After the 26/11 attack (which still is one of the debatable questions in India, but nothing seems to be happening on that front—Kasav's trial is still pending, and after almost two months, Indian Defense Minister, Mr Pranab Muherjee still seems to believe that Pakistan will act on terror and if it's not his belief even then he is trying really hard to make Pakistani government act; we all are very well aware of what the outcome would be though.) India and Indians have got a new topic to talk about—the Slumdog Millionnaire. It had been the hottest topic of discussion in India these days. It has been there in the newspaper, magazines, on blogs, news channels,our homes, our offices, our regular gossips... almost everywhere.
And the movie is grabbing all attentions—for all the good as well as bad reasons. Some people are going ga-ga-ga over it. About a dozen of my friends did ask ( and are still asking) me to watch it, they claim it is a must watch. And there is a whole bunch of guys who are just criticizing it for their very own reasons, and in their very own way. Some are doing it via blogs (Amitabh's, Arindam's blog are the famous examples), and some are doing it through newspapers or news channels. But whatever their mean is, they all have one 'valid' point they say,
“This is an attempt by a foreigner (make it Danny Boyle, its director) to show our country down. It is nothing but a negative movie about India, which is not acceptable, not atleast to the Indians (they claim that they are) who love their land. ”
Are these guys right? Is their statement valid when they claim it is an attack on the prestige of our nation? Why there is so much fuss about the movie ever since it got 10 nominations in the Oscar?
I was just going through all the criticisms in the newspapers, blogs and even in the conversations of all those who are around me, and I was wondering why some people are taking this movie so personally. I don't know. I haven't seen the movie yet. I know I might sound like one of those stupids who just keep blabbering about any topic regardless whether they know anything about it or not. But hey, what if I haven't seen the movie, I have read the novel “Q & A” which it is said to be based on. So, I guess I qualify as someone who can atleast analyze if not comment on the movie.
What makes Indians think that it is a negative movie about India. As far as I know the movie is about about Ram Mohamad Thomas, the protagonist in the novel and the movie of course, who (you either call it fortunately or unfortunately) belongs to the slums of Mumbai. Is it really an attack on our (India's) prestige? I desist. I accept I don't know whether the movie is a complete adaptation of the book or has Danny modified the script to (make in anti-Indian) add some spice to it (just as what he used Hindi songs for). I am also not sure how he has demonstrated the slums and the suburban streets of Mumbai in the flick, but you just can't deny that slums, corruption, prostitution, and crime are as much part of our country as is our cultural heritage and traditions.
Well, well...I know we, Indians, are emotional and especially when it comes to our country, mothers, sisters, or fathers, we just can't take it—nothing offensive against our country or loved ones no matter how true the facts are we won't accept the truth. Never in front of the outsiders, and I sincerely respect the way we think and treat our nation and loved ones. Even I can't. After all I am an Indian too.
But don't you think in this case we are just overdoing it. Agreed, we didn't like the way India has been portrayed in the movie, we didn't like why the slums, beggars, and corruption is being highlighted in the movie—but isn't all that true. Ok, if you want a clarification why only the uglier side is being shown and not our best face (which is the traditions, value, morals, honesty, and respect for the relationships and people that we have). Then guys, I guess you forgot what the movie is all about. It is about Ram, a slum dweller who is from India. Had the movie not been an adaptation of the Vikas' novel, then the protagonist could have belonged to any other country of the world, India is not the only place where slums are.
Why can't we just accept it as any other movie which talks about the life of a slum dweller and not India? Why we are questioning the intentions of the Western director who made the movie and not that of Vikas who actually wrote the story (and is also an Indian)? And why are we taking it so long to accept the naked truth as it is, why are we running away from the naked truth under the name of patriotism? Aren't we?
And the movie is grabbing all attentions—for all the good as well as bad reasons. Some people are going ga-ga-ga over it. About a dozen of my friends did ask ( and are still asking) me to watch it, they claim it is a must watch. And there is a whole bunch of guys who are just criticizing it for their very own reasons, and in their very own way. Some are doing it via blogs (Amitabh's, Arindam's blog are the famous examples), and some are doing it through newspapers or news channels. But whatever their mean is, they all have one 'valid' point they say,
“This is an attempt by a foreigner (make it Danny Boyle, its director) to show our country down. It is nothing but a negative movie about India, which is not acceptable, not atleast to the Indians (they claim that they are) who love their land. ”
Are these guys right? Is their statement valid when they claim it is an attack on the prestige of our nation? Why there is so much fuss about the movie ever since it got 10 nominations in the Oscar?
I was just going through all the criticisms in the newspapers, blogs and even in the conversations of all those who are around me, and I was wondering why some people are taking this movie so personally. I don't know. I haven't seen the movie yet. I know I might sound like one of those stupids who just keep blabbering about any topic regardless whether they know anything about it or not. But hey, what if I haven't seen the movie, I have read the novel “Q & A” which it is said to be based on. So, I guess I qualify as someone who can atleast analyze if not comment on the movie.
What makes Indians think that it is a negative movie about India. As far as I know the movie is about about Ram Mohamad Thomas, the protagonist in the novel and the movie of course, who (you either call it fortunately or unfortunately) belongs to the slums of Mumbai. Is it really an attack on our (India's) prestige? I desist. I accept I don't know whether the movie is a complete adaptation of the book or has Danny modified the script to (make in anti-Indian) add some spice to it (just as what he used Hindi songs for). I am also not sure how he has demonstrated the slums and the suburban streets of Mumbai in the flick, but you just can't deny that slums, corruption, prostitution, and crime are as much part of our country as is our cultural heritage and traditions.
Well, well...I know we, Indians, are emotional and especially when it comes to our country, mothers, sisters, or fathers, we just can't take it—nothing offensive against our country or loved ones no matter how true the facts are we won't accept the truth. Never in front of the outsiders, and I sincerely respect the way we think and treat our nation and loved ones. Even I can't. After all I am an Indian too.
But don't you think in this case we are just overdoing it. Agreed, we didn't like the way India has been portrayed in the movie, we didn't like why the slums, beggars, and corruption is being highlighted in the movie—but isn't all that true. Ok, if you want a clarification why only the uglier side is being shown and not our best face (which is the traditions, value, morals, honesty, and respect for the relationships and people that we have). Then guys, I guess you forgot what the movie is all about. It is about Ram, a slum dweller who is from India. Had the movie not been an adaptation of the Vikas' novel, then the protagonist could have belonged to any other country of the world, India is not the only place where slums are.
Why can't we just accept it as any other movie which talks about the life of a slum dweller and not India? Why we are questioning the intentions of the Western director who made the movie and not that of Vikas who actually wrote the story (and is also an Indian)? And why are we taking it so long to accept the naked truth as it is, why are we running away from the naked truth under the name of patriotism? Aren't we?
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