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 «Never before has a film from (India) been accepted like this and embraced in the West, and you know, been awarded with these sorts of accolades» - this was how the young protagonist of Slumdog Millionaire, Dev Patel, reacted at to AP's queries at the Premiere of the film in Mumbai. And this really is the case with the film which is now among the Oscar toppers and has four Golden Globes under its belt.
When I sat to watch Slumdog Millionaire, in about 30mins I found myself jawdropped. Right from the comfortably indifferent manner of torturing a teenager in police custody in the opening scene, the film succeeds in arresting you through its entire journey with Jamal (the protagonist). The illiterate slumdog's bewildering performance in the million bucks TV show resulting in the suspicion of cheating followed by his torture in the police custody and then enumerating his hectic and action-packed dismal life in slums that equips him (extremely miraculously and coincidentally) with the answers he was asked in the show - all have been masterly executed. The story itself has a novelty and the way it's been put into action, Slumdog Millionaire had little s cope to fail.
The plot of Slumdog Millionaire has its origin in an Indian diplomat, Vikas Swarup,'s novel Q & A that went through an extraordinary adaptation by Simon Beaufoy's screenplay. The movie revolves around the life of a teenage tea-boy, Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) who performs incredibly in the hottest TV show and is on the verge of winning the jackpot. This grand success of the street-urchin naturally gives birth to suspicion and it follows in his persecution in the police custody. Here Jamal chronicles his life and projects the strife of himself, his elder brother Salim (Madhur Mittal) and his love Latika (Freida Pinto) to survive in the gutters and dustbins of Mumbai. The core of appeal of the movie lies in these «three musketeers'» life history - born and raised in a slum of Mumbai, orphaned in communal riot, sieving through beggar-merchants to Salim's becoming a thief and killer, Latika's a turning into child prostitute and Jamal's being a petty «chai-wallah» and then his current tribulation after doing unusually well in the game show. Very few movies in recent times have such a striking storyline that itself can cut a big notch in the movie's sensation. In addition, the structure of the narrative mostly reliant on a series of flashbacks has a stunning effect on its audience.
While Slumdog Millionaire has a brilliant story in its base, the execution makes the rest behind its towering success...and behind this is the prodigy Danny Boyle. The Tra inspotting-eminent director is functionally behind the masterly execution of the plot. In the miliue of Indian slums, Boyle gives the Dickensonian story a magical ride. Bolye's feel and sensibility for the setting - the heat, filth, inhumanity prevailing in the debris of a megacity - and a unique style to bring those to life as integral parts and reflections of the characters' life mould are central to Slumdog's triumph. And Boyle's knack was fittingly coupled by Anthony Dod Mantle's brilliant cinematography. While Boyle made the master plan of the entire film, Anthony carried out the role to give the movie an appropriate visual backdrop. He brings the Mumbai slum life with its essence to the viewers. Anthony's work very delicately instills the slummy compassion and humanity that works from behind the accomplishment of Slumdog Millionaire.
Now, the cast of Slumdog Millionaire offers surprise as well. Boyle brings in a superb mixture of professional and amateur dramatis personae and in all the lead roles amateurs dominate. Amateurs Dev Patel, Madhur Mittal, Freida Pinto transcend the Bollywood superstar like Anil Kapoor (the game-show host), Irfaan Khan and others and they grab the lion share of audiences' attention and accolade. Dev Patel in the central role renders an overwhelming show - right from the plagued shape in the police custody to a nervy, vulnerable sensation in the TV show - Dev leaves no room for criticism especially when you know it's the youngster's maiden endeavor. Madhur Mittal and Freida Pinto too deliver wonderfully natural performance. Also the kids playing the roles of Jamal, Salim and Latika in their childhood are amazing as exuding a mature performance in such tender age is not an easy stuff...Boyle deserve all applause for bringing forth such effervescent performance from his gang of lay cast.
With all these uniqueness and freshness, Slumdog Millionaire has already smashed the box office round the globe and bagged about $5,900,000 in the 2nd weekend of January in the US. And after its triumph in the Golden Globe, Slumdog Millionaire now foresees to take over this year's Oscar with 10 nominations. Boyle's first venture outside the western arena has proved to be a stupendous feat and his finest artifact till date.
Tamjeed
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