The Information: Thanks Are In Order

Works Cited

“Slumdog Millionaire.” Rotten Tomatoes. 2008. Web. 15 April

        2011. <http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/slumdog_millionaire/#>.

Slumdog Millionaire. Dir. Danny Boyle. Perf. Dev Patel, Freida

         Pinto, and Saurabh Shukla. Fox Searchlight, 2008. Film.

“Slumdog Millionaire.” Wikipedia. 2011. Web. 1 May 2011.

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The Film: A Cinematic Art Form

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        With vibrant colors, beautiful sounds, and the utter essence of Indian culture, Slumdog Millionaire portrays Mumbai with an expert style. Mixing the harsh reality of the dangerous streets of the slum, and the childlike faith and positivity of Jamal K. Malik, the result is a film that proves to be a touching and riveting tale.

            Directed by Danny Boyle, this romantic drama takes the audience on an emotional journey. One experiences horror, anger, revenge, tenderness, love, and happiness, all within one movie.  The musical elements of this cinematic work greatly adds to the emotional aspect of this film. Latika’s Theme is a moving piece that truly encompasses this character’s life. One is able to feel heartache, pain, and a semblance of hope within this musical composition. Jai Ho and O Saya,  sung by AR Rahman and M.I.A., are dramatic pieces that allow you to feel the energy of the Indian culture.

            This movie is a work of art from the creative standpoint. The visual and musical elements in the cinematic work are brilliant and truly leave the audience mesmerized. And to top it all off, the entire cast pays homage to Indian tradition by in a Bollywood dance at the end of the film.

Priceless.

The Contestant's Sweetheart: A Love Found

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         From childhood, Jamal and Latika have had an unbreakable bond that through the course of times and trials, remains intact. In the midst of a heavy rain, and the streets of Mumbai being in shambles after the violent anti-Muslim outbreak, Jamal meets Latika for the first time by providing a roof over her head. However, Salim is never a fan of his brother’s new friend in their childhood days. Yet, Jamal and Latika’s connection goes beyond the older brother’s attempts to sever it.

            When the three children are working for the Mumbai gangster, Maman, there is a tender, childlike moment in which the audience sees the innocence of Jamal and Latika. Jamal is sitting on the steps, beside his new friend, and they talk of the future and how they will be rich if Maman is pleased with Jamal’s singing voice. This sweet picture shows that they still believe the best of people, and have a grand vision of the future. However, what Jamal is unaware of is the fact that this evil gangster physically blinds the young boys who have the best voices, so that they may make even more money for him as street beggars. Salim is tipped off to this reality when he is forced to witness this cruel act being done, and when he is asked by Maman to send for Jamal, he knows they must escape. The Malik boys cause a scene and begin to run, calling for Latika on the way. Provided with a means of escape on a freight train, the boys jump on, yet Salim releases his grip of Jamal’s sweetheart, who then is left in the hands of Maman.

            Despite all of the obstacles that crowd the way of these two lovers being together, they ultimately find a way. Even though Latika is in the midst of prostitution in her adolescent days, and raped by Salim, Jamal still loves her and desires her to be with him. Years go by, and Jamal neither sees Latika or Salim. Until one day, this main character reunites with his brother, and punches him in the face for the horrific act he did to Latika. However, Jamal soon discovers that Salim knows the whereabouts of his long-lost lover. He finds her at the home of one of the richest gangsters in India, whom Salim works for, and disguises himself as the new “dishwasher.” He is looking around the kitchen, and notices that the TV program “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?” is on the screen, when Latika enters. She urges him to leave, pleading that it is too dangerous for him to remain in the household, because he could be killed if he was found out. Jamal parts with Latika, yet tells her to meet him at the train station at 5 o’clock. When she seems unsure, he goes on to add that he will wait every day until she comes. 

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           The first time she tries to escape, she is discovered. Chased down at the train station, Latika is forced by a mob of men who work for the powerful gangster, including Salim, to get into a car and leave. In the process, one of the men mercilessly slashes her across the face, causing her to cry out. Jamal witnesses this scene, yet is determined to not give up hope. By a stroke of luck, Jamal Malik ends up on the program “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?” His sole reason for appearing on the popular TV show is in hopes that Latika will be watching. And after Salim redeems himself partially, by allowing Latika to escape, this woman is the one who answers the cell phone when Jamal uses his lifeline to “phone a friend.”

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            After the program, Jamal Malik rushes to the train station, hoping the love of his life will be there. Draped in a beautiful yellow head scarf and standing on the platform of the train station, Latika is the picture of beauty. Jamal runs to her, and it is almost as if all of the emotions that have built up throughout their separation simply overflow. Tenderly kissing her scarred cheek, you see the sadness the two experience over the years they have lost. When Jamal moves to kissing her on the mouth, one senses his protectiveness, and it’s almost as if he is silently uttering the words, “I will take care of you.”

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            The beauty of this reuniting is incredibly moving. One cannot help but rejoice as this love which once seemed utterly lost, has now been found again.

