Amazon.com: Q & A: A Novel (9780743267472): Vikas Swarup: Books Vikas Swarup Page 1 of 1 Start over Sponsored Products are advertisements for products sold by merchants on Amazon.com. When you click on a Sponsored Product ad, you will be taken to an Amazon detail page where you can learn more about the product and purchase it. To learn more about Amazon Sponsored Products, click here . The Last Faith: A book by an atheist believer Karmak Bagisbayev Warning: reading this book may alter your view of the world and permanently change your established moral principles. Readers discretion advised. Walking with Shadows Luke Romyn Left for dead after crashing in the Amazon, Jonas Drake must save not only himself but also the one other survivor: a ten-year-old boy. Snow Song R M Rowan Keeping her terminal cancer a secret, Sarah seeks meaning and purpose for her young life and finds that the art of dying is learning how to live. Kindle Edition Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly When Ram Mohammad Thomas, an orphaned, uneducated waiter from Mumbai, wins a billion rupees on a quiz show, he finds himself thrown in jail.

(Unable to pay out the prize, the program's producers bribed local authorities to declare Ram a cheater.) Enter attractive lawyer Smita Shah, to get Ram out of prison and listen to him explain, via flashbacks, how he knew the answers to all the show's questions. Indian diplomat Swarup's fanciful debut is based on a sound premise: you learn a lot about the world by living in it (Ram has survived abandonment, child abuse, murder). And just as the quiz show format is meant to distill his life story (each question prompts a separate flashback), Ram's life seems intended to distill the predicament of India's underclass in general. Rushdie's Midnight's Children may have been a model: Ram's brash yet innocent voice recalls that of Saleem Sinai, Rushdie's narrator, and the sheer number of Ram's near-death adventures represents the life of the underprivileged in India, just as Saleem wore a map of India, quite literally, on his face. But Swarup's prose is sometimes flat and the story's picaresque form turns predictable. Ram is a likable fellow, but this q&a with him, though clever, grows wearying.

Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Swarup's inventive debut traces the fortunes of Ram Mohammad Thomas from "Asia's biggest slum" to his sudden acquisition of enormous wealth as the biggest winner on the popular quiz show, Who Will Win a Billion? A poor, uneducated waiter, Ram is arrested after the final episode in the belief that he must have cheated. In jail he shares his hardscrabble life with his lawyer: his abandonment at birth in a used clothing bin, the church orphanage where he was dubbed an "idiot orphan boy," the foster home where children were purposely crippled and forced to beg, the estate of an Australian diplomat who was really a spy, the home of an aging Bollywood actress, and his meager waiter job. Each chapter in Ram's life provided him with a correct answer on the show, as a la Forrest Gump, he has been in the right place at the right time. Ram's funny and poignant odyssey explores the causes of good and evil and illustrates how, with a little luck, the best man sometimes wins. Deborah Donovan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Don't have a Kindle?

Get your Kindle here , or download a FREE Kindle Reading App . New York Times best sellers Browse the New York Times best sellers in popular categories like Fiction, Nonfiction, Picture Books and more. See more Product Details Publisher: Scribner; First Edition edition (August 2, 2005) Language: English Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.1 x 8.4 inches Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces By A. Ross HALL OF FAME TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE VOICE on November 26, 2005 Format: Hardcover Despite heartrending descriptions of sexual abuse, racism, poverty, homeless and much, much, more in modern India, this is an utterly enjoyable picaresque adventure that is one of the best reads of the year. In the hands of another author, the brief life story Ram Mohammad Thomas would probably be told as a simple tearjerker tragedy and the reader would be left to shake their head sorrowfully at the plight of another poor third-world soul. However, Swarup has a gimmick framework up his sleeve, and it works like a charm.

Granted, one has to be willing to go along with the premise that this entire structure is based on coincidence of colossal proportions -- readers who aren't willing to suspend disbelief will probably not last more than a few chapters. We first meet the 18-year-old protagonist in jail, where he sits accused of defrauding the popular TV game show "Who Wants to Be A Billionaire?" (in rupees). Despite being abandoned at birth, uneducated, and left to fend for himself for most of his life, it seems Ram somehow managed to answer the show's twelve questions correctly. To all outside observers, his social standing and lack of education appear to preclude this happening legitimately. However, just as the police are about to unleash some heavy manners on him, a mysterious lawyer intervenes and takes him away. The story then unfolds question by question, as Ram tells her via flashbacks to his life just how he managed to know each answer. Ram's life story unfolds as a series of episodes ranging from the horrific to the merely tragicomic, and in a sense, one can view him as emblematic of India's lost children, and the book as caustic social commentary on contemporary India.

Aside from being abandoned at birth, he must contend with a pedophile priest, a closeted homosexual movie star, a violent, drunken neighbor bent on incest, international espionage, child slavery, numerous thieves, a suicidal employer, and the deaths of several close friends. And yet, despite this bleak subject matter, the intrepid Ram keeps doggedly moving forward and surviving. This isn't done in a sentimental, "triumph of the human sprit", after-school special way, but in a straightforward manner that shows a confused young boy doing whatever it takes to live. And of course, the ultimate moral of the story is that those who keep their eyes and ears open in life can learn a lot about it without any books. An excellent story, well-told, and doubtless to be made into a film. By Julia Flyte TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE VOICE on December 2, 2008 Format: Paperback Ram Mohammad Thomas is a boy from the Indian slums who has entered a "Who wants to be a millionaire" style television quiz show. Despite his lack of formal education, his life experiences have perfectly equipped him to answer each question that comes up.

