‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is in hype, owing to all the good reasons: Be it winning all the four prestigious Golden Globe awards (AR Rehman rocks and ‘Jai Ho’ is mesmerizing !), lot of critic’s acclaimation in film festivals across the globe. Just done with the movie and couldn’t resist myself to blah my thoughts on it.
Movie is excellent, story is brilliant, performances are up to the mark and cinematogrpahy says it all. I should be all pleased after the movie and believe me, i am except for one thing. This post is not going to be the review of the movie but of just couple of question and then a desperate attempt to identify those answers.
Q1. Why’s that India is still shown in plight ? India had been the land of snake-charmers and this is how it had fascinated westerners, right from Alexander age where his army was fearing the big animals over which Indian soldiers fight to English for whom Indians are not capable enough to rule India and they need English dictum. Perhaps, i am exaggerating and deviating from the topic but why couldn’t this movie depict India as less dirty and less third world country? Couple of instances like crippling children by a begging mafia racket are showing India in poor light even if facts are not overstated.
A: It’s human nature. The more agony, sorrow, pain you show; the more is the audience appeal. It’s a fact, movies are drama, the more melo-drama you can create out of it, the bigger hit it would be. Show misery, sex, prostitutes, corruption, protaganists, touch the audience’s heart and win all the critic’s acclaim and this is very OK & Tested formula. Right from Premchand to Madhur Bhandarkar, all have tried to show the deepest level of wretchedness and public love them.
Why is this Q at first place? This is big question, perhaps because it’s being directed by a Britisher and is being watched throughout the world. Global junta doesn’t watch every other Indian movie but this is the one which is perhaps going to have highest volume of viewers, critically acclaimed Best movie in/about India recently. Why does English always portray the dark side of India? Why can’t they see the economic growth, huge huge Indian middle class, it’s diversity and unity hand-in-hand? I am becoming a little mean and what else disturbs my conscience is that a Britisher has made better movie than many Indian and it’s getting acclaimation world-wide. India’s superactor Amitabh Bachhan has given a forgettable performance in ‘The Last Lear’, perhaps which could be Slumdog competitor.
Q2: More or less extension of Q1. Why can’t English make sci-fi, action, romantic movies over India? They find solace in Salaam Bombay, Slumdog etc…why? Why don’t they make such movies there? In no Hollywood movie, I have seen any racism, a black Police inspector is as authoritative as its white counterpart, while racism is still there. Why doesn’t Hollywood portray this at their home?
A2: Warner Bros is not charitable institute but a pure commercial movie company. They would show what public wants. Americans don’t wish to see and show racism on TV or to the world even though it’s rooted in their heart. At the same time, they are scared of India and China and while watching such movies, they give themselves pat on the back. How can slumdogs Indians compete with the supergenes Americans. Lord, forgive them ! They are plundering another country horror for their entertainment. An excellent visual deragotory depiction of unfortunate India.
Undoubtely movie is vivid, moving and breathlessly exciting. Kudos to director for giving a good entertainer!
