Anarchic Analogy

Dir: Danny Boyle

Cast: Dev Patel, Madhur Mittal, Freida Pinto

Music: A R Rahman

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The Question

Slumdog Millionaire has won 10 Oscar Nominations. But why has it evoked such varied emotions

A. It is an emotional rags to riches story

B. It is the first film to depict the life of Mumbai's slums

C. It is written by an Indian

D. It is made by a white man.

The Film

'Slumdog' try typing the word on any text editor, and you'll have the spell check suggesting a typing error. Probably, it is the only space where the film is still unknown. Yes, Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire set in the slums of Mumbai, is the most talked about film at the moment. But what is it that makes it so special?

Loosely based on a an Indian bureaucrat's novel (Vikas Swarup's Q&A) about a boy from the slums winning a quiz show, the film charts the life and journey of Jamal Malik, from the gloom of Dharavi to the glitz and glamour of television. At first glance, it is a simple rags to riches story set in a Dickensian world. But look closer, and you'll find that this ain't that simple.

Although Jamal's life serves as the foreground, the film is as much about Mumbai and its sociological history, as the story of it's protagonists. Infact, not a single film in recent history has been able to capture the changing topography of India's biggest metropolis in a better way than this film. Whether it's the city's obsession with film stars or the nation's frenzy about television. Whether the nightmare of the communal riots or the city's tryst with 'development'... Slumdog has it all. And yes, that's not it all. It also manages to capture the essence of Hindi cinema, with it's numerous coincidences, 'filmi' love story... and to top it all, also has a song & dance sequence. In a sense, it's a film about opposites. And Danny Boyle has managed to generate such electricity by clashing opposites that it has managed light up a gloomy year. ( The film was released in the US & UK towards the end of 2008 )

The film uses a stream of consciousness narrative, and the finesse with which the director has incorporated the context with the text is remarkable. Loveleen Tandon, the film's Co- Director, deserves more than just a pat on the back for the perfect casting. Whether it's Ayush Khedekar as the five year old Jamal or Madhur Mittal as the teenaged Salim, no one...absolutely no one else could have performed it better. The photography by Anthony Dod Mantle is ... Beautiful...as one of the cast members said, 'He even made look shit beautiful.' It is simple, and yet it manages to make the ordinary look extraordinary. Much has been said about Rahman's compositions, but to be honest, he has given better music in other films...

The Reactions

The film premiered in India this week, but even before it was released it evoked strong reactions which ranged from adulation and glory to rage and fury. If on one hand we were enthralled by it's 10 Oscar nominations on the other hand, we were enraged by its portrayal of India. Some even went as far as calling it Poverty porn, while other have claimed that this is, perhaps, the best film, ever been made in/about India.

The Answer

We are enthralled because we need certification from the West for every little thing we do. The dabba system has been a phenomenon in Mumbai since ages, but we needed a Prince Charles to certify its efficiency. We needed a Bill Gates to realise that Indian Cuisine is great. We needed a Don Bradman’s certification before we proclaimed Sachin was God. And yes, we need the Academy of Motion Pictures to say that we make brilliant films.

We are enraged not because this film has shown poverty. We are enraged not because this film has spilt the beans about India Shining. We are enraged not because this film has showcased our hypocrisy.

We are enraged because a White Man did all of this.

The End