If you're thinking that it is pretty late in the day to be reviewing the movie that took the Academy Awards by storm, you are mistaken (I already reviewed it-read it here). This is more about the mixed reactions that the movie has evoked and importantly the interpretations that have been made of these reactions. Having been in the premiere show here in Paris, I know for a fact that almost everyone, Indian or not, enjoyed it. There is no doubt that the movie was great fun. It was a total Masala flick, feel good and nothing Hollywoody about it. But soon, I read that Big B was pissed. (Read an insight article here). Surprisingly so were many of my friends. And the main issue that caught everyone's attention was the portrayal of the poverty in India.
Let's be honest here. Poverty exists at large in India. There's no denying that. But what ticked off most people was that this was exploited by Westerners to make a movie to win awards. Had the movie been made by Indians, there would've been lesser complaints, I bet. But to be totally truthful, I do not think any part of the movie was exaggerated. It was commercialized for sure.. but not exaggerated. In fact the whole poverty deal was vital to the screenplay and that's why it should be left at that. As a matter of fact, later in the movie itself, the opulence and advancement of Mumbai is shown. Perhaps because this display took a backseat to the actual script, the dissed Indians probably thought that the "Foreigners" reveled in the misery of our country, perhaps secretly thanking their stars to have been born in a richer country.
Come now, rich is a loose word, isn't it? Is there any country that can hold a torch to India's richness in culture, in colour, in diversity of religions, people, races, languages,in food, in architecture,in intelligence and what not? We have no reason to be ashamed of one segment of reality shown in some movie. Like Big B pointed out, every country has a murky underbelly lurking somewhere. With a population of over a billion, it's not surprising that India does. But that hasn't hampered the success of Indians world over in any field and we should all take pride in that. And finally take a movie to be just that - a movie. Jai Hind!
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Generalizations that laymen may make about India today, based on the portrayal of the slums in the movie may be incorrect (as all generalizations), however, like you said it is a reality for millions in India, why all the fuss? Besides any informed person in today's day and age, with the advancement we are making in any given field, will know better than perceiving India as a nation to be a slum! I seriously think all the disapproval is really making a rai ka pahad. It's amazing how as a nation, the portrayal of poverty in it, makes us so insecure and uncomfortable about our perception in the world, so much prolonged attention is given to it by the media and the public, but the reality of negligible security measures and other larger issues die out in a couple of months (referring to the shooting in bombay and the previous incidents of bomb blasts). Seriously, there are better things to get insecure about and take some concrete actions against rather than throwing a fit at a harmless movie..,
Oh yeah India absolutely wins, hands down, when it comes to diversity!!! As always mera bharat mahan :)
Mysticmelodiez -> Glad to se ethat we're on the same page. My exact sentiment. If you're gonna judge India based on a few scenes in a masala flick, then you've got to be kidding. Which is why it's a bit unnecessary when people take it personally when foreigners enjoy the movie. It's not like the foreigners said that they liked the poverty part in everything. Everyone's quite big on the culture of India, maybe because such richness lacks in their own. It's one of the reasons that makes Egypt/Rome attractive to us Indians. Another cultural lesson. People shd just deal with it and move on. Thanks for the long n thoughfyl comment.
Here is a reason why I don't like the movie - even the compere of 'Who wants to be a millionarire' is portrayed as a goonda..he gets a contestant beaten up..he mocks him, calling him 'chaivala', and the 'indian' audience promptly bursts into laughter..it's a typical hollywood movie..take all the negative aspects of India..cram it in one movie and let's call it oscar-worthy.
Anon -> Point taken. but while my review reaction only included the racial politics between the 'foreigners' and Indians, I didn't concentrate on the upoper-class Indiasn looking down upon the lower class ones. Sure, not everyone is like that. But once again I guess we must agree that it exists. although, now I am beginning to think that it was unnecessarily xcynical to perhaps cram everything into one movie and show not too many great things. but then again, the movie wasn't a promote Incredible India movie.. it was a timepass Hollywood flick.
I completely agree with you. I wonder why the Indians are so insecure about a wonderful country and fabulous heritage. There's nothing to be ashamed of for some of the negative qualities that indeed exist in all countries. In fact, giving attention to this draws more people to scrutinize the poverty bit in the movie while really it was meant to be just a bystander in the background. Grow up, people!
