An examination of the movie “Slumdog Millionaire”

Feb 28, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
Kindly permit me to expand on the arguments put forth by my good friend and fellow movie aficionado, Robin Muneshwer, in his letter entitled “Why did Slumdog Millionaire not do well in India?” which appeared in SN February 22nd 2009.
Mr. Muneshwer opined that the movie’s “overly negative portrayal of India and Indians” was a major reason for its relative lack of success in the sub-continent. Additionally, he implies that the lack of the requisite “song and dance routine” might be another reason why the movie did not find favour with the majority of the Indian populace.

Before getting into my critique of the movie, I should make it pellucidly clear that I’m not a fan of Indian movies, in particular the extravagant Bollywood types, so I was initially a bit hesitant to see this adaptation of Vikas Swarup’s novel Q & A. However, I must admit that it was better than I expected, and probably is deserving of its recent 2008 Best Picture Award, albeit from an otherwise weak field of nominees.

One of the major reasons for weak reception in India, according to Trade Analyst Komal Natha, is that the word “Slumdog” is not readily recognisable in Indian parlance.
The film also lacks any recognisable Bollywood stars, apart from Anil Kapoor. Additionally, in the original version of the film the slum boys are heard speaking perfect English as young adults, which to most Indians is not quite believable.

In fact, a dubbed over Hindi version of the movie “Slumdog Crorepati” seems to be doing better at the Indian box office than the original. But perhaps the major reason why the film did not win rave reviews in India is because it was directed by a white British director, Danny Boyle, and may be perceived by many Indians as merely a “white man’s imagined India” according to Shyamal Sengupta, a professor of film studies at the Whistling Woods International Institute for Films, Media, Animation and Media Arts in Mumbai.
On a personal note, while I thought it was a good all-round movie, my major criticism was the over reliance on flashbacks which resulted in disjointed storytelling that broke the momentum of the movie at critical points.

In most cases they were too abrupt and sometimes irrelevant, and not as cleverly done as in Chris Nolan’s 2000 masterpiece Memento.
Therefore, in summing up, I think that there were a number of reasons why the movie did not do as well in India as in the Western world. However, I think Mr. Muneshwer’s sweeping condemnation of the movie-going public in India borders on irrelevant, given the vastness and diversity of the society.
Tariq Williams

Latest News

An examination of the movie “Slumdog Millionaire”

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 10th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Khalil, Pollard and Barker reign supreme as BCQS Int’l Masters...

Cricket West Indies passes historic governance...

Archery Guyana hosts thrilling 2024 National...

Prashad claims victory at the recently concluded...

West Indies & Sri Lanka top their respective...

Allicock, Amsterdam named in GBA training squad...

Features/Columnists

Are we better off today than we were before first oil?

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Corruption – at epidemic proportion

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

An examination of the movie “Slumdog Millionaire”

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 10th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]