Whats the whole poverty porn debate about?
What really is the fuss? Are we upset at the display of poverty? Or are we upset about portrayal of India? Or are we simply upset that a movie which is a favorite to win the Oscar for the best film is based on a character life sees the downside of India? What really are we upset about?
Why was it not an issue when Lagaan was nominated? Why was it not an issue when Deepa Mehtas water was nominated? Is it the importance of the category then that has upset us? What really has upset us?
Are we not in the midst of this vague debate forgetting that this is infact a very well made film? Danny Boyles Slumdog Millionaire is very rich cinema. It makes you empathise for its characters. The directorial genius that oozes out of all the visual metaphors of the movie is commendable. I like this film for what it is – a film.
No reasons to get personal about it. IF it were only about showing poverty in india and ensuring the film becomes a hit, why haven’t films such as Dharavi, Satya, Chandni Bar, become international hits? If the anger is about showing the most unfortunate situations in India and the slums, many Indian films written and directed by Indians have done the same. Wheres the acclaim? Wheres the nomination? Where is even the mention? For a film to get the kind of acclaims that Slumdog has received, it has to be a good film! And slumdog is one!
Its narrative is poignant, its cast well placed, and its pace apt.
It is not to be mistaken for as a documentary on India. Whether the foreigners who choose to JUDGE India on the basis of this film is their call. Question: Just because American films have a lot of skin show (as compared to Indian films) do we judge them as immoral, lusty people? Just because films from our neighbouring countries are all about Kung Fu, do you think people there can actually fly like in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon? Even those in our own nation who treat Rajnikant as a demigod know that none of Rajnikants tricks is a reality.
As for all the business connect, I am certain that Indias FIIs or FDIs have not been affected one bit cause of its films, are they? Does this film change the fact that we are still one of the best locations for Outsourcing business? If yes, lets just make films of the positives on India and tip toe our way out of recession..
What is this poverty porn we are talking about? Are you against the display of poverty or that it is in India? Is the subtext of the debate that if this film were based in a slum in Indonesia or in South Africa, it was okay? Where is the concern?
We are too used to taking credit for what isn’t ours. Just because the film is based on a character in India, it doesn’t make the film ours to own and dissect. Even if it does win the best film, what’s there for us to be happy about – except A R Rahman, who shines marvelously in this film. The actors of Indian origin need a mention, but certainly the film belongs to someone else, and let him bask in the glory of his achievements. Having said that, there is nothing for us to be sad about.
I urge everyone who feels bad, to do whatever in his or her space, that ensures that India gets the ‘right’ visibility. Let’s appreciate films that show India in the right sense and make them a hit. I have the same questions to ask Indians that we are asking the foreigners. Why are films with better messages failures in India and those that are regressive do better? Are we okay with these facts and not okay with Slumdog getting the acclaim that it is getting? When will we stop joking on Sardars or teasing south Indians for their Accent? Aren’t these the very stereotypes that the biggest of our filmmakers and banners still exploiting to rake the mullah?
Let us not have double standards… I am not endorsing the K serials or regressive films, but simply saying that when we can look at these with no prejudice and simply treat them as work of art meant for entertainment, why get over analytical about one film that’s getting international acclaim on the basis of its merits?
Go watch Slumdog, it’s a good film. That’s all!
What really is the fuss? Are we upset at the display of poverty? Or are we upset about portrayal of India? Or are we simply upset that a movie which is a favorite to win the Oscar for the best film is based on a character life sees the downside of India? What really are we upset about?
Why was it not an issue when Lagaan was nominated? Why was it not an issue when Deepa Mehtas water was nominated? Is it the importance of the category then that has upset us? What really has upset us?
Are we not in the midst of this vague debate forgetting that this is infact a very well made film? Danny Boyles Slumdog Millionaire is very rich cinema. It makes you empathise for its characters. The directorial genius that oozes out of all the visual metaphors of the movie is commendable. I like this film for what it is – a film.
