Saw this Movie the day after the hostage taking

Rating: 9/10 (27 November 2008)

First of all, a story line that is overblown like much of Salman Rushdie's work (also a native of Mumbai), but firmly rooted in reality. Excitingly shot in widescreen with sound (and music to match); not following the book in every detail, but nevertheless riveting, confronting, often amoral, and for those unfamiliar with Mumbai one hell of an introduction. Dev Patel - who would have thought the eager, immature character from Skins could turn up with a portrayal like this.
I saw this movie at a preview as the Taj-Oberoi hostage crisis was evolving. In a sense, the two narratives intersect, but only marginally. But the back story is the same - Indian Muslims (and not all of them are poor, downtrodden and denied opportunity), sensing the hopelessness of their fate, carry with them the additional 'stigma' of being Muslim in a Hindu majority country. They may then turn to crime (as in the movie) or into terrorism (as in the events of Nov 27 onwards). Simplistic? Perhaps. But Slumdog Millionaire will get you closer to understanding, albeit tangentially, why Mumbai has been struck by terrorism so often in the last 15 years. Ahh, Mumbai.. I lived there for 4 years in the '70s - my favourite Indian city.