I understand the controversy.

Rating: 9/10 (17 February 2009)

I must admit, as a middle of the road, middle-class American male living in the deep-south, I was completely ignorant to the plight of India. In fact, any images I might have retained in my head concerning India usually had Ben Kingsley in them. Or at the very least (and I mean racist least) Apu from The Simpsons. I knew it was a very beautiful place. And I knew it held a certain "mysticism" over western minds. But, what I did not know was how dire the slums of India were. There are images from this film that will be with me many years from now. The fact that I left the cinema elated is a testament to how wonderfully moving and uplifting the film actually is. It shows the filth, but, in a very non-Martin Scorsese style, doesn't leave us with just horrendous images of people in dire straights. It actually inspires the soul by showing hope is never truly vanquished. Especially if a person has goal and a journey. True, my heart wondered what became of the mutilated children still left in the slums. And true, I know logically that a population in the billions offers little hope of "striking it rich". But, cinema should not be a window into reality. That's what actual windows are for. Cinema should be an ideal reality, a piece of knowledge, a way to educate, and lastly, a way of escape.
In closing, I can understand the controversy surrounding this film. It certainly won't help tourism in India. In fact, it might kill it. But, to those with an open mind, it's just the start of a great adventure.