I have been all over India, I have read avidly all the history, pre moghuls, I have seen the beauty and the poverty. While the caste system dictates that lavatory cleaners are born into their families to clean lavatories, while you have discussions by young students supporting this caste system, India will continue to have slaves. This film was joyous in many ways, but most of all bringing the horrors of how the enslavement of people, by their own, continues to keep the whole of India forever poor. I love the Indian people, but I resent the fact that corruption by the educated who are in power, means that these abused and cheated children will continue to be used and cheated BY THEIR OWN PEOPLE. Millionare Indian businessmen should be ashamed. Well done Danny Boyle and company.
To all Slum Dog Millionaire (SM) bashers... You didnt like the goof ups... sorry..keep on sulking.. You didnt like them showing the real Mumbai... sorry... keep on sulking... your crying and complaining is not going to help anyway... awards are there.. SM is winning and is getting appreciated where it has to be appreciated... Your best movie TZP is out of Oscars.. now dont say we dont care about OSCARS.. if you didnt care you wouldnt send movies to oscars... Talking about showing Mumbai slums... people dont like it.. they say thats the only mumbai western countries know... slums and all... What are western countries depicted in Bollywood... Sex.. beaches and white women.. these are the three things people do in U.S. France Canada etc.. Well do you know how much work pressure is there in this countries... They always show indians without a full time job living luxuriously in the U.S. Try it man... The reality is different... INDIANS LIKE TO LIVE IN A DREAM WORLD... MUMBAI IS COVERED IN SLUMS.. ACCEPT IT...
Nowadays everyone wants to make a buck by humiliating India. China does not let its bad side show up but we dont have such safe guards
I could not see this movie and got up agter first 15 minutes. Shame on anil kapoor shamelessly enjoying the spoils of humiliating india. Really this country has no friends and everyone wants to ra## this great nation including its in habitants.
Re: SlumDog Millionaire
by bijo m on Jan 14, 2009 01:47 PM
TRUTH IS ALWAYS VULGAR MY FRIEND. INDIA IS POOR...THAT IS A TRUTH. STILL THERE ARE SLUMS....MANY A MANY..IN INDIA WHY? I DON'T THINK US AND UK HAVE SLUM AREAS..DO YOU AGREE THAT BUDDY.
Re: Re: SlumDog Millionaire
by Brijesh on Jan 14, 2009 08:34 PM
Hello Bijo M,
I agree that India has slums but won't buy that India is Poor. I also agree that the story line of Slumdog-M was based in Slums of Mumbai, so the director has to show the reality....slums are reality of India...I agree boss.
But now the point I don't agree is that US and UK don't have slums. I live in US and can show you areas that are even in worst conditions than slums in India. Slums in Mumbai has almost everything they need....starting from a TV to cable connetions and freeze. If you go to Salem, New jersey and some other areas of Bronx, New york...you will see people don't even have space to live. They pass ther night sleeping in a junk car-scrap yard and in the morning they do there daily routine in a near by Mcdonalds....After that they start begging on streets of New your and New jersey......I agree that the percentage of this kind of people is less in US than in India......but my dear US got its freedom 237 years ago and we got it hardly 60 years back.....just wait and watch were India will be in next 20 years.
I am seeing many people saying that this movie insults Indians... Its afterall a movie.. When our bollywood directors are taking movies that have some US/UK charecters (which many Hindi movies have these days) we always show them as people with out love,inconsiderate,arrogant... Did Americans or English start complaining about that?... Cool down...
You morons who are defending Slumdog Millionaire, it's not about portraying slums and poverty. Of course it exists here but what about all the other aspects of India ? It's not just about India, almost all developing countries are only shown by the ignorant and arrogant Hollywood film makers as filled with slums and poverty. The film makers conveniently ignore our huge pool of educated professionals, businessmen, sports people or any positive aspect like our culture which survived 3000 years, our unique history, IT growth, space research etc. I'm not saying they need to show all these aspects but you cant ignore them as if they dont exist when you make a movie about India. If I go to US and make a movie only about ghettos, people over there will tell me to mind my business. The typical reaction would be to go back to my country and take care of my country's problems. Why shouldnt we tell them the same ?
Look at the list of movies about Indians that Americans liked and have nominated:-
1:- Mother India 2:- Salaam Bombay. 3:- Lagaan 4:- Water 5:- Slumdog Millionaire
All these movies have 1 thing in common is that they all showed the poorer side of india and indians. The only movie that beats this list is :- Bend It Like Beckham which lost the Golden Globe for BEST MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY to another wonderful movie Finding Nemo. But BILB was about Indians living in UK and not in India otherwise it would have never been nominated. All that western world wants to see about india is poverty and misery. They seem to be fasinated by it and find it very beautiful !!
Re: MOvies that Americans like
by Chohan on Jan 14, 2009 08:35 AM
India is poor!!! when people from west comes to india all they see is poverty. In west they don't have shocking differences among poor and rich areas, people, roads, buildings etc.
