real movie shopwing you the real slum life, watch 'Dhara'. I don't know if that would be available in any ther language as such, but hell it is a far better movie. Just because it was made in India, it was quietly shoved under the Bollywood files!
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