Slumdog Millionaire - Movie Review

Slumdog Millionaire - 9/10 - Romance - starring Dev Patel, Frieda Pinto, Anil Kapoor, Irffan Khan and Madhur Mittal.

With a scheduled release of 23rd January, this movie was taking way too long to play at the movie theaters in India. After Slumdog Millionaire won four Golden Globes, I just couldn't wait any longer. This weekend I watched the downloaded version of Slumdog Millionaire on my laptop. Here is the movie review.

Story of Slumdog Millionaire

Though serious in some parts, Slumdog Millionaire is a refreshing tale of hope amidst the poverty and despair seen by outside folk in the slums of Mumbai. Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) is a young peon who serves tea in a modern call centre in Mumbai. He gets selected to take part in 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', the Indian Version of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire', hosted by Anil Kapoor. Surprisingly, he knows the answers to all the questions. How? Did he cheat? is he a genius ?, is he plain lucky? or is it just written in his destiny??

The host of the Millionaire Show suspects that Jamal cheated and has him arrested. While in jail he is being tortured by an Inspector (Irfan Khan) to confess to his crime. As the interrogation proceeds, Jamal tells the Inspector how he knew the answers to various questions asked in the show, through flashbacks of various incidents that happened in his life.

Here, Slumdog Millionaire the movie explores life in the slums of Mumbai, communal violence, street children, child trafficking, mafia and police excesses. Jamal Malik tells about life with his renegade brother Salim (Madhur Mittal) and his search for his childhood love Latika (Frieda Pinto).


Amitabh Bachchan on Slumdog Millionaire

Amitabh Bachchan talks about Slumdog Millionaire showing the 'murky under belly' of India on his blog. Yes, the film shows the slums, corruption and sleaze of Mumbai as it is. It is the truth which millions of Mumbaikars live daily and is something which citizens should work to change. Amitabh Bachchan says that 'this thrives in Western nations too' - this is bullshit. Even small villages in India or even unsafe Delhi are not as bad as Mumbai when it comes to poverty, slums and crime swept under the carpet.

Seems to me that he is just bugged that a lookalike plays him in a scene from the movie. Big B seems to have very low self esteem when it comes to Hollywood movies - he should cheer up, he was shown as a caring star who visits the slums and is not afraid to sign an autograph for a very very dirty little child.

I mean, look at Shah Rukh Khan who also hosted like Kaun Banega Crorepati like Amitabh Bachchan - he looked so smart when he went on stage to introduce 'Slumdog Millionaire' as a nomination for Best Picture at the Golden Globes.


Slumdog Millionaire - Analysis

The movie was excellently cast. Actors did a good job, especially the six child stars playing Jamal, Salim and Latika when they were young. The direction by Danny Boyle and photography were very good. I also liked the 'Ringa Ringa' song and the background music composed by AR Rehman for Slumdog Millionaire and the choreography for the dance sequence at the end. The story, screenplay and dialogues were superb.

Of courses, there were a few inconsistencies in Slumdog Millionaire, like the blue Lord Rama in the communal riot scene and the cash levels in the Millionaire Show. Of course, it may be taken as cinematic extravagances for a foreign audience, but somehow seem like glaring mistakes to an Indian.

The best thing about this movie is that it has a happy ending...which I really loved. I have a feeling that it is going to turn out to be a big hit in India, especially if it is dubbed in local languages.

Have you watched Slumdog Millionaire? What did you think of it?