What movies are made of

Rating: 9/10 (18 November 2008)

This is how movies should be. A bit of fantasy, fling with destiny, touch of reality. We first see Jamal in the beginning about to win the contest, but then we see how all the events in his life were only leading up to this. Reminds me of Forrest Gump where Tom Hanks gets involved in all the major events of the nation's history. Or of Midnight's Children, where the destiny of the children all get tied up as the story progresses. Also great visuals of Bombay, the slums, the trains of India. And it does not flinch also - showing riots, exploitation of street kids, the police, the underworld, the greedy TV industry. Stunning acting by the street kids - the first half of the movie, the later half has some weak performances. Also, should have been made fully in Hindi, street children and low level cops speaking English just doesn't make sense.