Slumdog Millionaire
You might have ignored this film before assuming it will be documentary or some sort of a multiplex-type movie, but its everywhere now and you just can’t ignore it anymore.
I watched it and liked it. I also read the negative comments from few ‘patriotic’ people who think its an attempt to show the world how poor Indians are. Some politicians are even asking for a name change. But is it going to change the fact that the majority of India lives in slums?
People like me who grew up in the big cities of India carry a very good image of the country. We assume that there are shopping malls and multiplexes in all the cities of India. We are under the impression that everyone earns a decent salary and leads comparably better lifestyle. For us, poor and hungry India is an old news. We call ourselves ‘Super Power’.
Well, thats not the case. And this film has just reflected this reality.
After watching the film, my perspective changed dramatically. I realised that there are poor people everywhere around me. They work in my office as office-boys, they sell Tea and Cigarettes roadside, they work in un-human conditions at a construction site to earn the daily bread. Suddenly I started to see all of them.
I thank Danny Boyle, the director for showing us the harsh reality which we were continuously avoiding. Reality is, there are local Mafias wearing politician’s mask, there are people who live in slums, there is child labour around every corner of the street, there are people who molest girls in the name of saving morality.
If you really want to change the title of the film, please change it to Slumdog Mirror.
Thanks for sharing this! There are poor in every country in the world, but often as you say they are not “seen.” Until we all are willing to see them, we can’t make their conditions better. We, even in America, need to take an active role toward independence and basic rights for everyone.