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As I begin writing this post, I realize it would probably be a controversial one. The title of this post - a question that popped to my mind when I finished watching the acclaimed movie. I read and heard several perspectives, for and against the statement. But first, let me elaborate the drift of my statement. A number of patriotic Indians, including me, felt a tad disturbed by the fact that the movie portrayed, with stark realism, the ugly face of our country. Although, there was nothing in the movie that was contestable, that I could say does not happen in our country, as an Indian citizen, I felt quite sad about the storyline which incessantly depicted the sorry state of affairs in our country. No, I don’t have anything against Vikas Swarup. Or Danny Boyle, for that matter. I think it was a pretty interesting concept. The movie was well executed, the acting brilliant and the music, certainly sublime.
As mentioned earlier, the movie depicts the underbelly of the country. This is not what I’m contesting, for the story revolved around a slumdog. Certainly, couldn’t expect anything much different. What I object to is this - as a corollary to this observation, if you think about it, apart from Jamal, Latika and Salim (who redeemed himself towards the end of the movie), the only people in the movie who display kindness and goodness of spirit are all non-Indians (the two foreigner tourists, whose car was ransacked while Jamal takes them sight-seeing. Upon return they offer some money to Jamal, calling it the American way or something). Most of the other characters in the movie are plain mean. For example, consider the audience at the game show, who join the host (Anil Kapoor) in jeering the ‘Chaiwalla’. This is quite contrary to how the public would react if an underdog participates in Kaun Banega Crorepati or any other reality show, for that matter (as we’ve seen in a number of reality talent shows). Yeah, the inspector Irfan Khan does allow Jamal to go to the show the next day, but I’m not quite sure if that could be termed as kindness, especially after hours of torture.
I guess what I’m trying to say is this - although, it was a superb movie that I thoroughly enjoyed, there was something amiss. I suppose it wouldn’t have hurt Danny Boyle to include a scene, here or there, to present an even portrayal of our country, that there are good people too who live here, that our country is not only about poverty, slums, communal riots, blinded beggars, immoral policemen, bitter celebrities and injustice, but also about inspiring leaders, economic advancement and a great history. As I actually penned down the last few words, I realized something - It isn’t his or anybody else’s responsibility to depict the bright side of India. It is ours to build it.
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I agree with your views, especially the point about how Danny could have added a few scenes to show India in a better light. As it is, the west has a very outdated image of our nation.
ReplyDeleteIf you saw the speech of Obama last nite, one cannot just hope and pray for our very own Obama, someone who will lift India out of its misery!
BTW, came across your blog page on a link from another page, and found your posts - though few - very interesting to read. Will post my views on them later. Your thoughts are very unique, very intriguing! :-)
"that our country is not only about poverty, slums, communal riots, blinded beggars, immoral policemen, bitter celebrities and injustice, but also about INSPIRING leaders ... " please name a few for me !
ReplyDeleteVivek - Unfortunately, I missed Obama's speech, but I read a part of the transcript. I would probably watch the repeat telecast. As far as the leadership of our country is concerned, now, more than ever, we need a true visionary.
ReplyDeleteAlso, thank you for you remarks.
anon, INSPIRATION is everywhere, its just that we sometimes dont realize it because we arent looking for it. From the rag picker on the street to IIM graduates who have started an NGO giving up seven figure salary campus jobs, inspiring indians are all around us, we just need to look hard enough!
ReplyDeleteKanika, i hope you managed to catch a repeat telecast(its all over youtube in case you werent able to!) coz reading the transcript wont have the same effect as he is such a good orator, the way he spoke also mattered. And the best part was that he wasnt reading out from a paper in front of him.
I liked your post. But the interesting rumbling of thought that I want to share is - Imagine if Danny Boyle- a westerner- had not made this movie... Imagine 'Slumdog Millionaire' to be exactly in its present form- but as a Bollywood movie made by a 'realistic' director- say, Madhur Bhandarkar. What would a normal Indian movie goer's reaction-- Wah.. kya honest, realistic film banayi hai ( thats what we all told about 'realisically themed movies' like Page3, Traffic Signal, Chandni Bar, Fashion etc.). There have also been more movies which have highlighted Indian poverty in a worser way than Slumdog. The fact is, this movie is made by Boyle- a westerner.. How could he, and how dare he, make a movie which depicts the Indian poor, and how could he depict it with such precise accuracy and honesty. That has hurt our ego,our pride, and that is where all the condemning of Slumdog millionaire emante from.
