I am hearing many criticisms about Slumdog the movie going over the
top in showcasing India's underbelly, glorifying poverty and being
appreciated by the West only because it shows India in a bad way.
Many are accusing the film of being average or below average and say
that the only reason it is being hailed is because of British
directorship. They say that if an Indian directed the film, it would
have gone straight to DVD without a second look. Many are saying it's
an overrated film and that the West only appreciates Indian films
(Lagaan, Water, Mother India) when India and Indians are shown in bad
ways.
There may be some valid points to these arguments, but I think it's
taken too far. Indians know the truth about India. It's a developing
nation riddled with poverty. Indians everywhere know this truth, but
some are very insecure about this fact and don't like it when such
squalor is showcased so broadly. The reactions are understandable.
But, India is also a prosperous nation in other ways with a more
affluent middle class, lots of economic potential and with great
talent and contribution to the world community. Indians are proud of
this and want the world to recognize this part of India more. If you
see many documentaries about India, in fact, it is the poverty side of
India that is always highlighted. I think a lot of negative reactions
to Slumdog by Desis are a continuing response to what has been
showcased before in the media.
In Slumdog, poverty is showcased a lot. But, is Slumdog a
documentary? No, it's a film. Remember the title...."Slumdog". It's
a rags to riches story. The main point of Slumdog is about how the
human spirit triumphs over great odds, seemingly insurmountable
challenges. Why has this film struck such a vibrant chord all over
the world? Because it's about overcoming obstacles, about beating the
oods, about surviving life! These are things about life in which many
people can relate to, and it gives them hope. The reason why poverty
is showcased so much in Slumdog is to underscore the challenges a
slumdweller must face in being able to survive. The story is
essentially about how the slumdwelling experiences have made the
character street smart, but also book smart in many ways. How a
person not only learns to survive, but how to play the game of life
too. If you keep the movie context in mind, I understand why poverty
has to be emphasized in a film like this given the message it wants to
convey. But, I also understand why many Desis are reacting negatively
to a film like this. They want the more progressive, richer,
prosperous, hopeful side of India to be recognized by the West too,
and because Slumdog has become so popular, many feel insecure about
the underbelly being exposed so nakedly.
But, Indians everywhere need to keep in mind that this is only a film,
not a documentary or a final exclamation point of how the world sees
India. I agree that there should be more international films with
scripts that highlight India's best side, the more hopeful and
progressive side. But, will those films evoke as much of an emotional
reaction? Films are made to stimulate thought and feeling. The
sqaulor depicted in Slumdog and the character's way over surmounting
odds is what drives people to see such films....the emotions, the
drama, the hope...... It's people's emotions which drive films to
success and nothing is as emotional and poignant to many than to see a
character overcoming the worst that life has to offer. Slumdog may
not be a perfect film in many technical aspects, and it may well be
overrated, but it sure strikes an emotional chord with the crowd.
Why is Slumdog so successful? Taken from a famous politician, "It's
the emotions, stupid". ("It's the economy, stupid")