Re: MOvies that Americans like
by Chohan on Jan 14, 2009 08:35 AM
India is poor!!! when people from west comes to india all they see is poverty. In west they don't have shocking differences among poor and rich areas, people, roads, buildings etc.
Re: MOvies that Americans like
by ajay gupta on Jan 14, 2009 03:48 AM
Man british always wanna spoil india's image...and because of them india is poor now...and by showing poorer side of india they are making fun of india....once i went for getting chillian visa and there i met a lady started telling me india is a poor country..i felt bad..but i told her india has improved a lot..and its no more tat poor country...but if dis guys will keeping showing poorer side of india...you can never representrich india...
Re: Re: MOvies that Americans like
by dinesh on Jan 15, 2009 02:28 AM
When westerners particularly british see that indians are getting smarter than british they will start picking up poverty and blown out of proportion i have lived and worked in UK for many years i have seen it many times when my colleagues in work asking about poverty in india. when there is a topic about india they will talk about food,poverty and call centres.It is just the facts they could not see india is growing they will take this sort of crap movies!!
I recently spoke to several social workers who work with street children and they told me that in their several years of experience they have yet to come across a child living on the street who has not been sexually or physically abused. These children lead unimaginably dangerous lives. They are exploited in each and very way as they struggle for survival and they are just children. If portraying their lives is distasteful then we are a distasteful country and a distasteful people who look away rather than face sad reality. Poverty in India is not a stereotype its a fact. There are many many many poor people and ignoring them will not make them disappear. Bollywood would rather make movies in New York and London about NRIs because they are so rich and pretty and successful and fascinating not to mention one dimensional and fake. What's wrong with Boyle telling a story about people who live in Dharavi? If the real Bombay makes you wince and uncomfortable do not watch this film. Poor people do not ruin India but people like Max who do not accept reality and live in their bubbles ruin India.
Re: Reality Much worse
by Bhartesh on Jan 14, 2009 01:36 AM
We have been called bloody Indians and now "Slumdog." I wouldn't mind getting slapped and insulted from my fellow brothers and sisters than someone from outside, be it any country. I know we have problems but it is our internal affair and I would rather fix it within the country than interference from outside. Some people may sell their patriotism, pride, and self dignity for the money and publicity. But I still have respect for my country and countrymen and would not tolerate what has shown in the movie. It was an insult of India and I don't take it otherwise.
If outside people are really sympathetic, they should do something about it resolve it than exploit and promote others to exploit it too. This movie is a national shame, not just graphically but thematically.
Mr Boyle, shed you same old mentality and stop exploiting us.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Reality Much worse
by Bhartesh on Jan 14, 2009 08:02 AM
I wish it could just be a movie, alas it is British and western mentality. They have their superiority blinders on and want to the whole world on their feet. Ironically we become part of it thinking of it our own which we are not.
Re: Reality Much worse
by max on Jan 14, 2009 01:13 AM
What is sadder Anita is that people like u who comment badly on others without trying to understand what others meant. No one is blind to India's filth & misery - more so Indian's themselves even if they turn blind eyes to these issues. Most people like us here r trying to tell that needless vilification is not done. Btw, you had to meet social workers to know those things existed? Or maybe knew only after seeing Slumdog? When manual scavenging is still done what is more left to be said about the pathetic state of human dignity in our country? By all means portray filth that bleeds India but not unnecessarily like slumdog. That was our point of view for yr kind information. People like you never can come to decent discussion anywhere by such attitude. When one does not accept a point of view it doesn’t mean that he/she has accepted the opposite one as u accused that we would prefer bollywood Ny masala movie or that we are not willing to know the distasteful state of affairs here. We were very comfortable watching this movie, no problem at all, thank u. Wt is uncomfortable / distasteful are the people like u & yr unfounded slur. Plz spare us these stupid remarks & encourage discussion. Thaanks!
Re: Reality Much worse
by indiasouls on Jan 14, 2009 05:16 AM
Very well said Anita. I believe that saying India as emerging power with 50 crores below poverty line is a shame. We all know - food, clothing, shelter are the basic rights of every human being and our whole system made crores of Indians still devoid of these. Our country having 1 trillion GDP is more concerned on moon, nuclear bombs, elite society etc. Imagine a boy from an extremely poor family is ultimately made to beg/crime or a girl to prost*. Those children must be looking at us to improve their situation and we fellow Indians r too ignoring them. And if a foreigner now wants to show this fateful fact to whole world, we still want to hide and show the creamy picture of India. These movies have shown the real darker India to whole world. Atleast now the Government and fellow Indians will feel ashame and act to work on these issues and make India a better living place to all.
Re: Reality Much worse
by indiasouls on Jan 14, 2009 05:25 AM
Very well said Anita. I believe that saying India as emerging power with 50 crores still below poverty line is a shame. We all know - food, clothing, shelter are the basic rights of every human being and our whole system made crores of Indians still devoid of these. Our country having 1 trillion GDP is more concerned on moon, nuclear bombs, elite society etc. Imagine a boy from an extremely poor family is ultimately made to beg/crime or a girl to prost*. Those children must be looking at us to improve their situation and we fellow Indians r too ignoring them. And if a foreigner now wants to show this fateful fact to whole world, we still want to hide and show the creamy picture of India. These movies have shown the real darker India to whole world. Atleast now the Government and fellow Indians will feel ashame and act to work on these issues and make India a better living place to all.
