Movie Review: Slumdog Millionaire
Producer: Christian Colson, Tessa Ross and Paul Smith
Director: Danny Boyle
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Dev Patel, Irrfan Khan, Frieda Pinto and Saurabh Shukla
Music: A R Rahman
 The much-awaited ‘Slumdog Millioniare’, the movie that got 10 Oscar nominations (out of which 3 for music director A R Rahman) and won Golden Globe for the music maestro A R Rahman, is finally out in theaters. Christian Colson, Tessa Ross and Paul Smith’s production under the banner Celador Films, this enterprise is the direction of Danny Boyle and stars the likes of Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Dev Patel, Saurabh Shukla and Freida Pinto in the pivotal roles. The movie, which was almost under shadows some time back, got into real limelight internationally when A R Rahman won the Golden Globe in USA.
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ pours the light on the life of the slums in Mumbai.
The flick is the story of a slum dweller Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) who lands on the hot seat of India’s ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’. In a call center, Jamal is a Chaiwala. On the show, he manages to answer all the questions correctly. This makes the host of the show (Anil Kapoor) suspicious, who then hands him on to the police for cheating for million bucks. But when the policemen (Irrfan Khan and Saurabh Shukla) fail to prove his crime (that he has cheated), they make Jamal tell the story of his unusual knowledge. This brings the fact before them as to what was the purpose behind to enter the show. This was for his beloved (his childhood love) Latika (Freida Pinto). The lovers were separated when Jamal’s cagey elder brother (Madhur Mittal) got Latika kidnapped by a notorious gangster for selfish gains.
The climax depicts whether Jamal manages to free his love Latika and earn money bag as well…!
‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is a love story and Danny Boyle has very aptly treated it like a Hindi movie, which is why it grows well with the Indian audiences. The screen writing is a class in itself and appears to be very viewer friendly. The script does not make the viewer to be in a complicated situation rather helps him understand the frames easily. The writer Simon Beaufoy’s screenplay looks energetic and catchy and holds the viewer’s attention throughout the film. The story really works big time.
Danny Boyle’s direction is flawless. He delivers the goods on the screen with aplomb. His storytelling techniques get the viewer glued to the seats till the last frame.
A R Rahman’s music is magnum opus and the entire world has known this fact now. The cinematography by Anthony Dod is brilliant. He has captured the slums of Mumbai with brilliance of his camera.
Dev Patel, the main protagonist, is fantastic to watch. Frieda Pinto enacts luminously. Anil Kapoor portrays the character of a host with conviction. Irrfan Khan and Suarbh Shukla do real justice to their roles. Rest of the cast is great as well.
On the whole, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is a MUST WATCH. A creatively made film on a brilliant subject, which certainly deserves applauds.
RS Rating: 4/5
Film Critic: Goher Iqbal Punn
What are your views on this Oscar nominated film, which also won Golden Globe for A R Rahman? Please share with us.
- The reviewer is a popular and experienced Bollywood and Indian TV Analyst and laced with a good rapport with both of these fraternities and the people associated with these entertainment worlds. He also shares a good rapport with the celebs of these swanky worlds. You may contact him at the e-mails: goheriqbal@yahoo.co.uk and goher.punn@yahoo.com
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