Because the show's organizers are sure that he must have cheated, they ask him to explain how he was able to answer such difficult and obscure questions. Each chapter deals with another question and answer, and as the book progresses his very colorful life story is also gradually revealed. This is not the most well written book I've read, but the way that the plot unfolds is very clever and keeps the reader's attention throughout. As each question is revealed, you can't help thinking "okay, now how is he going to integrate THIS into Ram's story?" and it's fun to see the way that he does, while also advancing the central plot. Slumdog Millionaire tears along at a quick pace: some parts are very amusing while others are very sad, but Swarup doesn't dwell on either. The way it all comes together at the end is highly contrived, but does make for a satisfactory conclusion. If you enjoy books about India, there are other books that are more realistic or better written (I especially recommend the wonderful and highly moving novel "A Fine Balance"), but this is an easy and entertaining story that captures much of the essence of this fascinating country.

UPDATED 12/27: I have now seen the film Slumdog Millionaire. While the film has the taken the central theme and structure of the book, it also has many differences - for starters, the hero's name. Many plot elements of Ram/Dev's life story are entirely different in the film vs the book. Essentially the film is a very simplified version and hinges on the romance with Latika, which is not the case in the book. For me, the film works brilliantly, but it is not a slavish adaptation. This book is more "the book that inspired the film" rather than "the book of the film". 5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful plot, extremely well told. By madhu m on December 8, 2004 an 18 year old uneducated waiter from bombay wins the largest ever prize-money awarded in a "who wants to be a billionaire?" quiz show. naturally, the organisers suspect foul play. did he have insider information about the questions? or did someone in the audience tip him off using signs? how could a person of such low socail standing know the answers to these difficult questions?

vikas swarup's protagonist, tells his life story through each question. it just so happens that through a series of enormous coincidences, incidents in his life have provided him the answers to justthese 12 questions. as he narrates his life story question by question and answer by answer, we discover a plucky hero who has fought ahead in life through sheer courage and mental strength. although, the stories start off bleak dealing with such weighty topics as pedophilia, homosexuality, incest, child abuse, the underworld .. the overall effect of the novel is sprightly and enjoyable. while this might not be for the squeamish, it is bound to provide good payoffs for those who stick by it. i was lucky to be able to lay my hands on an advance copy of this book. i am normally very skeptical of indian writers in english, but vikas swarup offers us a polished debut that showcases good storytelling skills. i would recommend this novel for people interested in a ripping yarn, and not for those interested in reading about the underbelly of indian metropolis life.

this is a story with liberal license used by the author, thatstretches ones believability at points, but when the plotting is as interesting as this, one can indulge the author in his fancies. Vikas Swarup ~ The Author behind Slumdog Millionaire | DESIblitz Polls Archive Vikas Swarup ~ The Author behind Slumdog Millionaire Slumdog Millionaire, a film adaptation based on the book Q&A, was a sleeper hit among audiences. We look into the life of author Vikas Swarup, who penned the novel that started it all. By Email The book explores life and its struggle beyond what we know Vikas Swarup is the talented Indian author of several novels, Q&A, Six Suspects and The Accidental Apprentice. Q & A, Swarup’s first ever novel, won the South Africa’s Boeke Prize 2006, and was also nominated for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. It even inspired the Hollywood film, Slumdog Millionaire. DESIblitz brings you a glimpse of Vikas’s life and literary contribution. As an Indian born diplomat and writer, Vikas Swarup’s career involves travelling around the world.

Posted in countries such as Ethiopia, South Africa and the UK, he has been immersed in many different cultures, and gained a wide range of experiences as a result. In 2005, Vikas released his debut novel Q&A, which brought him into the limelight of the literary world. It was interesting that Swarup was contacted about the film rights, before Q&A was published. The novel was adapted into Danny Boyle’s 2008 movie Slumdog Millionaire, which broke box-office records and won eight of the ten Oscars for which it was nominated. Vikas Swarup’s debut novel opens in a prison cell in Mumbai, India, where an innocent slum boy is being held after accurately answering all the questions on India’s biggest quiz show, Who Will Win a Billion? How could a poor orphan boy from India’s biggest slum have possibly won, when he had never attended a school, nor read a newspaper? When lawyers ask the boy, an amazing recollection of his past unfolds.

He relates the moment he was discovered in the clothes donation box of one of the churches in Delhi, his first job after being hired by a forgotten Bollywood star, his adventure with an Australian army colonel and his career as an inventive tour guide at the Taj Mahal. The book explores life and its struggle beyond what we know. Swarup touches humanity from corner to corner, excavating filth and glory in every aspect. Q&A is a mesmeric composite of comedy, drama, and romance. Vikas’s second book is a dark thriller. Six Suspects is all about six individuals from different social classes, who are connected to the murder case of Vicky Rai, the ‘playboy’ son of a bureaucratic family. Vicky is killed at a party hosted by him to celebrate his freedom from a murder case. Committed 7 years ago, he had killed a bartender for refusing to serve him drink at a trendy restaurant. There are many people who want to see Vicky Rai dead. Six people at the party have guns that match the bullet that murdered him. The book takes the reader through each suspect’s background and motives for wanting Vicky Rai dead. Six Suspects is a great satire of the Indian legal system and pop culture.

On the other hand, it is also a collection of popular political events which have occurred in contemporary India. For instance, the killing of bartender was based on an actual event which took place in 1999, famously known as the ‘murder of Jessica Lal’. Swarup’s third book The Accidental Apprentice is a compulsive crime fiction. The story unwraps in the bustling town of Delhi. An ordinary sales girl, Sapna Sinha is offered the chance to become the CEO of an expanding multi-million business by business tycoon Vinay Acharya. In order to succeed she has to pass seven tests set by a Vinay. The tests are challenging. In one of the tests, Vinay bribes a doctor to tell Sapna that her mom needs a kidney transplant. The book is divided into 7 chapters, each dedicated to one test. The story progresses as Sapna passes the tests, one by one. Each test involves a story which is eccentric and challenging. This book has received mixed responses from the readers with many claiming it as disappointing in comparison to his other precious novels. According to E.L Doctorow: “The historian will tell you that what happened.

