Sunday, February 1, 2009

Of slums, dogs and millionaires..

So I saw slumdog millionaire this morning finally with a friend. And how did I like it? Well it was good.  In the sense that it showed India. Not the whole of it. But yes definitely a part of it. And they showed reality which we should face and stop escaping from. All the debates, the star quotes, sms polls and the other hype that was created about this particular movie did spoil the fun. I mean I seriously would’ve preferred watching it minus the hype. When you hype a certain think the expectations increase. But still I thought the movie was pretty good.

   This movie as I already mentioned has invited debates from all over the country. The debate is about many issues. Firstly does this movie mock India and its people?

I think no. it does not. We ourselves have made many movies about the Indian scenario loaded with bribery, politics, goondalism, hypocrisy, love, lust, double-standards and underworld. It has showed almost all the above stuff which has been showed in the other movies made in India (I would refrain from using the word bollywood). So why the sudden uproar? Why the hue and cry? Because we Indians can stand being underdeveloped but we won’t like it if some outsider points at our misery! No sir!! How could he do it? None of his business!! So whose business is it?? Ours? So why are we not doing anything about it?? The slums they’re a reality. So what is the solution? Demolish them and who cares anyway were these slumdogs bitches and pups go? As it is we’ve got bigger issues to tackle like ‘valentine’s day’ and the’ pub culture’ and the western influence ruining ‘our culture’. This makes me raise a question what exactly is our culture?? Why any tom, dick and harry can dictate our lives? Who are these self-appointed guardians of our culture anyway? These are cheap publicity hoggers.  

I seriously feel the time and energy spent in these unnecessary issues could be better utilized to safeguard our future. If you really care about women and young girls do something to stop the flesh trade. Stop the dowry system so that no parent will frown at the birth of a girl child and regret not killing it in the womb. See to it that child marriage is not being practiced and women are no longer treated inferior. Irritated about the child beggars that bug you? Ever tried to find out whether they are really orphaned? Why doesn’t the government do anything about it? Well my question is why cant YOU?  Like to roam around the happening places in the city on your to wheelers and waste fuel? Do it. I do too. But ever considered spending some time with any ngo and utilizing your time for a better cause? Wake up!

All this can definitely end. I sincerely believe in our generation. I think we’re much smarter much more capable than our elders and we are lucky to be a part of a developing nation because it makes us adaptable. Remember survival of the fittest theory? But this does not mean, of course, that we should be as they say’ like that only’. This laziness and shamelessness has to be dealt with

And about the second debate whether we need a foreign hand to be capable enough to win the Oscars? NO! NAH! NAHI! Why the whole fascination with the Oscars dude? It’s a pretty obvious thing. We make movies which suits OUR audiences. Hate the singing and dancing around trees? Well I think we should be proud of it!! No were else will you see such a thing! And I believe that there are some classics (aradhna, anand, saransh, rdb, etc. to name a few) that Indian cinema has given us. Which definitely do not need an Oscar. Oscars are no parameter to judge Indian cinema. And A.R. REHMAN has given us many better songs and better music for sure in swades, lagan, roza, rang de basanti etc. His vande mataram gives me goose bumps. So Oscar or no Oscar rehman you’re the best! And we definitely are proud of you. Having said that let me also confess that A.R. is truly deserving of the nomination.

      So that’s that... Now I’ve to study for EVS VIVA. Frustrating concept. But I’ll write about it later… J go see the movie. Hindi or English does not matter... And please do something for our motherland. 

5 comments:

  1. well aditi, i feel when you are showcasing yourself internationally, u must show ur strengths other than portraying bad image of the country. Ofcourse if you depict such kinda image of a country before other countries, you'll definetly lose respect. Just like you never talk about minuses of ur home before outsiders, though you discuss stuff and negatives within your family members. So yeah thats the difference.. I was pretty excited that we have a movie for oscars nominations that will represent our country, but then after watching it i realised the fact, that it wasn't worth sending for oscars. Even if we dont enter the oscars, even if we dont get trophies, even if we dont get recognition, its justified as long as we are living in the world with a dignity. Thats the key thing.
    But as a movie slum Dog was nice.. i wont say really good. but yeah it was nice.. that was my view point.. lets c what others have to say to this.. :)

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  2. hmm.. good point. but the thing is we never seem to make such a movie..even rdb was a good movie that showed how there is corruption even in armed forces but it did not get nominated.. munnabhai meets gandhiji.. a nice movie about our glorious past but does it not show our weak points too?
    and this movie does not aim to show India in bad light..let me remind you that this movie was adapted from a novel Q&A written by an Indian.. so this movie essentially points out that how jamal the protagonist inspite of all that happened with him and inspite of knowing everything about latika still his love for her never dies.. and the logic behind him answering all the questions was indeed good too. and the movie has shown the truth hasnt it?
    :) lets hope we win the oscars atleast..

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  3. hhmm...a lot to taalk about.lets go one by one :)

    1. I saw it "as a movie",and felt it was worth watching once :)About the intent part of it..I dont care.
    We have laws for screening the content not the intent.So, no issues with Freedom of Expression.

    2. About the image of India, it potrays to outside world...well, does that really matters ?? Image of a nation that cannot reply to attack on its integrity(26/11) cant be degraded further by a mere movie!

    3.About Oscars,as you ppl said even RDB and Munnabhai were also worth giving a thought..but then...an award cant make or marr the charm of a movie or decide the fate of the movie.So, I dont really bother if the movie gets any award or not.

    4.Last but not the least,I am not sure whether we can say it a Indian movie just because the plot and some characters are local ! So,even if the movie wins any oscar,I wont consider it an Indian achievement...

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  4. @relentless seeker..
    ya even i saw it as a movie.
    we've got enough uncensored scenes in other movies so this was ok..
    good pt. on the image of india and thats what i've written in the post havent i? we have a lot to work on.. AND i also mentioned in the post that an oscar cannot give justice to indian cinema..but even if we bag one so much so..i dont care 4 d movie winnin an oscar if it does good.. i care 4 AR REHMAN winnin..he's an indian.. :)

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  5. hahahha...yeah..even I have my hands(fingers wont serve this big cause) crossed for Rehman :)

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