Slumdog Millionaire

I finally shook of my laziness and started writing about the much discussed movie Slumdog Millionaire. I was going to post a reply on my friend Somdeb’s blog , but realised that my reply would have become longer than his post. Therefore, here comes a new post on my blog.

I found Slumdog Millionaire to be an average film, certainly nowhere close to being a great one. It won’t rank in my list of favourite movies, but I did enjoy watching it. This post has less to do with the movie itself, and more with the reactions it has generated. So let’s begin one by one.

Reaction #1: 'Slumdog Millionaire' has been so popular in the West because it portrays the poverty in India.

There is a natural appeal in things which are unfamiliar and strange to us. Extreme poverty, a structure as beautiful as the Taj Mahal, colourful weddings are themes that may be uncommon to an Westerner and therefore these subjects find a resonance among the Western audience. Poverty is the harsh reality in India and it can’t be denied that the picture of misery presented by Danny Boyle is true to a large extent. It’s a truth we know but choose not to be bothered by it. Its our problem that we react when this side is exposed. I find it hard to accept that a movie can become a blockbuster hit in the West only by showcasing India’s poverty. Slumdog Millionaire is a story of hope, and that’s certainly the primary reason it has been liked a lot.

Let me raise a different question: what is it that comes first to our mind when we think of Africa? We are accustomed to think about Africa as the dark continent, characterised by a rich wildlife, miserable poverty and uncivilised tribals. Our clichés about a different culture are based on what we find surprising and unfamiliar, including their negative points. We have no reason to complain.

Thanks to Danny Boyle, the miserable living conditions of slum dewellers has become the talking point of the media. It needed an Westerner to prick our conscience and debate about the reality we often choose to ignore. Isn’t that shameful enough?

Reaction #2: Eight Oscars! Wow! 'Slumdog Millionaire' is a milestone in Indian cinema.

Really? First of all, the claim that Slumdog is an Indian movie sounds absurd to me. But let’s not ponder much over this issue. Winning the Oscar is certainly not the pinnacle of cinematic achievement. Indian films have been recognized worldwide at international film festivals which are are no less prestigious than the Academy Awards and where artists from various countries (not just English speaking nations) judge the entries. Its a notable achievement to win the Oscar, but it can in no way be claimed to be a platform for world cinema. Take for example Lagaan, which was nominated for the Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Lagaan is a nice movie to watch and only the third Indian movie to have received a nomination. If the Oscar is assumed to be a good judge, then Lagaan ranks among the three best Indian movies ever and this is an incredible overstatement.

Reaction #3: A. R. Rahman’s music in 'Slumdog Millionaire' is not up to his standards. Why did he win the Oscar for this particular movie, when he had composed much better music in the past?

Its for the very simple reason that the rest of the movies Rahman has composed for are not in English, and they won’t be considered for the Oscars. The very fact that people are surprised shows that the Academy Awards are expected to be the ultimate awards in world cinema. This is a highly flawed assumption. And by the way, the Slumdog soundtrack may be mediocre by Rahman’s standard, but its still great music! Rahman’s composition should not be judged by only the songs featured prominently in the movie. The amazing background music deserves to be listened to separately after watching the film. I’m pretty sure most people don’t even know there’s a song ‘Dreams on Fire’ in the Slumdog soundtrack. Its wrong to judge the work of Rahman by listening only to ‘Jai ho’ and ‘O Saaya’.