Slumdog Millionaire: Keepin' It Real

So I’ve met a couple of people who didn’t enjoy Slumdog Millionaire.

People have criticised it for not being ‘real’ enough. The idea of a ‘chai wallah’ or tea boy from the slums knowing all the answers to those questions is simply inconceivable, say the sceptics.

However, it must be remembered that the film is based on a work of fiction. Therefore, at no point does it claim to be anything except fiction. Yet, it retains an intrinsic link with reality.

Having Jamal (Dev Patel) become a millionaire by answering all the questions correct on a game show is idealistic/heartwarming (depending on how much of a cynic you are), but it is not Slumdog Millionaire’s most important feature. It is the fact that every question prompts a flashback in our hero’s mind which ensures the book/film is rooted in reality. Through the flashbacks then, the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire game simply becomes a plot device, an ingenius one that also brings a lot of entertainment to the tale, which allows the reader/viewer to experience the simultaneous colour and poverty that characterises India.

Danny Boyle’s adaptation of Slumdog Millionaire has already had some impact on the world. Interest in Indian culture and providing aid for the slums in Bombay has soared. There was a documentary on Channel 4 today about a millionaire investigating the Bombay slums and deciding how to help people there. It was called Slumdog Secret Millionaire, a pun and marketing ploy that would ensure more people would watch it.

The documentary was thus titled because most of us love Slumdog Millionaire. It showcases fantastic acting by Indians and Brits alike, great cinematography and a country that enthralls and horrifies.

And the esteemed Academy Awards agree so there. :p


Do you know what else is real? How bloomin' freezing it is. Womenfolk, stay warm in these ladies' coats.