There is a big hype about Slumdog Millionaire not only here in India, but also in most of the movie-watching world.... and I understand why. I was privy to have watched the movie, prior to its release this coming January 23 in India - thanks to a friend.
The movie is amazing in the way the story unfolds and the way it was presented. It is a simple yet effective, touching yet not heavy, socially conscious but not probing. It is a love story - with Who Wants to be a Millionaire as a backdrop. It is a story of hope and persistence. A story that most would identify themselves with because it is a story of the human spirit overcoming the worst of situations and winning in the end. I will not tell the story here so as not to spoil the interests of other people. I would like to praise the actors, particularly the children, who I believe are simply magnificent. Dev Patel, who played the lead actor is quite good for a first timer and so is Irfan Khan (who I think is the best actor in India) as the police inspector. I not a big fan of Freida Pinto, but she has proven here that beauty can have talents - given the proper vehicle and director.
Another nice thing about this movie is that it is not your usual Bollywood genre. There is a dance at the end of the movie and (set in Mumbai train station) and it was just perfect to end the movie in a lighter note.
Mumbai is presented in its darkest sense - slums, gangsters, sex trade. Danny Boyle directed like he had been living here for a long time. He presented the movie like a man who has been eating chapatis and momos in the streets of Mumbai.
Anyways, it would be good for anyone to watch the movie.... I feel Dev Patel's fear sitting on the Millionaire hot seat (I remember my game show days, hehehe). I understand his brother's (his name escapes me now) wish for forgiveness. I feel for the children's strong sense of survival.
Have a go at the cinema. Enjoy the gem of a movie that is Slumdog. I did.
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