Comments on: The ‘Slumdog’ Phenomenon

By: Babu Syed

Babu Syed — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 10:36:00 +0000

for a detailed analysis of significance of colours (especially yellow) in the movie slumdog millionaire, http://babusyed.blogspot.com/

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:16:13 +0000

Slumdog is WAAAAY overrated. Its narrative style is a complete and utter rip-off of City of God’s. Slumdog also has several inconsistencies in its storyline: After winning the game-show, the boy sits on the railway platform and nobody recognizes him! Considering the popularity of the show, is that realistic? Two glaring omissions: To get invited to the show one has to answer several GK questions over phone or Internet. Even after making it to the show, a contestant can reach the hot-seat, only after qualifying through “fastest finger first”. All this is conveniently forgotten in the film. And of course the greatest flaw in the storyline: programmes like ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ and ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ are NOT telecast live. As a result the entire structure of the film becomes unrealistic. For a film that boasts of being realistic such a flaw cannot be overlooked.
Due to these flaws, “Slumdog Millionaire” is no better or worse than an average Bollywood masala film. The ending was also cheesy and the film’s inferiority in editing and cinematography make it seem like a cheap and commercial bastardization of the style pioneered by City of God. The only things Slumdog has going for it are the fact that it’s in English (sort of) and its British director. If it weren’t for that, this would have been just another Bollywood movie.

By: Sam E.

Sam E. — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:40:34 +0000

Since people on here continue to characterize boyle as being an established mainstream director I decided that I’d post a link to these numbers regarding his film career.

http://boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?id=dannyboyle.htm

Slumdog is the first film he’s directed that has made over 50-million of the eight films he has directed five grossed under 10 million in the U.S. Including 3 and 6 million for his last two efforts. Also, of his films only one was made in hollywood. Granted he probably does have more draw than an Indian director would in the west but to characterize Slumdog as only being successful because of Boyle as if Boyle were a director like Spielberg or Cammeron who could make a film about whatever he wanted and people would show up is highly misleading.

By: Amit

Amit — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:38:07 +0000

Michael,

The communal riot shown in the movie was quite fleeting, and the movie didn’t dwell on it or explore the underlying issues. So, not sure if there’s anything to discuss there.

Overall, SM is a pretty superficial movie as it doesn’t really explore any of the issues related to poverty, communal violence, prostitution or underworld crime.

And thanks for your perspective that misery exists world over, as many American victims of pedophiles would attest.

By: Michael S.

Michael S. — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:48:06 +0000

One other controversial point about Slumdog not addressed in the On Point discussion was the portrayal of Hindu vs. Muslim communal violence early on in the film. I would be curious if this is provoking any reaction in India, South Asia or among Indian immigrants in USA or UK or elsewhere. I also think it is important for Americans to realize that while the particulars of poverty in India may be different than in the USA, that there is great poverty and suffering in the USA as well. I hope viewers do not walk away from the film saying, “Only in India!!” because America’s social problems are quite scary and deserving of attention as well.

By: The ‘Slumdog’ Phenomenon « The NPR Fanboy

The ‘Slumdog’ Phenomenon « The NPR Fanboy — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:58:19 +0000

[...] read more | digg story [...]

By: Mumbai

Mumbai — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 18:13:19 +0000

I saw Slumdog Millionaire today. Boyle has really done a good job with this movie. While the movie deals with the gory details of the underbelly of Mumbai, it doesnt really leave you with a sick feeling. The story feels like a commentary and at the end you just feel good about the whole movie. Very well done I must say.

The music score by Rehman is amazing, the actors who played junior Jamal and Salim were the real stars. They were simply too good. Freida Pinto had just 15 mins of screen presence. I think she was overhyped.

By: Lawrence Brown

Lawrence Brown — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 09:03:37 +0000

For me the film. Slumdog Millionaire was a disappointment, only because I’d heard such glowing reviews and comments, excepting Ben Mankiewicz, a reviewer. The scenes of the boys growing up amid the slums were great, but the movie turned mediocre as the boys grew older. The turn in the plot when the tv host, out of a mixture of jealously and bewilderment, has his current star for his show captured by the police by throwing a coat over his head and brutally thrown into a car to be tortured, and without a shred of evidence that the boy was cheating, was absurd. That twist to the story was contrived to add “drama.” To me it made the movie boring and the story manipulative.

By: MLM Software

MLM Software — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 07:07:27 +0000

Excellent movie
I really appreaciate the views.

