A trip to India via Golden Globe nominee ‘Slumdog Millionaire’

An orphan from the slums of Mumbai makes it on to the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” He answers question after question correctly, and then finds himself under suspicion by police. As Jamal Malik (played by Dev Patel) explains how he came to learn what he knows, our journey aboard an exhilarating cinematic express through India begins.

I found “Slumdog Millionaire,” nominated for a Golden Globe, remarkable in so many ways. The unique story line, the movement, the cinematography, the acting — all of it blew me away.

Plus, it gave me a truly enjoyable two-hour trip into India, and in today’s financially strapped times — forgive me for stating the obvious — but a $12 movie ticket is a lot easier to swing than a $1,200 flight.

See, I’m a self-professed India addict, having spent a good chunk of time there, for work and pleasure. But I’ve been told that there is plenty else in the world to see, so I’m reluctantly fasting from the country for a while. Thankfully, it’s a popular place to shoot and/or set films, so through the big screen, I get temporary fixes.

“The Darjeeling Limited,” which starred Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman, was a fun romp in the glorious color of Rajasthan, where much of the film was shot. Deepa Metha’s moving Oscar-nominated “Water” was set in Varanasi (but actually filmed in Sri Lanka). Award-winning documentary “Born Into Brothels” unfolded in Calcutta’s red-light district — not exactly a go-to on the tourist itinerary, but it was a beautiful telling of heart-wrenching hard truths common in urban India.

Remember the delightful “Monsoon Wedding,” in 2001? That was in New Delhi, and provided an enjoyable glimpse of a wonderful aspect of Hindi culture, the traditional wedding.

Now, back to Danny Boyle’s latest hit, “Slumdog Millionaire”: I relived India through its crowded trains, their chai-wallahs, the Taj Mahal (and a humorous scene related to tour guides), vibrant saris, Bollywood culture references, the A.R. Rahman-driven soundtrack, the intensity.

At the heart of the film, though, is an incredibly moving story that may help you cleanse your tear ducts. India, where faces of the impoverished greet you from the moment you step out of any airport, is full of despairing tales. But will this one end happily? Find out, if you haven’t already. “Slumdog’s” a must-see.

– Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

[Photo: Scene from "Slumdog Millionaire"; Ishika Mohan / Fox Searchlight]

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This entry was posted on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 12:19 pm by Susan Derby and is filed under Arts & Culture, Asia, News, Tips & Advice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.