Review Of Slum Dog Millionaire
- Director - Danny Boyle
- Co-director (India) - Loveleen Tandan
- Writer - Vikas Swarup
- Screenplay - Simon Beaufoy
- Starring - Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Freida Pinto, Irfan Khan
- Music Director - A R Rahman
- Running Time - 120 minutes
- Awards - Won 4 Golden Globes. Another 23 wins & 24 nominations
- Release Date - 23 January 2009 (India) (although released in late Aug 2008 in the USA)
I happened to see ‘Slum Dog Millionaire’ this morning and can certainly say that it is one of the better movies that I have seen
And to say that I am a movie fanatic and have seen a lot of them. But this one is truly fantastic and doesn't shy away from tough subjects that children and citizens of Mumbai (Bombay) are subjected to. A true work of art and hats off to Dan Boyle and his team for making something worth seeing. Finally, something different from the Victorian period (we have had enough of them – we seem to be stuck in early 1900 when it comes to directing English movies in and about India)
The movie, ‘Slum Dog Millionaire', which recently won 4 awards at The Golden Globe is based on a true story, and it's the story of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), a young man in his late teens who goes on the very popular Hindi version of the TV game show, “Who Wants to be A Millionaire?”. He is from the slums of Mumbai, who has nothing and he's ill educated and he's illiterate. He goes on to wins the show and people can't believe that he has won it
They think he's cheated. They think he's getting signals from embedded chips in his body, or that there are people coughing in the audience, but he won it. Everyone watching and producing the show can not figure out how this impoverished lad could possibly know the answers to the questions he is asked.
Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother Salim, grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika (Freida), the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions. As we learn more about Jamal’s life and experiences we get a better understanding of how knowledge is gained. Told in flashback sequences we see the journey of a young boy who did not allow the hand he was dealt to keep him from finding all he desired.
What's clever about the film is that the structure shows you how he knows the answers. Certain things have happened to him in his life and they happen to ask questions about those things. But the real reason he's on the show is to get in touch with the girl he loves but has lost in the chaos of Mumbai, and all he knows is that she watches the show religiously. So he's not even there to win the money, but that's when you win I suppose, when you're not even trying.
In short, Slum Dog has the right elements, and uses them to its advantage. It is fast, visual, contemplative and humorous.
Danny Boyle has depicted the actual situations that occur in a poverty struck territory (where religious, survival, actual occurrences that happen with children in poverty struck areas... remember this is a true story!
Another issue here is that perhaps from this movie alone - there is more awareness of what occurs in countries - relating to children, relating to human rights. I appreciate Danny Boyle and Rahman and the Indian Actors for showing the actual truth of what happens in poverty and how adults exploit children (relating to abuse, improper shelter, unsafe orphanages)
Most of all growing up in India was mixture of adventure, love, despair and empathy. This film brought back some memories and portrayed truth about the reality about living in poverty. Having visited the slums of Bombay, this movie is so true to what I have seen and experienced. There is hardship and cruelty, and people who live in the slums are sadly treated like dirt by fellow Indians
For many fortunate ones, Slum dog will make you appreciate life, but yet we grind our lives daily to acquire more short term material status and possessions which do nothing other than lead to emptiness.
India might be an emerging economy but sadly imbalances are overwhelming and it hurts the poor the most. Personally, the gap between poor and rich will only narrow by mitigating the class barrier, providing good education and re-distribution of wealth and by giving unconditional opportunity to the poor. Well…. that’s another subject!
Please also note that ‘Slum Dog Millionaire’ is rated R for some violence, disturbing images and language. I think the theme and context would be a little too strong for the younger family members. This movie deals with the harsh realities of the orphans in India and the things they are forced to do. I think those 15 and up could get something from this with the right conversation afterwards. It is a must see for anyone who loves a great story of human achievement and appreciates expert film making.
A true eye opener - the movie is very real and portrays the spirit of every slum child of finding hope and release from the bondage of poverty.
Bravo! The director Danny Boyle successfully transfers the raw realism of economic deprivation to bustling, modern day India. Rich and poor come together in an orgy of excess, bolstered with a love-song whose words most westerners may barely decipher, but whose tune stays with you.
Simon Beaufoy has written the script and Vikas Swarup the book.
Clearly the Golden Globes turned Sunday into Slum-day
Great movie and great script... It should get an Oscar too!
News Flash - 23rd February, 2009 - Slumdog Millionaire, in the race of Oscar 2009 has won the best film award at the 2009 Oscars. It also won awards in categories like best music and best song. On the whole, it has swept the 2009 Oscars by winning 8 awards.
This is also the first time that an Oscar is won by an Indian in the music, score and song categories.
Following are the list of Oscar awards 2009 won by Slumdog millionaire
It swept home awards in the categories for Best Film, Best Direction, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, Best Film Editing, Best Score and Best Song,
In short, Boyle has been reborn in Mumbai.