ReplyDeleteI understand that the startling honesty with which Boyle has portrayed slum life is deeply distrubing. But, if we remove our blinkers of comfort, rub our eyes, spare a moment from our airconditioned confines and look around, isnt that exactly how it is in the slums? I wish closing our eyes would chase all the problems and disgust away, but that unfortunately doesnt happen. Have we, the airconditioned and cologne spraying elite done something about it? WE dont care about them- It is fine that we dont care about them-- but our ignoring the dirty underbelly of India doesnt make it non-existent.Danny Boyle has showed us how stark reality is. He has shown, while being invisible to the elite ignorant eye, the manner in whcih the poorest of the poor lead their lives- and for that he should be applauded - even though the avergae Indian ego has been hurt.
At the end of the day, slumdog millionaire is a story of hope... it's a story of sheer human courage and perseverance... and of love...
P.S. : Just imagine had Slumdog millionaire been a Bollywood movie, they would have certainly thrown in an item number or two- pictured in the slums- as per 'situation' or 'script demands' lol!
Good post, Kanika.. Thank you for making me think. I usually dont think :-)
You killed your whole post (and argument, if there was any) with your last statement - it isn't anybody's responsibility, it's ours to build it. The truth is when you do build an image of good, people cannot ignore it.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - I suppose your question has been answered befittingly; however, I would like to add the following to the list of inspiring Indians - every Indian soldier and policeman who risks his life so that civilians like u and I can live peacefully, every writer who expresses his/her views about social evils/rituals, without worrying about the backlash, and every individual who raises his/her voice for what is right could be a source of inspiration for many others. As a concluding statement, I'd say that a lot of people tend to be sardonic and focus on the mistakes made by others, especially the political leaders; however, if there's something you think is not right, take charge, do something about it, rather than asking questions, cynical and anonymous.
ReplyDeleteParikshith - Interesting comment. Once I'd penned down my spur-of-the-moment thoughts in the post, I can't deny that the same thought occured to me, too. Had this movie been directed by an Indian, I'd not only be rooting for it (as I still am, for the Oscars), my ego wouldn't be as hurt, maybe not at all. Nobody likes a stranger coming to one's house and exposing the dirty laundry to everyone in the neighbourhood..:)
ReplyDeleteYou've provided a mature perspective on the post, which eventually occurs, once the hurting of the ego has subsided. And I'd say the man, Boyle, must be applauded for doing justice to the storyline, ironically, for the very reason I was sort of detesting him earlier(as an immediate reaction to the movie). And yeah, I agree, had an Indian directed the movie, there's a great possibility (although, can't say with certainty) that we would've witnessed history in the making with an 'Item Number' in the slums.. :)
Rakesh - I'm not going to explain why I 'killed' my post by my last statement, for I stand by it, more than anything else in the post.
ReplyDelete"The truth is when you do build an image of good, people cannot ignore it." Correct.
But, an image is built (the keyword here being 'built'), by concrete action towards the goal we want to achieve or the image we want to build. Greatness leads to a good reputation, and not vice-versa. What I'm trying to say is this - If our country were to become great today, it wouldn't be so because the whole world carries such a perception about us(assuming it does), but the world would think we're great(carry a 'good' image of our country) because our nation has made progress and achieved that greatness.
Vivek - Since Obama's speech is so highly recommended by you, I'll make it a point to watch it on youtube.
ReplyDeleteHey Kanika, I actually was agreeing to the last part of your post more than anything else in it. Thats what I meant when I said, when you do build a good image, people cannot ignore it. Sadly as of now, our image has its dark sides as well.
ReplyDeleteI finally saw the movie and loved it. Do read my take on it.
Kanika, one more thing about Danny is that, to be fair to him, he hasnt really lied in the movie, has he? I mean, all the scenes are true in everyday Indian life, and its not as if he has gone out of his way to show us in poor light. The problem is, foreigners who have seen the other India wont be affected much, but for those who havent, this movie will only go to reinforce what they think of India - under developed, full of poverty, etc, which is unfortunate in a way.
