Lets get this right. Slumdog is an Indian film. So what if it the funds came from outside India. The funds for Bandit Queen came from the same source and it is considered an Indian film. The funds for Chandni Chowk to China came from Warner brothers, but it is considered an Indian film. So what if the Director is British, for his take on the film is completely Indian. Except for the Director, Screen Writer and one of the Producers, everyone else of the 100 odd people that make a complete film unit were Indian. The film is based on book by an Indian author.
It is easily the most successful Indian film ever. And it will get at least 3 Oscars ( but who cares about them anyway) and will ultimately go on the make $ 200 million in world wide box office and other rights. That is 10 times what has been achieved by any other Indian film, including the ones that are getting all the media hype now.
Danny and his team have done a terrific film and they deserve everything that is coming to them. It does not matter that no Indian director thought of the film. It is good that someone did and made a film. In India in any case it would have been almost impossible to find funding for this film ( $ 15 million), and keep the integrity of the story. But hopefully this film has paved the way for other Indian films that appeal internationally, and producers and financing companies will wake up to the opportunity. And buyers overseas will now be more open to films from India –
Well done Danny and his team and thank you for making this wonderful film.
Wishing dreams to come true.
Shekhar isn’t it appalling that after all that our civilisation stands for we were earlier ‘snakes and snake-rattlers’ and now ‘slumdogs wanting to be millionares’ for the world.
While being repetitive I still can’t understand why would the world not appreciate on film what Max Muller found here or what Hueng Tsang found here or what Alberuni or Dara Shikoh or what Sir Edwin Arnold found here.
Couldn’t the great things written in ” The Argumentative Indian” be plotted interestingly on film?While in Writing we can have a man as lofty yet real as Amartya Sen, in Film making we have to be either content with one of our best directors playing around with other’s queens or the regular ‘brains-not-required’ kind of films.
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On Slumdog Millionare:
While the Director himself admits anybody from the slums couldn’t have won in real life( we saw few of the best couldn’t make it-One who made it I think was the son of an IPS officer himself on the verge of getting selected in the IPS),ultimately its the makers of the film who are the real SMs unless they really do something for the slums with the earnings.
One thing though,even if this film can inspire one slum boy or a girl to get properly educated it would have done it for me.(Or may be the producers could take up education of a few upon themselves).
But alas its sex that matters not marriage.
So thankyou Mr.Boyle.
These are the times of everything Indian.
It is because the things have now gone beyond a certain depth to understand.
The west sees the things from outside-in and so could go only up to a certain depth from outside to understand them.
(For example, began from the molecule inwards to explore matter and could reach only up to a certain point beyond which actual matter gave place to what they have begun to call virtual matter – Dirac’s see of virtual particles or quantum vacuum full of virtual particles – and so the matter ended for them from there onwards.)
The east(India)sees the things from inside-out and so now will have to meet the west midway through to make the knowledge of anything complete.
(For example, experiences the ‘bottom’ first to which Indian sages call One/God etc and David Bohm called Super Quantum Potential and see things forming in virtual-realm/thought-form from there first.)
Anyways, it is in this context that I hope that some of these days the truth of my own book Self-Designed Universe will also be understood and incorporated into the western efforts at reaching grandunification or a theory of everything.
To elaborate, the west in its effort to understand the origin and evolution of the universe (or a theory of everything)was able to reach the depths where it could unite all the numerous forces working in the universe to four basic ones but could not go further to reach a point called the grandunification point, where it could unite them further to one unified force.
I sort of experienced that grandunification first (through what I call my experince of oneness) and then looked outwards from there and saw the now One force first separating away to four fundamental ones and then to many giving in the process the whole evolution – change-over-time – of the universe.
So, this separating away of forces – at myriad heirarchical levels – according to my book is the fundamental engine of change or evolution of the universe on which then Darwinian concepts play their role in case of our human species.
It is the socalled Intelligent Design which is a hot subject in the west these days. Though it is as of now being put as opposed to Darwinian theories but as one can see from above, it will be eventually complementary to them.
Harb
Though the directors have tried hard to portray reality, at times it was unnecessarily crude – almost sadistic – and so seemed like an attempt to demean India and make the audience go “gosh..aren’t we lucky to be sippin our pesticide-injected coke and eating our fake-butter popcorn”..and it was quite superficial in its so called hearty message. Those slum-dwellers probably live much happier lives than Danny Boyle. There was nothing great about the movie..any mediocre Bollywood flick easily comes out way superior in content..Oscars are a piece of crap..all these low-esteemed indians aim for Oscars and Grammys..do you think Pt. Bhimsen Joshi or Pt. Jasraj have any competition from these Grammy artists?
