Slumdog did not deserve its Oscars
By Partha Banerjee, New York
SLUMDOG MILLIONNAIRE did not deserve its Oscars.
Like others before it, this was a voyeuristic look at the Third World’s poor and vulnerable. There was no sense of history, no glimpse of peoples’ struggles and really no dignity.
The big screen shuffled its images in a vacuum.
I’ve seen quite a bit of slums, poverty and destitution in my life. I’ve even seen how an open-air, wood-platform, makeshift toilet seat actually works. I have a feeling none of the moviemakers experienced the thick of it, though it plays a comic part in the film.
But the comedy doesn’t work because it’s grotesque, as is much of the film: filled with violence, horror, lies and distortions.
For instance, the handsome movie superstar would never get off his helicopter and sign an autograph for a faeces-smeared poor kid who somehow rubbed past the throngs of the adoring crowd. No way - it’s a lie. And that’s why it’s really horrible.
Yes, it’s OK to show poverty, show disparity. That’s fine, even more than fine. But show it in a real way. Don’t leave its causes unexplored. Don’t raise false hope.
And yes, it’s fine to show a religious riot scene. Of course, Hindu fascists in Mumbai slaughtered Muslim slum dwellers after riots broke out when Hindu nationalists destroyed the Babri mosque in 1992. But few Western viewers, and few of the Hollywood elite who get to vote for the Oscars, had any clue about the barbarity they were witnessing. Out of nowhere, the protagonist’s mom and neighbours are rounded up and butchered. Riots in India don’t quite happen that way.
The incomprehensibility of the film reaches its apex in the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire game itself. Take one example: An American tourist couple visits the Taj Mahal and to display their generosity, they give the protagonist a $100 bill for a tip, and this helps him to learn which American figure is printed on the money - an answer he needs to keep going in the contest. Talk about preposterous!
I feel sorry for the young performers who poured their hearts out on and off camera, and were not properly compensated for their work.
I feel even sorrier for the young-generation Bollywood patriots who crave to see India honored on the Oscar stage - at any cost. Slumdog millionaire failed them all. — MCT/Progressive Media Project
Source: Gulf Times issue of 02/03/2009
I thought it was an ok movie, but have seen much better. Frankly I dont see why it got an OSCAR. I wonder whether it would have gotten an OSCAR had it been done by an indian director/banner, even if they did better.
I do agree that it was really stretching it a bit to show a kid bathed in sh*t being given an autograph by a celebrity. But WTH, its just a story!!
Same for the music. A.R rahman has done much better. The track was only a mediocre one compared to a lot of the stuff he has created. But he does deserve the honor.He is truly brilliant!!
I agree with Weasel and edifis, that it is a mix of facts with fiction, in general bollywood commercial style with a fresh love story. Riots and killings are not common in india.
I feel it is purely an indian movie and just to reply MANDI that if this movie is not made by Danny (an outsiders view), this will end up in many controversies.
It is a gutsy job done by Danny, who has shown the reality of slum dwellers life in Mumbai/Dharavi
(mostly muslims migrated from the state of West Bengal, Tamilnadu, UP and Bihar).
Story is based on a book written by Vikas Swarup Q & A later adapted screenplay written by Simon Beaufoy, who got an Oscar.
I agree it is an Hybrid movie, as technically made by British and Indian professionals and finally received 8 academy awards!
Victor,
The oscar jury may award any number of oscars to any movie they wish to. It's their prerogative. Ofcourse who wan did not say he will snatch those oscars, but in this forum we may freely express our views about any film.
Nevertheless I liked the film very much. But Mr. Banerjee is correct in saying that riots in India don't happen just like that. It is not a everyday fact of life as shown in the movie. Even though the facts are somewhat exaggerated and unreal, the movie is very refreshing and there is an air of spontaneity about the young slum kids who played the lead.
Partha Banerjee- Apparently you still haven't developed the ability to differentiate fact from fiction. This is a godd@mn movie d@mnit, based on a fictitious story, not a National Geographic documentary on Dharavi slums !!
damm good British Movie based on an Indian Slum...
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HE WHO DARES WINS
i HAVEN'T SEEN YET BUT I'M ALREADY GETTING USED TO THE LOUSY MOVIES THAT HAVE BEEN, sorry caps, released by hollywood in the last years, they may be very good but only for the "movie" intelectuals.
Only God Can Judge Me
الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي
I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer
أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ
I guess Danny very cleverly put in this line..."You want a piece of real USA sonny?".....in a film made on India and by a British director.
Ok.... the hundred dollar bill thing was a little over the top...Ten Dollar would have been more appropriate.
In hindsight I would say 2 things that stand out in the film is the Direction & the sound engineering.....weaving the noise of a city into a film where it is almost like a music and a noise no more.....
A movie maker can manipulate the good and the bad in the movie according to his wish. Thats his skill. (eg I know Dharavi the slum, and there are no such pre-paid wood-platform, makeshift toilets.....).
If people want to show the good stuff of India the onus falls on the Indian Directors who make 1,000 films anually. I find it silly why they never dub a Hindi film into a foreign language like English & Arabic. While English film CDs DVDs regularly get dubbed into Hindi!!!
Its only recently around year 2000 with the onset of the DVD subtitles format that Bollywood started offering subtittled movies.
Danny should get one more award......The award for identifying all the bad things of a country and implementing them in a film.....He forgot the Babri Masjid & the Godra incident.....or maybe he got too scared to show it....lol
Fahr on ur statement ...not interested even watching it...never indian movie without lot of lies and untrue statement!
how many indian movies have u watched to generalize it this way ....
