It's a roller coaster ride! Best film of the year. Watch it now!

Rating: 10/10 (24 January 2009)

Slumdog Millionaire deftly portrays stark poverty and the stark contrast conspicuous in the Indian society wherein the millionaires live within a stone's throw of a million slum-dwellers. The movie never fails to highlight the spirit of these people who embrace the extremes and are relentlessly desperate in fulfilling their dreams.
Those who criticize the film calling it a westerner's portrayal of Indian society had better realize that our own Bollywood directors have still not got off the 'India Shining' bandwagon. Their NRI cinema is far from the bigger reality. Movies are meant to hold a mirror to the society and Slumdog Millionaire does exactly that(of course in a dramatic way). It's realistic, contemporary, lucid and has a deep message.
The movie revolves around three characters-Jamal Malik, Salim Malik(Jamal's brother) and Latika(Jamal's love interest) who live in abject poverty in Dharavi(world's largest slum) in Mumbai. Despite his horrific, unimaginable experiences like riots and even a near-mutilation, the protagonist Jamal is essentially scrupulous. He manages to get on the show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati'- India's version of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' only to establish contact with his lady love, an ardent fan of the show, who is a gangster's keep. The host and the entire nation is spellbound as to how a 'chaiwalla', who has no formal education, answers every question thrown at him. But his real motive is not big bucks but love. Herein lies the beauty of the movie which manifests that true love transcends everything else.
Danny Boyle takes out the best from his actors(esp. the child actors). Simon Beaufoy's screenplay is breathtaking. Rahman's music elevates the film.
At the end of the day, Slumdog Millionaire lives up to the hype surrounding it. It deserves all the accolades its getting worldwide. It certainly is one of the best India-centric movies ever made. Watch it! Such a movie come once in a decade.
Here's hoping the Oscar night turns out to be Slumdog's night...India's night. Jai Ho!