Tuesday, March 10, 2009
On Slum-naire
Saw this movie after a long time n decided to jump into the bandwagon of critics of Slumdog Millionaire(SDM).... After going thru some aticles in newspapers n some blog posts n comments on it i think there are two areas which are hotly debated, 1. Depiction of Poverty of India in the movie n 2. Movie winning the awards at various levels. On FIRST ISSUE i think its the director's choice to choose a subject and he has exercised his freedom. But it would be a gross misinterpretation if the movie is considered as one based on India's poverty.Why are other points of view left out ???? POINT OF VIEW(POV) 1:Movie is also bout dialectical interplay between DESTINY N DESIRE....Consider the intense 'desire' of Jamal(the hero) for his love Latika(the heroine).Destiny makes it sure that their love is tested to limits. Similarly Salim's(Jamal's bro) desire for money n power is so intense that destiny leads him to his logical culmination. POV 2:Movie has unnecessarily been potrayed as 'an underdog winning' but i find it to be more of a 'love story'.Consider the fact that Jamal participates in the quiz show not for money but for love. POV 3: Movie has been termed as unrealistic. Even the champion of 'magical realism' like Salman Rushidie calls movie as unrealistic.But imagine how unrealistic it is for some slum dwelling kids to act in an english movie n going to Oscar Awards ceremony n winning the award.I think this is more unrealistic but its fact! ON THE SECOND ISSUE of movie winning many awards i think 2 factors need to be considered. Factor 1: Was the competition strong enough this time. Many movies that were nominated were not that well heard of. May b Slumdog Millionarie gained out of this situation. Factor 2: This movie stands for 'hope'. Wat do people in Western Countries want at this point of economic slowdown n job cuts ! N we also need to consider the role of Obama's election to US President's office. His election was symbolic of an underdog winning and he himself stands for hope.As Obama himself said "Yes, we can".N i think SDM captures this theme perfectly.... Lastly SDM didnt capture only the poverty of India as can be guessed from a dialogue of SALIM "Today India is at the centre of world....". How right he was !!!! ............
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Thought provocating post indeed.But one issue which we have entirely glossed over is the role of 'luck'.On a quiz show that too of such a gravity,how many times do you expect to get questions for which you have the answers ? And that too right answers, which were not mugged up for the heck of winning a quiz show. I think the way this entire plot was laid,it shows (a) nothing is to be taught,but everything is to be learnt.That in life experiences are the best 'GK Books'(if i can call it that way); (b) you need to have the right answer at the right moment and for that there has to be the 'chance' factor.Jamal was lucky to have got those questions for which he had the answers.And the wild guess he took at the end was also bang on target ! That showed his optimistic nature.Thats why may be, they say 'Fortune favors the brave'.Its the HOPE for a bright future that makes us BRAVE in the face of adversity.Who says then,movies have no moral worth ??? For all the critics then here is the answer...
ReplyDelete