Sir,
Indeed it is a GREEN LIGHT for those who always missed the International perspective in Indian Cinema. It is a boost to fly higher and spread your wings.
What’s really important is about the technical aspects of the film the Cinematography and the Visual appeal which truly makes it watchable. Music who can doubt it now.
Vinod Agarwal – Hopes Indian auidence endorses the Reality on Screen!!
I got to watch a preview and interact with Danny a few weeks ago.
Finally was a movie that felt as Indian as it could inspite of having an ability to speak to the western mind. I was curious to understand why he had mixed ARR’s score so loud and ‘in your face’. I mean it worked and worked brilliantly. I was intrigued with his explanation. He has observed,rightly, that bollywood movies do not shy away from music and manipulation of emotion through it. It is out there as much to be celebrated for itself as in taking the story ahead.Coming from that view he has mixed the tracks ‘in your face’ and ‘louder’ than any average Indian product these days.
In effect he has used his observation and interpreted in a neo-bollywood way. Resulting in a highly testosterone driven use of music, without the familiar bollywood nuances to it, while being extremely refreshing mix of Indian based international score.
I was also wondering if this would be your pallete for ‘Paani’s’ music. Really looking forward to what you will extract from ARR for ‘Paani’ and how you will use it.
Shekhar,
You say who cares for oscars? dont you?
then why do you write it will get 3 oscars?
do you not care for oscars?
Lets put it as it is. Slumdog Millionaire is an overhyped movie. Yes its good, but is it worth the relative attention it has been getting from the west? If it is then so are taare zameen par, black etc.
SM almost felt like a toned down Ram Gopal Verma’s flick. The only reason it did well was because of the marketing. It was not marketed as an “Indian” movie.. atleast in America.
Dear Shekhar,
Slumdog is indeed a great film and besides the funding most critics agree that it must have been a very difficult film to shoot in all the surroundings. When I saw the film at its New York perimere and then met Danny, Dev and Freida at the after party I knew something special was going on – the first thought I had was that Rahman will get a globe/oscar for sure as the music is so great – it takes the film to another dimention and when the crdits roll you are just smiling. Secondly Danny said that he had never been to India before and then he stayed on for 8 months as he could not stop filming shows his dedication to understanding the culture and being completely true to the script and the theme. His decision to shoot the first third of the film in Hindi, which was not seen as a good idea by the studio, and let Lovleen Tandon direct the young kids who only spoke hindi in that segment shows his desire to bring the best story on screen. In the the critics/audiences and award juries have loved such a truthful story and he truly deserves the accolates after so much hard work. It started in Toronto festival with the popular choice awards and will continue throughout the awards season – they’ll sweep the baftas and win many oscars. It is definitely an Indian film and something truly great to celebrate!
Best Regards,
Himanshu
Heyyyyyyyyy I’M back (psst are your guts gonna be on a ‘cringe’ trip?)
***Harpreet has a point there***
***somebody must have offered someone ‘Pessimism injected coke’
eh heh! Did I say something?
Nawwwwwww
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Shekarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, mew mew Im back…psst ***Sanjay*** has grabbed u by da foot…Bolo? Bolo? jawab Do sarkar? Kisne kaha tha bareh aadmi bano? eh heh! ‘Bhukto’
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Waise, yaha ek shaqss ‘daakan queen’ ke naarei baazi lagata firta hai koun hai wo?
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ajeeb hai ye sahab bhi, kuch waqt hum busy kya ho gaya hu, ki puchat hai ki thum zinda bhi ho ki nahi’
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maarne ka itna hi shoukh hai tho…kya kahi, mauth itni asani se bhi na aveh hai…
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hum tho sirf hunsi majak karne ke liye yaha ayeh hai…
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shekhar aapko bhi ‘jung’ lag gaya hoga abhi thuk, kitne shrafat se sab pesh ateh hai aapse
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humne shrafat chor di!!
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waise, ek baath bolna, kabhi miss kiya tha meleko?
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eh heh, aise puch rahi hu jaise, ‘huzoor’ kahenge haaaa, aisa laga jaise, bush ko pucha gaya ho, do u chew banarsi paan?