The novelist will tell you what it felt like.” Novels are not only for just entertainment; they open up new worlds for us, introduce us to new people and lead us to live multiple lives within one lifetime. Artistic texts are an attempt to understanding the struggle of human life, common to every culture and region in the world. Beyond Bollywood dreams and neon lights of its big cities, there are untold stories which aren’t being portrayed in Indian cinema or popular literature. And Vikas Swarup despite holding a great position as a diplomat of India, has been brave enough transform his thoughts into words. In his writings, Vikas Swarup presents a variegated vision of the struggle between good and foul. Vikas Swarup’s novels are available to purchase through Amazon. Vikas Swarup - News NEWS 21 December 2009 10:03 AM, PST | The Bollywood Ticket | See recent The Bollywood Ticket news » Hindi film may be one of the most dynamic mediums ever, so much so that its magic springs from mere written words about it with undiluted vibrancy—in the hands of a skilled author, that is.

'The Bollywood Ticket' recommends essential reading for film buffs and bookworms alike. 'King of Bollywood: Shahrukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema' By Anupama Chopra 'King of Bollywood: Shahrukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema' (Grand Central Publishing, 2007), by Anupama Chopra, belongs on the bookshelf of every Bollywood fan. The author is a journalist who has written about Bollywood since 1993 for publications such as the 'New York Times,' the 'Los Angeles Times,' and 'Variety.' In this excellently written and researched biography, Chopra looks at the entire Hindi film industry through the prism of its biggest star, Shahrukh Khan, who is often called the Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt of India. » 18 August 2009 11:43 AM, PDT | Planet Fury | See recent Planet Fury news » Do you love people dressed in kilts with blue crap painted on their faces? Well guess what!

London-based filmmaker and producer Kate Sinclair has teamed up with producer Kevin Loader to make White Rose Rebel, an action/adventure movie about the 18th-century 'female Braveheart', known as Colonel Anne, who risked everything to rebel against the English. Anne Farquharson, a tempestuous and independent-minded daughter of Scotland, is elated when the Jacobites rebel in 1745, fighting to regain the Stuart throne of Scotland for Bonnie Prince Charlie, and horrified when her husband, Aeneas Macintosh, joins the English army. She raises his clan and, with her previous lover at her side, joins the uprising to become its legendary "Colonel Anne..." Incorporating fascinating historical detail about the military role of Scottish women during the eighteenth century, this is a story about an extraordinary young woman who used her sexuality, intellect, and sword to defend her people. » - Superheidi 3 June 2009 6:40 PM, PDT | WENN | See recent WENN news » The success of Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire has sparked a rush of British movie interest in all things Mumbai, India.

Slumdog director Danny Boyle has reportedly acquired the rights to develop a film on Suketu Mehta’s Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found and British film producer Paul Raphael and screenwriter John Hodge are planning to invest $16 million (GBP10.6 million) in a film based on Slumdog Millionaire author Vikas Swarup 's second book Six Suspects . Welcoming the sudden passion for India by world filmmakers, acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed insists producers and directors should try not to focus on the negatives of India. He says, "Instead of just focusing on poverty and crime, filmmakers should also explore many finer and deeper things India offers. It is the planet’s most multi-dimensional country and boasts a fast growing economy and the largest democracy. "India has snow-capped mountains, palm-fringed and sun-washed beaches, glorious temples, colourful festivals, a rich philosophy and spirituality, abundant historical sites, wildlife safaris, recharging treks, historic trade routes and cultural wealth. "Four major world religions - Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism - originated there, while Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and Islam have long established history and traditions.

» 17 May 2009 2:49 PM, PDT | ScreenRant.com | See recent Screen Rant news » This week: Tom Hanks is the box office champion; Terry Gilliam kills Don Quixote…again; Spider-Man has a new Green Goblin (on stage); the Basterds are online; Toy Story 3 is moving Up; Ewan McGregor won’t be Trainspotting and who are the Six Suspects ? Box Office Tom Hanks charged to the top of the box office with Angels and Demons . The sequel to The DaVinci Code grossed $48 million over the weekend, which is down from the $77 million opening for the first film. Having said that, reviews are better and the audience is more mature so it might have legs to make it profitable. Expect a third movie - but might they replace Hanks with someone younger and cheaper next time? Star Trek showed great legs with a second weekend take of $42 million and a drop of less than 45% from its opening weekend.

With a total gross of $147 million it » - Niall Browne 17 May 2009 11:45 AM, PDT | India.com | See recent India.com news » The second film to be based on a novel by Vikas Swarup , the author who penned Q&A, arrives in 2010! In case you didn't already know, his novel Q&A was adapted into Danny Boyle ’s outrageously popular ' Slumdog Millionaire '. ' Six Suspects ' is to be a $15 million budget whodunit set in Delhi. Set to be scripted by John Hodge , screenwriter of not one but two other outstanding Danny Boyle -helmed films ( Trainspotting , Shallow Grave ) the project is being described as “ Agatha Christie meets Elmore Leonard ” and, if it’s anything like Slumdog, the film will dive into Delhi’s criminal underbelly known for its contract killings and rampant fraud. Like many manor house crime stories before it, Six Suspects centers on a houseful of likely suspects who, in this case, may or may not have murdered politician’s son and notorious playboy Vivek “Vicky” Rai.

