Slumdog Millionaire – A Box Office and Award WInning Hit
~ Reetu Bajaj ‘12
What do A.R. Rahman, Oscars, Mumbai, Golden Globes, ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’, and Danny Boyle all have in common? Every one of these aspects comes into the influences and effects of the Cinderella-like fairy tell thriller Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle. Not your ordinary story of an NRI (Non-Residential Indian) trying to make it big in the states, Slumdog is the tale of three vibrant characters as they travel their own separate paths, all beginning in the slums of Mumbai. Known as the three musketeers, Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), Salim Malik (Madhur Mittal), and Latika (Frieda Pinto) tread the familiar territory of no man’s land filled with the tenements, the riots, the brothels, the friendships, the separations, the reunions, the love, the contention, all concluding to one word: destiny. Jamal journeys from the dump of human excreta, through the terrifying life of child beggars, and ends up in the hot seat of the game show ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ hosted by Anil Kapoor. Little does Jamal know that through this game show, his past will be revisited and perhaps his destiny will be fulfilled.
Mumbai is displayed with uninhibited passion. Going from crowded alleys to modern buildings, Anthony Dod Mantel presents state-of-the-art cinematography. AR Rahman’s music score adds a pulsating beat to the proceedings and Simon Beaufoy delicately transforms Vikas Swarup’s novel into a film. But when it comes to the performances, it’s the kids that who walk away with your hearts.
Nominated for ten Oscars, Slumdog Millionaire has already received local and international claim through sweeping forty-two wins, including Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Original Score at the Golden Globe awards.