SLUMDOG MILLIONNAIRE – TIME TO CONFRONT
DANNY BOYLE AND OSCARS


Slum dog millionaire an English film directed by Danny Boyle about an Indian boy from slums! Who wins a million by answering all the questions in the television quiz contest; has been nominated for ten Oscars and has recently won seven BAFTA (British Academy ) awards. India is rejoicing as A R Rahman the music director has been nominated for music in three categorizes .The media is full of reports and updates. Mr Amitabh Bachhan in his Blog has raised objection to glorification of Indian poverty in the film. Defenders of cinematic and artistic freedom have quickly been critical of any objection being raised about the movie. During a chat show Anil Kapoor and Irfan Khan ; the two stars of the movie have been vocal in their support for Danny and Slumdog.

After having seen the movie and also read the book ‘ Question and Answer’ by Vikas Swarup on which the movie is based I am of the opinion that there is no cause to rejoice and celebrate but to confront and oppose such cinema which selectively picks up issues and elements harmful to the image of India purely for commercial purpose. Danny Boyle has only extracted those scenes and incidents from the book which are more saleable in the west – slums, rag picking, poverty, communalism, children being blinded for begging, car part theft, dhobi ghat etc. Many incidents are not even mentioned in the book such as communal riots, rag picking, car part stealing, jumping in the pool of excreta and dhobi ghat but have been added to the the script to create an impact.

I fully understand that once movie rights of a book are sold it is for the director to portray what he considers cinematically correct. It is also not possible to depict the book completely; some deletions are necessary to meet the cinematic demands. But one should not tamper with the very essence of the book and tarnish its very soul. But alas! These salesmen from the west have made a typical Bollywood movie of the 80s and 90s and twisted and turned the basic structure of the book upside down.

The book was an instant hit when it was released about two years back and was translated into many languages . It is a story of Ram Thomas Mohammad who is raised by a priest in a church and learns the fundamentals of spoken English in church surroundings of Delhi .He keeps the peculiar name as his mother had abandoned him and his actual religion was not known; he uses of his name to his advantage according to the situation The boy is about 18 when he wins the quiz contest and in order to prove that he knows the answer to the questions from his life experience he narrates his story to his lawyer. During the 18 years of his life he stays in Mumbai chawls, as domestic help he stays in the flat of a female fading star where he sees Prem the host of quiz show.He is also a cook in a contract killer’s flat who is also part of the cricket batting mafia. He spends time in Agra as guide at Taj Mahal where he meets the girl who becomes his wife and for whom he participates in the quiz show. He escapes narrowly along with his friend Salim from the clutches of gangsters who handicap children for begging. There is confrontation with a gang of dacoits in a train and life with an Australian Defense Attache who turns out to be a spy and is deported

However; what could have been an interesting story of a poor boy; his escapades and adventures and who wins a Contest; Danny Boyle has made into a typical average film.The book is of two friends Salim and Ram Thomas Mohammad and how Salim fulfils his dream to be a film star and Ram accidentally wins the quiz show; but the basic plot has been changed to that of sibling conflict,gangster moll and captivation.. A routine Bollywood Saga.. whereas the hero stays in slums in the later part of his life he is shown in the film being raised in the slums by his mother with his brother Salim and the mother is killed in a communal riot.The blinding scene which has been graphically portrayed is only mentioned in the book as mere contemplation on knowing which the children escape.

The communal angle is the creative input of the screen writer in the film to provoke the western mind. The most repulsive scene is where jamal jumps in the pool of human excreta in order to obtain the autograph of his Star –Amitabh Bachhan . The scene has no connection to the book, it is shown to shock the western audience. The book depicts poverty, betrayal, cowardice, homosexuality, greed, inhumanity and other human aberrations and fallacies but Danny Boyle has deleted portions which would have embarrassed the West- homosexuality and drug abuse by a christian priest , deportation on charges of spying of an Australian defense attaché.

It is also a case of bad casting. The protagonist – Jamal, enacted by Dev Patel does not look like a boy from slums but a well bred lad with western accent whereas the actors playing his childhood and early boyhood are convincing he himself is misfit.

It is indeed sad that Anil Kappor and Irfan Khan who should have advised the director to delete the ‘ shit scene ‘ are justifying his acts. It is classic example of servility under which this nation has suffered in the past. Could not these gentlemen prevail upon the makers to make amends during the trial show? So pleased they appear in the reflected glory that they are oblivious that at what cost will be the Oscars.

And finally the question of the Oscars? Does it deserve the oscar?At what cost? The answer is no. It is an average film based on a beautiful book with refreshing scenarios which has been betrayed by the film maker for commercial reasons.

An Artist has no nation, he is not for a certain section but for the entire world; the humanity. By exploiting the sentiments of Indian humanity Danny Boyle has betrayed the entire humanity.

It is time to confront Danny Boyle and Oscars for promoting mediocrity.


By Himanshu