He » - mihirkula 15 May 2009 3:08 PM, PDT | Slash Film | See recent Slash Film news » On the no-brainer development fast track now is the second film to be based on a novel by Vikas Swarup , the guy who penned Q&A. That one was the novel adapted into Danny Boyle ’s outrageously popular Slumdog Millionaire . According to Screen Daily, Six Suspects is to be a $15 million budget whodunit set in Delhi. Set to be scripted by John Hodge , screenwriter of not one but two other Danny Boyle -helmed films ( Trainspotting , Shallow Grave ) the project is being described as “ Agatha Christie meets Elmore Leonard ” and, if it’s anything like Slumdog, the film will dive into Delhi’s criminal underbelly known for its contract killings and rampant fraud. Like many manor house crime stories before it, Six Suspects centers on a houseful of likely suspects who, in this case, may or may not have murdered politician’s son and notorious playboy Vivek “Vicky” Rai.

He’s » - Brendon Connelly 23 April 2009 11:48 AM, PDT | Monsters and Critics | See recent Monsters and Critics news » Slumdog Millionaire has arrived on DVD from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and M&C is giving away three copies. Slumdog Millionaire is loosely based on the fictional novel .Q and A. by Indian writer Vikas Swarup , which tracks the life of Jamal Malik, an impoverished child living in Mumbai.s sprawling slums. After losing his mother, Jamal (played as a teen by Dev Patel ) and his brother Salim (played as a teen by Madhur Mittal ) must do whatever necessary to survive. Jamal.s travels are filled with memorable encounters, good and bad, but along the way he meets another orphan child, Latika (played as a teen by Freida Pinto ).

When Jamal and Latika become separated, he becomes romantically determined » - Patrick Luce 31 March 2009 10:00 PM, PDT | avclub.com | See recent The AV Club news » The big winner at the Academy Awards this year was Danny Boyle ’s Slumdog Millionaire (Fox), which in retrospect could be seen as the perfect Oscar-bait blend of life-affirming uplift and serious wallowing miserablism. But it didn’t seem like such a sure bet when it first came out; Boyle’s adaptation of Vikas Swarup ’s novel Q&A leans heavily on stylized visuals and a shattered chronology to tell its deceptively simple fairy-tale story of horrific poverty and swooning love.

It’s an oddly flashy, off-kilter sort of crowd-pleaser, but its true-love-conquers-all message obviously struck a chord… There’s » Running Time: 1 hr 50 mins Rating: PG-13 Release date: 3/31/09 Plot: It’s the potential of rags to riches as a slumdog (poor Indian boy played by Patel) must answer questions while on India’s own “ Who Wants To Be A Millionaire .” Each question somehow relates to a moment in his past mainly involving his older brother (Mittal) and a girl (Pinto) who he believes is the love of his life. Who’s It For? This is the most accessible, mainstream Indian film (yes, it’s Indian even though a English man directed it) I have seen. The only thing Bollywood about it is all the vibrant colors and a slightly odd musical number at the end of the film. And even though it’s about kids, it’s not for kids.

Movie: Boyle delivers » 30 March 2009 8:07 AM, PDT | Monsters and Critics | See recent Monsters and Critics news » The rags-to-riches love story Slumdog Millionaire has arrived on DVD and Blu-ray from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. M&C was lucky enough to have a quick chat with Slumdog.s Anil Kapoor about his career and the film.s incredible journey from India to the Oscars. Slumdog Millionaire is loosely based on the fictional novel .Q and A. by Indian writer Vikas Swarup , which tracks the life of Jamal Malik, an impoverished child living in Mumbai.s sprawling slums. After losing his mother, Jamal (played as a teen by Dev Patel ) and his brother Salim (played as a teen by Madhur Mittal ) must do whatever necessary to survive.

Jamal.s travels are filled with memorable encounters, good and bad, but along » - Sue Klasky 29 March 2009 6:52 AM, PDT | Comicmix.com | See recent Comicmix news » Pop culture is influenced by so many different factors and timing determines what will catch on and endure while other things, quality be damned, wither and die. A perfect example is the Award-Winning darling of 2008, Slumdog Millionaire . Based on the 2005 novel by Q & A by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup , it was optioned for film by British production companies Celador Films and Film4 Productions who hired Simon Beaufoy to adapt it. By the time director Danny Boyle read the script and accepted the assignment, it was 2006. The budget was set at $15 million, meaning the producers needed a partner – enter Warner Independent which gambled $5 million for the right. Shooting began in November 2007 and it spent much of 2008 being screened at festivals starting with Telluride and the Toronto International. But, a Warner Bros.

exec saw the finished product and felt that once you added in prints and marketing, it was not likely to recoup its costs. » - Robert Greenberger 29 March 2009 | Upcoming-Movies.com | See recent Upcoming-Movies.com news » " Slumdog Millionaire " reviewby Peter Dimako, Editor I recall being asked a few times if I had a favorite film and I would always reply that it’s an impossible question to answer as there are a few greats through many generations. “ Slumdog Millionaire ” is, to this date, the motion picture that has touched me most. This is the greatest film I have ever had the privilege to view. When interviewing Danny Boyle for his other gem “ Millions ” back in the days when we were located in Atlanta, I was most impressed with how comfortable Mr. Boyle makes one feel and how interested he is in you as a person. He focuses on you and shows real interest, listening carefully to your answer as if you matter as much as he. Perhaps this was largely due to my South African upbringing and family history.

In any case, he has a calmness » 29 March 2009 12:32 AM, PDT | Upcoming-Movies.com | See recent Upcoming-Movies.com news » “ Slumdog Millionaire ” is a project of pure passion – equally enthralling as it is sad. There are no mega stars to bring in the cash purely from name alone. No special effects to woo you and hide the truthfully appalling screenplay. This is fervent filmmaking at its finest moment. The story is a simple one when encapsulated as a whole, but it is the way it is broken into its individual parts that summons up its true worth. The film is masterfully adapted by Simon Beaufoy , based on the novel “Q&A” by Vikas Swarup , a Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa for India. Waiter Jamal K. Malik ( Dev Patel ) has skyrocketed to mega-stardom in India overnight. The quiet youngster has made it almost to the end in India’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” with ten million rupees earned so far.

