A gritty tale of rags to riches..Feel good cinema at its best..

Rating: 8/10 (24 December 2008)

When you watch a highly acclaimed American movie then you expect nothing but the best and you are more hooked if its about India. But I held my apprehensions intact because I sincerely feel the Americans only love poor and hungry Indians fighting for survival..Look at past Oscar nods for Indian films(Salaam Bombay, Lagaan) the same aspect has been resplendent..
Slumdog Millionaire is one of those films which deal with a very tried and tested formula but the way it has been dealt with is what makes it different..Its the story of rags to riches of a Slumdog(a boy brought up by the atrocities of a Slum and thereabouts), his grit, his head on take of adversities and the way he triumphs in the end..Its feel good cinema from start to finish and will put a smile on your face throughout and you would love to root for the "Slumdog"..
The narrative and screenplay is what makes Slumdog Millionaire so different..Its a non linear interplexed way of story telling which basically revolves round the super success of a "Slumdog" in a reality game show and side effects thereof..But Slumdog Millionaire is the most realistic take on BPL India and no two ways about that..What astonishes me that an American director has put across a face so realistic of Indian poor diaspora which no Indian had ever managed to represent so convincingly and entertainingly..
Dev Patel the protagonist playing Jamal Malik is brilliant and the word doesn't exactly suffice..He is a revelation..He deserves all the accolades he is getting..The only problem I had with him is his British accent which actually sticks out sorely..Anil Kapoor is brilliant as well and I am happy to see him finally getting his due..Irrfan Khan and Frieda Pinto are good..But the scene stealers really are the kids who play the protagonists in their respective young ages..They are lovable and have been directed brilliantly..
Danny Boyle who somewhat got lost after the similar gritty Trainspotting redeemed him self somewhat with Sunshine last year and with Slumdog Millionaire he proves that he is one of the very best in Hollywood..His thought provoking cinematography is brilliant and as previously mentioned he has managed the non-linear graph of the story quite brilliantly..
And a special mention for A.R.Rehman who just makes Slumdog Millionaire a treat..Each and every interlude is just magnificent and so well thought about..Even the ringtone in the protagonist's mobile phone is excellent..
A must watch and highly recommended but I just wish that Americans would look beyond the anorexic starving Indians and make a film on Indian glory and more so because our very own director are impotent enough to do that..Kudos to Boyle and wish him luck at Oscars..
9.5/10.