No reasons to get personal about it. IF it were only about showing poverty in india and ensuring the film becomes a hit, why haven’t films such as Dharavi, Satya, Chandni Bar, become international hits? If the anger is about showing the most unfortunate situations in India and the slums, many Indian films written and directed by Indians have done the same. Wheres the acclaim? Wheres the nomination? Where is even the mention? For a film to get the kind of acclaims that Slumdog has received, it has to be a good film! And slumdog is one!
Its narrative is poignant, its cast well placed, and its pace apt.
It is not to be mistaken for as a documentary on India. Whether the foreigners who choose to JUDGE India on the basis of this film is their call. Question: Just because American films have a lot of skin show (as compared to Indian films) do we judge them as immoral, lusty people? Just because films from our neighbouring countries are all about Kung Fu, do you think people there can actually fly like in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon? Even those in our own nation who treat Rajnikant as a demigod know that none of Rajnikants tricks is a reality.
As for all the business connect, I am certain that Indias FIIs or FDIs have not been affected one bit cause of its films, are they? Does this film change the fact that we are still one of the best locations for Outsourcing business? If yes, lets just make films of the positives on India and tip toe our way out of recession..
What is this poverty porn we are talking about? Are you against the display of poverty or that it is in India? Is the subtext of the debate that if this film were based in a slum in Indonesia or in South Africa, it was okay? Where is the concern?
We are too used to taking credit for what isn’t ours. Just because the film is based on a character in India, it doesn’t make the film ours to own and dissect. Even if it does win the best film, what’s there for us to be happy about – except A R Rahman, who shines marvelously in this film. The actors of Indian origin need a mention, but certainly the film belongs to someone else, and let him bask in the glory of his achievements. Having said that, there is nothing for us to be sad about.
I urge everyone who feels bad, to do whatever in his or her space, that ensures that India gets the ‘right’ visibility. Let’s appreciate films that show India in the right sense and make them a hit. I have the same questions to ask Indians that we are asking the foreigners. Why are films with better messages failures in India and those that are regressive do better? Are we okay with these facts and not okay with Slumdog getting the acclaim that it is getting? When will we stop joking on Sardars or teasing south Indians for their Accent? Aren’t these the very stereotypes that the biggest of our filmmakers and banners still exploiting to rake the mullah?
Let us not have double standards… I am not endorsing the K serials or regressive films, but simply saying that when we can look at these with no prejudice and simply treat them as work of art meant for entertainment, why get over analytical about one film that’s getting international acclaim on the basis of its merits?
Go watch Slumdog, it’s a good film. That’s all!
first things first, Slumdog is pathetic film. Danny Boyle's claim to fame before slumdog was another eminently unwatchable trash called Trainspotting. The closest he came to make some good cinema was the Leonardo DiCaprio starer The Beach.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Slumdog is concerned, it could have been a good film in some other director's hand. The idea of attachin a story to every question is good one to begin with. But it has to be dealt with effectively. that's where someone like Boyle fails. His scenes are too contrived...and for all the talk of metaphors the film is loaded with tokenism. Just because there is a slum in India there has to be communal riots, n the mummy dear has to die...and one brother goes the honest crime the other follows his love...common, Manmohan Desai was more apt at this!
as far as the castin is concerned...the characters are completely misfits...the protagonist looks like a teenie from some affluent familt rather than time-beaten, unfortunate chaiwallah Jamal Malik...Mr Kapoor, well he hams in the role of a quiz master...(my advice Sanjay Dutt would have been a better choice...coz he has the warmth to reach out to people better...)
Freida Pinto is the only one who does justice to her role...though she hasn't been directed well
And as far as Indian film making it to the oscars are concerned, how can you forget Salaam Bombay...it almost got us the osacrs back in 1989...that was the real 'slum' film, if u like...
in terms of music i think Rahman bhai is just 70% there...he's done better stuff before...the competition at the oscars is tough...Slumdog is pittied against top-notch cinema like Frost/ Nixon and The Curios Case of Benjamin Button...but Slumdog is riding a wave of popularity and the wave might just carry it through the oscars...and still we won't be surprised...but just sad cause there are more deserving films in India and elsewhere