CK ¿ uNpluGGeD ¿

I had been been more drawn into movies and books, and recently was not interested in blogging. The comments from various people and the visits regarding my various posts are the reason I write this post.

I have seen quite a lot of movies in this break, the ones which are fresh in mind are few. Bicyle thieves, Sarkar, X Men, Slum Dog Millionaire, Abhiyum Naanum, Lambs for Lions, Sex and the City (The title doesn’t depict the Story). Let me write a review for the latest sensation, Slumdog Millionaire.

Slumdog Millionaire – Review

Cast: Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Tanay Chheda, Saurabh Shukla, Mahesh Manjrekar

Director: Danny Boyle,

Co Director: Loveleen Tandan (India)

Music: A R Rahman

Duration: 120 Min

I will review the movie in my style with topics as Story, Screenplay, Actors, Music, Miscellaneous

Dev Patel and Anil Kappor in Slumdog Millionaire

Story:

The story is inspired by the game show, “Kaun Baneha Crorepathi” hosted by Amitabh Bhachan in Star Plus channel. However that show even was adaptation from various western reality shows. The programme originated in the United Kingdom, where it was hosted by Chris Tarrant.  The plot of the story is based on a novel “Q & A” published in 2005 by Vikas Swarup, an Indian diplomat. 

The story is about interrogation of a possible cheating that would have been done by a next door contestant, who with no great general  knowledge goes on to win the show. The movie starts with the interrogation of Jamal ( Dev Patel ) just before the final round of the game, in a local police station. Jamal acts calm and quietly explains how during various walks of his life, he has got all the answers to the various questions asked in the show.  This narration unfolds the life of a boy grown in a slum area in Mumbai ( then Bombay). His brother Salim (Mathur Mittal) and his love Latika (Frieda) join together when during a riot in the slum area takes the life of Jamal and Salim’s mother.

The three and various other orphan children are taken by in name of ‘Taking Care’ by thugs who use them for their welfare. During the process of making them blind and asking them to beg in the streets, Salim and Jamal escape with trying to save Latika ending in vain. Jamal has his love for Latika grooming from his childhood.  Both turn as tourist guides in Agra, where they reach accidently. Jamal does not give up and searches Latika for years and finally finds her in a brothal area of Mumbai. with the help of Salim, he rescues Latika killing the thugs (the same group who blinded the children). Salim fights with Jamal and takes Latika with him, aftet which Jamal grows as a Chai wala (Tea seller). 

Years later Jamal meets Salim to find their brotherly affection redeem and as Jamal asks about Latika, Salim sulks and tells he left her early. However Jamal traces her to be in Salim’s boss’ house. He meets her disguised as a butcher boy and promises his ever lasting love and tells he would wait every day in a railway station at a particular time.

Jamal accidently gets into the  game show, when he gets the hotline call during serving tea in a BPO. Anil Kapoor hosts the game show and teases Jamal from the start of the show, being a Chaiwala  and participating in the show. Jamal’s participation in the show has other plans, to find Latika.

How the game show ends , did he wins the final round after interrogation, does he ends up with his love are the the ones that cover the climax.

Dev Patel and Frieda in Slumdog Millionaire

Screen Play:

The main booster for the movie is the screen play. The story for how he answers all the questions before the final round, gets unfolded, in conjuction with his child hood life.  This has been blend perfectly with no nonsense scenes mixing up. The mumbai slum area scenes are so lively and the various ill forces are depicted withe awe and ease. 

Actors: 

Better than any, the child artists who perform as Jamal, Salim has performed extraordinary. So is the Salim character mid aged person’s acting stands tall. Dev Patel has maintained a calm and composed character in the film, with oozing confidence for his love and patience during the police interoggation. Latika ( Frieda ) speaks a lecture with her eyes, though she has not many dialogues. Not of great beauty, she suits perfectly for the female lead in the film. 

Overall, the artist selection seems impeccable.

Music:

The music of A R Rahman for the ‘Original Score’ for this film has won the Golden Globe award, and has been nominated for the Oscars. His two songs in the film are among the three which might sweep the Oscar for best song. 

Personally I believe, A R Rahman has put a ‘good’ music suitable for the film, but this has not been his best. The songs from Bollywood (Hindi) and Kollywood (Tamizh) stand MUCH TALLER than this music. A R Rahman would have a galaxy of golden globes if that would have been recognised.

Miscellaneous:

Well, I ll giev various links to dig the topic to. For the critics for the film from various sites and community, visit, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slumdog_Millionaire . Also IMDB would give a bunch of info regard to the film. 

Overall:

Personally, I rate this film as 80/100

You can share your views on the film with your valuable comments.

Love, CK