Regards
Franklin
http://www.createmlm.com/

By: Rajat

Rajat — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 04:53:08 +0000

I liked the movie. But this needs to be seen as a creative piece of work and not mistaken for a totally realistic portrayal. Danny Boyle did a good job, so did the writer of the book the movie was adapted from. I do not agree calling this a completely western movie since it has many elements of a bollywood movie that has been in Indian cinema for years. Many good Indian movies (mentioned above) failed to be recognized as they do not have a western connection like this movie did. A.R.Rahman is a very talented composer with works that is much better than the one in this movie, but I am happy that he was finally acknowledged for his work at this level.

By: valerie beringer

valerie beringer — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 02:55:36 +0000

Please talk about the difference between the structure of the book vs the structure of the movie. The structure was so key to the movie. How did the bollywood dance sequence get included in the movie? How did the book end?

By: Madhulika

Madhulika — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:09:50 +0000

May be the sun. Normally the significant spiritual colour would be saffron – which is a mixture of yellow and red (loosely said). Colour is widely used a lot in India, and it is closely taken from nature’s cues.

By: Luke

Luke — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:50:21 +0000

I’d like to know the significance of the color yellow. Anyone?

By: Madhulika

Madhulika — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:48:19 +0000

Thanks for the mention of movies from the fifties Amit – you are right. The films were also elegant, and defined exquisitely the subtleties of culture and language.
As for suggestions of movies to watch, as someone asks, many are available on Netflix – try the Madhur Bhandarkar productions Chandni Bar, (is somewhat close to Slumdog Millionaire, wrenching, and real, although not super sophisticated as it was an early film made by this director M.Bhandarkar), try “Corporate”, “Page 3″, “Traffic Signal” – all very current real themes of contemporary India, There is Vishal Bhardwaj’s Omkara, & Maqbool, Shakespearean dramas set in India, Try Maachis…. There are fabulous movies in tamil, Bengali, Malayalam (to name a few movies), and anyone can find A.R.Rahman’s music. Especially songs in Tamil – they are unbelievable, and he is a humble wonderful guy.

I would advise all lovers of this movie to know that this is a fantasy film from a Briton, this is not representative of typical, this is NOT India (no slumdog, and I hate to use that disrespectful word for a slum resident, has won millionaire status as far as I know) although characters and places are drawn from there…..Thanks for reading

By: Marco Polsen

Marco Polsen — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:02:31 +0000

No podcast for this hour while the Week in the News was uploaded an hour ago? Please check why this has failed to appear on the RSS feed.

By: Lon C Ponschock

Lon C Ponschock — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:51:48 +0000

I much appreciated the film on first viewing.

But the question for me arises in this and many other films and television shows as well: does there have to be obligatory scenes of torture (since the past government in US has given the green light to it) in so many current productions?

For me it is unacceptable even in a fictional context. It lowers the bar of what is permitted in mainstream entertainment.

You can’t look away and expect to follow the rest of the film. So why have it in there? Is there an journalistic reference to actual events or is it just shock value?

By: carmen

carmen — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:58:42 +0000

I loved this movie, having visited India, several times, I concur it seems to have it all. Love the story, acting & music and that scene at the end!!!
Meanwhile, someone somewhere give us a list of other movies to be seen which are not as accessible as this one.Congratulations to all involved.

By: Hannah

Hannah — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:35:10 +0000

I am not particularly familiar with the Indian culture. I love indian food, and I’ve read several great books about India but I have never been to india nor do I even have any Indian friends, so I really can’t comment as to whether or not ‘Slumdog’ depicts indian culture accurately. But I have seen my fair share of movies and this is certainly one of the best. In fact, after I saw it for the first time (about a month ago) I could not only not stop thinking about it, but I couldn’t imagine anyone not loving it!
There is a perfect balance of emotion and action. The cinematography and soundtrack only add to its greatness, but the story is really what captured me. It is incredibly emotional and beautiful. Sure, there are may be “better” movies out there, but this one certainly special.
I can give ‘Slumdog’ only praise!!!!

By: Amit

Amit — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:28:38 +0000

YOur speaker Asim is wrong – there are many good movies being made in India that are dealing with contemporary India (MANY) made by Indians, in non-bollywood formulae.

I agree. If anyone says that India hasn’t been making good movies, that simply shows their lack of knowledge about Indian films. I watch a lot of movies from all over, and can find many Indian as well as Bollywood movies that are better (in all aspects) than the tired and clichéd sequels that Hollywood peddles and which are consumed without any critical analysis. Fast and Furious anyone? Third (or is it the fourth?) re-heated serving is on its way.

By: Amit

Amit — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:23:34 +0000

Because Hollywood hates foreign films. City had a Brazilian director, another strike against the film.

Mike,

That could be true, though I loved “Central Station” and it was nominated for two Oscars – Best Foreign Film and Best Actress categories.