Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire

For generations, we've bemoaned the chains of british and arabic rule in our "Hindustan" that has ravaged and left us penniless, defenseless and culture-less. In every instance in history, the common factor turns out to be that we've been brought to the world's stage not by one of our own, but by someone from outside our shores. We lived divided amongst ourselves for centuries and were content with the status-quo. We called ourselves marathas, dravidians and so on... We fought each other as pandavas and kouravas. We never managed to unify ourselves to be one of the imperalists, and found solace instead, in fighting them for our own freedom.

All said and done, and looking at who we are today, we stand again at the world's stage - led by another 'foreigner', a videshi - Danny Boyle. It is incredibly ironic that an american who has never set foot in india till he began working on this movie, has been the one who was most successful in narrating the story of today's India. Right from the slums that we try to overlook, to the daily struggle of the deshpande's and srinivasan's amongst us, to the myriad other people who strive every passing day to distinguish themselves from the milling crowd that they are part of and yet wish to conform to the thoughts of that same crowd. The flavor of the real country is here in this movie. What distinguishes it though, from the countless other reality based movies that Bollywood has been known to push out year after passing year - is the message of hope, contentment, of the confidence that pervades every single youngster that he/she will make it in the world; the sense of fiery ambition amidst happy contentment for what they currently have.

This movie is in essence a celebration of what is currently India - no analysis, no make up, and definitely no cliche. Its the thought of seeing oneself in the mirror and saying - 'well, this is me and I like it' :) There is fantasy in there - sure, the movie is after-all, mainstream. It also has the usual drama and politics, but it is in the portrayal of the motions that the people go through when they play these same games, that we find a refreshing change in what we've all come to love as an Indian movie.

The policemen who secretly kidnap and interrogate Jamal in the first place, based on Anil Kapoor's suspicion. The inspector who has grown tired of seeing crooks everywhere and sees the same in Jamal until he starts narrating his story. The sub-inspector, who has no time for this nonsense and just wants to get it over with. The show host who is comfortable in his stereotypes and refuses to allow a nobody to become the star because he doesn't fit the mold. The girlfriend who has to make choices everyday to live in the real world. The child traffickers who maim kids to make an extra buck. These characters are real; we see them every day. Yet, it takes Danny Boyle to make a movie that doesn't forget the story line midway. It takes a person who has never been here, to see the real india of now.

I guess we must be happy that someone has told our story at all; but I've a feeling that India as a country is going through yet another rendition of this same story over and over again - in economics, in trade, in agriculture and even in politics. I'm yet to to see a scenario where we've come to unite under one of our own to reach the world stage. What is it that makes one indian think that another indian in incapable of doing the right thing, or doing it well? I've noticed that once we leave indian shores, Indians are very friendly with everyone except another fellow indian. I've noticed it on more than one occasion. We're also content in letting someone else take our decisions for us. Could it be that deep down inside, we don't consider ourselves to be a first class citizen of the world, having been through centuries of voluntary enslavement? Every one of these statements is a supposition. Yet, I hope that I am proven wrong. We seem to be the best workers, the best 'value-for-money' in the market right now. We're even have the advantage in being able to use english as a language across the nation. Yet, all that is great in India is thanks to the MNCs that sell us a vision of the outside world, delivered by local folk.

Is it correct to say that Indian excellence is safe in the care & nurture of everyone except another Indian? :)