Slumdog Millionaire : Kamaal ki Story
Dear contestant, Kamaal, please have the seat, which is not yet so hot as it will become later, and keep your eyes focused on the monitor and hear us properly.
Here you wont get questions having multiple choices only and sometimes you will have to give answer on your own.
Ok Kamaal, before you start facing the questions lets all enjoy this lewd limerick.
A Fair girl of Milwaukee
Was once sexed by a blackie
The result of the sins
Was quadruplets, not twins
One white, one black, two khakis
In SM, Jamal while sitting in an open roof toilet, after hearing about Amitabh Bachchan’s helicopter, visualises scenes of AB’s films including Coolie, which was released in 1983 though Salim buys the ticket for Ram Balram which was released in 1980. But lets not play stupid nit pickers as its Sir Boyle D’s tribute to Bholaworld errr Bholywud ahhh Bollywood.
Sab Chalta hai yahan! Kyon?
Lets assume Jamal’s age was 5-6 years in the year of 1983 and Salim was 8-9 years old and Latika was 7-8 years old then and when they come back from Agra to Bombay, Sunil Shetty had appeared in the film world so lets assume it was the period of 1992-93 and when film again takes a jump of 10-12 years we watch the period of 2006-2007. So what should be the approximate age of Jamal, Salim and Latika in the last phase of filum. And Kamaal, you wont get any choices here as its simple mathematics. We want to see how you managed in this calculative world. Jamal could get a british accent so you should learn some arithmetic also.
Don’t take time, SM is a story about two decades. Make a guess.
What you said,
Jamal should be around 28-29, Salim should be 31-32 and Latika should be around 30-31 years old.
Ok and what brought you at this conclusion?
Kamaal: Anil Kapur’s show WWTBAM, gives prize of 20 Million Rupees to Jamal and this prize was given during KBC 2 in India and moreover the mobile set which Salim gives to Latika before she leaves the den of Javed Khan the gangster, could not be seen before 2005 in India.
Ok Kamaal. You are a smart guy. Filum shows Jamaal Malic as 18 years old boy. Anyway, now clear another confusion about SM.
Latika is a typical Hindu name used as synonym of God. In the childhood, she speaks in chaste Urdu. Do you remember her saying, “Agar ye phir se khana layega to ye nek banda hai” or before that inside that Pipe, “Shukriya Jamaal“.
Was she a Hindu or a Muslim? Jamaal and Salim never speak in Urdu in their first phase of childhood but she speaks.
Ok you are also confused like us and you want to go for audience poll? I am not sure if people will be able to answer this question.
No Problem. Perhaps Sir Boyle D wanted to keep communal harmony as another formula in his film so he kept it like this only. But you know Kamaal, problem occurs when they show a Hindu Muslim riot in the Bombay’s slum in 1982-83 or if we become too liberal then filum shows a period around 1986-87.
Hindus are attacking the people standing around that dirty pool. All people living in that area were muslims?That’s why men simply broke the head of mother of Jamaal and Salim without bothering to know if she was a muslim or a hindu?
If Latika’s parents were Hindu then what happened to them? Why they were killed. Muslims killed them? Mother of Jamaal and Salim was clearly the most beautiful woman standing at that place or living in that slum, few other women were taken to perform a rape kind of activity but she was simply killed in that pool only. Why she was spared?
And what a Blue boy was doing during the riot there. He was blue like Lord Shiva though Filum addressed him as Lord Rama because Jamaal was supposed to give answer, Dhanush, and not a trishool. Though given the uprising of Shiv Sena, a Trishool would have been more justified. But Ok it was a formula filum.
Now Kamaal, do you recall the lewd limerick, we recited you sometime back.
Mother of Jamal and Salim was a fair and pretty woman. In the childhood, both Jamal and Salim had, if not dark then wheatish complexion, and in second phase of their childhood in Agra and Bombay they become bit more dark and Salim was more dark now. But once we entered into third phase of the filum, Jamaal immediately became a fair person like a british and Salim became like a person whose either of the parents might have come from any of the African country.
Was it symbolic Kamaal? Salim was shown dark because his deeds were bad? Or his Dad was a black so Salim followed his dad’s colour and Jamaal in his youth got colour of his mother?
Ok you say, right answer is, who knows, it was written in the script.
Kamaal, apne kamal kar diya. Its the right answer.
Now, we go ahead.
Darshan Do Ghanshyam Naath mori ankhiyan Pyasi re, was sung by the boy Arvind in the filum. Jamaal searched right answer Surdas based on his memory of Arvind and Mamon etc.
Anybody took name of Surdas in that phase of childhood or Jamaal guesses it on his own by considering the fact that Arvind was made blind because blinds could earn more?
Ok both the answers can be true. He guessed it and it was written in the script.
Jamaal was fan of Amitabh Bachchan but whose fan was Salim?
AB, Dharmendra or Mithun Chakravorty?
What you can not answer this because its not shown in the filum?
Ok lets check your memory power then. While threatening Jamaal, outside of their hotel room during second phase of the story, Salim covers the name of Colt in his sayings but he says something about G9 also.
Ohh no son, this is not an international group of countries like G-8, he says G9 Gunmaster. Who is this?
Kamaal that’s why you should be an open minded and a liberal audience and should watch filums of every actor and filmmaker, be it Irrrrfaan Khan or Amjad Khan, Shahrukh Khan or Sajid Khan, Amitabh Bachchan or KK Menon, Rajesh Khanna or Rahul Khanna, Girish Karnad or Godard, Rajendra Goyal or Danny Boyle, Kamal Hasan or Tim Burton, Shabana Azmi or Monica Bellucci. Don’t be so choosy, son at this younger age.
But lets come back to the Q and A session. Jamaal answers Samuel Colt on the basis of his above mentioned memory and film shows this dialogue of Salim where he takes the name of colt later.
Was it an editing flaw?
Could not they show this dialogue before he answers it?
Or was it also written in the script in this manner only.
Ok You say it was written. Ok lets move on.
American lady says to Jamaal, after he is beaten by the driver of her car,”This is real America Son”.
What does she mean by saying this?
America helps wounded people and civilizations by giving them dollars?
Or she was simply joining Jamaal in creating a rhyme, because Jamaal says,”You wanted to see real India, This is real India”.
What is the secret behind sayings of that lady?
Sir Boyle D wanted to tell audience that couple belonged to America, otherwise how would an average Indian audience differentiate between tourists from USA and UK? Both have fair skin, both speak in English which does not have Indian accent? So he was spoon feeding the audience?
Or He wanted to lure American audiences because Oscar is given in the land of USA. If SM is a hit in USA and it touches the minds of American audiences, critics and who and who then chances are more to win any or few awards.
You want to pass this question Kamaal? Kmaal hai.
Anyway its your show, your F****** show and you are on hot seat and we have to act till you win the prize. We have to bear you.
Ok Kamaal, SM, the filum, starts in English, and its fine man, why to object on this aspect of the filum? Filum is based on Bombay slum kids but its made for audiences of UK and USA etc. They will earn from India also but that’s extra. But our confusion, Kamaal, comes from the fact that first phase of childhood or say filum takes shelter in the Hindi with bit doses of Urdu here and there? Why this sudden departure from English? Who suggested this deviation? Don’t we see filums in English whose subjects are rested in the territories where people have never spoken English? Why this sudden love for Hindi in one of the three chapters of the filum?
