Slumdog Millionaire – Movie review

I finally managed to see the movie in DVD .There is no doubt that the movie is good and entertaining but for an average Indian movie buff this would be just another fairy tale story. The interesting aspect is that the world gets to see the bad side of a third world country and not the typical Bollywood fare which is all gloss. I can also understand why some folks back in India raised some concerns that this movie dwells on the bad side of India. I have been lucky enough to have never seen a slum like the one in Mumbai but it does not mean that it does not exist. Kamal Hassan , one of the premier actors in the country said there is no point in complaining that someone had portrayed the slums so badly when the slums are a reality in India. I think the part that the movie was directed by a non-Indian made it a little tough for people to digest.

The movie moves at a fast pace and the acting is top notch. Donnie Boyle has to be given credit for sticking to the guts of the novel. Rehman has himself accepted that this was not his best effort but he was at the right place at the same time. The important thing to note is the fact that Indian music has finally got the credit it deserved. I tell my friends to treat each song in the movie as a Music video and they will be able to appreciate the song more , the same way they were able to enjoy Michael Jackson or a Madonna or even Britney to some extent. I personally rate Rehman as one of the best the world has seen.

The mumbai riots are also an integral part of the story and we just have to accept the fact that innocent people were butchered in the name of religion and that’s that. I love the part when Jamal says he was the victim between Ram and Allah.I really tried really hard to relate to the millions who sincerely believed that there is a supernatural force which is controlling the world but all I could ever think of is

Why do all-powerful gods speak through prophets instead of addressing us directly?

There were lot of uncomfortable scenes in the movie and a lot of weird coincidence but the good news is that despite all its low punches, it is eminently watchable

Overall this is a very good movie with a riveting and fast paced screenplay . A fairy tale story at this time of economic distress is what the audience wanted and they got it with this movie.