I am back to blogging after a
stagnation of six full months with lots and lots of
accumulated thoughts :) I wanted to share with you all, about what I have done during all these days. But, before that, I found something more interesting to write about...."
Slumdog Millionaire"-the much talked about movie throughout India till yesterday, and now the world.
Well, me talking about a movie that has already been nominated for ten academy awards....am I really worth it? I do have reasons - I wanted to pen down these thoughts much before the movie won its oscar nominations or the golden globes. So, I think oscars definitely have not changed my take on this movie.
One very striking feature I liked in this movie is its screenplay. Having watched an umpteen number of Maniratnam's films, this one wasn't a surprise to me but definitely something interesting. Simon Beaufoy has succeeded a cent per cent in his task of screenplay, which reveals the entire story in parts....from a pre-climax to the beginning and ultimately to the end :)
Next highlight is obviously our very own god, A R Rahman. I felt he has given his very usual music for this movie. I have found the same sincere effort which he puts into any other Indian project. The only difference which mattered and took him to a global stage is the
hollywood tag. Yes, this one is just the beginning for Rahman. I am sure there is much more international recognition in store for him. I proudly say again, I am a huge fan of Rahman :) Though
Jai Ho became an instant hit, my favourite is
O Saya, which is heard more than once in the background. I loved this one especially during the chase scene. Woww is the only word I would prefer to associate with it.
The movie based on the novel
Q&A, by Vikas Swarup-an IFS bureaucrat- has a perfectly bound script. The director and the writers are to be appreciated for this. I know all hollywood movies, unlike the Indian movies, have a bound script before the film goes on to the sets. But, it is really appreciable to be able to make it possible with an Indian story :)
About the critics....most of them asked me to avoid the movie, calling it a disgrace to our Indian stature. This made me more curious to watch the movie as early as possible. But, when I saw it, I didn't find any offensive stuff about our country. The film, largely based on street children, is supposed to be made this way. The director did not choose to put up any special, artificial sets to show us how things are. He simply went in to the
gallis of Mumbai, the slums, the gutters and showed the reality. May be, it is a wake up call for all of us? He aptly used the infamous Mumbai riots as the backdrop for the protagonist turning into a
slumdog. There is nothing false about the
slumdogs getting into the
begging industry and later turning out to be anti social elements (as portrayed in the film through Salim's character). And from these guys' view point, India is a hell, yes it is. What has
she given for them? Struggle, pain, sleepless nights and foodless days!!
This anger is rightly shown in more than a couple of scenes when Jamal Malik, the protagonist says "
This guide book was written by a bunch of lazy good for nothing Indian beggars" and when he is beaten up he says "
You wanted to see a bit of real India, here it is". For this the director immediately makes it a point to highlight the American generosity with "
Well, here is the bit of real America, son" and gives him a few hundered dollars! This did hurt many Indian feelings out there, but don't you think you have seen such things happening everywhere? If you haven't, I did see and I know how rudely people deal with these street children.
There is an in-built humor in the film, especially in the Taj Mahal episode. It is really hilarious! The film does get a little unbelievable when the
slumdog keeps giving answers to the questions, which come in exact chronology of his life. But, man...come on, after all, this a film and it needs to have certain parts made up :)
Jamal Malik's character is played by three actors and they look a lot alike. Thanks to the casting director (also the co-director) Ms.Loveleen Tandon. Photography was to the tee. All the actors have given what is expected from them. A simple story, which seems like a fairy tale in itself, is definitely worth a watch.