Was not it stupid or say biggest tool in creating problems for audiences wanting to see a filum in a continuous flow?
What? Should we ignore this aspect also. Ok as you say son, you are the king today.
But tell us, when every character in the filum has started speaking in English, why Saurabh Shukla, Salim, Javed Khan and his gang members etc say abuses in Hindi?
Why Sir Boyle D. could not use abuses in English as he has been using in his other filums?
What is the mystery behind this decision?
When he was exposed to Parinda, Company, Satya etc, nobody recommonded Hazaron Khawhishein aisi of Mr Sudhir Mishra where his characters use F word frequently in the period of late 60s and early 70s? Sir Boyle D was making a filum set in 80s, 90s and new millennium when F word has become as common as people say thank you or sorry or hello. Why he fried his English filum with abuses in hindi? What special impact or reality touches these abuses bring to the filum made for UK and USA based audiences?
Its said that people had learnt Hindi to read Devki Nandan Khatri’s Chandrakanta and Chandrakanta Santati. Will people in UK and USA learn Hindi because SM will propagate Hindi abuses among audiences?
Will Sir Boyle D. be given some special award in the future by some Hindi organisation?
You don’t know?
You don’t know?
What is this Kamaal?
Anyway, its written that you have to win so we are helpless. You must make any guess and we have to declare that it’s the right answer.
You know Kamaal, when a filum has ups and downs in the quality then viewing can not be smooth and shortcomings start popping up their heads in the very first viewing also.
But anyway, you know KBC, Indian version of WWTBAM was not a live show and that was height of stupidity where police takes Jamaal with them and a TV journalist actually says that he has been arrested by police under the suspicion of doing a fraud? What kind of fraud?
It was stupid but you don’t want to touch such weaknesses of the filum. Ok Ok, I know Golden globe has been given to its script. We are helpless. Might is right. Fans of Sir Boyle D. and SM are clamouring with expanded chests that DB, shot his film at real locations, but why it was needed in a fairy tale?
It belongs to escapist cinema for which Hindi cinema has been accused and ridiculed by many people so why this sudden love for Sir Boyle D’s filum?
What was the need to shoot at real locations when 85% of your filum is based on hypothetically conceived, convenient but false things?
Its written. Its written. Its written.
Ok Ok Ok. Its written. Was it written in Nostradamus’s sayings also?
You don’t Know Kamaal? Even we also don’t know.
Ok we come into our program. Anil Kapur, the host, hears the voice of Latika instead of Salim and jokes with Jamaal. Then he talks to Latika and says,” Latika you have got 30 seconds to answer the question. It’s a crucial point and 20 Millions are on stake. You have to start now”.
Sound of beep comes and time starts but when telephone connection is broken then 45-46 seconds have been passed.
What you have to say. Cinematic liberty even while showing a live show on TV? Sir Boyle D got stuck between difference Indian Time and UK time or he found emotions of Jamaal and Latika should be exploited little longer or his editor could not manage a perfectly 30 second scene for this portion?
Was it also written in the script this way only?
You wanna pass this question also. Ok This is a common disease with which films suffer all over the world and only Hindi filums are not to be blamed for such mistakes. Though here in Hindi cinema its quite a common thing that filum will be talking about a bomb which should be exploded in 3 minutes but often filmmakers show 20-30 minutes filum in those 3 minutes.
Now tell us which was the filum released in 2008, which took 8 minutes and few seconds to show a time period of 9 minutes, required in the climax of the filum?
You don’t know. Ok we have to feed you right answer.
It was Love Story 2050. Harry Baweja might not have achieved anything from this filum but he certainly was the only director who did it right.
A tale about 2 hours can be shown via a filum of 90 or even 60 minutes but when a certain scene is concerned with less than 3-5 minutes and filum is showing a crucial time then accuracy matters.
How an audience was not hooked into the scene and noticed the difference in the time? Filum is such a weak and bore at times, when elder Salim, Jamaal and Latika are shown, that it might happen with many audiences, especially in second viewing.
Javed Khan does not like Latika watching game show. He changes it to other channel where Don’s song, aaj ki raat, is shown. Latika goes into other room. Girls start dancing. Javed Khan goes away to talk on mobile. Latika escapes with the help of Salim.
When filum comes back to Javed Khan’s den, all are watching game show. Why?
To know that Latika is escaped?
Screen play is awarded!
Awards are manipulated?
Western audiences are genuinely appreciating every aspect of this filum and they are ready to leave every objection which they have been having till now with Indian filums?
There should be something significant with respect to the weaknesses of the filum because Irfan Khan’s still, showing him smoking, during the song Jai Ho, which is used after the filum is finished, looks more attractive and appealing than his scenes used in the filum. Larger than life cut out makes him a powerful actor than his performance in motion based scenes. Why a photographer became better than Sir Boyle D’s direction?
Ohh You stress upon ignoring all the weaknesses of the filum because it’s a hit filum and who and who of Indian cinema and world cinema are praising it?
Ok, But you see Kamaal, problems come when a filum has cinematic shortcomings but it becomes a huge hit and genuine audiences are pushed back into a corner because fans have to demonstrate their stupid but violent love for the filum.
What do you say, Filum will help Indian filums in the world? How Kamaal?
To praise a filum is one thing as we have been doing in the past also. Was Gandhi not praised? Did it establish Indian filums globally? Why a SM would make any difference?
But certainly there is a good hope because of this hoopla around SM one thing will surely happen. When a commercial hindi film is seen by large number of NRIs in their present respective countries of residences, then all those people who used to make noise that NRIs are responsible for promoting weak filums and they used to curse NRIs for cheering up low quality filums will either maintain silence because if they make noise again then their hypocrisy will be exposed or they will genuinely become liberal audiences.
If Millions of NRIs can like some films made by Indian directors then it should not be seen as a bad act because SM too is a flawed filum and if foreigners are liking it then same principles can be applied to filums made by Indian directors. It should not happen that people are writing articles criticising flaws and weaknesses in some filums made by so called big directors of Hindi cine industry and they are showering unconditional praises on SM.
At the end of the day it’s a formula based commercial film having average quality.
OK. Lets talk about good things of the filum. How beautifully children have acted. How beautiful camera work is. What a music though Jai Ho shows incapability of Sir Boyle D’s to picturize a song and dance sequence. When crowd is making a backward wave and it could have left a long lasting impression about choreography, suddenly camera is removed from there.
Its written in the luck of Jamaal. Filum has got philosophy.
Jamal will have to pass through the s**t to get desired things.
His own brother Salim will exploit, mortgaze or sell his pride possessions. First Salim sells the autographs of Amitabh Bachchan then he leaves Latika’s hand knowing very well the affection of Jamaal towards her and later when Jamaal searches her again Salim usurps Latika from right under the nose of Jamaal.
Ideally Salim presents far more interesting cinematic character than Jamaal who is monotonous in character. Salim is the doer and his psychology and changes in his characteristics make an interesting tale. He has got more shades in his character but he is not given importance and importance has been given to good looking Jamaal.
So Kamaal, we come back into the game and you have to answer this last question which is related with the sequel of Slumdog Millionaire.
Title, I don’t know what will be the title. Perhaps
Slumdog Billionaire.