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chaliye tho sahab hum chali…fir milenge
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waise jo bhi keh lo
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I loved this movie, some hard core facts, which usually gets shadowed, did get projected
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‘sachai karvi hi hoti hai’
Hugsssss shekhar
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‘Koizon’
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jaanti hu gaali denge…par fir bhi ‘Kedar’ ajeeb si dushmani hai humari lol.
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*** another point, I must mention in this movie***
probably having a hint of the western hand, it has been a joy, to see that for once the ‘INDIAN POLICE’ did not make it a racket, and get paid under the table, to make a mess of that boy!
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This type of positivity will always encourage police officals who have depth in them….
Dear Shekhar,
I asked you this question earlier too regarding this film. Iam repeating it again and hope you will say something this time.
Well, no doubt that film was well made and entertaining, though bit unrealistic and over the top at some points. But, I was not very happy with seeing slums and evils of India once again through the lens of western eye (British, as is the case most of the times). Even though the book on which the film is based was written by an Indian only, it intrigues me that why some westerns get interested in only such Indian stories which are set in slums etc and glorify all that, leading to an artistic accomplishment. Iam sure you have some opinion or take on this and would love to hear from you. Actually, I like you now even more thinking that you dared to tell stories about some of not so glorious British past. 🙂
Regards
Dev
dear dev, ultimately the film is a supercharged story of hope despite the worst circumstances that the characters live in. I found Danny’s film far more real than the slums that are portrayed in what we called ‘Bollywood’. Danny Boyle has not been easy on his own society either though, look at his (probably best) film Trainspotting where he dealt with drug addiction in young people in Scotland. If this film was made by an Indian director, would you feel the same ? shekhar
Good answer, Shekhar!
I think if we would not feel ourselves inferior in some way we would not bother to care what facet of ours anybody shows to the world. More so as in the present times whatever anybody shows he/she cannot hide our achievements in software designing, economic advancement to reaching right to the moon!
So in my opinion what we need to do is to get rid of our own inferiority complex in this regard.
When right from the ancient Vedic/Upanishdic/Gita/yogic philosophies, civilizational systems to the present software-making geniuses are within me why should I not be confident in myself and look for approval from any other people?
Damn, you call me snake-charmer! Nay, I am really the charmer of souls – even of animals/snakes not to talk only of men!
Damn, you call me a slumdog millionaire! Nay, it is just my way of traversing the whole spectrum of One’s/God’s worldly play, that is, of going from the slums to the stars!
Harb
Harb,
Many Indians are not as confident and rooted, and as such it has become important to voice the true value of India in a comprehensive manner so these low-esteemed people who chase glamour and maya can get some grounding.
If this movie wanted to be realistic, it should have gone a step further and acknowledged how these slum-dwellers, despite their poverty, are in a natural flow of things and get by without sleeping pills or anti-depressants which so many in the “developed” worlds are increasingly using. That is a very clear indicator of things.
Slum dog Millionaire is a movie made by Westerners to tarnish the image of one of the most powerful and rising nations of the world, India.
Since independence in 1947, India has made tremendous achievements in the field of Science, Information and Technology, ventures in outer space, satellite launching, Energy, Road construction, Networking, Newspapers and other countless areas.
If this was not the scenario then why is the Western world eager to have business ties and ventures in India.
Slums do exist in even the wealthiest of Nations. Why doesn’t Danny display slums from his own country??????????? He said that this is the first time he visited India to make a film like this.
Danny, if you have visited India just to portray the images you had in your mind about this country, then please never visit this country again.
You have no business hurting the sentiments and prides of a billion people. India maintains high esteem in its culture, richness in dance, music, education while adopting modernization. This is the only country in this entire world where the Hindu majority population has given complete autonomy and co-exists in harmony with all other religions viz Muslims, Christians and Sikhs. Indian Bollywood (film) industry has been dominated by Khans and we love them so much that we never even bothered about their religion. India is the largest democracy in this world, where people live in harmony and peace with each other.
I just wonder that out of the entire beauty, richness of thoughts, culture and language, Danny choose slums as his area of focus and tried his level best to tarnish the image of this great India.
– Shilpi
Review for the movie Slum Dog Millionaire
Slum dog Millionaire is a movie made by Westerners to tarnish the image of one of the most powerful and rising nations of the world, India.
Since independence in 1947, India has made tremendous achievements in the field of Science, Information and Technology, ventures in outer space, satellite launching, Energy, Road construction, Networking, Newspapers and other countless areas.
If this was not the scenario then why is the Western world eager to have business ties and ventures in India.
Slums do exist in even the wealthiest of Nations. Why doesn’t Danny display slums from his own country??????????? He said that this is the first time he visited India to make a film like this.
