'Slumdog' film dwells on India's stereotypes
Sakshi Bagai
Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: Entertainment
Director Danny Boyle took the bare bones from Vikas Swarup's novel and turned the film "Slumdog Millionaire" into electric entertainment for the year 2008.
Boyle used blood, sweat and tears to build the harsh truth about India.
The story revolves around an uneducated guy who grew up on streets in the slums of Mumbai.
The main character, Jamal, appears in the Indian version of "Who wants to be a Millionaire" and amazes everyone by answering all the questions right, even though he is just a Tiffin boy at a call center.
When the police accuse him of cheating, Jamal begins his story with a series of flashbacks, explaining how he knew all the answers.
When I saw this movie, I was a little disheartened. The name "Slumdog Millionaire" itself seemed offensive, demeaning and insulting to my country's dignity.
But no matter what I say, people still liked the movie. Fair enough. Everybody has different thoughts and perceptions.
I personally was disappointed because director Boyle has portrayed almost all the negative, harsh truths about India in this film.
Everything about the poverty and life in slums has been depicted in a bad light. Basically, the film fuels "Western stereotypes" about poverty in India.
To some extent, these stereotypes are true. But based only on few facts, the entire structure of the film seemed unrealistic to me.
I would point out that throughout the corruption, insensibility and irresponsibility in the movie about police officers or the call center employees, or even the blinding of kids by the mafia to make them beg and earn money, Boyle ignores the most expensive house on earth located in the same city, Mumbai, built by Mr. Anil Ambani and worth one billion U.S. dollars.
It's all facts. By pointing out a country's crime, violence or other negative aspects, a movie may win awards, but it also adds to the effects on the audience.
India is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, especially the past few decades with its growing economy and nationwide development. It has attracted people from all over the world.
Boyle's effort definitely is being appreciated by many Indians and people all over the world.
At the same time, a film like "Slumdog Millionaire" that boasts being realistic does have flaws that cannot be overlooked.
Boyle used blood, sweat and tears to build the harsh truth about India.
The story revolves around an uneducated guy who grew up on streets in the slums of Mumbai.
The main character, Jamal, appears in the Indian version of "Who wants to be a Millionaire" and amazes everyone by answering all the questions right, even though he is just a Tiffin boy at a call center.
When the police accuse him of cheating, Jamal begins his story with a series of flashbacks, explaining how he knew all the answers.
When I saw this movie, I was a little disheartened. The name "Slumdog Millionaire" itself seemed offensive, demeaning and insulting to my country's dignity.
But no matter what I say, people still liked the movie. Fair enough. Everybody has different thoughts and perceptions.
I personally was disappointed because director Boyle has portrayed almost all the negative, harsh truths about India in this film.
Everything about the poverty and life in slums has been depicted in a bad light. Basically, the film fuels "Western stereotypes" about poverty in India.
To some extent, these stereotypes are true. But based only on few facts, the entire structure of the film seemed unrealistic to me.
I would point out that throughout the corruption, insensibility and irresponsibility in the movie about police officers or the call center employees, or even the blinding of kids by the mafia to make them beg and earn money, Boyle ignores the most expensive house on earth located in the same city, Mumbai, built by Mr. Anil Ambani and worth one billion U.S. dollars.
It's all facts. By pointing out a country's crime, violence or other negative aspects, a movie may win awards, but it also adds to the effects on the audience.
India is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, especially the past few decades with its growing economy and nationwide development. It has attracted people from all over the world.
Boyle's effort definitely is being appreciated by many Indians and people all over the world.
At the same time, a film like "Slumdog Millionaire" that boasts being realistic does have flaws that cannot be overlooked.
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