Or
Slumdog part II
So hyptothetical question is: What happens to Jamaal and Latika? Slumdog and bitch (as Saurabh Shukla calls her) lived happily ever after?
Latika was first raped and exploited by Salim who boasted in the kitchen of restaurant,”Many P****** in Bombay for Salim”.
He might have fulfilled his vision. Certainly he might have done.
Later Latika was brought to Javed Khan’s house and she lived there for more than a decade as his sex slave.
He might have been habitual of visiting prostitutes also and he certainly had relations with all the women dancing in his house.
Did Salim and/or Javed transfer any STD to Latika and which she transferred ultimately to Jamaal?
Did they both die because of AIDS or some other STD?
Even if they did not die, past of Latika did not haunt her after she married to Jamaal or whenever Jamaal came near her?
What happened to the money 12 Million Rupees which Jamal might have got after paying tax?
Was it spent on their medicines?
What! you don’t want to attend such sickening questions after watching an entertaining fairytale?
But how its sickening? Its very Danny Boylian. It’s the act like kid jumping into human waste. Was it sickening? Were you eating something delicious butter popcorns and all of a sudden that scene in a filum advertised as an entertainer brought you at the verge of vomiting?
Considering abuses used in the filum, what kind of certificate this filum has got in India. “A” or “U”.
You wont tell us?
Ok tell us this then.
Cinema of Sir Boyle D, remained so fascinated by excreta and worst kind of toilets because
(a) He suffered or has been suffering from acute kind of constipation
(b) He was an Aghori in one of his past lives
(c) He has potential to be a Paramhansa
(d) He does research on human waste and wants to convert it in to most beneficial thing for human being
(e) God knows, hence Its written
Ok you will not answer any of the questions.
No problem. Its written that you would get the award.
Please take your prize! May you watch “Most first class movies” having “Maximum beautiful actors” in them.
As promised you have won
(1) 1 Kg box of Triphala Choorna
(2) 250 g box of Kayam Choorna
(3) 1 Kg box of Isabgol Husk
(4) A trip to the world’s best toilet to relieve the pressure generated by the use of either or all of the above mentioned ayurvedic medicines
(5) Bonus!!!!!! Your actions inside that world’s best toilet will be captured by a hidden camera and will be used in any of the Danny Boyle’s forthcoming films. You will be a star overnight. Best actor who performed so well in such a difficult scene.
What ? Indian filum makers could not make such a filum?
Are Man, they will remake it.
Abhi emotions kahan nichore gaye hain aise dramatic plot ke? Emotions are yet to be exploited.
Who would play slum boys?
Is there any dearth of good actors?
Take Deepak Dobriyal or Kunal Khemu as Elder Salim. Take Prateek Patil Babbar as elder Jamaal. Frieda Pitno will do in remake also. And all the kids were wonderful in both the early phases of the filum. They will rock again under the direction of an Indian director.
ARR should be generous enough to decorate hindi remake also with his charming music. If not same camera person then there are many able Cameramen here.
A linear plot, without this flawed background of game show, will do far better justice to the story of Jamaal, Salim and Latika.
Filum will not be praised internationally.
True. But it will satisfy more the local audiences.
—–
What do you say? Bakwas!
Surely but a vehicle can not run smoothly when road is rough and it has got many pot holes and speed breakers.
A project report about condition of road will necessarily have to mention those obstacles came on the way.
——————————————————————————————————-
“Arey Kamaal beta jaag jao, 8 baj gaye hain, take a bath, paani bhag jayega. College jane ka vaqt ho raha hai. Jaldee taiyar ho jaao”. [ Kamaal, Wake up son, You are getting late for college. Get ready]
“Uth raha hun Ammi”. Kamaal also shouted back.
He murmured,”ye saali pet ki gadbadi kaise kaise sapne dikhatee hai”. [ How strange dreams are shown by digestive problems]
——————————————————————————————————–
Picture abhi baaki hai
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
This is nit picking and nothing more ….this reminds me of similar article which u wrote wbout Blackfriday with pointing out showing Jeans as flaw and many such petty things ….
What a Read!!!!
tremendous piece!!!!
Couldnt stop ROTFL!!!!
how can u assume that Jamal’s age was 5-6 years in the year of 1983 ….if u are assuming this on the basis of Amithab’s movie release then you must know that many small cinema halls show movies many years after their release…..
so the assumption is wrong here …Jamal was 5 to 6 around 1992-93 …12 to 13 yrs around 2000-2001 and 18 to 19 around 2006 – 2007…this also explains the riot timings …
Latika is a not typical Hindu name …at least from i know…it can be a muslim name …chalo even if u assume its a hindi name it doesnt make a diff ….in slums of mumbai people of all religion live and their language can anytime influence a child…hence Latika uttering Urdu words can be influence of a muslim family neigbour…
Latika refers to a flowering plant that has no stem – one of the tendril climbers that need another stemmed plant/tree for support, if my memory serves me correct. There was a Chennai district collector named Lathika charan. Nitpicking has its own share of joys!! You just dont enjoy it if someone does it to your faves!!!
even if noone mentioned the name surdas during his childhood (again we are assuming here, not necessary what is shown is his only childhood part) ….surdas was born BLIND…and arvind was made blind after singing the bhajan….do i need ot explain more …
Rk- great piece of writing- but I’ve just skimmed through it.Will read it in whole once I’ve seen it after its Indian release on 23rd Jan.
But yes Latika is definitely a hindu name- nah!cant swear a million or a crore on it
“Javed Khan does not like Latika watching game show. He changes it to other channel where Don’s song, aaj ki raat, is shown. Latika goes into other room. Girls start dancing. Javed Khan goes away to talk on mobile. Latika escapes with the help of Salim.
When filum comes back to Javed Khan’s den, all are watching game show. Why?
”
This is nit picking at its best(worst) …
first of all when Latika is watching TV at the end..its not the GAME SHOW its the NEWS that was been show……..dude anyone could have changed the channel during that period….also if u want more options …when latika was wacthing TV news, don changed the channel and may be afterwards for the gameshow he switched it back
“But lets come back to the Q and A session. Jamaal answers Samuel Colt on the basis of his above mentioned memory and film shows this dialogue of Salim where he takes the name of colt later.”
it was not an editing flaw ..common …do we need to be spoon fed everything ..even if that scene is shown after the question but in real it took place years before that question ..so there is absolutely no flaw here …
These are the exact words you mentioned in your Ghajini review :
“This is symbol of powerful cinema where audience has to accept the final film and acceptance means a love affair where one accepts other knowing very well that other may have certain shortcomings and in reality other is having shortcomings.
”
you accept the shorcomings of ghajini and for slumdog which is miles and miles and miles ahead of Ghajini you have problems…i fail to see what you see…….
even i observed a small thing during watching the movie ..the song aaj ki raat plays but the video is of fanaa from yuva…but this is a very minute detail and doesnt hidner the pace of the movie or obstructs its flow ….like all those petty things you mentioned why shld anyone bother picking it up……every film and i mean every film will have these kinds of small things…tell me your fav movie and i will list atleast 10 such things ….
I am not going toread this..just a couple of para’s..and am done. What i fail to understand is..from your points..the film fails progress for you as their were small things like the age..and what makes you think that Latika was older than Jamal…what makes you think that a Hindu cannot talk in “chaste” urdu…this is insulting..sorry rk saab!!