ReplyDeleteStill, like you, me too will be rooting for the movie, especially for Rahman, of whom i am a HUGE HUGE FAN, ever since he composed Roja.
Feb 22nd could be a red letter for the Indian
music industry.
yeah i should start a blog too !
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous, you don't quite need my permission for that!
ReplyDeleteHey that's an interesting observation about all the non-lead characters having negative shades. Seems to be quite intentional. But I guess its just about the regular stereotyping in movies. All movies shot in non traditional regions focus more or less on one particular aspect only while overlooking the rest, like:
ReplyDeleteAfrica- jungles, crime , civil wars
China - Martial arts, spirituality
Afghanistan - Taliban
& India - Slums :-)
To create an impact a movie has to be focused on a theme rather than a generic portrayal of the society. I think that was Boyle's aim and not to malign India.
And we won! Time to stand up and applaud three Indians who have made India proud, Gulzar, Resul and ARR. Its not about whether we liked the movie or not, or whether ARR has done better work than this before, its about being proud of the fact that such a humble guy has done so much for us.
ReplyDeleteA kid who had to be pulled out of school, and sent to work to play the keyboard for (another musical genius!!)Ilayaraja so that he and his sisters could have food on the table after their fathers demise, has just gone on to win the biggest ever prize there is in world cinema! This is THE rags to riches story,
even more incredible than the movie story!
Jai ho!!
just going through some blogs..landed on this one will share my thoughts here.
ReplyDeletethis after sdm has won oscars and the reaction in India seems to be like we have won the world cup or something or atleast that is what i am reading from the newspapers ( i am not in India right now).
I am not sure why we are celebrating and acting like India has won something.if anything it should be embarrasing to us that we are still ways to go as a developed nation.
I know its the reality, but still i can't help but wonder if poverty really sells, the perverse curiosity of people cannot be underestimated. I saw in CBS news here that there is now slum tourism for westerners in Dharavi...gotta love the enterpreunerial spirit of Mumbai.
the other thing about Obama, he is a good orator, yes but lets not put him the pedestal yet. the other side of the coin is George W bush was that much unpopular...hence the huge rock star status for Obama. I think we are getting a little carried away by the whole Obama thing here.
what we need as a nation, is not just one leader like Obama, but a bunch of leaders who can put their bipartisanship and vote and caste based politics behind and work for India.
Until then Jai Ho for Slum dogs...
Anonymous - I strongly disagree with you on one point. Why we are celebrating the victory of Rahaman, Pookutty and the movie itself is not because India, as a country, has won an award. We're rejoicing for the Indians - diverse in their religions, their mothertongue, their native places - who have achieved international recognition for their work.
ReplyDeleteYes, the movie portrays the dirty underbelly of our country, and we have a lot more to India than slums, but being embarrassed, and not appreciative, of the achievements of Indian citizens would be immature. It is similar to celebrating the victory of Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi at the Australian Open'09. These are individuals who won a Grand Slam and we celebrate their victory because we feel proud of our fellow-countrymen.
I have to agree with your second point though - poverty does sell. Examples being SM and Arvind Adiga's White Tiger. Seems like the Zeitgeist of the Western world appreciates destitution of 'other' countries, coz it makes them feel great about themselves (despite their own issues).
India is in need of visionaries now, more than ever. And it is upto the present generation, the youth, to make a choice - detachment or participation. In recent times, I've seen a number of Indian citizens, mostly youth, innovatively try to make a difference, be it the JaagoRe campaign or the Pink Chaddi Campaign. The choice that most of us make today would determine the landscape of our country in the future.
Now and forever, Jai Ho! to our country and its people.
I will never see this movie.(Period)
ReplyDeleteHi Kanika .I loved your blog.I share your view that it could have been a more balanced portrayal of India. And you have reserved your best for the last. Indeed we all have to build what we wish India to be !!
ReplyDeleteHi Vama, thank you so much for your encouraging remarks! I'm glad u took time to read my blog.. I often visit your blog too and like the recipes there. I read the Ustad hotel review that you wrote recently.
ReplyDelete