Watched Slumdog Millionaire last night. In a sentence: I LOVED IT!
Yes I strongly detest piracy, but then just couldn’t wait till the movie’s release in India and didn’t think twice before getting hold of a pirated DVD. I guess confessing here will bring down my guilt level.
So getting to the movie, Slumdog Millionaire follows the story of a young man Jamal(Dev Patel) from the slums of Mumbai who goes on to win 20,000,000 Rupees on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?“. Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Simon Beaufoy, the movie is based on the novel Q and A by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup. Jamal’s story is told in flashbacks of the distant past, recent past and present flowing in and out seamlessly. The movie opens with Jamal being accused of cheating on the TV show. During the course of interrogation by the chief inspector, his story unfolds in a pretty remarkable manner. Through the flashbacks, it is revealed how Jamal answers each of the questions on the TV show not from book knowledge — he has none — but his own life experiences. Jamal’s life experiences are humorous, surprising and, on a few occasions, absolutely devastating. Jamal is searching for two people from his childhood: his wild older brother Salim (Madhur Mittal), now a thief and killer, and his childhood sweetheart Latika, now stepping up from child prostitute to plaything of a gangster. What I loved most is the love story aspect of the movie – how Jamal feels true love and would do anything to get his true love. His belief in destiny, about it all being written, about overcoming all the odds to get the one you love kinda echoes my beliefs(know I am a die-hard romantic). The love interest is played by the lovely Freida Pinto.
Critics in India has been bashing the movie for portrayal of India with slums, poverty, crime, child-prostitution but then one must accept these are realities in India and just hiding it or acting it’s not there, doesnt solve these issues are much worse than what a movie can depict.
With Slumdog Millionaire sweeping the coveted awards of Best Director, Best Film, Best Screenplay and Musical Score at the Golden Globes, all eyes are now on Academy Awards. A R Rahman, becoming the first Indian to win a Golden Globe for scoring the music of the film. So the movie maybe about a slumdog, but the movie is a top dog.
I’m really looking forward to seeing this one again when it releases in India.
Till then, watch a teaser:
My suggestion: Go watch it!