Danny, if you have visited India just to portray the images you had in your mind about this country, then please never visit this country again.
You have no business hurting the sentiments and prides of a billion people. India maintains high esteem in its culture, richness in dance, music, education while adopting modernization. This is the only country in this entire world where the Hindu majority population has given complete autonomy and co-exists in harmony with all other religions viz Muslims, Christians and Sikhs. Indian Bollywood (film) industry has been dominated by Khans and we love them so much that we never even bothered about their religion. India is the largest democracy in this world, where people live in harmony and peace with each other.
I just wonder that out of the entire beauty, richness of thoughts, culture and language, you choose slums as your area of focus and tried your level best to tarnish the image of this great India.
– Shilpi
Slumdog is a good movie (have a review of it on my blog… entry around dec 27th or so).
On the basis of it being a good movie, it deserves all the accolades it gets.
Face it, India has poverty in bushelfulls. Poverty is not a disease. It is a symptom of our indifference. Yours and mine. Yes, every single one of us. And one day, you and I are going to suffer because we looked away and pretended it does not exist.
And all the jingoistic and “sweep all image problems under the carpet” folks, get over yourselves. Truly in the world order, India is not quite as important yet, that it must be particularly villified.
And no, none of it was over the top. Even as a former Mumbaikar of 25 years ago (supposedly a gentler time), I have seen it all, I have smelt it all, I have been touched in all ways by the crime, exploitation, misery and yes, hope. So why havent the haters experienced it today when poverty is even more poignant amidst the riches so unevenly scattered in Mumbai?
For me SM was a movie with an Indian heart. It beat the same tattoo as mine. Dhak, dhak.
DQ!
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🙂
Hi, Welcome! 🙂
Daakan Queen ji…howz ur trip to heaven and back?:)
Khushi hei ur back
waisey, Tom Alter aur Bob Christo jo ki 1980’s ki filmon ki hindi boltey thy, unki kaami aap ney door kardi….bolo ta ra ra ra
aur, abhi tak ‘slumdog…’ release nehi hui toh tum ney kaisey deekh li? download kia na….pakraa gaye……..heh hehe….
Shilpi,
Take heart! A strong country is always has it’s short-commings captured in film. Hundereds of movies have be made about poverty, drugs, crime and other problems in the US.
Most people in the US know that India is a rising power and respect her people who are well educated and instilled with a strong work ethic(at least the ones I know).
The success of this movie in the US can be attibuted to the fact that it is an “underdog” (pardon the pun) movie. Rags to riches stories always play well in the US.
Best Regards,
Steve
***Shilpi***
With due respect, no one can really tarnish the way you feel
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an elephant is an elephant, and if it gets marketed like a donkey aint mean its one!
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Those who know and sense what an elephant is will still see the elephant through the donkey coat..
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those who dont want to see it, will not even see the elephant ye may market!!
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i saw it yesterday and find it ok. neither brilliant nor bad to trash. it is a average film with average storyline and acting. i dont mind showing our poverty to west but should be in tastful manner, i felt the emotions and connection.
****KOizzzzzzen***
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Acha tho aap daakan queen bolna shuru kar dein, apki hi kammi thi huzoor!!
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Kera heaven? kiddan?
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au ye angrezi urrf hidoostani actors koun hai? I dunno….areh kya farak parta hai, samaj aye ye hi kaafi hai…
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kitni baar tho log samaj bhi nahi paatei, shukr hai aap samaj jaatei hai
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PSsst kisi din bolo ta ra ra ra ke bajayei ye rona niklega….maara maara loool
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aw! sach? ye movie release nahi hui? Hum tho yaha uk mein dekh liya hu, ab ka kari? goli maari?
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i think i saw a movie/movies after a gap of two years lol, have not seen many movies, just a handful so far…
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mujei satyam jhootam ‘ramalinga’ ke saath jail mei daal doh, zara unse gupp shapp ho jayegi thanik!
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puchu tho zara, itne insanno ko gharon se hilanei ka kaam se ujarne ka, invest karanei ka matlab kya hai?
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shayad mere se parehshaan hokar sachai ugal de saarein involved logon ke naam eh heh…i can be pure torture!!
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Thank You Koizen….apna khayal rakhna
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SHEKHARRRRRRRRRRRRR
plssssssssss pWZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Smilies daalo naaaaaaaa, zaroori tho nahi ki blogs itne serious ho, kuch rang ho aas paas, the log active rehtei hai….
