MY VIEWS ON SLUMDOG MILLIONNAIRE
Posted on 25th February 2009
Dear Sir
I quite agree with Priyadarshan’s views on ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ published in your esteemed magazine. The West seems to be obsessed with the poverty in India and leaves no stone unturned to cash upon this.
Considering it an impure act, Indians have traditionally had their toilets far away from their dwelling units. An attached bath-cum-toilet is a western concept. A boy of 9-10 years is old enough to have been socialized. Such a boy, jumping into the shit-pot just so as to procure the autograph of a celebrity, is purely a figment of imagination and seems to be an attempt to project India in ‘filthy’ light. The entire thought is repulsive and Indians should take a firm stand against projecting it in the manner it has been. Indian sentiment abstains people from eating pork because of the pig’s faecal eating habit and here we have a foreign Director showing to the entire world that an Indian boy jumps into a pot of human excreta!
The title ‘Slumdog…’ too is insulting and highly objectionable. Our Indian culture has been of respect and not of insult. We are taught right from our childhood to respect fellow human beings-not to call a lame man ‘langda’ and a blind man ‘andha’. People in the slums are not to be insulted thus. They are self respecting people who work hard to earn their daily bread. They are not to be given the status of a street dog left to scrounge on rotten throw-aways as the movie suggests. No doubt it has brought name and fame to the shanties and to the country but who wants a self-deprecating glory!
All in all, it is repulsive and derogatory to every Indian and I raise my voice to express strong objections to the title and to the scene in the movie.
Nevertheless, my appreciation goes to the humble, man-of few-words A. R. Rahman whose music scores have been refreshingly different and have never failed to touch our hearts. Although a non-technical person, my appreciation also goes to Resul Pookutty for sound editing as my nationalistic spirit refuses to let go of any honour that the world recognizes as well-deserved without being mucky. The child actors too deserve to be praised who got under the skin of their characters with ease. Also, the Indian diplomat writer of the story, Vikas Swarup, who chose to write on such a simple story-line, deserves accolades.
Yours truly
Usha Diptivilasa
Posted on 25th February 2009
Dear Sir
I quite agree with Priyadarshan’s views on ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ published in your esteemed magazine. The West seems to be obsessed with the poverty in India and leaves no stone unturned to cash upon this.
Considering it an impure act, Indians have traditionally had their toilets far away from their dwelling units. An attached bath-cum-toilet is a western concept. A boy of 9-10 years is old enough to have been socialized. Such a boy, jumping into the shit-pot just so as to procure the autograph of a celebrity, is purely a figment of imagination and seems to be an attempt to project India in ‘filthy’ light. The entire thought is repulsive and Indians should take a firm stand against projecting it in the manner it has been. Indian sentiment abstains people from eating pork because of the pig’s faecal eating habit and here we have a foreign Director showing to the entire world that an Indian boy jumps into a pot of human excreta!
The title ‘Slumdog…’ too is insulting and highly objectionable. Our Indian culture has been of respect and not of insult. We are taught right from our childhood to respect fellow human beings-not to call a lame man ‘langda’ and a blind man ‘andha’. People in the slums are not to be insulted thus. They are self respecting people who work hard to earn their daily bread. They are not to be given the status of a street dog left to scrounge on rotten throw-aways as the movie suggests. No doubt it has brought name and fame to the shanties and to the country but who wants a self-deprecating glory!
All in all, it is repulsive and derogatory to every Indian and I raise my voice to express strong objections to the title and to the scene in the movie.
Nevertheless, my appreciation goes to the humble, man-of few-words A. R. Rahman whose music scores have been refreshingly different and have never failed to touch our hearts. Although a non-technical person, my appreciation also goes to Resul Pookutty for sound editing as my nationalistic spirit refuses to let go of any honour that the world recognizes as well-deserved without being mucky. The child actors too deserve to be praised who got under the skin of their characters with ease. Also, the Indian diplomat writer of the story, Vikas Swarup, who chose to write on such a simple story-line, deserves accolades.
Yours truly
Usha Diptivilasa
