Slumdog Millionaire

We’ve been reading the following lines in newspapers, TV, net etc almost everyday – ‘The world has given its verdict on Slumdog Millionaire , now it awaits India’s reaction’. Slumdog Millionaire is all set to release in India on January 23 and while the world is raving about it, is Mumbai ready to see its underbelly being exposed in the most brutal way on the big screen that too by a British director? Anil Kapoor who is also a part of the film reacted, “ Slumdog Millionaire has captured the pulse of Mumbai like never before. The film does not only show poverty stricken India but is a tale of hope for millions of those who are happy inspite of being poor. It’s an honour for me to be a part of this film.” Director Danny Boyle gave his point of view by adding, “Most of my films explore extremes of experience – drug addiction, or murder; the end of the world as we know it, or the intense isolation of outer space. Slumdog is no exception. It’s a story of a boy from the most extreme city of the world – Mumbai. Mumbai they say - ‘all life is here’ and I have captured the crazy energy and vibrancy and exhilaration of this city. I have shot the beauty as well as the ugliness and unpredictability of this city.” Director Sudhir Mishra expressed his opinion strongly by adding, “What’s wrong in showing the truth? If India and Mumbai has slums, what’s wrong if someone shows it on celluloid? I showed it in my film Dharavi . Slums are unsafe, people who reside there are exploited and that is the truth no matter how bad it sounds.” Another director Irfan Kamal who’s soon to release film ‘Thanks Ma’ revolves around abandoned kids in Mumbai’s slums said, “India cannot ignore the fact that it’s major chunk of population lives in slums! My film was too shot in slums and when I screened it at the Goa film fest, women came to me and complimented my work. Slumdog is not an Indian film and just because its director is British the film is getting talked about! Many films like Satya, Salaam Bombay, Parinda have been shot in the slums of Mumbai before but nobody made a hue and cry out of it!” A Mumbaikar who’s a diehard movie fan however said, “Of what I have heard and seen of Slumdog Millionaire , the film definitely looks promising but one of my French friends saw the film in the US and asked me if I travel on elephants in India! I hope people understand that there is more to India and Mumbai then slums and dirt.” Only Slumdog’s release in India will tell how well Indians will accept this award winning British film with Indian star cast. We wonder what do Indians have to say on this topic...