'What can a Slumdog possibly know?'
'The Answers'
Jamal Malik is one question away from winning 20 million rupees.
How did he do it?
A: He cheated
B: He's Lucky
C: He's a genius
D: It is destiny
Danny Boyle (Trainspotting) uses Vikas Swarup's Novel 'Q&A' as a foundation for 'The Feel-Good Film of the Decade (News of the World). Boyle experiments with British actor Dev Patel, playing the lead role as 'Jamal Malik' whose put on heavy Indian accent is one of the many factors for Boyle that accentuates realism in this hard-hitting film. The dynamic factors aren't that noticeable for some, as the mere optimism the audience feels at the end of the film highlights the colour, love, and happiness money can bring into the life of such a poor, deprived, third-world country and its people.
`How does Danny Boyle create 'A Wondrous Joyful Surprise' (Heat) and 'An Exhilarating Ride' (The Independent) of a film? Well… he already has added the spices into the feisty box office pot; violence, prostitution, torture, (especially one noticeable reference by the police about Amnesty International on their case). What about the sweetness; the innocence of children, the 'love at first sight' aspect? The film focuses on Jamal, trying to find Latika - his lost love, throughout the whole film. Don't focus on the poverty, or the fact that a child is deliberately blinded just to beg better, but focus on the fact that the sweetness of the film truly begins with the protagonist and his simple, loving personality. Throughout the whole 'Slumdog' life he has spent living; he only wants to find his lost love.
The film begins with Jamal, a slum 'chai wallah' - or tea maker - only one question away from a life-changing amount of 20 million rupees. 'Who wants to be a Millionaire' - a film watched by many in India - false hope, to escape the poverty, and to better their lives. 'Doctors... Lawyers... never get past 60 thousand rupees. He's won 10 million.'
Prem Kumar (Anil Kapoor) the show's creepy host tricks Jamal at the end of the show's break, to be interrogated by Police Inspector (Irrfan Khan) who following a series of electric shocks and beating, interrogates Jamal. This is how the film progresses; Jamal tells the Inspector how he came to be on the show and get this far - through a series of flashbacks, following each question - which enfolds a vital part of his life to all link forward to one thing: finding his one love - Latika. This shows the importance of life. Every life has a story.
Circumstances make life harsh for them both, including the corruption of his brother, Salim; who turns into a money-obsessed Gangster. After growing up together, guiding tourists in the 'Taj Mahal' who Jamal mistakes for a large hotel, and running on top of trains, they both part ways, only to be re-united as adults.
Many people have criticised Slumdog Millionaire, for portraying India as an awful place, for only showing India in its negativity. Many people have also stated that it was far too depressing, too despairing. My answer to that is simply this; in third-word countries such as India and Pakistan, you are either Rich or you are Poor. There is no in-between tier. Coming from an Asian background, I can relate to this film. Had it not been for my grandparents moving from Pakistan to England, I too would probably be growing up in the slums of India or Pakistan.
The film is in fact the 'feel good film of the year', as you 'feel good' for Jamal and Latika in the end. From jumping into a pile of excrement from a toilet (the second Danny Boyle film where someone dives into a toilet - Trainspotting), to jumping down a building (Trainspotting!); Boyle's main aim for the film was to show realism, and optimism; which he does successfully. Not everything in India is peachy. Apart from the inevitable Bollywood dancing in films, you get a lot of nonsense thrown your way. Slumdog Millionaire simply shows how optimism can still be thrown in, even with all of the bitterness of the world we inhabit.
'Jai Ho! Baila Baila' is the fantastic, inspirational soundtrack composed by A.R. Rahman - 'Mozart of Madras' - world famous composer, and record artist. As well as being the Music Director for Slumdog Millionaire, his work is also noticeable in Bollywood films such as 'Lagaan', 'Ghajini' even the historical British film 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age'.
Watching Slumdog, I guarantee you will exit the cinemas chanting the final song, in which the two main stars perform the inevitable Bollywood number 'Jai Ho!' and afterwards preferably buy, or download (hopefully not illegally!) the soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire. Writing this review, I am currently listening to the exceptional soundtrack. The soundtrack has a complimenting mix of flavours of both Western and traditional music to bring out the culture in anyone.
Rated 15: for Violence, Disturbing Languages and Language. Runtime: 120 mins. 2 hours of total drama, and utter brilliance. Slumdog Millionaire is up for 10 Oscar Nominations, and another 29 Nominations. It has already won 7 BAFTAs, 4 Golden Globes, and 5 Critics' Choice Awards, with another 60+ wins.
Slumdog Millionaire will make you cling to your seats, in this nail-biting drama. The film will make you feel as if you are a part of the crowd in the show 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire'. It would make you jump up with joy and make you talk about it days after. Jamal wins the show not with the correct answer to the last question for the 20 million rupee jackpot but when Latika answers the phone. He wins the money but you realise his true wealth can only ever be found at the train station at 5.00pm.
Alas, their time has arrived. |