REVIEWING - SLUM DOG MILLIONAIRE

By Shoba Mohan

I love the movies. But when a movie is preceded by hype and attention however well intended, i usually refrain from “first day - first show”. After SDM , and having spent a night and morning ruminating on the film , i would say – “ I love the film”. Its movie magic for sure.

The first half was revolting and nauseating but you won’t walk away because the story has got to you. The breathless unfurling of hope, keeps you in your seat . You want to see for yourself where it goes, even though for the last one month you have read every review, blog and comment. Rehman’s music is an integral part of the movie, it is hard to imagine the compelling moments of the film without it.

I also like the idea of life being the biggest teacher and the catch in the end before the million dollar question. I have seen some fantastic films based on life in the slum. However as SLM weaves its story around a fantasy and a romance, the squalor and hard hitting truths just become a part of Jamal’s journey. Also the teaming of the east and west has been perfect in this case – an Indian story and a cinematographer from the west. Not for a moment does the camera linger – so it is effectively a glimpse. Sample this ; as the camera pans over Dharavi – ( Rehman’s racy score here is a winner as the kids gleefully run through gullies ) the atmosphere of the slums is established even as the children are chased by the constable .

The film’s brevity of scenes and juxtaposition of sequences is another strong point. The story moves back and forth, always in context but does not shy away from addressing a larger audience – hence it is Amitabh that little Jamal covered in crap goes to see and not Shahrukh Khan. Its Amitabh’s films that he has grown up watching – in the nineties ?? These are intelligent inclusions on the script writers part – also adding to the movies international appeal.

For movie buffs there are fine nuances – the grudging turnaround of the inspector superbly portrayed by Irfan Khan, so so subtle. I am a fan more for implication can explicitness and Danny Boyle’s film has many such implied moments. His superb direction is evident in scenes which Bollywood would have highlighted, in Boyle’s film its only a quick glimpse and then relegated to the back ground. For eg : Latika being taken into the taxi and the glint of steel. Only the next scene shows the damage.

Earlier I used to think what’s the big deal about casting, those were the days when a film was written for the superstar. In Slum Dog.... you have to applaud Loveleen Tandon’s superb casting right down to the ears of the 3 chaps who played Jamal ! And how they got the kids to speak with their eyes ??? Wow !

When Jamal says that it’s not the money he is after and he hopes Latika would see him on TV and that is the reason he is here. I like that.
That circumstances have not made a cynic of Jamal Malik.

Lastly you leave the hall elated . Jamal is still dewy eyed after all that he has seen in his young life ! Very Rare ! Very Bollywood. Jai Ho !

Still there is plenty we must have missed...... i strongly recommend an encore !