With all due respect, what were you drinking? I felt so disgusted at some points reading your reactions. I mean, really… did this movie hurt you so bad that you would nit pick on such trivial things? I have read your blogs before and this doesnt seem like you.
RKsaab..read the first two paras and dont feel like reading any more. cz i got it why u didnt enjoy the film. and let me try to explain only the first question….how do u know that the film released that time when he bought the tickets ? am sure you are aware of many theatres n video parlours in almost every city which still screens amitabh, mithun nmany such movies. i have seen many such films in theatre. and about amitabh clips..its for us to see..just some images…thats its nothing more.
i c this as COMPLETELY POINTLESS POST and wonder if u ever analyse manmohan desi’s film in this amnner. cz this film is just like any manmohan desai film. thats it. cz they fall of from train, roll and suddenly grow up. when was the last time u saw something like this in hindi film. anyway, jai ho!!
btw, if you have senn trainspotting, i want to knwo what do u think about the shitpot in the film ? can really someone go inside ?
The film also kinda bothered me a lot…
it was basically a shit movie… but i did enjoy it to be honest… but it’s shit ass…
I won’t go to watch this movie in theaters, no way
dude..i read your post with a very open mind…and i must say that you seem like a person whose hell bent on finding flaws in the film.So you didn’t like the film..ok..you are entitled to your own opinion..but i dont understand why you have such a problem if the rest of the world is loving it. At least that what it seems from your writeup.
oh this movie is utter crap and I think it does not deserve the accolades its getting. Previous Danny’s movies are very good to say the least when compared to this crap. Apart from Cinematography and music, nothing can be appreciated, at least from our Indian perspective.
I have read the book Q & A, and felt the book was average……..but the movie was below average.
I must say Revolutionary Road, The Wrestler,Wall-E, Milk are the ones who should be getting the accolades………..but I guess fate has other plans and if not for fate or luck, SM is one of the worst English movie I have seen this year in theatres…….
RK – thoroughly enjoyed the interrogative monologue. agree with you on some points – some, i see as quote creative liberties unquote. to anand kadam, OM, phoenixnu, et al., piss off…. or calm down and read what the writer has to say, and in what *tone* he says it, before you pounce on him with your *judgment*.
Absolutely right, this movie is made excellently in a bad taste. A sarcasm on us, and some of us are enjoying ;-).
And yes, Anand Kadam et al please learn to respect every body’s point of view. You are dancing with joy for the point of view of MR Boyle, why dont you take the RK’s point of views sportingly here.
[editor (o) note : comment edited. no personal attacks please]
Great article Rk, as always, you have gone to great lengths to explain the point you are making.
I particularly like the piece about NRI’s. I saw the movie with no desi’s and the feeling was out of normal.
At the crux of it, I don’t agree with most of the points you make, cinematic liberties are a part of the norm and I will accept that in any film. There are tons of irregularities with most of the films praised this year, most importantly, CCBB.
My 3 points –
1. Most of the time when you are watching a bad film, you notice the irregularities. In Slumdog, for my intelligence and my eye for detail, I could not find anything glaring. And that sells it for me.
2. Repeat viewing is a must for all the points that you have made here. I am no one to judge the qualification of ur sensibility but in my mind a review is what you take away from a film when you watch it for the first time. But then, our text books may vary.
3. I normally don’t see bias in ur work RK but in this particular post, I can sense a particular dislike of urs for the fact that its getting praised by audience of Indian origin who normally (and I am generalizing for PFC) tend to be irreverent to movies like this “genre masala” if i may made in India by Indians, but a few enthusiasts like me are going a little overboard than necessary (from ur choice of words) in pushing the envelope for this film over looking this amazing repository of errors that you have pointed out. I want to point out that yes, i see this and my posts, comments are guilty of this but this is where i am coming from – In this tough economic times, Hollywood is seeking revenues. With a English speaking population of 200million or more, Hollywood can no longer ignore our market. Just like the cosmetics ballon of mid-90’s. What I am pumped up is what it means to us and to a few of our common friends who are aspiring to get some where in this business. Its an aspiration that we will benefit, commonly by this euphoria. Hindsight may show a diff picture, after all emotional respite is all that indian’s savor most of the time… but to wrap up, i think SM has done a few things that we were expecting from Indian film-makers for a while, hope is, we will catch up… and that for me is the aspiration for calling this a great film.
agree with the article on quite a few points .. but RK sahib the way i see it ..in a hollywood film, the people will try to find loopholes,plot flaws, analyse, criticse it etc etc … but in a hindi film they wont, because it is a “celebration” …
I wonder why a film like Oye Lucky, manorama, Khosla ka ghosla, parthuveeran is NEVER sent there …or marketed there …a truly rooted film is never celebrated on a large scale there …
A lagaan was sent there ..but why not a blackfriday (putting aside for a min your reservations against the film), a khosla ka ghosla, parthuveeran, manorama or a film that is rooted here …itmay never make it there … may be only masala
When I was editing my short, I had to use a shot where there were tape markers on the floor for the dolly start points. It was the only thing *I* could see in the shot – it burned me that I had to use it.
My editing prof said to me – if someone notices that, you’ve lost them already. Meaning the story is what keeps someone hooked. If they focused on the story, they wouldn’t notice little minutia like tape on the floor.
But… you would notice. Even if the story was wonderful, you would notice and point it out. And so I can never win you. I don’t know if any film can “win” you over. Can it?
How on earth do you notice this in the first viewing and do this analysis while enjoying a movie? I remember a long time ago, in a discussion, you pointed out that in Pather Panchali, the old ladies eyes blinked after she was supposed to be dead and how could Ray use that shot. And Evelyn Tu and I said that of course Ray noticed, but he believed he “had” the audience and other things were more important and he probably used the shot b/c he had no choice… It amazed me you noticed that in the movie…
So… RK, in all seriousness, I want to know how you watch a movie. The mechanics. Do you time things? Do you count as actors do things? I am just curious how you catch so much during a first viewing… And is there any film that is not flawed?
@ravptor
“i think SM has done a few things that we were expecting from Indian film-makers for a while.”
What are these few things, care to elaborate?
@shripriya…
i didnt see them tapes!!!
Rk…what do u think about vikas swaroop ? after all woh to desi hai na. and plz read this one…to know what u didnt c in teh film n wonder why….
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/4224827/Slumdog-Millionaire-the-first-film-of-the-Obama-era.html
@Anand Kadam (1),
You are a free man in this world to make any kind of hypothesis. This is your life. If you think its same as post on Black Friday, live with this idea. If you think that was about jeans etc. Live with that and do progress in life and cinema.
All the best to your understanding
@Jaiganesh,
Thanks for your comment and liking something written on something:)
@Anand Kadam (3)
That is called cinematic liberty which has been opted. It can appear right or wrong to different people when things are shown in an obscure manner.
What is the age of Jamaal when he comes to Bombay (not Mumbai) from Agra. Apply your mathematical mind to know the period shown in those years when Salim is standing before Javed Khan on the roof of a cinema hall. Is it 2000-2001? Or before cell phone came to India and when Bombay was sill Bombay.
@Anand Kadam (4),
I have not come across any muslim girl named Latika. Please bring one into lime light.
