SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
AN OVERWHELMING TRIUMPH!!
by Vishal Verma

A Fox Searchlight (in U.S.) release of a Fox Searchlight, Warner Bros. (U.S.)/Celador Films, Film 4 (U.K.) presentation. (International sales: Pathe Intl., London.) Produced by Christian Colson. Executive producers, Paul Smith, Tessa Ross. Co-producer, Paul Ritchie. Co-executive producers, Francois Ivernel, Cameron McCracken. Directed by Danny Boyle. Co-director (India), Loveleen Tandan. Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy, based on the novel "Q&A" by Vikas Swarup. Target Audience: General.

Staring
Jamal Malik (older) - Dev Patel
Latika (older) - Freida Pinto
Salim Malik (older) - Madhur Mittal
Prem - Anil Kapoor
Inspector - Irrfan Khan
Jamal (middle) - Tanay Hemant Chheda
Latika (middle) - Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar
Salim (middle) - Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala
Jamal (youngest) - Ayush Mahesh Khedekar
Latika (youngest) - Rubina Ali
Salim (youngest) - Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail
(English, Hindi dialogue)

Technical Analysis
Bold, hard-hitting, tremendous depth & great symbolism that what makes ‘Slaumdog Millionaire’ a triumph in cinema which caters to each and every aspect of filmmaking.

Films on the lives of Mumabi slums had its share of accolades, be it for Sudhir Mishra Dharavi (1992), Mira Nair’s ‘Saalam Bombay (1998), but they where mild in their depiction of people for whom survival itself is a major achievement.

Chakra (1981) by Rabindra Dharmaraj starring the irresistible Smita Patil and the immensely gifted Naseeruddin Shah was the best hard-hitting film on slum dwellers. Danny Boyle’s film goes further, it not only depicts the slums of Mumbai, but also very convincingly establishes the agony and the patho of a boy who learns from his life & experiences to answer those questions that mattered in his life to become a millionaire.

This ‘Rags to Raja’ truly deserves the accolades primarily because of its symbolisms. Picture this. Anil kapoor the popular game host asks what is Lord Ram holds in his hand. The muslim boy who had seen his mother killed by fanatics, sees an image of Rama (also known as the ideal man) holding a bow and arrow while his mother gets killed by the so called followers of the deity.

In another question. The popular game host asks, who has sung ‘darshan do Ghansham’ (a popular bhajan written by blind poet by the name Surdas). The boy remembers how he & his brother escape from the hands of the goons who wanted to make them blind so that they can beg by singing the same bhajan of the popular blind poet.

Bingo! The answer has to be right. Life is a learning experience and Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, The Beach) remarkably explains this adage in his powerful, gripping & coming of age adaptation of Vikas Swarup’s novel "Q&A", where Simon Beaufoy slickly & beautifully impresses with script smarts and supports the director cause.

The film posses the sure dollar marks, which distinguishes every daring entertainment venture. It is a two-hour show, filled to the last minute with brilliant incident unreeled in method and effects that sparkle with originality and invention.

The public generally will find it wholly satisfactory as living up to its unusual and yet very precise portray of the majority people of India who struggle daily even to survive.

In one particular scene, a boy emerges from a pit of shit carrying a photo of the iconic Big B, rushes towards him fully covered with shit and asks an autograph, the superstar signs. Brilliantly shot & excellently written scene which exceptionally underlines the fascination of the non – achievers who desire to live the way these achievers do.

Dod Mantle’s camera sometimes dashes through jammed streets and shantytown alleys at the speed of the sprinting kids themselves. Images are stunning and Chris Dickens’ editing is breathless. The non professional kids in the main roles are superb and extremely confident.

Anil Kapoor is excellent as the gameshow host, and Irrfan Khan is as usual versatile.
But your heart goes out for Dev Patel as the older Jamal Malik. He is extremely likable, you want him to win and many will identify themselves in him. Latika (older) - Freida Pinto & Salim Malik (older) - Madhur Mittal also impress.  Music by A.R. Rahman keeps you pepping for the entire 7 reels with ‘Jai Ho’ at the end delivering the final knock out kick.

Flaws, yes only one – the movie becomes a bit predictable but nobody should mind that.

The Story
Accused of cheating and desperate to prove his innocence, an eighteen-year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai reflects back on his tumultuous life while competing to win the prized money on India's 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire'.

Jamal (Dev Patel) may not have a penny to his name, but that could all change in a matter of hours. He's one question away from taking the top prize on India's most popular television game show, but as with everything else in Jamal's life, it isn't going to be easy.

Arrested by police under suspicion of cheating, Jamal is interrogated by the authorities. The police simply can't believe that Jamal could possibly possess the knowledge to get this far in the game, and in order to convince them of how he gained such knowledge, Jamal begins reflecting back on his childhood.

As young boys, Jamal and his older brother Salim lived in squalor and lost their mother in a mob attack on Muslims. Subsequently forced to rely on their own wits to survive, the desperate siblings fell back on petty crime, eventually befriending adorable yet feisty young Latika as they sought out food and shelter on the unforgiving streets of Mumbai.

Though life on the streets was never easy, Jamal's experiences ultimately instilled in him the knowledge he needed to answer the tough questions posed to him on the show.

Promotion
Already in the news everywhere, this Golden Globe winner has been well promoted by Spice everywhere.

Business Analysis
Rarely do we come across such movies; this is a must for young at heart, curious, adventurous & those who think positive. ‘SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE’ is a sure shot winner; it will make every body happy.

Other Credits
Camera (color, DV-and-35mm-to-35mm, widescreen), Anthony Dod Mantle; editor, Chris Dickens; music, A.R. Rahman; production designer, Mark Digby; art director, Abhisher Redkar; set decorator, Michelle Dey; costume designer, Suttirat Anne Larlarb; sound (Dolby Digital/DTS/SDDS), Resul Pookutty; sound designer, Glenn Freemantle; line producer, Tabrez Noorani; assistant director, Raj Acharya; second unit camera, Mrinal Desai; casting, Tandan, Gail Stevens Cog. Reviewed at PVR, Juhu, Mumbai January 22, 2009. Running time: 116 MIN. Censored with ‘A’ certificate.

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