Slumdog...
Kudos to Danny Boyle for directing such an awesome movie, the director, beyond any doubt, deserves an Oscar!
Like most of the Indians, I came across “Slumdog” after the Oscar nomination was declared; and like most Indians, my heart swayed through pangs of varied emotions. PAIN being most prominent! Although Oscar nomination for Rehman and Gulzar soothed my nerves; the feeling was short lived as I began to ponder over the reasons for movie’s international acclaim.
Disdainfully and heartbreakingly I uttered : “Slumdog” is what the world wants to see; despite country’s achievement in various fields by leaps and bounds”. But haggling and criticizing is not my cup of tea. By the way, what type of movies from Afghanistan and Palestine are we interested in? Aren’t they related to Taliban, Hamas and interspersed with killings, pain and suffering? Similarly, India has its own TRP: “Slumdogs”, an amalgamation of Slums, Riots, Beggars, Underworld and Dirt!!
Great going Danny, you sure know what, where and how much of reality is required for international attention. You have however missed the 26/11, Babri Masjid , Shiv Sena and our very own Hindu brigade (you were short of time I think). With your superb direction and well known international acceptance of these “Indian” happenings, who knows you might have another dig at the Oscars?
Nobody well-known wants to mouth their discomfort with the storyline; even Amitabh’s utterances were short-lived. He atleast dared, Bravo! I however, having no such status, feel free to speak out my disgust…
Why so much fuss about Oscars? Why so much lust for international acclaim? Isn’t the criticism of “made in India” tag well-known (by the way, Indian cinema is not only about love and dance sequence as is the common rant)? Frankly, even “Jai Ho’ is not the best of the Indian lot; however other scores are obviously not slumdogs!
Coming to the actors, the children were the strength of the movie and they gave a mind-numbing splendid performance. Frieda and Dev, please don’t fly so high… if you want to understand acting kindly watch Naseer in “A Wednesday” (local edition)… or for higher hopes Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins in “The Shawshank Redemption”. These actors do not need an Oscar to prove themselves, their acting stays etched in your memory forever.
Maybe my rants overshadowed the praise showered upon the movie. The movie was based on reality but it was a reality carved out for international audience…Obviously, I am no movie critic and there is no reason for anybody to believe in what I feel. I will never be able to love this movie, with or without the Oscar.
“Indians cannot appreciate the beautiful cinematography”, says a foreign friend. I sure do sir, but maybe my sense of Indian-ness comes in the way… we are no “Slumdogs” and you definitely don’t have “A Beautiful Mind”.
Like most of the Indians, I came across “Slumdog” after the Oscar nomination was declared; and like most Indians, my heart swayed through pangs of varied emotions. PAIN being most prominent! Although Oscar nomination for Rehman and Gulzar soothed my nerves; the feeling was short lived as I began to ponder over the reasons for movie’s international acclaim.
Disdainfully and heartbreakingly I uttered : “Slumdog” is what the world wants to see; despite country’s achievement in various fields by leaps and bounds”. But haggling and criticizing is not my cup of tea. By the way, what type of movies from Afghanistan and Palestine are we interested in? Aren’t they related to Taliban, Hamas and interspersed with killings, pain and suffering? Similarly, India has its own TRP: “Slumdogs”, an amalgamation of Slums, Riots, Beggars, Underworld and Dirt!!
Great going Danny, you sure know what, where and how much of reality is required for international attention. You have however missed the 26/11, Babri Masjid , Shiv Sena and our very own Hindu brigade (you were short of time I think). With your superb direction and well known international acceptance of these “Indian” happenings, who knows you might have another dig at the Oscars?
Nobody well-known wants to mouth their discomfort with the storyline; even Amitabh’s utterances were short-lived. He atleast dared, Bravo! I however, having no such status, feel free to speak out my disgust…
Why so much fuss about Oscars? Why so much lust for international acclaim? Isn’t the criticism of “made in India” tag well-known (by the way, Indian cinema is not only about love and dance sequence as is the common rant)? Frankly, even “Jai Ho’ is not the best of the Indian lot; however other scores are obviously not slumdogs!
Coming to the actors, the children were the strength of the movie and they gave a mind-numbing splendid performance. Frieda and Dev, please don’t fly so high… if you want to understand acting kindly watch Naseer in “A Wednesday” (local edition)… or for higher hopes Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins in “The Shawshank Redemption”. These actors do not need an Oscar to prove themselves, their acting stays etched in your memory forever.
Maybe my rants overshadowed the praise showered upon the movie. The movie was based on reality but it was a reality carved out for international audience…Obviously, I am no movie critic and there is no reason for anybody to believe in what I feel. I will never be able to love this movie, with or without the Oscar.
“Indians cannot appreciate the beautiful cinematography”, says a foreign friend. I sure do sir, but maybe my sense of Indian-ness comes in the way… we are no “Slumdogs” and you definitely don’t have “A Beautiful Mind”.
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