Yes people can borrow some words of the language spoken by neighbour but normally it does not happen that Jamaal and Salim are speaking khayenga, hoyenga, theek rahengee type Bombaiya and Latika is speaking Urdu.
Its again cinematic liberty or may be a cinematic mistake by the person who has written dialogues in Hindi.
A good film may have mistakes. admitting such things may bring shame to you as you may feel your liked film is questioned. It does not bother me. Mistakes dont stop me liking a film. quoting them is entirely different activity.
@Jaiganesh,
I guess Latika is coming from Lata and while Lata is synonym of Bel, a kind of plant which needs support of a tree or its branches to climb up.
Lat-eka is synonym of God’s name as any hindu name with a succesor -esh is a synonym of God.
Lokesh- Lok+esh, Ad+esh etc
@Anand Kadam(6)
You need to read the post again to understand it. While reading your comments I am feeling little pity on your understanding.
@Sethumadhavan (7),
Thanks for your kind comment. I am happy you liked it.
@Anand Kadam(8),
Hey man you have wasted your money on SM as your watching is so incomplete. Please watch it again and see the scene and read the post again and see how Javed Khan knows about Phone call of Jammal to Latika from a live telecast of the game show and not through some news channel.
Please Improve your watching if you wanna enter into the discussion on films.
@Anand Kadam(11),
You want to tell 10 mistakes in some films.
Please start with Black Friday which will be seen by you many times and I have also liked it as first film of its director.
Please go ahead and later decide the time and I will tell you the names of the films and you must provide me the cinamtic mistakes in an extrempore manner here in open platform.
That will be a fun.
@Anand Kadam(10),
Thats stupid to produce half quote. I might have written it atleast 2 weeks ago but I can very well guess that it is not related with Ghajini the film. I might have mentioned it with reference to films like Sholay.
Please read that post again.
@Om(12),
Sorry brother, you dont qualify to comment before reading the full post and without understanding the context.
Re: your question about age:
Choice of different actors at different age suggests the difference between ages of Jammal and Latika. See the middle portion again and see the growth of all the three characters.
@Neeraj Ghaywan,
Thanks for your comment. I am a teetotaler so nothing intoxicating I was drinking while writing.
There should be some shortcoming, if you have read it completely but still could not connect.
Will improve in future.
@Phoenixnu,
Bhai mere, Thats very Hitlarian attitude of yours. You have not read it completely and you are more than eager to draw the conclusions because anger in your mind has made you blind.
A sincere advise: Please Dont comment without understanding the context. It does not harm me, I am not earning from cinema or writing about cinema but its your bread and butter and with such attitude I dont see your progress beyond a certain limit where everybody working in the area can reach.
I am not in a mood to write on Trainsponting but if you like you may write a post on it. I will read it definetely and If I get a catalytic motivation to indulge into the discussion I will do so gladly.
@Debarun Sarkar,
Liking disliking can be subjective.
Film has few meritorious parts and it excels in few departments.Few things can not be neglected
@Raunak,
Thanks for your comment.I am not in a position to change the fate of the film or its maker.
My astonishment comes from this realisation that people can not even read the context of a post, how can they understand difficult literature or better cinema.
RK 33,
where in my comment no 8 did i mention “Javed Khan knows about Phone call of Jammal to Latika from some news channel. ” …PLS read the comment again ….
you mentioned “Javed Khan does not like Latika watching game show. He changes it to other channel where Don’s song, aaj ki raat”
when this happens the game show is not being telecast …can you please tell me how can the gameshow be show when clearly after few mins Jamal is cought in traffic and Latika is stuck in traffic and then after some time the game show starts (gameshow is live in SDM)……
Pls dont tell me how to watch movies ..i like the way i watch them without nit picking and enjoying them as a whole …you go ahead and watch the movies your way as you like but dont tell me HOW TO WATCH A MOVIE ….
@Narendra Bendi,
Sadly I have not read the book on which SM is based. But I guess from some reports that film deviates a ot from the book and even principal character has been reformed a lot so events also might have been changed.
There are no doubts that many will not like it in its totallity.
@Wb(18),
Thanks Brother, for your comment. True, cinematic liberties are taken in all the films. In some films, some liberties start pinching.
@Abhishek(19),
Thanks for your comment. There could be some cinematic shortcomings but I did not get this reference of bad taste? Camera even shows dirty slum with a beauty touch, and its very filmy and not a documentary type in that portion.
@Ravaptor(20),
Thanks for your comment. I did not get what kind of expectations from Indian filmmakers?
To emerge on international level?
You are right about Cosmetics etc.
Thats true most of the films have shortcomings.
Few PFCians read books and literature and I have hope that few such people may read what is written and in what context. But its not happening.
Thats bit sad.
Or may be film made them blind from the right nature of the post.
@kartik krishnan(21),
I could not get your lines with respect to Hollywood and Hindi film in the present circumstances. I mean to ask what are you saying that people are criticising SM because its a hollywood film or they are praising it because its a hindi film and which is full of celebration?
I never had any reservation about sending Black Friday for Oscar or any world award. I did not and I dont have reservation about Blackfriday, I may have opinion about its shortcomings.
This is true better films should be sent for Oscar. Wonderful films are made in regional languages in India. Why selectors keep always their eyes on a hindi film. For foreign media an Indian film is a foreign film what does it matter to them whether its in Tamil or Malyalam or hindi. They have to see with the help of subtitles only.
@Shripriya (22),
Thanks for your comments.
Yes I remember that discussion on Pather Panchali. I think it was on a post devoted to editing of some films. You watch Amitabh Bachchan dying in Sholay and Ramesh Sippy has taken a perfect shot and Amitabh’s still eyes are taken.
Shyam Benegal also misses this in Kalyug where Govind Nihalani’s camera captures the moisture inside the eyes and movements of the eyes of a dead Akash Khurana.
If some directors can pay attention to these details then it can not be left on audiences only that they should be so immersed in the story so that they dont see such things.
That was for the sake of handling a subject in the post to cover more and more example. I know very well the financial difficulties Ray had faced while making Pather Panchali. Many times he might have finalized the shots in first take only.
—–
You ask me, can any film win me.
I can only guess that you dont read my posts and perhaps once in 6-8 months you have read some post when title has allured you or it has matched with your area.
Normally I dont write on newly released films and if I am writing on an old film then I can write on it when I have liked it otherwise why to waste the time.
I hardly write against any film. Perhaps once in a year. So naturally you have missed majority of the posts:)
and you are sitting on the memory of 2-3 posts only.
—
I may notice tape in your film lying on floor. But its not necessary I will point it out while writing about your film. If you are using something which was not in fashion in the period in which you have set your film then perhaps I may point out. What looks odd is pointed out and not those things which dont bother the flow of a film.
—-
I dont know the mechanics of watching the film than to really watching the film. I have never watched a film without accepting it in the begining only. I hardly have watched films to correct my mood rather when I feel like watching then only I have gone to watch. I will not remember past film/s of a director when I see his new film. It does not matter he gave a hit or a flop or what are his social views or political views.
If I am giving a proper respect to the film I am watching then I will naturally be immersed completely in the film and will flow with the flow of the film.
