Slumdog Review aside, I think you are exceptional in your writing style. Keep up the good work. I loved Slumdog too and I agree with every word in yrou article. I am not sure if you were generalizing some of your friends' opinions to be those of the rest of the nation.
Excellent article Raja Sen, and much needed too!....Hasn't it become a habit with us to make an issue out of nothing lately??
I guess Slumdog really pissed many Indians off, In fact I'm sure abt that but their logic is way too immature!....Just take the next local to Dharavi all those who feel its far from the real India and see for urself....And those who feel it demeans India - You better just wait for the next Karan Johar movie, Where protagonists live in flats which overlooks WallStreet, Have whole Manhattan dancing chorus in steps and the Son comes home in a Helicopter - That surely gonna sop ur pseudo-nationalistic ego :)
As for the rest of the audience with even an lounce of cinematic maturity (and no less love for Mother India than others, I must add!) - We loved it!!!
For a moment just forget that it was set in the slums of mumbai, and think of it being set some poor country in South america .. The movie still remains as excellent..
This is the story of any country, there are homeless people, people starving even in america & UK,...nothing to be ashamed of
I am obsessed with this movie right now, I do not consider it to be the best movie out there, yet it is an experience and everyone has to watch it without thinking a lot..
It is the India I would like to see more often on screen too...and the kid actors, wow....hope our film makers learn a bit here to find actors that suit the role rather than launch their own sons & daughters
There are always 2 faces of a coin...If you see someone taking a bribe, u may choose to feel ashamed, or make a commitment to yourself that u are not going to pay a bribe...If you see poverty, you may choose to feel ashamed or take up the resolve that I'll do whatever I can to see at least one person pull out of poverty...Its all in the mindset...
A film does not change any nation's image. Our developments in the various fields in the real world is there for the world to see, we don't need a film to highlight India's greatness. There are umpteen number of hollywood movies that show extreme brutality among humans, vandalism, poor and poverty stricken people on the roads...that had never changed anyone's thoughts aout these countries...
A film needs a subject...if the subject is fantasy be it, if the subject is slum dweller's lives you cannot show them relishing at Leela Kempensky with Jhonny Walker...the portrayal of the film needs to be true to the subject...there's absolutely nothing to do with teh nation's image...For that matter some of our patriotic movies also show the other side of life...1942 displayed double standards among Indians, Lagaan showed stints of tyranny in the same team, Swadesh showed the eternal narrow mindedness of Indians...though there were other commercial flavors built around to drown these subtle hints in its aroma...if you see a poverty striken Indian boy in a film, don't feel ashamed, take a resolve that when u come across one, u'l help him
There are no slums in India. The per capita income of India is $1000. I see Katrinas and Deepikas prancing around in their Victria's Secrets on my way to work. We do not defecate on the raodsides. We seldom jump traffic signals except in emergencies. Weare truth and honesty personified. What is corruption, huh? Is it a kind of corrugated iron? We have the cleanest Govt officials in India. Not to mentiion Corporates. Except India, all the countries in the world were born out of wedlock. We have the only stable cultural values and family lives. The whites are all womanisers. Our economy is the most robust. Just one look at our wonderful infrastructure will tell you how robust our economy is, and how corruption-free our minds are. We are all a cool, progressive, adjusting, and intelligent lot. It's just that our politicians are ugly. We don't have to bribe in India to get things done, like in sub-saharan africa. We have eradicated all the diseases know to mankind. We have medical insurance even for the poorest of the poor(not that there are too many poor ppl in India.). Our healthcare is amongst the best in the world.
And still Boyke wants to lie about our holy country? How dare he? Why can't he show the lives of the Corporate biggies, and the night clubs of elhi, and Bombay? Why does he not show our great culture and family values(They have none in the West?)Why only the Underbelly? Sic.
Re: Why?
by Arnab M on Jan 21, 2009 05:18 PM
Wake up dude! Your sarcasm is not lost on anyone. Nobody denies that our country is poor, is corrupt and has many warts - contrary to what you blithely assume. It is just that we do not like this darker side of ours to be glorified ad infinitum. We hate it when foreigners shout from the rooftops about how glorious the poverty in Mumbai is! It is very evident that you have a large amount of venom inside you! Spit it out bud. Spit it out. Before it corrodes you completely. Your supercilious blabber cannot hide this darker side of yours!
