Slumdog Millionaire – Reflection

As an Indian I am proud to know that Slumdog Millionaire has brought laurels to the country. Danny Boyle the director with Loveleen Tandon has produced a master piece. A.R. Rahman deserves full praise and commendation for his world class contribution.

The script writer Simon Beaufoy has woven the story in a very attractive style that the audience are not bored but taken along the narration. The film has brought the stark realities of India before the global audience. The elite of the country has spoken against the movie as it brings the other side of India, which is not IT superpower urban India but real India.

1. Slums: 25 to 40 per cent of urban population in India lives in slums. The movie brings out the pathetic life in slums. The narrow streets, lack of health and hygiene, tin roofs, open sewerage, garbage heaps …etc.

2. Lack of human dignity: Jamal (Dev Patel) who appears in the Kaun Banega Crorepati (Who wants to be a millionaire) is ridiculed by the anchor Prem Kumar (Anil Kapoor). It is shown as selling tea is 'mean' job and publicly ridicules him.

3. Children: Children do not have opportunity for education. In fact, they are kidnapped, maimed and sent to beg on the streets. The money that is collected by begging is taken by the gang leader Maman. 'Missing children' in India mostly end up as child beggars in big cities.

4. Children and starvation: The starving children steal food in a moving train, roughed up and thrown from the running train. Miraculously they escape. The way the children are treated for this crime is horrific.

5. Human trafficking: The stark reality of human trafficking especially of woman is also brought out well in this movie. Women, exploited to be dancers and sex slaves is open fact in India.

6. Violation of human rights: The hero Jamal is picked up when he comes out of the show and is tortured to know the truth. How did he know all the answers when more educated could not even the first few rounds. Police are brutal and violate all laws of the land.

7. Attitude of upper class: Prem Kumar (Anil Kapoor) informs the police that Jamal could have cheated because he wanted no body in the show to win. He could not tolerate a socially lower class (caste) boy winning the prize of million rupees.

8. Riots: riots are a common feature in India. Minorities are attacked with impunity, with the help of law enforcing agencies from time to time.

9. Underworld: The mafia gang operates in cities like Mumbai with impunity. They could violate human rights, bribe police and escape. Many teens are getting attracted towards these elements.

10. Karma: At the opening scene, a title card is presented: "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 written." At the end of the film, the answer is given as 'D' - written. This promotes the idea of 'karma' where everything is predetermined and nothing could be changed.

Thus the film has opened the window to view the ground realities in India. Instead of contesting the portrayal, leaders should work to address it.