People may think that sit before the screen to note down shortcomings in a film but its a stupid thought. Nobody can keep alert his mind continously for 2-3 hours if subject does not interest him. If one is totally lost in the film only then one can see merits and demerits.
—
So many things you get from experience. If I may say that perhaps You are mother of twins. You must be knowing the difference between two of them because you have observed them minutely. Mothers of single kid can not get that experience which you have. Being a mother you may easily understand their gestures what they are doing and why they are doing.
Accept a film or a person and reading is easy.
Why to waste life in sitting before a film where one has to note down the shortcomings only.
Life is too precious to waste on such mundane activities.
—
and above all few things can never be explained. why something happens.
@Anand Kadam (41)
You are again wrong in your observation about that scene. But I dont know the method to make you realise. and its not my duty even so I will not do efforts.
Have a nice time.
@Phoenixnu,
I have not read Vikas Swaroop’s book so what to say about him?
What desi bidesi have to do here?
Thanks for the link.
Will read the link in some free moments.
@Rk…i posted the comment yestrday. but today i read the full post. and my points remain the same. i feel the same. n what hav u written about AIDS n all ? u r guessing too much. i dont like it any bit,call it hitalrian or anything. never expected a post like this from u!! and u havent replied to many questions of mine, comment no 14. plz reply, if u can.
Rk let me highlight some more things which will possibly make u happy..
There is a scene where middle age jamaal is shown walking the street.. side mai hoarding hai 9x ka..WoAaaahh 9x channel to tabhi tha hi nahi…
Aaj ki raat gane mai Yuvaa ka Fanaa is shown on the screen.. Woaaahhh
Yaar woh coolie and raam balram wale scene mai tumne ghochi maar di.. Shhh.. thats possible..
Also they showed the first part kid speaking hindi coz they couldnt speak english at all.. Salim ( Azza) has a major role in the first phase
and he is from the mumbai slums.. Fir ghochi maar di tumne..
Jamaal and salim are shown to be residing at Juhu but part of the chase is shown at Bandra and Dharavi.. Wooahh..
Also the buildings shown when jamaal and Salim( 2nd phase) walk through was all built 5 years back.. Wooahh director kya chutiya tha .. he did not re-create the set..
Aur chahiye.. Jamaal and Salim are speaking english when they grow up.. hahahahhahaa….
Iam sure you did not like Rang de Basanti as well.. Kyon..?? Abe kya director daaru peeke aya tha.. He is showing Delhi and in that he is showing Mumbai ka IMAX theatre.. Kya funtoosh hai..
Iam wondering how come you have still not highlighted that when Jamaal jumped in the shit pond.. how come Amitabh’s photo was not splattered with any shit..also why his lips and eyes are not covered with it.. Wooaah.. Director saala chu hai..
Jamaal gora and salim kaala.. Why?? Wooah… iam sure you never had a problem with Amitabh,Vinod Khanna and Rishi being son of Pran and Nirupa roy.. :D
Iam sure you never had a problem with the fact that 20 saal pehle chupai hui gun, comes out intact as it is..
On a serious note, i do understand the final conclusion you are trying to make and i somehow agree to it.. Obama abhi bollywood mai nahi jeeta..there is still time.. If SM was made exactly the way it is by an indian, this wouldnt have even made to the nominations forget about winning it..
@Phoenixnu (50),
Sorry not to appease your querries earlier.
First Re:ManMohan Desai and SM, I did not find any similarity between treatments of his film and this film. I am not fan of Man Mohan Desai. I might have liked few of his films. Same is with Prakash Mehra. If they gave good films I liked, when they started giving tired cinema, I started disliking them. Still If I have to write about films of any of them, I will make a differentiation between good and weak points of the films.
Grammar of Danny Boyle and ManMohan Desai to make a film is quite different. They can not make similar products.
—-
I had plans to post both the posts in successive orders yesterday only but I did not have time after posting first post so I left second post for today.
I did not want to but I have to since inspite of reading twice you can not decipher the context of the post.
First thing is perhaps you dont want to and second, and excuse me for writing it as you might have improved it, You often confuse between a character and a performance. Often I have found you liking a character and then actor who is playing that character becomes great for you. If you have liked a film then characters and thus actors are great for you. Though all things can exist independently.
You are reading the post and points are going against your beliefs on the film so by the time you are finished with the post, you are unable to connect everything. You are still connecting it strictly with the film SM.
—-
Almost every 2nd or third week, few PFCians and some Iview authors write posts ridiculing the films and you are also seen commenting their in support of such views. Cinematic merits and demerits of the films are not discussed there and often these things are simply presentation of writing skills of writers. Your laughing (written) can be seen there because you have disliked the films.
—
Kamaal is one such character who has seen SM and who suffers from abovementioned trait also. He has read so many posts ridiculing the films and he has been bombarded by the posts on SM also where points for and against the SM are discussed and people are fighting with each other. Film goes in the background and opinions come on fore front.
He is suffering from constipation also. He sees a dream and anything can happen to a character so what to say about his dream?
A character can be good or bad and a person can see any kind of dream. Its a situational thing.
—
Nida Fazli saab had written long ago,
jab kisi se koi gila rakhna
samne apne aina rakhna.
Are you a person who should object on such a post on any film?
Can you throw the stone because you have not sinned in the past?
You still can throw the stone, but if you really have fat skin only then in future you will support ridiculing the films. Else you will try to write in a balanced manner.
Thats true for everyone.
—
Can above or alike post be written on any film?
No. They can not be written and if yes then a disclaimer should be there in the begining so that readers dont get any confusion about its fictional nature since they start the reading.
But it can not happen that your blood is blood but others are wandering with water flowing inside their bodies.
—-
You (a general) because I could not have imagined before that you would read and comment.
This is in general.
If you want clean environment start with self and surroundings.
@Alone (51),
What you know that you can observe. Thats the basic thing. Whatever thinds are used in any film should look authentically associated with the plot and its narrative.
Anyway, you have missed watching scene where Jammal jumps in to the S*** pond. He closes his nose with one hand and he keeps photo above his head and hence he saves the photo.
Rk.. I noticed that scene and i recommend you to try doing that without anything being splattered on the photo..LOLzz..He is shown all submerged and the splash uske haath ke upar hai.. Iam wondering how come we have not realised ki Amitabh ne sign kaise kiya..LOLZzzz
Kya din aa gaye hai.. we are discussing abt shit.
@Alone,
That photocard is his dream. Jamaal can be standing in waste but dream can not be defiled.
LOTUS Phenomenon.
Rk.. Kamaal hai yaar.. Aap bhi kamaal kar rahe ho.. Tum to Anurag jaisa sochne lage.. Picture kyon nahi banate.
@Alone,
It wont become a battle field, where thoughts can strike each other in the sky.
As you are alone, everybody is alone. Nobody thinks in this world as somebody else thinks, if many start thinking alike, there wont be wars atleast here on PFC
Mein to apne jaisa hee sochunga jis layak mera dimmag hai.
“Darshan Do Ghanshyam Naath mori ankhiyan Pyasi re, was sung by the boy Arvind in the filum. Jamaal searched right answer Surdas based on his memory of Arvind and Mamon etc.
Anybody took name of Surdas in that phase of childhood or Jamaal guesses it on his own by considering the fact that Arvind was made blind because blinds could earn more?
Ok both the answers can be true. He guessed it and it was written in the script.”