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The Contestant's Brother: An Innocence Lost

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               Because of his need to grow up quickly after the violent death of his mother, Salim Malik is a hard, and ruthless character, with animalistic survival instincts.  He rises up as a superior to his younger brother, Jamal. Assuming the role of the decision maker, Salim is the one who navigates he and his brother through the rough streets of the Juhu slum during their childhood days. The pair beg, steal, and fight their way through life. 

             Stubborn and determined, Salim’s “never give up” mindset is something to commended, yet the choices he makes throughout life are less than honorable. Jamal, the younger of the Malik boys, is the one who is characterized in the film as a compassionate and forgiving individual. Even though this main character has been through hellish conditions, his disposition and zest for life remains unaffected. It is almost as if he holds onto his childlike innocence and belief that all in life is good. He is the one who provides shelter for Latika after the anti-Muslim violence that occurs in their slum.  Taking this young girl under his wing, Jamal feels a fierce sense of protectiveness and affection toward Latika. His older brother, however, lost his innocence very early in life. No longer seeing the silver lining, Salim views life from a much more grim perspective. And when Jamal, Salim, and Latika are running from the wicked child-trafficker, Maman, Salim is the one who lets Latika’s hand go. If he had only cared enough to not that relinquish his  grip, he would  have saved this young girl from a life of prostitution, and his brother from a world of heartache.

           

         With Machiavellian ideologies, this adolescent sees life as something to be conquered. He learns that he must become callous in order to survive, so he becomes greedy and money hungry. Salim becomes involved with one of the most powerful Indian gangster’s in his teenage years and participates in illegal activitiy, such as, childhood drinking, murder, theft, and even the  raping of his brother’s childhood sweetheart, Latika.

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        In his adult life, he is wealthy, yet unhappy. He lives a dangerous and unethical lifestyle. In the end, he feels guilt for his actions, and redeems himself somewhat by allowing Latika to escape the grips of the powerful gangster he works for, who merely uses this young woman. By giving her the keys to his car, Salim provides Latika with a way out, and a way to be reunited with his brother, Jamal. However, despite this thoughtful gesture, Salim Malik still feels remorse for all he has done and constructs a plan to  end his life. Knowing that his boss will kill him for letting Latika escape, Salim fills a bathtub full of money, and with a loaded gun waits for the men to discover his whereabouts. When they enter the bathroom, a round of gunshots are fired, bullets fill Salim’s body, and ironically a  bloodbath is created in the midst of that claw-foot bathtub. Perhaps, the money filling the tub symbolizes the fact that Salim was driven by money.

And ultimately, it was the death of him.

The Contestant

                                            

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        Orphaned, without hope, and living in the slums, Mumbai teen, Jamal Malik possesses memories of a tragic childhood and lost love. If anything, Jamal from a human standpoint does embody the title of “slumdog.” He grew up very poor and quite helpless. At the beginning of the film, this main character loses his mother to the savage attacks of an anti-Muslim rampage. She is brutally murdered, leaving Jamal and his older brother Salim to survive the Indian streets alone.


            Fleeing the violence, the two young brothers seek out shelter just to pass the night. Amidst their travels, they stumble upon a girl, Latika, who is alone and desperate as well. Because of his tender heart, Jamal begs his brother, Salim to let her accompany them. However the older Malik is strictly concerned with survival and has no desire for the young girl to join them. Yet, Jamal has his way and Latika joins them, becoming their third musketeer.

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         Later the three meet up with a crafty gangster, Maman who
exploits the children, forcing them to sing and beg for money. This wicked man recognizes the talent Jamal has, and tries to set up a trap in which he will blind the young boy so that he will make more money on the streets. Salim, however, discovers Maman’s intentions and urges the younger Malik to flee with him.
Successfully escaping, the two Malik brothers spend the next two years aboard trains. Pick-pocketing and selling goods provide them with a deceptive means of livelihood. Finding shelter in the luggage areas, the two boys safely pass their nights and later emerge as adolescents on the grounds of the tracks a few years later.


            However, Latika is not present at this point in the film. Salim intentionally left her behind in the evil clutches of Maman. Because of this selfish decision, this young girl experiences some very dark days which we will soon discover.




If only the “third musketeer” had not been left behind.

The Inspiration

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            Directed by Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan, Slumdog Millionaire is an riveting and inspirational British film  about a teen from Mumbai, India, Jamal K. Malik. This story shows how Malik became a contestant on the Hindi version of "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?"

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 Exposing both the horrors of the slums as well as the tenderness of a childhood romance, this movie sends its audience on an array of emotional journeys. Touched by the beauty of this motion picture, I chose to blog about Slumdog Millionaire because I appreciate cinematic works that make an impact. This movie did just that for me.

            Colorful and vibrant, this movie also possesses a great deal of culture. The musical scores are moving, adding an expert element to the film. I, for one, love music. Music is a language in itself that transcends any linguistic barriers between cultures.

            Having only played the part of a spectator, I do not have a great deal of background knowledge on Slumdog Millionaire. I only know what I have gained from the film itself. The director's inspiration or the film's authenticity is completely unknown to me. However, these are areas I wish to explore throughout my blog posts.

            According to Roger and Ebert, "Slumdog Millionaire hits the ground running. This is a breathless, exciting story, heartbreaking and exhilarating at the same time..."

I agree wholeheartedly.