With a final question to go he’s » 29 March 2009 12:32 AM, PDT | Upcoming-Movies.com | See recent Upcoming-Movies.com news » “ Slumdog Millionaire ” is a project of pure passion – equally enthralling as it is sad. There are no mega stars to bring in the cash purely from name alone. No special effects to woo you and hide the truthfully appalling screenplay. This is fervent filmmaking at its finest moment. The story is a simple one when encapsulated as a whole, but it is the way it is broken into its individual parts that summons up its true worth. The film is masterfully adapted by Simon Beaufoy , based on the novel “Q&A” by Vikas Swarup , a Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa for India. Waiter Jamal K. Malik ( Dev Patel ) has skyrocketed to mega-stardom in India overnight. The quiet youngster has made it almost to the end in India’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” with ten million rupees earned so far.

With a final question to go he’s » 23 February 2009 2:58 PM, PST | Bollywoodworld.com | See recent BollywoodWorld news » Washington, After a breathless evening where it seemed that everything was indeed written, the combined toast of two filmmaking cultures, " Slumdog Millionaire ", swept the 81st Academy Awards, winning eight out of 10 Oscars. The only awards it missed were for Best Sound Editing, which ended up going to Richard King for " The Dark Knight ", and the Best Song, which it lost to ... itself. So just what is it about this big-screen adaptation of Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup 's bestselling novel "Q&A" that has taken Hollywood by storm? Is it sheer filmmaking brilliance, fascination with Indian exotica, or has India finally - one shudders to use the word - arrived? It's all three, actually. Yes, "Slumdog" is a testament to the creative power of » 22 February 2009 12:07 PM, PST | Gold Derby | See recent Gold Derby news » Make this blog item your home page for the rest of Oscar day.

Tom O'Neil and Paul Sheehan are blogging live continuously all day. Keep hitting "refresh" for constant updates about what's happening at the Kodak Theatre. 9:06 p.m. — As with all of the past seven Oscars held at the Kodak Theater, the Governors Ball takes place in the adjoining Grand Ballroom which is 25,090 square feet. The menu for the Governors Ball was created by Wolfgang Puck for the fifteenth consecutive year. He promises the return of old favorites like tuna tartare in sesame miso cones and Maine lobster as well as, of course, caviar. And pastry chef Sherry Yard will once more be creating her gold-dusted chocolate Oscars as consolation prizes for those who didn’t get one of the real ones. Music will be spun by Kcrw radio host Jason Bentley who will alternate with The Impulse » - tomoneil 21 February 2009 6:00 PM, PST | The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News | See recent The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News news » " Slumdog Millionaire ," a rags-to-riches tale both on screen and off, was named best picture at the 81st Annual Academy Awards.

The indie movie that fought an uphill battle to worldwide recogntion took home eight awards, including best director honors for filmmaker Danny Boyle . Accepting the award, surrounded by the movie's cast and crew, many of whom had flown in from India for the awards, producer Christian Colson said, "together we have been on an extraordinary journey." Noting that the film had no stars, he cited a script that engendered "mad love » - By Gregg Kilday 18 February 2009 5:34 PM, PST | Manny the Movie Guy | See recent Manny the Movie Guy news » This year.s Oscars, billed as .the biggest movie event of the year,. is one of the hardest to predict in recent Academy Awards history. Sure, .Slumdog Millionaire. has been crowned the Oscar frontrunner, but all the other top prizes are up for grabs. There.s no clear-cut favorite. And if you.re putting all your money on .Slumdog Millionaire,. be very careful. In 2005, .Brokeback Mountain. was considered the one to beat, winning all the critics and industry awards. But on Oscar night, .Crash.

emerged as the victor beating the Heath Ledger - Jake Gyllenhaal romantic drama. But Ledger may get the last laugh because his scene-stealing turn as the Joker in .The Dark Knight. is the only sure thing to win. One thing.s for certain, I will be paying close attention to the Oscar telecast to see how producers Bill Condon » - Manny 11 February 2009 12:41 AM, PST | Bollywoodworld.com | See recent BollywoodWorld news » Mumbai, Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Gupta Tuesday said he was on the brink of cracking a deal with Indian diplomat-author Vikas Swarup to make a film on his book “Q & A”. Gupta, however, missed the deal as the rights of the book were already sold to British-Irish filmmaker Danny Boyle , who made the Oscar-nominated rags-to-riches drama “ Slumdog Millionaire ” on the same. "I missed the film by a hair's breadth. I had read the book in 2005 and wanted to make a film on it and I wanted Homi Adjania to direct it,” he said in a release here.“We had met Vikas Swarup .

But, unfortunately the rights of the film were already sold to Danny Boyle ," he added.The “ Kaante ” director also revealed that he could not make the film because "we did not have the kind of » Reading guide for Q&A (Slumdog Millionaire) by Vikas Swarup Reading guide for Q&A (Slumdog Millionaire) by Vikas Swarup Reading Guide Questions Please be aware that this discussion guide may contain spoilers! This reading group guide includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book. Introduction Why is a penniless waiter from Mumbai sitting in a prison cell? Is it because: a) he has punched a customer; b) he has drunk too much whisky; c) he has stolen money from the till; or d) he is the biggest quiz-show winner in history? Ram Mohammad Thomas has been arrested.

