Slumdog Millionaire – (Re)Viewed

We had this movie on our computer for at least 6 weeks now. But I and my wife never had the time to watch. She was particular about me watching the movie with her, so I kept my calendar busy. After the Oscars, we decided to block some time out of our lazy calendars to watch this movie this weekend; my mom accompanied us for the first half. I probably expected too much from this movie, so it obviously didn’t meet my expectations. After the movie I never felt that I saw 8-Oscars won movie. It was Good, but I have seen better, so it’s not the best.

Movie was well directed, Background score was brilliant, and kids had acted really well. But throughout the movie, I felt like I was nude standing in front of a gallery full of people with every eye probing on me. I felt this way because my country was projected from the perspective of a foreigner for the rest of the world. I am worried that the Oscar would give the movie a lot more publicity and this perspective would be projected across the cinema halls around the globe. Oh my (non-existent) God!! I am worried as if I am going to stand like this in front of several thousand galleries after this one. Religious violence, orphan kids, mafia sending kids to begging and prostitution, cheating, arrogant police force, gangsters killing at will, slum state etc., etc., the India I know off, is a lot better than this. But the India Danny Boyle knew was just this. Half way thru the movie we decided to take a break for Dinner, and my mind was restless but my thoughts were stabilizing. I was just hoping for some confidence.

As we settled after dinner, during some discussion, my mom expressed her anger against the movie, with my stabilized thoughts, I said “Whether you like it or not, what they said in the movie is true. It’s unfortunate that every foreigner is going to watch this part of the truth, but the fact that even these realities are the components of Indian society should be accepted. We need to find out how we can fix it, rather than blaming the producers of the movie.”  How can a girl say “it’s not my fault that my skirt slipped, but the neighbour shouldn’t have laughed at me for this”?  Isn’t it her responsibility to tie the skirt properly?

I remember a proverb my friend quoted sometime back, “When you are getting raped, and if you can’t escape, the best thing to do is to lie down and enjoy” It is one way of looking at this movie. I continued to watch the rest of the movie. It had love, and Jamal turned to be good, he kept winning, and the end, they lived happily ever after. It was not so painful now, but still painful enough to make me think.

Why is India like this, totally uncontrollable, yet exceedingly beautiful? Is it population, is it corruption, is it politicians, is it the people or their mindset, or their patriotism or the lack of it, what can fix this country and make us feel proud of it once again. I know I forced myself to enjoy the movie this time, but it may not be easy once more, even if it wins several Oscars. I can’t continue to picture mother India to be a porn star again. I feel I should do something to correct this place, not sure where to start, but soon I will.