by Marilyn De Angelis Pennell

Created on: February 11, 2009

Slum Dog Millionaire: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Hindi Style

Slum Dog Millionaire was filmed on the streets of Mumbai and was recently released this holiday season. The film appears to be on the fast track for several Academy Awards.

Slum Dog Millionaire is a coming of age love story set in the slums of Mumbai, India. This film may be the breakout hit of the year as award nominations pile up. Even for those who have never seen the hit American TV game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" this gem of a film, based on a true story, will captivate. Slum Dog Millionaire is directed by Danny Boyle and stars Dev Patel as the central character Jamal Malik, an illiterate orphan poised to win millions on the TV quiz show.

Hindi and Muslim Cultures Clash in Slum Dog Millionaire

Slum Dog Millionaire draws audiences into the heart and soul of India's morass of hope and despair. Seen through the eyes of two young brothers, Jamal and Salim, orphaned by an attack on their Muslim enclave in Mumbai, this film is eerily prophetic. Though the film does not dwell on the age-old clash between the Hindi and Muslim cultures in India, the violence and unanswered questions of this bloody culture clash set the scene for a tale of love, loss and renewal.

Two Young Muslim Brothers Try to Survive Crime and Corruption of Mumbai Slums

The story is told through the experiences of the younger Jamal and his older brother Salim, as they struggle to survive life in the slums. But though the backdrop of the Mumbai slums is gut wrenching, the boys are full of spirit ad they con their way on trains and work the streets of Mumbai as beggars. Eventually, Jamal winds up as an unlikely winning contestant on the Hindi version of the TV fame show, "Who Wants to be a Millionaire."

Through a series of flashbacks, the brothers' story unfolds, along with the origins of
Jamal's uncanny knowledge that allows him to answer each question on the TV game show correctly. Jamaal's amazing ability gets him into trouble with the Indian police, who think he is a fraud. Jamal is beaten, tortured and interrogated, yet remains true to himself. As he tells his story to the police, his life as a slum dog and his love for a girl he left behind unfolds on the screen.

Slum Dog Millionaire Paints Vivid Portrait of Street Life in India

Though this film wasn't well received in Mumbai because some viewed it as stereotypical, for the American audience, what is perhaps most appealing about this film are the three main characters, Jamal, Salim and Latika. who are heartbreakingly portrayed by three young actors Dev Patel; Ayush Mahesh Khedekar; Madhur Mittal/Azharuddin Mohammed Ismal and Fredia Pinto.

The documentary style cinematography draws the audience into the streets of Mumbai, with all its color, corruption and con men.. The Bollywood style soundtrack also lends an air of authenticity that is quite compelling.

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