I do agree the fact that slum dog millionaire doesn't really portray the reality when there are are a lot of gr8 Indian movies left unnoticed, unrecognized.
Few scenes like the young jamal covered with feces getting autograph from Big B is real stupid and the Hindu fascist burning the slums one fine day also is untrue ... but other than that i guess things were ok... but i felt a real bad when Jamal asked for an audience poll for the answer "Sathyameva jayathey" truth only triumphs.
For those who havent watched the movie .... it can b watched once without sleeping cos it does arouse the curiosity of wutz gonna happen next...
Music was good although there are better rehmans music in many other movies.
well to club up it was a good movie nota exceptional one ... thats it
who is wrong then? the whether is changing and versatile in Doha (sandy, foggy, windy) not at all fine.
the author Mr. Banerjee (based in NY,US), my points are to the author and the one who is posted here.....to be positive (see the topic of thread) and who has given them the authority to pass the judgment on the Oscar jury.
Hu wan is right.
we normally discuss something 'post mortem'. Knowledge is mostly acquired by us ordinary mortals on hindsight, though we get to glimpse once in a while some foresight. But that would sound presumptive of anyone discussing something a priori he's not an authority on.
What can I do to your beloved movie industry for it to get more Oscars? I like your movies the way they are- Oscar material or not. And your poor? We have so much of if too back home, and I am doing something about it in my humble capacity. Charity begins at home.
Have a nice day! The weather is fine. :)
Very Very True
So true victor!!!
not interested even watching it...never indian movie without lot of lies and untrue statment!..no wastage of my time. now indians have no topic to talk about other then slumdog movie, because they did not expect the result, the indians who i met here in doha its like their uncles and aunties are the ones in slumdog lol
does the author (from US) expect whatever shown in the movies are 100% facts, these are commercial movies, where a blend of spices added to sparkle the facts with fictions.
Be positive and suggest how India and Indian could get mor OSCARS in future too rather post-mortem the story line.
Do something for these slumkids if possible as the iron is hot, hit it NOW. We all know, people have very short memories, in 3 months down the line, they will forget everything and these poor artists will remain there where they are.
Why cant we just enjoy the movie and not dig deeper into details. On a brighter note, the little boys from the slums who didnt imagine that they would be picked up did a fabulous job! Danny has done a wonderful job, to bring out their talents. Which indian director has thought of that??? The INDIANS have put in the hard work to make it to 8 oscars!!!!
Watch the movie again on friday ..
then think abt it...
This is a MOVIE not a documentary!
This is cleverly told by incorporating a game show to tell the story.
Muya--it sounds like you're "rambling" with a "tired mind."
It is people like you and the writer of this article that are bound and determined to put a negative spin on a simple, little movie that made it big.
Please, your over analytical conclusions are boring.
Oops. some one just added his shitty diapers into the fire of anti-Semitic hate.
The problem is I think you’re an overeducated, 27-year-old virgin who holds the hands of superstitious old women and promises them eternity.
...Thanks for the article in the OP. Even though I have been delighted at the achievements of this film in terms of awards,I have always worried about the message it conveys about India to the rest of the world. This movie has left an impression about India and her people which will remain indelible for a long time and will take many more Bollywood Oscar winning movies to undo the harm tha this movie has done. The perception ofthe director and the story writer about the struggles of common man in Slums is misplaced and a more indepth reserach was required to handle such a sensitive matter.
Life is Beautiful...Indeed!
Academy awards are political awards, the winning movies are not really exceptional in anyway other than the messages they give. That's why almost any average Jew loving movie is bound to collect one oscar at least. Jews control the world don't they?
Slumdog is an average movie that (accidentally maybe) delivers 2008's most appropriate political message for the people in control: Keep on living, don't be afraid to spend all your money, everyone can be rich and trouble is everywhere so don't let all the disputes, the hatred and the killings stop you from enjoying your life (which ultimately means buying, shopping, spending all your money without reservations)
None of the above is in anyway a fact though, just a rambling of a tired mind...
MJ.. next time you watch let me know So will bang your head every time your nod off.
One of my friend decided to watch the movie while have his supper not a good idea.. especially when the scence of the little boy falling into the pile of sh*t..lol
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HE WHO DARES WINS
lol UkEng... unfortunately, i saw that part... :P
watched it last week, but i fell asleep while watching so i kinda missed most of it... no big deal though..
Oscars, no Oscars. Big deal. It's not a Pulitzer Peace Prize Award, Nobel Prize or anything that actually recognizes significant contribution to greater goals in this world.
Very Very True....
Happiness keeps u Sweet, Trials keep u Strong, Sorrow keeps u Human, Failure Keeps u Humble, Success keeps u Glowing, But only God Keeps u Going.....
Keep Going.....
that's hollywood. For me it's a beautiful story on the triumph of the human spirit to overcome and be victorious. I think the film didn't merely focused on the apparent incongruities- i.e., squalor, corruption, and ethnic violence. It all adds up to support the movies theme. And fortunately for the film makers, the world is in a midst of an economic turmoil. People are down and weary. We need something to lift our spirits. Then came this film. Somehow, it did. It woudn't win the Oscars if it didn't.
Am just wonderin' though, I see some Indian films wrought with violence and all that jazz which Slumdog has shown but didn't hear a whimper about it.