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Someday i may fall off to sleep on da keyboardddddddd
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its getting serious and in serious places i cant be me!!!
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Now u will get a bright idea…if this is her serious side, I’m better off withour smilies
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eh heh!!
yea dear..this is close to what i fumblingly told dear shekhar kapur when i met him amidst some stars from turkey, that – you maynot be one of the best directors* in the world but definitely one of the few great human beings in the film industry. and *that because probably you haven’t yet made the movie that you actually want from within as yet.
still shekhar i am sure you closely manage to do/(get to do) whatever is your natural state..and thats the way to be, irrespective of there maybe many other good things/themes to do:)
SM is surely set a good opening(after golden globe awards) for indian films and indian themes whatever the kind of film that maybe – i have yet to see.
Oh!
By the way another reality they showed in this movie…
the manner in which the constable is taking orders and moving about sluggishly…thats a fact I feel
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I wish our govt, and the people would rise to see that these people get sane levels of salary, and respect, so they carry themselves with dignity
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a constable with such a huge belly, wonder how active he would be in dealing with public trauma
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it is us who make them so lost and disheartened.
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I still wonder is growth in global economy more imp or peace, law and order, justice, infrastructure, aids of various orders more imp for a country?
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Rich getting richer, poor dying, I wish instead of pointing fingers towards the west why cant we take the brilliant characters of them! even if in small steps.
and vis versa…
@Shilpi.. tarnish you say? Giving hope to people in slums, depicting people as they are, and bringing the global attention to poverty in India, Danny has done a really altruistic public service to India.
What you call your pride (yes your pride not the country’s) is not pride.. but ego. India has its goods and bads(just like anything else), its good that sometimes other people remind us of the ugly stuff so that we can shake our indifference and do something about it… Thank God that Danny did not make a movie with SRK in polo shirt hitting on a college girl.
Would you say the same about the movies like Mother India, Bandit Queen etc that brought forth the issues that so many Indians were oblivious to?
Movie making is a business and as in any other business, profit is the goal.. but the process is not itself driven by the only motive of making money (Based on one/two guys I met.. Shekhar back me up on this). I’m a tech geek and if I spend my weekends creating some new weird machinery, I don’t do it for money.. I do it because I want to. I don’t care if people appreciate it. I think the same is true for Movie Makers.. Passion supersedes the greed (contrary to the popular belief).
Psst ****Dev***
Witrh much concern, allow me to say, maybe you forgot to read Shekhars previous statement in one of his entries…
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he has asked that all questions put forth to him, will be answered only on one condition
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you have to make a donation first
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the conditions for donation is there in his statement
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hope that helps!
Shmile!
Hi Shekhar,
Ever since the Golden Globe Awards were announced, i was waiting for your post about it. And here it is. But being an A R Rahman fan, I thought there would be some words about him from you, as you have been closely associated with him for a long time. I was disappointed that there was not even a mention about him in your post.
manju
Dear Shekhar,
Thanks a lot for your reply. I think I was not clear enough. I surely agree with you that the story of “hope despite the worst circumstances” of an underdog is the biggest USP of this film and that, along with the fact that the story was overall told well dramatically and technically, stuck an instant chord with audiences all over the world, and culminated with the film becoming a legitimate success. Neither, I disagree with you that what was shown in terms of slums etc is indeed the reality.
“If this film was made by an Indian director, would you feel the same?”
I will indeed feel the same provided the film is as big a success as this is and will be seen by as many people outside India as SM is seen. Actually, it’s not really about who made the film. For me, it’s about the affect such films have on vast majority of people whose opinions are formed and then persist with certain stereotypes presented to them. It’s human nature that negative characteristics of a person or negative stereotypes of any culture/nation stay longer with us than their positive counterparts. So, such films, showing the dark side of India, contribute towards strengthening such stereotypes about India; India of slums, of abject poverty, of corruption, of crime etc. For any reasonably well informed western, India is as much about slums as it’s about it’s colorful history & diversity, rising economy, strong/huge middle class and an interesting future. But the problem is nobody really knows how many such better informed people will see this film with the right context and how many less informed, latching on stereotypes, non-Indians will see this film. Hence, my question and curiosity regarding some western directors’ continued obsession with such stories. Is it because it sells more? I don’t care even if the answer to this is yes as long as a film stays a film, a piece of fiction meant to be entertained…but my feeling is, such films don’t just remain films; such successful films become much more than that and stay with people for long. So, I was just debating with myself that if, in the overall context, exploiting such stories is right or wrong and hence wanted to get your take on that.
