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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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