For answering twelve questions correctly on "Who Will Win a Billion?" Because a poor orphan who has never read a newspaper or gone to school cannot know the smallest planet in the solar system, or the location of the Pyramids, or the plays of Shakespeare. Unless he has cheated. Ram is rescued from the police cell where he has been interrogated all night, by what he can only imagine is an angel, though she is posing as a lawyer. Ram prepares his defense by reviewing television footage of his flawless performance. One at a time, he explains how he knew the answer to each question by telling a chapter of his amazing life - from the day he is salvaged from a dustbin, to his employment by a faded Bollywood star, to his meeting with a security-crazed Australian colonel, by way of a career as an over-creative tour guide at the Taj Mahal. Stunning a TV audience, he draws on a store of street wisdom, trivia, and accidental encounters to provide him with the essential keys, not only to the quiz show, but to life itself. Set in modern India, Q &A is a beguiling blend of high comedy and touching melancholy.

Cutting across humanity in all its squalor and glory, Vikas Swarup presents a kaleidoscopic vision of the struggle of good against evil, and what happens when one boy has no other choice in life but to survive. Discussion Questions Why does Vikas Swarup choose the name "Ram Mohammad Thomas" for his protagonist? The names represent three different religions - besides displaying Indias diversity, what does this say about Ram Mohammad Thomas as a person? When Ram recounts the story of Father Timothy, he repeatedly refers to himself as an "idiot orphan boy" (pg. 49). Considering how well Father Timothy treats him, why does he describe himself in this manner? Ram has a recurring dream of a tall woman with black hair that obscures her face. At what moments does he have this dream, and why? What does this woman represent? Is she his biological mother? A symbol of hope? Abandonment? In telling Gudiyas story, Ram asks "But what was Gudiyas crime? Simply that she was born a girl and Shantaram was her father?" (pg. 68). Are there other women in this novel who are treated poorly simply because of their sex?

Do any female characters not need Rams protection? How would you describe his relationships with women? Several characters, especially Ram and Salim, are big movie fans. Is there a reason for this? Do films help them escape their frequently dreary lives, is it simply a significant part of their culture, or is there another reason? What are Rams ambitions in life? Why does he tell Prem Kumar he doesnt know how hes going to spend the billion rupees? Why does Ram turn in Colonel Taylor? Is this retribution for the colonels spying, his derogatory comments about Indians, or for the way he treats his family? Or does Ram simply want to collect his wages before returning to Mumbai? "The city may have chosen to ignore the ugly growth of Dharavi, but a cancer cannot be stopped simply by being declared illegal" (pg. 134). Are there any other problems that go unacknowledged because theyre too painful to face? If so, what impact does this have on the characters? What do you think of Salims decision to give Ahmed, the hit man, a picture of Maman? Did Salim have another choice? Is he guilty of murder?

Did Ram have other options besides throwing Shantaram down the stairs? Are these violent acts justifiable considering the behavior of the victims? Consider the impact of Western culture on Ram. He dreams of eating at places like McDonalds and Pizza Hut, and he practices "speaking Australian." Why is this important to him? Why does Ram want to have "manageable dreams" (pg. 279)? What does he mean by this? And does this conflict with him appearing on a game show to win one billion rupees? Considering he believes hes already murdered two people, why is Ram unable to kill Prem Kumar? How do you think Ram changes, if at all, during his eighteen years? Is he a stronger person at the end of Q&A than he was as a boy? Which journey had the greatest impact on him, either for better or worse? "I realized a long time ago that dreams have power only over your own mind; but with money you can have power over the minds of others" (pg. 316). In relation to this novel, would you agree with this statement? Are there characters without money that are able to influence others?

Despite his lack of formal education, Ram is able to answer twelve questions correctly in order to win a billion rupees. Was this pure luck, or do you think hell always be able to find the answers to lifes many questions? What do you envision the future holds for Ram? Enhance Your Book Club Play your own version of "Who Will Win a Billion!" Create questions of increasing difficulty that relate to Q&A, and then have one book club member be the contestant and one the host. The other members can be available as "lifeboats." Ram greatly enjoys being an unofficial tour guide at the Taj Mahal. Do your own research on the Eight Wonders of the World, and then share your results with the rest of the group. Dont forget to include pictures! Ram, Salim and many others are fans of Indian movies. Before your book club discussion, enjoy authentic Indian cuisine while watching a classic Bollywood film. You can find the latest releases at Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Scribner. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.

Free books to read and review (US only) Find books by time period, setting & theme Read-alike suggestions by book and author Book club discussions Q&A (Slumdog Millionaire) by by Vikas Swarup: Summary and reviews Reading Guide Book Summary Q&A - renamed Slumdog Millionaire after the Oscar-winning film based on the book - is a beguiling blend of high comedy, drama, and romance that reveals how we know what we know, not just about trivia, but about life itself. Vikas Swarup's spectacular debut novel opens in a jail cell in Mumbai, India, where Ram Mohammad Thomas is being held after correctly answering all twelve questions on India's biggest quiz show, Who Will Win a Billion? It is hard to believe that a poor orphan who has never read a newspaper or gone to school could win such a contest. But through a series of exhilarating tales Ram explains to his lawyer how episodes in his life gave him the answer to each question.

Ram takes us on an amazing review of his own history -- from the day he was found as a baby in the clothes donation box of a Delhi church to his employment by a faded Bollywood star to his adventure with a security-crazed Australian army colonel to his career as an overly creative tour guide at the Taj Mahal. Swarup's Q & A is a beguiling blend of high comedy, drama, and romance that reveals how we know what we know -- not just about trivia, but about life itself. Cutting across humanity in all its squalor and glory, Vikas Swarup presents a kaleidoscopic vision of the struggle between good and evil -- and what happens when one boy has no other choice in life but to survive. Chapter 1 1,000 Rupees The Death of a Hero The third bell has sounded. The purple velvet curtain is about to be raised. The lights are progressively dimming, till only the red signs showing EXIT remain, glowing like embers in the darkened hall. Popcorn sellers and cold-drinks vendors begin to leave. Salim and I settle down in our seats. The first thing you must know about Salim is that he is my best friend.