In the end, as you said, it is perfectly possible that director, Danny Boyle, was only attracted to the story as such and that there is no explicit or implicit conspiracy behind exploiting the dark side of India. It’s perhaps just incidental that he happens to be British. Also, SM in the long run might prove to be a watershed in opening doors for Indian films’ international appeal and subsequent success.I really hope so.
@ Another Kiran in NYC:
I did find the film bit over the top and overly dramatic at times to suit the story. For instance, the character of Anil Kapoor (Prem Kumar), as a game show host, was too bitchy with Jamaal malik, even while live on television. I mean, a game show host as a person in real life can be evil as shown in the film, but he will show some restrain/diplomacy when live on camera. I have seen both AB and SRK as hosts of KBC and none will talk with a participant the way Prem Kumar did in the film, making fun of Jamaal’s background as chaiwaala (a guy delivering tea) in front of wide TV audience.
Regards
Dev
I can believe some people are bagging Danny Boyle for Slumdog…He has told this particular story in the best possible manner on screen…There is definitely some harsh realities in the film, but that is the story…Why would Danny Boyle make some cheesy Bollywoood flick?? not this thing!!
Hats off to Danny Boyle and all the crew…
I loved Slumdog Millionaire.. and the message of hope!
Hello,
I found this film SM too biased. Some scenes were absolutely unnecessary and derogatory towards the image of this nation.
Films leave a long lasting impact on the mind of people, especially who do not know much about India and take these movies seriously and absolutely real.
Apart from Jamal, Latika and the police inspector every one in the movie is shown evil in some way or the other. Do you really feel it real. I would have expected a more balanced movie from Danny.
Well, now it would be great if this entire unit of SM, after making billions from this movie can do some thing really tangible for the slum dwellers. Then probably I may call them as real heroes.
Shilpi
Dev Patel is British and not Indian…
As much as I want to consider this movie Indian, I don’t think the heart is there in it though! It is a foreigner’s take on an Indian story.
Nevertheless I am proud that it got recognition for India through A R Rahman.
Shekar,
Do you think this movie would be getting its acclaim and fame if it had been shot by an Indian director? Tell me honestly…if some one say Mani Ratnam had made the exact same movie, do you think it would have received such international acclaim?
please reply
Why is there such hatred and jealousy in us humans
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Even shekhar made movies abroad, with stories of the west (queen etc, i could be wrong, correct me) I dont think he was mistreated in this order
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Why can’t we humans rise!
is it that difficult to rise? In our thoughts and expressions?
Yes agreed
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the way anil kapoor called this young man ‘chai waala’ in front of the camera was a bit over the edge
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but to see it from another perception, he was also trying to disuade the young man to rise and win, (shaking him), as he was the owner of the show, he could not conceal his bitterness from flowing, hence one could see it that way too!
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If you see the movie deeply, In one instance, Anil kapoor has mentioned to this young man, that I know what all you have gone through, as I am the only winner of this show so far….so it shows that anil kapoor to win this show had similar thought process or rather bitter experiences, which he applied in winning…
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one who has travelled in a similar boat can always percieve the intelligence and gravity of a similar character
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So
I guess that should make us thnk again…
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as anil kapoor scribbled the final answer on the mirror, the young man did not take it seriously and used his guts/perception/previous experience to suss out the character of anil kapoor
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did i make sense?
SLUMDOG IS A RACIST MOVIE MADE TO ASSUAGE THE RACIST WHITE EGO AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO IT THAN BY SHOWING NOTHING BUT TERRIBLE POVERTY AND MIS-FORTUNE OF MANY OF US ‘WOGS’ FOR THE WHITE MEN AND WOMEN TO ENJOY ESPECIALLY IN THESE CREDIT-CRUNCH TIMES. GET REAL SHEKHAR, ONLY TERRIBLE IMAGES OF US WOGS FETCH SUCH ACCOLADES IN THE WEST. JUST REMEMBER WHAT THAT DIS-CREDITED BRITISH POLITICAL CREATURE MICHAEL PORTILLO ( A BOOKER JUDGE ) SAID ON AWARDING THE BOOKER PRIZE TO ARVIND ADIGA, THAT THE REASON FOR AWARDING THE PRIZE TO ARVIND WAS BECAUSE HIS NOVEL SHOWED THE DOWNSIDE OF INDIA. THESE WORDS ARE SURELY A DEVASTATING INDICTMENT OF THE WHITE MEN’S BIAS AGAINST US INDIANS. ABOUT TIME INDIANS HAD THE PRIDE AND SELF-RESPECT TO TAKE ON THESE RACIST THUGS OF THE WEST INSTEAD OF ALWAYS SHOWING SERVILITY TO EVERYTHING THEY SAY AND DO INCLUDING CONSTANTLY DEMONISING US ‘WOGS’.
