Comments on: My favourite movies – Slumdog Millionaire

By: vjkrishna

vjkrishna — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 06:03:02 +0000

Thanks a lot ‘Ringchen’! All said, I’d still be rooting for SM to win the oscars. And for Rahman, I’ll go crazy if he wins it!!! Can’t wait for the weekend . . .

By: Rinchen

Rinchen — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:02:06 +0000

I loved the post! I know everyone’s been reviewing Slumdog but this has to be the best review indeed And I agree entirely with you.

“I still don’t understand why Indian slums should not be shown in a movie. It’s more shameful to have them than to show them.”

So true. And the part about Oscars not being the supreme, paramount awards is spot on. So was Lagaan’s villagers trying to represent India, I know realize! Hahaha…

Very interesting read and I will come back for more.

Keep it up, VJ

By: Anne de Plume

Anne de Plume — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:16:44 +0000

Copying my reply to your comment on my post “Slum Who Millionaire”. I enjoyed reading your post. You have raised some pertinent questions. But here is my response to both your article and comment:

Thanks for the comment Vijay. Yes, you are right SM is a smart movie and watchable — I don’t deny. But, I have also tried to assess the movie in an entire gamut of previously made movies — which in my opinion are stronger in content may not be in form. Even when Satyajit Ray (an Indian) made ‘Pather Panchali’ it was subject to debate, so Danny Boyle making it is part of the problem not the entire problem.

When you wrote about the “critic’s hat” — actually any interested viewer of a movie will somehow consciously or unconsciously don the critics’ hat. Some express while others’ do not express their opinion.

When you compare SM with Lagaan you are being unfair to both movies. Lagaan had its appeal because of its nationalistic content. You have written in your blog ‘Random Opinions’ that “none of the villagers were interested to put up a fight except one man” . To be frank, none of the villagers could have put up a fight considering centuries of socio-cultural and political oppression. It is based on certain historical traces — you can say objective. But, SM is a subjective assessment of what we call “Indian-ness”, sold in the artistic market.

Thanks for the interesting alternate perspectives.

By: Vijay Anil

Vijay Anil — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:37:03 +0000

Movie:
Truth has to be accepted when told. I completely agree vijay’s words reg. our slums – “It’s more shameful to have them than to show them”. I was also exactly in same page as vijay, after watching SDM. In reality it’s so pity that the same Mumbai city has “Richest person in the world – M. Ambani and the largest slum world ” are we not exaggerated to see ourselves in the other way? We need to discuss internally more about our growing tribulations Poverty; Hypocrisy; Caste; Religious fights; Political melodrama etc. need to edit the existing govt. system in managing these as we have less to show ourselves internationally for our population.
Oscars:
Why every one are behind Oscars – I completely agree with vijay as it gives immense publicity, because every one needs recognition for one’s art, infact international recognition. Why every one are behind Indian national award than state awards as its been recognized across the country, same goes to Oscar as one’s work want to be recognized across the world. (though its been from US or whoever). If we should not behind them (oscar’s) then why our media is publishing every year nominations/winners of it letting every indian know about it and why every country is publishing them .? Did any US/UK/Other countries media ever published our National award nominations/winners.? ‘No’ – ‘No’ I mean here we are talented but its not recognized or rest of the world is not knowing and recognizing our work. We all know “Satyajitree” is a wonderful technician the whole world looked India when he has been awarded “Life time Achievement” from Oscar.
The below are my appeals:
1. The Amitabh Bachhan scene is exaggerated about our fan following. Craziness is very much part of every land. People have died while watching rock shows / concerts in western countries too…!!!
2. The game is hosted in India and we don’t have ‘million’ concept in money.? (May be as its released world wide and no one will understand if its named in “Lakhs”)..!!!
These are my observations:
1. Experiences in life will teach you more than what you learn from education.
2. The other side Vikas Swarup author of “Q & A” got noted international which is visually our SDM
3. Jamal’s (common man) courage to participate in a big game/in front of huge crowd though he know that he don’t know anything and he is not educated to answer any and his efforts to get his love back through all means.
4. I liked the scene Jamal asking Anil Kapoor “Are you Nervous”… during his winning streak
5. ‘O Saya’ reminded me the similar back ground music of ‘Chiku Bhuku’ railee song from Gentle man.
A R Rahman – He is a Genius and we are blessed for having him and entertaining whole India. He must awarded Oscar this time if not I will certainly loose faith in Oscars.

By: vjkrishna

vjkrishna — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:33:49 +0000

Ah! I’m sorry then. the thing I said about Usual Suspects is indeed a spoiler. Anyway, I wouldn’t call it a great movie. I’ve just seen it once though. May be, I’ll have to watch it again to know why is it so highly rated!?

By: ilbrutto

ilbrutto — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:34:33 +0000

Yes, it’s a good entertainer (haven’t seen Usual Suspects). I’d say it’s the ultimate melodrama without being cheap – and I don’t understand why so much noise is made about its portrayal of poverty.

By: vjkrishna

vjkrishna — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:44:29 +0000

ilbrutto – Thanks a lot. You’re right. I wouldn’t call this movie a trendsetter. If anything this movie can be a trend setter in foreign directors directing Indian films.

In the movie, nothing was new. I thought even the idea of Jamal being able to answer the questions from his experiences, is not entirely new. Don’t you think it’s a kind of mish-mash of the idea in ‘Usual Suspects’ where this guys makes up a story with all the newspaper ‘cuttings’ stuck on the board.

Despite all the short comings, it was a thoroughly enjoyable film. And you must watch it in the theatres. That’s where the photography and music hit you. One IMDB user put it so nicely – “it’s a pity I won’t be able to watch this movie for the first time again”.

By: ilbrutto

ilbrutto — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 09:07:35 +0000

That’s a great beginning, I must say! A very good review. Though I don’t think it’s a work of art, it’s definitely good time-pass. For me, it was like watching a Hindi movie, the opening chase scene reminding me of Mani Ratnam, maybe because of Rahman, because Mani Ratnam isn’t half as smart as Danny Boyle.

The non-linear technique wasn’t so novel. Watch a couple of Godard films from the 60s and you’ll see how old it is. One thing I admired in the movie, other than Rahman’s music, was how Boyle avoided exploiting the slum settings. I watched it on DVD, so I wasn’t as excited as some of my friends who watched it in theatres.

Keep the reviews coming!