slumdog millionaire - a review

The story is set in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) in the current times. It is based on a novel by an award-winning Indian author Vikas Swarup. The story is of a boy from the slums of Mumbai who manages to win the famed TV show 'Who Want to be a Millionaire' (Indian version). So it is a rags-to-riches story. Most of the cast are fresh faces to the Indian movie world. They are supported by a few very experienced Indian performers.

The story takes us on a fantastic journey involving the lives of the three primary characters. During this journey you are seemingly exposed to the poverty, the chaos, and the treachery of India. I say 'seemingly' because though most of the depiction is accurate it gives an incomplete picture of life in India. Many Indians were troubled by the depiction of their country in this movie. But they and the viewers need to realize that this is a fictional work which is set in a background that is only partly true and mostly fictional as well. The movie looks only at one microcosm of the Indian way of life in one of its largest cities. Another argument is that this story is not about India rather it is about Jamal, Salim and Latika. This argument is the right one and one that I support.

Jamal has a tough, mostly parent-less childhood. He and his brother, Salim, are victims of Hindu-Muslim riots to which they lose their mother. The movie makes a statement on these periodic riots when Jamal says that if there were no Allah or Ram (a Hindu deity) he would still have his mother. Probably true...

Forced to fend for themselves, Jamal and Salim get involved in petty crimes to support themselves, crimes which mostly involve outsmarting gullible tourists. Salim is the elder brother who has to take tough decisions to ensure their survival. He is also the grittier of the two and as a result one who is more naturally inclined to join the Mumbai underworld. Latika joins them for some part of their childhood adventure and then separates, only to rejoin later in the story.

Jamal is a smart kid who learns from his experiences, from what he learns from others and from observation. This tends to make up for the lack of formal education. Working as a 'chaiwalla' (tea vendor) in one of the now ubiquitous call centers in Mumbai he learns a trick or two about how to get on the millionaire show.

The movie is technically brilliant, with overall good acting and directing. No one actor or actress was exceptional but they all acted well enough to create an exceptional end-product. The children playing the roles of the main characters have done a wonderful job by giving a realistic portrayal. Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan have done well to extract good performances from the cast. The story is a typical Bollywood/Hollywood mix with action, drama, deceit and romance. The movie maintains a good pace and at no point do you feel like looking away from the screen. The music by AR Rehman is excellent as one would expect from him.

Of course there are a few flaws: finding Latika after many years in the vast city of Mumbai, winning the 20 millions through sheer luck, among others. But these don't prevent you from sitting back and enjoying the story unfold in front of you.

The movie is worthy of some of the awards it has won. Apart from the Golden Globe, AR Rehman also deserves to win an Oscar, for the music and the songs are truly phenomenal. Danny Boyle has a good shot at winning the best director prize at the Oscars. But I would not support it for the best picture award. The fact that it won the Golden Globe for best movie is somewhat surprising. However, Slumdog Millionaire is definitely an entertaining fare and certainly one of the best movies of this past year.