It is funny to observe the Indian media and various people criticizing the movie without even seeing it yet. Danny was non-judgmental to the point of fault in making this movie. Just go see it- there are no ‘moral messages’ or bias or as some are accusing, a desire to show India in a bad light. It is just a simple story, well-told, and in the end it’s a feel-good film. It made a lot of viewers happy with its charm and simple story-telling, that’s why people in USA like it.
I think a bunch of stars and film makers in India are feeling threatened – coz here’s a British guy who made a Bollywood film much better, without having to plagiarize and without having to resort to the usual ‘masala’ elements. Clearly they wouldn’t want that to succeed :)It will make them work harder instead of ripping off Hollywood movies and dumbing them down, and adding a bunch of item numbers.
To me this whole brouhaha over SM depicting India’s dirty underbelly depicts heightened sensitivities that result from a section Indians still suffering from an inferiority complex.
I saw the film in NJ early December before the buzz on the film was this strong. The hall was jam-packed and the audience(all white except us) enjoyed the film tremendously. The conversation after the film centered around ‘I know Ricky Pointing and Sachin Tendulkar as well’. The conversation in the rest-room was the same. And there was a set of people dancing in the aisles to the last songs. I thought the atmosphere was electric.
Lets be clear, SM is not a classic. It is a fantasy and a fantastical fantasy. Treat it like that. Do I think it is Oscar worthy? Well if Titanic can get Oscars then well….
Even though I am proud at the international recognisition that Rehman got, I don’t think the score is outstanding. Rehman has a lot better to his credit. Gulzar sahab also gets a little gimmicky with his bizarre metaphors (Zariwale neele aasman).
The film also makes a huge faux pax. ‘Darshan do ghanshyam nath’ is not surdas. It is most probably Narsinh Mehta, the Gujarati poet who wrote ‘Vaishnava Jainto’ as well. The tune the song is sang in is Music Director Ravi’s. The whole plot around the song and question falls flat if the song was not written by Surdas.
Paresha,
I agree with you views to a great extent. I was eager to watch this movie because of its hype, and watched it few days back in CA. I felt the pain how India is shown as a dirty, corrupt, third world nation.
I have already posted my views about this couple of times. Believe me or not, When a movie is watched by the entire world, it does become the face of a nation. As earlier said, I would have expected a more balanced movie.
Shilpi
Paresha,
I agree to you largely and share similar views. I was eager to watch this movie because of its hype and all the Golden Globe awards and watched this movie few days back here in CA.
It pained me as India has been shown as a land of grim poverty, under developed, third world, Corrupt, Criminal, fighting on religion, low nation. Frankly speaking, there was nothing positive about India shown in this movie. Some scenes were absolutely unnecessary, tasteless and meant to make a filthy humor of India. It would have been better if a more balanced image would have been projected. I have already posted my reviews about this movie couple of times at this blog.
Movies make an indelible impression on the minds of people, especially, who do not know much about our nation and take these movies as the true face of nation. Therefore, care should be taken to portray a balanced image of the nation, keeping in track the story guidelines.
Sridhar, you say that this movie gives hope to people in slum. I think this story is overall made in fantasy. Jamal, in this story won by destiny. Let me remind you that sheer luck and directors wish, to make this underdog boy a millionaire, does not give hope to poor people. Hope comes with education, getting the right opportunity and working towards it.
People who work hard, in any field, even the road side vendors, rise to higher levels and have made their lives better. We should be blessed that our Gov. gives opportunity of free education to all barring, caste or religion, not like our neighboring country, where minorities do not even have voting rights, I guess if any movie has been made on that major issue till date.
Shilpi
In continuation with my previous comments, I would also like to say that this is the time when every one, including our Gov. should wake up, and try to do something tangible about the grim poverty of these slums. Although, I can see the main objective about making this movie, I also admit that India has a huge disparity b/w haves and have not’s.
Our country is standing and moving forward on the pillars of democracy, equal rights to all, hard work, the zeal to improve and most important education. I also wonder why some parents want their kids to join Madarsas, instead of the main stream Gov. Schools.
