silly nationalists

Rating: 10/10 (14 January 2009)

Its absolutely appalling that being an Indian myself I find that the people who are giving the movie negative ratings here and as well as on most other public forums are Indians.
For once, let prejudice and nationalism (not patriotism) take a backseat and let people enjoy the movie for what it is.
I always chuckle at my fellowmen cringing over the slums shown in a foreign film as if the directors intention was to portray the whole country as one which is in fact not the case. reflect any negative aspect of the country and we have our nationalists screaming foul and ruining ratings on a forum.
Its amusing how at one end they would refuse to acknowledge the slum life as being an integral part of the dynamic country while at the same time would spend money watching pure B grade bollywood flicks running and singing around trees.
So Amitabh Bacchan who in India is something like John Travolta + Brad pitt + Leonardo Caprio + Tom cruise put together x 10 blasted the movie for showing the country in a negative light. Mind you, this is the same ageing superstar who when goes to a routine checkup at the hospital, people line up in the thousands to offer their prayers.
So I have one question for Sir Amitabh, had his blockbuster movie "Black" in which he portrayed a older teacher taking care of a young blind girl who eventually kissed her been made by a western director would he have blasted it for portraying all Indian men as pedophiles as well !?!? Or more recently his other work "Bhagban" where kids refuse to take care of their elderly parents portray the plight of an entire nation or a certain few Mr bacchan !? Obviously you can relate to what Im saying that movies are meant to pick on a theme and build around it they cannot cover each and every broad aspect or else you wouldn't have a movie.
Or for that matter the hundreds of scores he has done running around trees singing proposing the actress realistic in any sense !? I can assure Sir Bacchan that not more than a 100 out of a population of billion would have echoed that sort of melodrama while finding their lady love.
Danny Boyle has done a beautiful job elegantly touching the lives of people in the millions who live below the poverty line and their day to day struggles, something that the bollywood fraternity that is based in Mumbai itself rarely touches.
I find it ridiculously hilarious that people would argue about India's growing economy and middle class base etc etc etc to somehow prove to the western audience the country is better than what is portrayed. Guess what ?! the western world doesn't really care a 2 hoots, they just appreciate a good movie. The strive for international recognition messes up with dumbfound nationalsim.
Ignore them and watch this movie.
I salute you Sir Danny Boyle !