First of all, kudos to the entire team of Slumdog Millionaire who bagged some of the most prestigious awards at the Golden Globe Awards last week. Although I am yet to watch the film, I can surmise an outline of what it is all about from the reviews and analyses that have been splashing the media for the past few days. However, what I fail to gather is why Mr Amitabh Bachchan is so vociferous about the portrayal of glorification of slum dwellers in Mumbai, India through a rags to riches story!
Apparently, Mr Bachchan has problems with the image of India being tarnished at the international level with the country's poverty being displayed in the film. He is also upset about the fact that Satyajit Ray's films got noticed in the global standards while Bollywood's blockbusters never got recognition at the film festivals which matter most.
May I point out that it was Big B who portrayed characters like Vijay in Deewar and a handful of other films as well which categorically harped on the oppression of the poor in the hands of the rich – wasn't India's image being played with, if his argument is to be considered at all! Moreover, the portrayals of the roles of anti-heroes were no less discouraging for the young generation of the 70's, proving him to be no less caring about the society and its people. However, I am not such dumb to not admit that I enjoyed every bit of the work you did all your life.
But I like Satyajit Ray's work more. Firstly, he worked on reality and never fled from accepting that he was a part of a poor country. Just a sparkling portrayal of the unreal with an 'all's bright and beautiful' tag dangling from all sides does not hide the reality. Poverty is still rampant here and Mumbai is home to one of the greatest slums. Entertainment and poetic justice are not the same. Had it been so, a Noddy or a Famous Five would have bagged a Booker instead of 'English Patient' or 'Midnight's Children' winning their dues.
Instead of talking big and shutting oneself to the pathetic financial plight of majority of your countrymen by basking in the glory of Bollywood fantasies, set your foot forward towards some positive moves that would compel global producers to portray India in a better light. Well done, Slumdog Millionaire!
Apparently, Mr Bachchan has problems with the image of India being tarnished at the international level with the country's poverty being displayed in the film. He is also upset about the fact that Satyajit Ray's films got noticed in the global standards while Bollywood's blockbusters never got recognition at the film festivals which matter most.
May I point out that it was Big B who portrayed characters like Vijay in Deewar and a handful of other films as well which categorically harped on the oppression of the poor in the hands of the rich – wasn't India's image being played with, if his argument is to be considered at all! Moreover, the portrayals of the roles of anti-heroes were no less discouraging for the young generation of the 70's, proving him to be no less caring about the society and its people. However, I am not such dumb to not admit that I enjoyed every bit of the work you did all your life.
But I like Satyajit Ray's work more. Firstly, he worked on reality and never fled from accepting that he was a part of a poor country. Just a sparkling portrayal of the unreal with an 'all's bright and beautiful' tag dangling from all sides does not hide the reality. Poverty is still rampant here and Mumbai is home to one of the greatest slums. Entertainment and poetic justice are not the same. Had it been so, a Noddy or a Famous Five would have bagged a Booker instead of 'English Patient' or 'Midnight's Children' winning their dues.
Instead of talking big and shutting oneself to the pathetic financial plight of majority of your countrymen by basking in the glory of Bollywood fantasies, set your foot forward towards some positive moves that would compel global producers to portray India in a better light. Well done, Slumdog Millionaire!