My heart also goes to kids, who are not fortunate enough to have parents, or even proper meals and fall as easy trap to these gang monsters. I feel, that Gov. should deal with these monsters with iron hands and save these kids from leading a disastrous handicapped life.
I also believe that some people also have to blame themselves for poverty. Many of these people will not have a penny for kid’s milk, but will some how spare money for movies, alcohol, drugs and prostitutes. This is the time to stand together and fight for things, which are not going in the right track in India and make this nation one of the most powerful, wealthy, peace and progress loving nation.
Shilpi
Poverty porn for the Western world.
BTW, screen writer Beaufoy said he made up the name, slumdog. Mumbai residents of slums have already protested being referred to as slumdogs. They do not want to be called dogs, and want the name of the movie changed. I rather support them in their protest for their dignity, than Westerners in their quest for an Oscar.
i saw the film today.
the way it has been made the movie has a good mass appeal(audience drawing capacity) and oscar nominations/globe awards have added to the subconscious even before people have seen the film. it was very much felt when i went to see house full morning show in one of the multiplex.
ok 2 things that immediately comes to me that i would have definitely added/altered if i had made such a film –
1. i would have certainly brought in some angles to the film that could have secular activities shown. Even by having Jamal named ram thomas mohammad just in itself was a great idea indeed, giving a overall feel of the possibility of going beyond religious identifications or atleast a subtle current of universal acceptance.
These are the times when no medium can take up a casual approach in showing any religious/political violence. SM is an entertainer that has drawn the masses to watch it – it could have been used to make certain humane contributions as well without losing its prospects of being a financial blockbuster.
2. before asking the answer to the final question to jamal, anil kapoor could have been made to ask jamal what all would he do if he win the prize money – like Amitabh Bachan used to ask in the original kaun banega crorepati..and it used to generate very interesting answers(and real life) taking one beyond merely one’s own selfish motives. in this film jamal could have been made to do the same by expressing his wish to contribute a part of it/his towards some kind of wellness of slum dwelling children and then shown happily doing that towards the end along with his lovelife with rahman in the background – jai ho!!
While Slum Dog Millionare is a well taken movie – there are couple of flaws as far as the game show is concerned – which is the fulcrum of the movie… a) Game shows are never telecasted Live !! b) During the last question – where there is a commercial break – after the question is asked wherein the participant is allowed to move around before he/she gives out the answer is not done at all !!
I can understand the poor of India using film to lose themselves in escaping the harsh realities of their world, but i can’t understand why well educated, well travelled, wealthy Indians turn a blind eye to the reality of India’s third world citizens. Every single hour of every single day people suffer dreadfully in India – it can be tougher in the slums – even worse for those who are on the streets waiting to get into the slums – than was depicted in the film. If this is not how we want the world to see India – then we must change it. Hiding behind glamorous film sets won’t make the poor go away. nor fool the West (given we want the tourism $), but building better schools for the disadvantaged just may, putting a firm stop to childhood labour, finding alternatives to begging, building world class orphanages and offering medical care. Watch the children of this class thrive if we only give them the opportunity, let the poverty become a thing of the past.
Dear Shekhar,
I couldnt agree more with your statement “Lets get this right. Slumdog is an Indian film. So what if it the funds came from outside India”
As the world globalizes, Indians invest in Hollywood and funds for Indian films come from oversease too
Dear Shekhar,
I agree it is a great film and what I am not able to understand is that why no child actors have been credited for their brilliant performance! Why the grown up actors have all the accolades. I have seen the movie and its true potrayel of what happens in slums, I guess people dont appreciate facing the truth as it is bitter.
But again where are the AWARDS for child actors. They deserve it becuase of them the movie looks real and you can connect to it…
Rajeshwari
Dear Friend,
This Film calls a brilliant poor boy sleeping in Bombay Slum a Dog.
Indians all around the world are getting wounded.
If a white man is called a dog or a black man is called a dog, there will be protests.
It will become racism, but when an Indian is called such, its getting all Awards round the world. Pitty on these racists.
The film is mediocre if that. It is wounding national pride, purposely portraying very bad conditions. Everybody and everything except the protagonist is painted in a negative light.
These people should see the true heart of India, in the vibrant cities and beautiful villages. The movie should be banned.
There are slums in every country. There was no need to paint such a bleak picture of India alone. And on a different note, the show host who makes fun of the protagonist because he is poor, is as fake as it gets. No show host would ever do that in India. That itself shows how baseless the whole movie is.
And it is a huge shame Indians are ready to praise this movie.