Except that the bhajan is not written by Soordas in the first place. It is written by G S Nepali for film Narsi Bhagat. One wonders how both the show and Jamaal got the same wrong answer. But as you have amply demonstrated, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Except that the film’s plot falls flat by every single one of these. (E.g. if an answer is provably wrong, that should practically stop the story and the film right there.) The film’s WTF moments are numerous and obvious. The flaws are too distracting. At every turn or corner, the screenplay (yes, the same that got a Golden Globe) goofs up either with facts or details or characterization. No thank you sir, that’s not what “Bollywood” is. We may make certain exaggerations here, but our chaaiwalas still look and sound like a chaaiwala. Thanks RK for exposing the movie. It is a fraud and it should be told loud and clear to the Globes and Oscars that we don’t appreciate awarding it in the name of Indian kind of cinema. Don’t give it a handicap that it does not deserve.
Rk, my “do you like any film” was gratuitous. I do read your posts (even though I haven’t watched many of the movies you talk about), so I know that you love lots of movies and certain directors too. So, fair point – that was an inaccurate line.
It was more to express my curiosity in how you note so many details in a first viewing – including how long a scene takes. We are definitely on opposite ends of the willing suspension of disbelief spectrum. I am going to go read your other post on the film now
@RK…everyone has equal right to write what they feel and so do u. what i wrote is about “my expectations from u”…n plz, u dont need to write such gyaani funda about throwing stone n all that n so much details. i do get what u r saying. n am not here to stop u n neither do i hav the power. just exprssed my expectations. thats it. n also, i do get abused by people when i write such posts. thats my view. u dont need to justify ur post by giving example of mine. u write much better. anyway u liked ghajini also. so, it seems i need to change “my quota of expectations” now.
Darshan Bhajan – is not written by Shree Surdasji?!! Apparently, he would not use term/word such as ‘Mandir’ and ‘Murit’, but it could have been translated into hindi.. it would have been written in pure Braj… i have not read his over 100k poems/padas, though.
RKji, I was wondering…had there been these many bloopers in a Hindi movie by some Rituparno Ghosh, Rakyesh Mehara, Verma or Bhandarkar, these supporters of SM would have thrashed the movie and the movie-maker left-right-and-center…
What I detested most about SM is the intent which was peeping thro’ every frame…liked young Jamaal immensely though…glad to see innocence back on cellulide after ages…
BTW the bhajan is written by G S Nepali and not Surdas…
@An average Indian viewer(58),
I have not followed Golden Globe and what are the other entries but there may be few possibilities.
- Other submissions had far weaker screen plays than SM
- Judges there can not know about weaknesses in SM which are based on facts associated with realities. They would see it as fictionary plot and they would not care whether some facts are shown.
Though its true, its astonishing to know that its script has been awarded.
It has won so we have to assume other films presented in Golden Globe have far dumbo scripts.
Awards are hardly fair. Human beings are influenced by many factors and they certainly have limitations. Within those limitations things happen.
But as other weak films have been winning awards so SM also have won. Thats not a problem. Its in its fate. Proper assessment of the film will come after some time. At present its rising sun so for people who are influenced very easily by anything and everything, its hard to see it objectively.
@Shripriya (59),
“suspension of disbelief”,
its a famous saying
shaq ki dawa to hakim lukman ke paas bhee nahin thee [ Even Hakim (synonym of general physician in Islamic world) did not have cure for doubt ]
Yes its doubtful.
But few films have mistakes of first degree and can be seen easily in first viewing especially in a narrative where scenes are switched between past and present because everytime phase is changed on the screen, your mind gets a detachment from the film and it can run faster than the scenes running on the screen.
If you have seen film with total absorbance then its easy to recall it when you are coming back or you are thinking about it.
about the time thing, Its just by chance because many of us have been facing this thing in numerous hindi films and more we have experience of watching real game show, KBC. These things can not be ignored. Moreover I have not seen SM just day before yesterday and I have seen it twice.
Anybody can guess without looking at watch how much time is consumed by 30 seconds. You can count to have fun.
Re: Love Story 2050, I saw it just last month only on DVD so it was easy.
I dont think majority of Hindi films are so complex where one may find it difficult to see good and weak points in first ever watching. They are easy to study.
—-
Re: this post, I had not said it to you yesterday but if you have read comments and full post, you can see it clearly now that this is not about pointing out mistakes in the film which are accurate also. This is about tendancy. This is a confusing dream where a person hears many voices. Some observations can be true and some less true. Its about that conflict which people normally have.
Opinions and habits of many people can be there. Confusion is coming when you try to take it as a direct take on the film. Its not. Its the story of Kamaal.
@Phoenixnu,
Its a new day but since I am responding to your old comment so I am helpless and moreover I dont see any change in your take on the subject.
Whatever one has, he will give others that thing. Thats your prerogative to take or not to take.
You can not write keeping in mind that I have some expectations and same is with me I can not write thinking Pnu has these and these expectations.
Few things are not momentary. Few things will always create conflict when things are not seen objectievly.
First thing- you would never have written comment in this manner if it was devoted to a film you disliked or hated. For example JTYJN. You would have got pleasure then and atleast you would have been able to read with patience and to get the post in its totallity.
-Give you SRK in check shirts and you will like him in Swades. But you will not be ready to consider that SRK has done equal justice to his character in KANK also and rather more. But since you have liked Swades so SRK is great there, you have not liked KANK so he is crap there. and if its pointed out it will hurt your ego and things will be accumulated.
You have disliked JTYJN so you will not discuss it in objective manner but will hide behind cat and rat and mouse comments. A screen play is there, is it weak or its cunningly clever as you see in SM? After accepting screen play as it is, actors did injustice to the characters given to them?
—
You have liked SM. Its fair. But where are its merits in your comments? Why film is not included in your first comment. Why the post and its content which goes against your belief about this film made you disturbed?
Naturally nobody has power to stop others to write in any manner.
Reactions of people like Om and you are also not justified and that too without even reading it completely and understanding.
These reactions dont look like you are angry on post. They look more like personal reactions.
If you have material and you think you have solid material then do a discussion, bring your points.
You said SM is like any ManMohan Desai film. Do you have any substantial logic behind this idea or its your personal thought.
If you have hated a film, do all people have to hate that film totally or people have freedom to selectively point out few good things present in that film also?
If you have liked a film immensely do other people have freedom in your world to selectively point out few weaknesses present in the film?
Can films exist between the levels of extremely good or extremely bad?
Can different departments of the films be discussed?
Why to be so serious about film? A film is a film. Its not question of life and death. They have shortcomings.
You are disturbed because SM has been used in such a way in this post. But its not new thing for PFC. It has been doing every now and then.
Take a firm and honest stand. Why to play the game of “Mine is fine” but “yours is trash”.
Why world should be divided between two kind of people- those who love SM and those who hate SM?
Overall Its an above average film where few departments excel and few sucks. If its masterpiece for some, they should live happily with that impression.
Many can dislike loopholes present in the script. Its weakness of their eyes who can not see them.
What is the big deal?
If knowing the context of the post in its totallity if you are stuck at AIDS etc, then I will be the least helpful in making you understand and that too on net. Only I can guess that you have to give some time to see things as they are.