Re: Re: Rubbish
by Bhartesh on Jan 14, 2009 01:48 AM
We may be poor, uninteresting, dog, slumdog, bloody dog, etc but we are still Indian and love each other. People like Boyle have robbed us in the past and created slums, may be with the help of people like you who are ashamed to be called themselves Indian, and now they are disgusting and exploiting us.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Rubbish
by swapnil mane on Jan 14, 2009 04:04 AM
No one is ashamed about being called Indians but the fact is we are called growing superpower but there are so many basic issues which exists in one of the best cities of India like Mumbai and no one gives importance to those issues. Should we be happy with the fact that we are poor and have slums?? No, right. We need to work on those. I think such movies though portray the poor isde of India it is the "fact" and you are trying to hedge those issues. I do not belive that it is a mistake showing such facts in a movie. Just because the movie is not made by an Indian doesnt mean he cannot say the fact of Mumbai. We as Indians also comment on people and conditions about different countries.
You are just trying to raise a foolish political argument saying that no one has right to say anything about poverty when it does exists. I just dont get it what makes you feel so proud to accept that poverty exists and people are abused. Instead such movies may try to concentrate the resources of government or people to work on such issues and make a better living for everyone. Also you cannot expect everyone to produce a movie about just good and rich part of India. Poverty, slums are fact and it is just portrayed by means of a cinema. And there are sections of people who know poverty exists but a movie like these educate them more and divert the attention of required authorities.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Rubbish
by Bhartesh on Jan 14, 2009 08:30 AM
Do you think making such movies will get govt attention to such issues. Well if this could be it would have been long time back when so many other movies were made in India. Nobody is fool to distinguish when something is made to raise issues or make money for the entertainment of people. What issue was it raising for the boy who was covered in the shit load that "come and clean me."
Boy, get your blinders off an d stop beating the drum that people who ruled you for 200 years will come and make you superpower. You will have to solve your problem on your own.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Rubbish
by swapnil mane on Jan 14, 2009 09:44 AM
If you think it doesnt make any difference then why are you making such a big issue that a non Indian made a movie showing poverty of India. They are so many movies made by Indian directors regarding Indian poverty like Swades, Omkara and so many to name .. All such movies are appreciated. why you have to make such a big issue out of nothing saying about English Men. Just consider it as a piece of work and leave it or learn something from it. Do not make an issue for nothing.
Re: Re: Re: Rubbish
by ajay gupta on Jan 14, 2009 03:52 AM
Once i went to get chillian visa.there i met a chillian woman she started telling me tat india is a poor country bla bla...and i felt so bad but i told her india has improved a lot and not tat poor country anymore..and dis british film makers are more spoiling india image by still showing poorer side of india..
Re: Re: Re: Re: Rubbish
by Varun Kumar Chintakindi on Jan 14, 2009 05:06 AM
y do u care abt wht sm chillian lady thinks abt India - we knw wht India is and only tht shud matter dude!
Max, kaushik and all you other morons! What do you think Mumbai is- just malls and youngsters aping the yankee accent? c'mon get real! Dharavi is an integral part of Mumbai...if it is an eye sore change it..but it is not poor. Dharavi is full of people who do respectable to down right filthy jobs..only difference is they can not afford to live in humane conditions. If u r a true Mumbaikar, your heart should bleed when u travel via Harbor line. But thats Mumbai. Of course city of dreams because dreams are not seen sitting in air conditioned bungalows but in these places. And thats what matters. Accept the filth of Mumbai, its a part of her beauty. Heard any Brazilian complaining of the ghettos of Rio de janeiro? THat too is shown in hollywood. So why not Dharavi? If the westerners have a mind set, balls to them. We too have our own mind set about Mumbai spirit. So accept it.
Re: Slumdog Millionaire
by max on Jan 13, 2009 11:58 PM
Thanks Bhaskar for yr moron tag. We too know the filth & poverty that exist all over India not only in Dharavi. When manual scavenging is still done what is more left to be said about the pathetic state of human dignity in our country? But, for exp, take the shit episode in the movie - out of a million ways to show a child’s adulation / desperation for a superstar, Danny hits the most distasteful one. Perhaps it was not Danny’s intention to show only the innocence of a child but also the special Dharavi toilet structure, the depth underneath whether good enough to drown the boy or not, etc. Did u observe how our boys easily get on to the roof of a train but need to take the road less traveled in this case! By all means portray filth that bleeds India but not unnecessarily like slumdog. Agreed Brazilian don’t complain of the ghettos of Rio de Janeiro nor do we about ours. But even the Brazilian wont like a scene wherein a boy is dribbling a football, drowns into shit nearby & still manages to get Pele’s autograph. Quite gratuitous they may feel too! Well,Keep up yr Mumbai spirit,that is the only way to get going in these trouble times.