The second is that he is crazy about Hindi films. But not all Hindi films. Just the ones featuring Armaan Ali. They say that first there was Amitabh Bachchan. Then there was Shahrukh Khan. Now there is Armaan Ali. The ultimate action hero. The Indian Greek god. The heartthrob of millions. Salim loves Armaan. Or, more accurately, he worships Armaan. His tiny room in the chawl is a shrine. It is lined with posters of all kinds depicting the hero in various poses. Armaan in a leather jacket. Armaan on a motorbike. Armaan with his shirt off, baring his hairy chest. Armaan with a gun. Armaan... Slumdog Millionaire (Film) - TV Tropes Slumdog Millionaire You need to login to do this. Get Known if you don't have an account Share Police Inspector: Doctors... Lawyers... never get past 60 thousand rupees. He's won 10 million. What can a slumdog possibly know? Jamal Malik: [quietly] The answers.

A 2008 film directed by Danny Boyle based on the novel Q & A by Vikas Swarup. Jamal Malik is on the verge of winning 20 million rupees on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? . There's just one problem: he's a "slumdog," working at a minimum wage job, and nobody can see how he knew any of the answers. As they go through each question, he shows how events in his childhood and life contributed to his knowing almost every single one. Please note, that apart from the dance number at the end, this is not a Bollywood film. It's a Western movie made in Mumbai. It does, however, have several references to Indian culture and Bollywood movies—including songs that have been used in other movies, a credits sequence made to look like old-fashioned movie posters and a reference to legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, though it only uses a total of two well-known Bollywood actors in the film.

Even though critically acclaimed internationally, over the next few years the movie attained widespread Hatedom and Snark Bait status in India, with numerous Take Thats from other Indian movies; mostly because Danny Boyle managed to hit just about every single Bollywood cliche in it, while turning all the "Violent Mumbai" negative stereotypes Up to Eleven to create the film's dark and cynical atmosphere (not to mention starring a British actor in the lead role). This film provides examples of: Adaptation Distillation : Though there are a lot of things different from the book (including the main character's name - in the book it's Ram Mohammad Thomas), the film manages to condense most of it down and still be good. It also drifts into Pragmatic Adaptation zone. The book could not use the actual Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, but the film version could, due to it being made by the original producers of the series. (However, they had sold the rights to the franchise by the time the film was released.) Award Bait Song : "Dreams on Fire" is a by-the-book song of this kind... but the one that actually won awards, "Jai-Ho", might count.

Bait the Dog : The men who "recruit" the beggar children at first seem like nice guys (albeit certainly criminals); they're actually despicable villains. The Millionaire host was jealous because like Jamal he was a slumdog who came to some success. And he would rather have the show be about him . Batman Gambit : The quiz host attempts to pull one of these on Jamal and it backfires spectacularly. Which actually turns it into an accidental Secret Test of Character . Because Destiny Says So : D. It is written . Big Bad : There are plenty of different horrible people who stand in Jamal's way but Maman and later Javed Khan are the ones who qualify for this being crime bosses. Bilingual Bonus : There are a lot of curse words in the beginning the subtitles decided to leave out. The Hindi song Ringa Ringa, which plays when Jamal and Salim find Latika in their teens is about a woman who was forced into sex by a sleezy guy, fitting as Latika was about to become a prostitute and have her virginity sold off. Book Dumb : Jamal and Salim, literally due to poor schooling.

They know the names of two out of the Three Musketeers , and can pick up enough history of the Taj Mahal to sound convincing, and run a small racket at age 13 or so; see Informed Flaw. Cain and Abel : Jamal and Salim eventually. Chekhov's Armory : Every single event in Jamal's life. Every single one. Childhood Friend Romance : Jamal and Latika. Con Man : Part of Jamal's youth is spent pretending to be a tour guide and making up the history as he goes along. Determinator : Jamal. Disproportionate Retribution : Latika plays a prank on Salim, putting chillies on his privates as he sleeps. Salim, in revenge, abandons her to a life of slavery, sexual harassment, and abuse at the hands of an evil gangster. Note to mention the Police torturing Jamal...because he allegedly cheated at Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? . Serious Business indeed. The Dulcinea Effect : Given the amount of time the film covers vs. the amount of time Jamal and Latika are together, plus the lengths Jamal is willing to go to find her, this trope fits.

It's not entirely clear how long the kids spent together the first time, but it seems to have been a while. Given how things were left off (with her in the hands of the vicious slavers), it's perhaps not surprising that Jamal would be obsessed with rescuing her. Now, Jamal and Latika's romantic devotion developing over the course of a few hours in their second time together is a better fit. Earn Your Happy Ending Establishing Character Moment : When we first meet Jamal, he's trying to catch a ball playing cricket. Salim is yelling at him to catch it, then Jamal fails from no fault of his own. Salim yells at him. They high five a few seconds later. Eye Scream : The beggars get their eyes burned out to make more money. The Fagin : Maman initially seems to be the nice version who takes in children to sing for money on the streets. But blinds them to make them look more sympathetic. Famous Last Words : Salim Malik: God is great. Fan Disservice : Jamal gets a Shirtless Scene ...Hanging by his wrists and being tortured for cheating (when he's not).

Feigning Intelligence : The two brothers feign expertise on all sorts of stuff to get by (and learn what they didn't know in the process). Thing is, both are actually pretty smart, if unlettered . Good Scars, Evil Scars : Despite being attacked by a group of gangsters who obviously intend to disfigure her, Latika receives a single elegant slash across her face which heals cleanly, and actually accentuates her cheekbones. Logically, of course, no one would want an ugly prostitute. Concept art even shows the artist clearly trying to find the prettiest version of the scar. Hooker with a Heart of Gold : Latika. I Remember Because... : Essentially the entire plot of the movie. Imagine Spot : When Jamal meets his brother again after a few years, he imagines rushing him off the roof and killing them both. Informed Flaw : Jamal's supposed lack of education and knowledge as a slumdog is lampshaded so many times, despite all evidence to the contrary it goes beyond Book Dumb into this. (heck, with their smarts the brothers could get jobs working in the Bollywood equivalent of a spy film.