—
Post on Aamir Khan is there and if you are drawing conclusion about Ghajini then its your reading and understanding. Your mind can create any kind of thoughts. There is no control of others and their writings on that activity.
—
leave alone posts Life is pointless. Have you get any point.
please inform me also that point. I may also be benefited from that understanding.
—
If you get right mood and time, come and discuss anything about the film.
@HG,
I also have not read all the works of Surdas. But this Bhajan can be found in Hemnat Kumar’s songs. as “An average Indian viewer” has pointed out it beongs to old film Narsi Bhagat and lyricist is GS Nepali.
There is no certanity that Surdas had not created similar bhajan or where atleast mukhda can be similar.
I have not read the book Q&A, so I am clueless if same things are there in the book or not.
@Sonali (63),
Its old saying
Ghar ki murgee daal barabar. This is true that many good films have been rejected in the past by the brigade lifting sky on their heads for SM.
These things are done by blind followers of political parties where they make crowd and do anything for their leader and party.
Researchers, analysts and students of any area dont do things blindly.
Kid Jamaal rules
@Phoenixnu (25),
Ok I read the material present in that telegraph link.
What is there in the article which is so astonishingly revealing that earth will be shattered. Do we have to read commercial writers while we are following a discussion?
Uneducated Jamaal? Huh!
Uneducated?
He is clearly shown attending school in first phase of childhood. He was reading Three Musketeers.
He is operating computers. He is reading everything.
Even Danny Boyle does not know what happened to Jamaal once he was kicked out of that hotel room by Salim? Does he know?
He has not shown. Self study is not a study?
When he appears again in a call centre he is reading everything.
I can see David Gritten was following completely the film and as film told or shown him through that TV news reporter who says an uneducated Person.
Rest he can apply any kind of imagination on the film and he has applied.
I can apply 10000 years old mythology on SM leave alone bringing in Gate way to Barak Obama’s era.
But will it be true?
Please provide your own thoughts.
Your Mr Gritten writes “In many respects, Slumdog Millionaire could only be British”.
and the whole para- Its by a patriotic british who is writing with an expanded chest that only Britain can make such a film and not even America can make.
“There is no hint of Merchant Ivory decorum, the predicaments of rich westerners far from home”
“Householder, Shakespearewalla, Bombay Takie, Heat and Dust, In Custody,”
they all are defined by his this definition?
All the films in their totallity were like this as he writes?
One single character or few characters from UK or USA make these films as depiction of predicaments of rich westrners far from home?
Anything? can be written?
I don’t get what the big deal is on either side.
As an entity, an individual movie, ignoring all the accolades and awards, I quite loved the movie…just thoroughly enjoyed it. I don’t think the director or the writer was trying to score any political points. I also don’t think they were trying to make a ‘realistic movie’…just because they show slums and poverty, I don’t think the movie needs to be judged as an arty-offbeat film. It’s a pure entertainer with glitches galore but I did not notice or mind…because I was being entertained. If you were not enjoying it, then fair enough, you would possibly notice all the glitches.
In regards to the awards it has won or will win in the near future, really, if you love the film, there is no problem…if you don’t, just realize that the committees have given awards to (subjectively) undeserving movies before and will do so in the future…made of humans after all. Just group the awards for SDM under the ‘undeserving’ category.
Also, for people saying it was a typical bollywood movie etc, well, tough luck, SDM did not win at award ceremonies where it was being compared to other Indian movies…it won where it was being compared to other Hollywood-produced movies. I would say there is a fair amount of luck involved…aferall, it’s SDM that got produced by the studios in the west…but then I see the quality of the entertainers that came out of India in the past year or two…and I think maybe SDM had a little more merit than we credit it with. I’m talking about all-out mega scale entertainers…not serious dramas or small independent movies, which Hollywood has enough of its own.
Really, I’m just excited about the recognition AR Rehman is getting. Two reasons: one, we all know what awards can do for sales and opportunities…this will just help open so many more doors for him, it’s brilliant. Second, I’m Pakistani, and from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, I know how good it feels when someone from your country goes saat samundar paar and all in-between and represents your art…breaks boundaries. It’s not about boot-licking…I just think every country (just like people) wants to show that they are not all about the stereotypes. For that, I enjoy the few moments when I know Pakistan is not being seen for only poverty, religious strife, and *sigh* terrorism…(and cricket?). I guess it’s the same with India…it must be nice to be seen as more than just call centres, 60% poverty (or 40% or 80%, varies depending on source), riots, rising tiger…(and cricket?).
You know, it’s nice. And these few times, I just call myself Asian…take some credit ;) Brown pride and all that.
@Kanda Poha with Triple-Layer Falooda,
Thanks for your interesting comment.
Re: ARR, NFAK etc,
I am not sure if these things change the atitude and thinking of people of other countries on large scale. Since the time of Pt Ravi Shankar and Jubin Mehta musicians have been touring and conquering the world but it does not change social, economical and political behaviour or treatment of big powers towards developing nation.
Asha Bhonsle=Grammy,
news for few days, later status quo stays.
SM is not Indian production. So how we can see many things. Ang Lee, somewhere belonged to Chinese part of world or say similar culture. Danny Boyle will remain a British. If he gets money better to make films on Indian subjects why he would not make. But how long? He has to make films he likes. he cant consider market always.
So this love affair cant stay longer.
If there is a growing demand for different stories coming from Indian subcontinents then SM no SM, Danny no Danny, slowly literature and films of this part of world will become popular in present era.
Most funny thing will be that quality of these products will remain same but their acceptance will reduce the number of their critics.
People will start seeing merits in the same films or books which were found bad 1 or 2 years ago.
Man is not powerful, its time which creates illusion that he is powerful,
when time is not favourable then most powerful things taste the dust.
any chance for Imran Khan to become President of Pakistan?
I saw Slumdog Millionaire today. Boyle has really done a good job with this movie. While the movie deals with the gory details of the underbelly of Mumbai, it doesnt really leave you with a sick feeling. The story feels like a commentary and at the end you just feel good about the whole movie. Very well done I must say.
The music score by Rehman is amazing, the actors who played junior Jamal and Salim were the real stars. They were simply too good. Freida Pinto had just 15 mins of screen presence. I think she was overhyped.
@Mumbai,
Shhhhhh, Shor na machao warna dunia (soti huyee) jaag jayegi.
Nothing is over hyped. Everything is just perfect.
Audiences are not supposed to see weakness in any film in the very first viewing.
Though people dont notice even good things of a film in very first viewing but thats fine. But to quote any shortcoming is not allowed. Its seeing too much.
Has not Angellina Jolie said to Freida Pinto,”Good Job”.
Latika is shown leading a very comfortable life as a mistress. Cmon you just hear a few profinities each day and thats it :D.
@Deepak,
as Knowers say that Its Danny Boyle’s tribute to Man Mohan Desai and alikes.
only thing DB did not know how to bring that larger than life treatment to his film which was always present in MMD and other director’s films.
Hence audiences eat a Khicharee.
ROTFL with that review. Just brilliant!!!
Although you have (mostly) only spoken about the goofs in the movie, I thought the movie itself was trash. A nonsensical, pretentious, shallow, contrived piece of filmmaking.
However the movie looks beatiful (cinematography) and the little jamal is great to watch.
I dnt’ve words to express my feelings…but ‘l sleep aaram se today…