Re: Re: Why?
by satya para on Jan 21, 2009 05:28 PM
Why don't you just wake up to reality. The Goras know their job. They are not laughing at us. They are making honest cinema. Remember, Boyle made Trainspotting too. So your argument that they fall over themselves to showcase our poverty stands null and void.
Re: Re: Re: Why?
by peacislam on Jan 21, 2009 05:33 PM
satya para the ignorant communist. The eternal losers in life who blame the successful by glorifying the lazy.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Why?
by satya para on Jan 21, 2009 05:38 PM
This is precisely what I was talking about. We Indians shoot the messenger all the time. Why? Are we morally defunct? Ethically deficient? Don't we have the courage to face up to reality. Honest cinema comes rare in Bollywood. At least appreciate the goras for making a Gandhi, and now SDM.
And political leanings are personal. And besides, it's not the crux of the matter here. Neither are we talking of Bongs, or Gults, or Tams here. Be pertinent and alive to the issue, rather than digressing to suit your argument and need. Only losers shoot the messenger!
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why?
by peacislam on Jan 21, 2009 05:44 PM
shoot the messenger.. i heard that only messenger that was shot was in west and he was called jesus. Oh satya para, you wanna go there and live.
Re: Re: Why?
by satya para on Jan 21, 2009 05:32 PM
We as a nation are primarily hypocritical. We cannot face the truth. We expect to be pampered. We cried foul at Satyajit Ray, Mira Nair, Arvind Adiga, and now it is Boyle. I've always wondered at the thought processes we as Indians adopt. Why are we so insecure? If it's not trashing the geniuses like the few above, it is our insecurity about our faiths. We crib, whine, and quarrel on forums that our faiths are being colonised, or slammed, or what not! I've never understood for the life of me why we are so insecure. Even a legend like Bacchan has this inferior, trampled-upon, whining streak. Alas!Why? Do we as a race not have the courage to face up to reality? Do we not have the aesthetic sense to appreciate a masterpiece, be it ray, Adiga, or Boyle.
My dear friends, it is not teh Westerners or the Goras who are trying to demonise us. It's we who are unable to soul-search. This is art. Art will never lie. Art will never do what we expect or want it to do. Art has nor morality pretensions. Art is honest and clean and unbiasd. Art for art's sake. Appreciate a thing of beauty as it appears. Do not dissect, and submit it to an autopsy. If we don't havethe courage, let's resolve to build it in us, and see truth right in the eye, rather than squirming and screaming and making absolute a$$es of ourselves on an international forum.
Re: Re: Re: Why?
by Arnab M on Jan 21, 2009 06:50 PM
Hiya Satya para fella Just can't let go, canya? Repeating the same balderdash dished out by you earlier will not necessarily make it true or real. Relax bud. It's you who is making an a$$ of yourself!
Re: Re: Re: Why?
by golfdude on Jan 21, 2009 11:00 PM
Nailed it satya. We are so insecure. And I think we will be - it is in our genes - when have we been safe from being plundered in the past 2000 years ? Constantly living in fear - what else do you expect ? Look at the rich in india - they have more money than most of the other rich in other countries but dont want to give back - what else but insecurity ? Absolutely no introspection.
Re: Re: Re: Why?
by golfdude on Jan 21, 2009 10:59 PM
Nailed it satya. We are so insecure. And I think we will be - it is in our genes - when have we been safe from being plundered in the past 2000 years ? Constantly living in fear - what else do you expect ? Look at the rich in india - they have more money than most of the other rich in other countries but dont want to give back - what else but insecurity ? Absolutely no introspection.
Re: Re: Re: Why?
by golfdude on Jan 21, 2009 10:59 PM
Nailed it satya. We are so insecure. And I think we will be - it is in our genes - when have we been safe from being plundered in the past 2000 years ? Constantly living in fear - what else do you expect ? Look at the rich in india - they have more money than most of the other rich in other countries but dont want to give back - what else but insecurity ? Absolutely no introspection.