Gandalf -> Thanks for pretty much echoing my own sentiments. And welcome back.. seemed a while since you commented.
I think I am on a different page on this one. The movie could not have been made without the active cooperation from several Indian artists and technicians. Obviously I have the faith that all of them ought to have had genuine passion to have made the movie, this successful. I know everyone credits this movie as a Boyle movie, but it is just as much a Rahman or a Pookutty or even an Azharuddin movie.
Yes, India and Mumbai seem to be projected in poor light. Why are we taking it so personally? It is the truth of Dharavi after all and I think there's a sense of pride of slum-dwellers captured in there alongside with all the black dealings.
Would you contest it so much if it were to appear in a BBC documentary aimed at raising global support for the poor in India? I bet not. This movie has in a way done that. The auction of a slum girl was prevented. The world is attuned now to prevent such things, one step at a time.
If you call this "exploitation" of the poor in India, to win awards, I encourage you to reconsider. When someone, even you, are writing a book, are you writing it just for reaping awards? I bet not. There is some sense of satisfaction you get from it for yourself. Something you wanted to do. Some of the British are still genuinely attached to India and want to do something for her. Think of the types projected in Rang De Basanti, who we all loved without argument. I am no face or mind reader, but when you looked at the genuine sense of satisfaction on the faces of these people who won the awards, you knew, it was not easy for them. Even financing this movie had its problems.
Also, in another angle, would you say India is exploiting France by showing the Tour Eiffel or Amsterdam by showing its flower show repeatedly in its movie songs? I guess not. Why, because it is positive and it is beauty. For the same reasons, I suggest not to consider this an exploitation. Hollywood shows itself in poor light too, like in Gangs of New York, the Departed, etc. Everyone loves these movies just as well...
We ought to be more broad and celebrate this as a win for India and slum dwellers of Mumbai, without whom this movie or the awards it won, would be non-existent.
Bala -> Thanks for the long n explicit comment. But I think you missed something there. I didn't say I thought it was exploitation. i said that's what ticked off many other people... the ones who didn't like the movie for what it was. In fact when this discussion comes up, I always call it yeah, the "Indian movie"... and no I don't necessarily mean the movie based in india. And yes, I agree with everything you said. I don't know if you saw it, but you n I are on the same page on this one. Jai Hind!
Phew! Jaya sorry for all the space i'm takin up but feel pretty strongly abt what you've written hence I reiterate in an attempt to gain some closure for my convictions:
1. Its a movie celebrating the spirit and resilience of Indians who emerge victorious even in the worst of circumstances.
2. I'm glad positive attention has been drawn to certain burning issues like poverty and selling children (especially in the absence of child protective services like organizations in India unlike the US, which has its own pitfalls..,) like Ram rightly pointed.
3. Lets not pretend to be perfect, there does exist poverty, corruption, classism and castism and isms galore. Moral of the story for me, we rock despite all our imperfections, and the credit goes to the undying Indian spirit.
'I do not think any part of the movie was exaggerated' No? If the compere of Kaun Banega Crorepathi, Big B or Shahrukh had poked fun at a contestant, calling him 'just a chaivala', that would have been the end of him and the show. There is a scene in the movie where one of the kids gets kicked for stealing something and he says something like 'this is the real India, now be real Americans and give me some money'. Get it? India is filled with poor, unscrupulous people..the whole country is a murky underbelly. I wouldn't be surprised if tourism to India has taken a nosedive after this movie..and I'm not exaggerating. I can't think of one redeeming character in the movie. I'm happy for all the Indian actors and technicians in the movie though.
Mysticmelodiez -> I agree with everything that you've said. Obviously we are on the same page.
Anon -> Hmm.. I have to disagree... you sound pretty cynical. Well, what was wrong with Jamal's character? Ok doe-eyed boy in love and all that. But as filmy as it was, I didn't think there was much wrong with him. And Latika was forced into the circumstances that she was... But yes, other than that, I guess bringing out the positive energy in spite of all the negativity was the movie's achievement. Shine up on the positive side, anon!
I enjoyed the movie. I saw it more than once and enjoyed it each time. Don't care who directed or produced it. It was a good "movie".
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