Slumdog Millionaire - Two points of View - View 1- from Ajoy Gupta, London

Rating: 8/10 (21 February 2009)

Ajoy Gupta's (London) View : I hadn't read any of the reviews of "Slumdog Millionaire"..(SD)... wanting to see the film without any preconceived notions or judgment's about its mounting success with audiences in India and the US/UK. Last Thursday evening at the Odeon Swiss Cottage (London) was the day set for my date with SD on the big screen!!......How disappointed I was! I left thinking was it the UK media sensationalism accorded to the film that was the cause for its success in India?? What was it about the film that caused so much hysteria in India and nominated for 7 Baftas I ask myself! Don't get me wrong. the film was watchable, and endearing in parts, but lacked any deep content that would move or inspire me, there was nothing deeply thought provoking or anything rooted in deep sentiment or fabulous imagery that left me spellbound!!...which for me.. would normally be the general perquisites to justify an award nomination!! This is a film by a talented, humble and amiable British director, Daniel Boyleso the direction was through his perspective on India and issues that govern Mumbai and its Slum dwelling citizens The film unveils how a "slumdog" Jalal Malik enters the Indian equivalent of the TV quiz show "Who wants to be a Millionaire" and miraculously answers all the questions to win 2 million Rupess!! During his cross examination by the Mumbai police (on being accused of cheating) the camera explains how Jalal knew the answers. By panning to and fro from the interrogated "Jalal " to the childhood Jalal, the viewer is shown, through endearing snapshots of Jalal's childhood experiences, how he is able to answer the majority of his questions. His ability to correctly answer a question asking what the Vedic mythological figure Lord Rama holds in his right hand was owed to his childhood memory of a violent mob attack on his community, an attack based on religious intolerance. Jalal recalls how his mother was brutally beaten to death, and in the distance he recalls a vision of young boy clad in a Lord Rama costume armed with a bow and arrow! I didn't think there was a need to show such a scene depicting communal violence within the context of this film, and that too without doing it responsibly, objectively and informatively. and without putting it in its true context, (which is that the dynamics of politics & social history in India have compromised communal harmony to the point that communities of all concerned faiths have been victims). Yet despite this, the country still maintains a semblance of religious and cultural unity. The film did bring to light the darker and deeply shocking side of the Mumbai underworld and its abuse and exploitation of slum dwelling children, and I feel heartened that this film has gone some way in giving such children a voice and making the international community aware of their plight. For me, the real heroes of the film were the child actorsthe young Jalal, Salim and Latikawatching Jalal and Latika's evolving affections for each other, the complex relationship between Jalal and his brother Salim, and the trios struggle for survival in a godforsaken world, was gripping viewing. The free spirited way in which these so very young actors portrayed their characters with such conviction, guile, charisma and on screen talent thoroughly deserve their nominations for the Oscars! "Feel goof film of the year"???!!..."Mesmerising"!!??..."Unforgettable"??!!....I beg to differ.an ordinary film, depressing for the most part, punctuated with a handful of endearing scenes. Its appeal is in its ethnicity, its "bollywood" flavourwhich is very pastiche in the UK right nowso one might understand the popular appeal in the UK (given its passion for exotica), but why in India?? By Bollywood standards, there is nothing in the film that would stand out compared to the thousands of films that Mumbai film industry churns out each year. The fact this was a foreign film (albeit with Indian actors) directed by a Brit and nominated for seven Baftas may have something to do with it?