Or an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's Kim) Knowledge and intelligence are two different things. That's likely the point. And remember, no one expects much from a "slumdog". Neither brother is dumb, but everyone thinks they are unless they prove otherwise. In Mysterious Ways Ironic Echo : When Maman is first torturing the children he says "Maman never forgets". Later, when he's grovelling for his life, Salim throws this back at him. Maman says that he can make an exception but Salim ignores him and blows his head off. Ironic Juxtaposition : In the climax, Salim dies due to Redemption Equals Death in a bathtub full of money, while at the same time Jamal wins 20 million rupees. Metaphorically speaking, we even have a Birth/Death Juxtaposition at hand, since Jamal can be considered a new person at this point. Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique : When the police think Jamal cheated, they use Electric Torture on him to make him confess. Particularly disturbing is that they're so casual about it, you get the impression they do this all the time. They're Mumbai Police. They DO do this all the time.

But sorta, kinda, understandable as they get paid peanuts to put their lives on the line against ruthless gangsters who usually have political connections. "Jeopardy!" Intelligence Test : And how. Jerkass : Salim was a total dick to Jamal when they were younger, like locking him in an outhouse to prevent him from seeing his favorite actor, and stealing Jamal's autograph of said actor and selling it. And that whole business of dooming Latika to prostitution. The Millionaire host has signs of this. He happily mocks Jamal for being an assistant at a call center and calls him a "chaiwalah" (approximately it means tea maker but is used as a derogatory term here), all in the name of entertainment. He later starts to approach monster territory after he intentionally gives Jamal a wrong answer to try and slip him up, and then falsely accuses him of cheating and has him sent to be tortured, just because he wanted to be the center of attention . Kick the Son of a Bitch : Salim's Start of Darkness is killing Maman, the evil child slaver. Last Stand : Salim in a bathtub filled with money.

Two reasons; it gives him a chance to get the drop on whoever was coming in first(likely his boss) as they take a few seconds to try and figure out what's going on, and if he has to go out, he'd prefer to go out in a manner people are going to talk about for years. Lip-Lock Sun-Block : The final kiss. Mistaken for Special Guest : Jamal uses this to his advantage on several occasions. Mood Dissonance : The feelings of joy and disgust at the same time when Jamal answers the second to last question (answer D) correctly and the show host is dancing around him while we know he actually tried to set Jamal up for failure. Necessary Fail : Good thing your life sucked so much, Jamal. Neutral Female : Latika, especially when they're kids and Jamal and Salim are fighting. Never Trust a Trailer : It takes long for Jamal's suffering to be overcome by the happiness promised by the previews and blurbs... Nobody Poops : Subverted. Specifically, Salim locks Jamal in an outhouse above a river as revenge for losing him a few bucks, just when a movie star shows up.

Jamal is forced to jump into crap higher than his head to get out. Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping : Dev Patel as Jamal tries an Indian accent (Dev Patel is ethnically Indian but English) but often his English accent comes through. One Steve Limit : Averted. Jamal searches the name "Latika" in the phone listings and gets over 26 000 results. Even when he searches "Salim K Malik" he gets fifteen results. Operator from India : Jamal works at one of these places. The English cultural teaching is portrayed with some accuracy. Ordered to Cheat : The host of the show attempts to gets Jamal out of the game by deliberately giving him the wrong answer on a mirror during his bathroom break. Suspicious of his motives and with only two possible answers left, Jamal chooses the other answer instead of the one given to him. Painting the Medium : The portrayals of the main characters get more and more realistic as Jamal gets older. This is because as he matures, he better understands what is going on instead of turning it into caricature. Plot Tailored to the Party : The questions with Jamal's flashbacks. See Someday This May Come In Handy. Porn Stache : Prem Kumar.

It helps that the actor portraying him is famous for it within Bollywood. Race for Your Love : Latika's desperate dash to get to the phone in time, in a variation on the usual trope. Radio Contest : How Jamal gets on the show. Rags to Riches : Subverted since Jamal doesn't really care about winning the money, he just goes on the show in order to find Latika. Redemption Equals Death : Salim, Jamal's brother, invokes this to make up for all the crap he put him through. In a bathtub full of money no less. Red Light District : Jamal and Salim as teenagers visit one to find Latika. Reverse Cerebus Syndrome : Opens with a Downer Beginning , has many dark moments (specially in flashbacks), but it all leads to a happy ending. Rule of Romantic : Why the movie's portrayal of Who Wants to be a Millionaire bears little to no resemblance to how the show actually works. Say My Name : LATIKA! She Is All Grown Up : Both Jamal and Salim have this reaction when they see Latika again as teens. Shown Their Work : The movie star in the beginning who Jamal gets an autograph from is played by a double of the actual actor.

Both the real actor and double sign with their left hand. The director mentions it in the commentary. Sibling Triangle : Subverted in that it's made clear that Salim's feelings for Latika are merely lust and is just one of many obstacles for Jamal and Latika's love. Sibling Yin-Yang : Sweet, kind, romantic Jamal and tough, controlling, Jerkass Salim. Single-Target Sexuality : Jamal doesn't seem to realize other females even exist. Sir Not-Appearing-in-This-Trailer : Salim, despite having more screen time than Latika. When Madhur Mittal, who plays the adult Salim, was asked about this he said the studio wanted to promote the film as a love story.

Question: What hit 2008 film was based on the 2005 novel 'Q & A' by Vikas Swarup?
Answer: SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE