slumdog
by satkaran solanki on 2009-02-24 08:05:13.153956+05:30 I am not a film critic. I am not interested in saying anything about quality and the contents of the film "slumdog millionaire". I only have one question for any body who knows - where from the word "slumdog " has come up. I did not find any such word in any dictionary, which can explain or define the word "slumdog". If it is a created word, who created it and can he explain the meaning of the word. If the word "slumdog" means that the residents of slums are dogs then it is really pinching deep to my heart. Even today, if somebody can think the word "dog" for poor man (80% population of world), then it is really shameful.
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Our Efforts Mocked by our Fellow Indians for OSCAR
by TAMAL SARKAR on 2009-02-23 20:25:46.853707+05:30 Rahman wouldnt have won an oscar if the music was for some other film.His music is good but Not Immortal like Shankar Jaikishen or RD Burman .It stays in ears for a month or tow .How many people buy Songs of Taal or Bombay .After their release 2-3 mnths and thats it.Even AR Rahaman had much better composition than Jai Ho. But it didnt go to oscar coz that has not shown Poor India and is made by an Indian.All the oscar credit should go to Danny Boyle who is WHITE and his famous potray of our naked India .No personal credits to any Indians .Get an Oscar for giving music in an Indians film showing the cultural greatness of India and then win the Prize .Gorey ke Jhule mein baithke haar KISI ko OSCAR mil sakta hai.U just need to sell ur self respect and become a SLUMDOG INDIAN
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Slum dog Mill. is pathetic, so is Rehmaan's music
by Rohit Sharma on 2009-02-09 00:53:33.724967+05:30 Rehmaan is a super genious, but Slumdog musc is below standard, it wouldn't have won a Mohalla music conference award in India....And movie is just cashing on the poverty in India...It's sad to see how the west enjoys depicting India like this..
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Slum Dog Millionaire
by Jay Sitlani on 2009-02-08 21:48:06.628399+05:30 For those of you who are whining that "there is poverty in America too," and that a film like this would never have been made in the US about American poverty, you are either incredibly ignorant or just living in your own bubble of phony outrage. Americans are the most active critics of the pitfalls of their own country, and such critiques are a daily affair in all forms of the media. As for being prickly about a "foreigner" making a film showcasing a Mumbai slum, at least Danny Boyle showed the humanity and sense of self-respect that Indian slum dwellers have even in the face of the worst of circumstances. Its more than most Indians do for their fellow Indians who live in slums, and villages that are even worse than any slum. Maybe its time that Indians opened their eyes to see the wretchedness around them. Sometimes it takes an outsider to push you to do that. I've been to many a 3rd world country, and India has the worst slums of them all - and that includes Pakistan.
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ARRahman's comments
by raghavnk on 2009-02-08 11:46:14.576117+05:30 What ARR means, in other words, is that if you want to criticise something, you should do it yourself in the way you want it. This is a strange argument. If I hear bad singing, I can certainly say so even though I may not be able to sing myself. So many examples can be given. It is a question of what one expects from a reputed source and what one gets.
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lumdog Millionairs: Rehman is Right
by Dave Makkar on 2009-02-08 01:15:58.051849+05:30 India is an economically, socially and politically failed state for majority of its 1.2 billion citizens; who can not solve its socio-economic, religious and political problems including its Land dispute with Pakistan since 1948 over Kashmir. Indian citizens rich and poor are sick of Political Leaders they consider morally, ethically and financially corrupt as well as uncaring for the less fortunate. 800 million poor are living in dire poverty that also includes world’s largest army of 85 million child labor. Indian Leadership political, business and religious rather than being ashamed of this are proud to have 800 million Indians living under extreme poverty and inhuman conditions. Such failures have gone largely unaddressed for past 6 decades and still are not being addressed with honesty by any of the Indian leader. Indian Billionaires are living side by side along with almost a billion poor and think of them as sub-human.
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Award for Rehman
by K.Suresh on 2009-02-07 20:29:33.566851+05:30 While A.R.Rehman is undoubtedly a good and gifted musician, the music in SM sounded pretty ordinary - even by Indian standards. So it beats me how he has been getting awards and nominations for this.
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1 It's a FREE WORLD
by Ranjit on 2009-02-09 00:38:34.696065+05:30It's a free world and Rahman, Anil Kapoor and Danny Boyle have their right to expression as do all those who protest against Slumdog Millionaire. Don't cross the line of expression and tread into rash acts of intolerence. We all will do better if we learn to be liberal in our thinking. For those who don't ... soon the time will come to be left behind the rest of the world.
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Slumdog Millionaire
by chandrasekharan on 2009-02-07 14:04:06.063394+05:30 I think Mr.Rehman is right.The movie'Slumdog Millionaire'is not an exaggeration and it shows what only exists.Fortunately the Director happens to be Danny Boyle.Any Indian Director would have messed up the story.It is a novel by an Indian and why there was no objection at all for the story in book form.It is a neat movie, well acted ,well edited and competently directed.
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Motivations and content but not quality
by romesh.sharma on 2009-02-07 12:45:48.615928+05:30 Oscars,golden Globes and even Nobel Prizes are all part of cheap politics with deep western interests.This is a well known fact if a film criticizes own culture,religion,traditions and condemn own system you are liable to get highest rewards and in politics the people who oppose their Govts are immidiately dubbed as dissidents.I find it this Slumdog movie a very average one but with the name Dog is insulting to the poor and people who live in slums.The music is as usual from AR Rahman and slowly getting tasteless.The same kind of shrillness and same kind of drums beat.Moreover Rahman (though manipulated convert)is muslim and when such a person sings and shows adorance to the nation and love/respect to his origin,Hinduism,he is seen and popularized fast and beyond limits.Had he not taken to this name and religion he wouldn't have been so popular and this attitude we see with many other artists in India. Certainly Rahman did best for what he could for fame and success.Congratulations.
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1 Rehman's secret revealed!
by Jayadevan on 2009-02-07 21:09:32.580846+05:30So, now I understand! This is an ISI backed conspiracy to smear Shining India!
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Why AR?
by navneet on 2009-02-07 12:40:31.522166+05:30 I don't know why AR is being dragged in this controversy.The film does show India still a stinking land but it is the truth and if anyone is to be blamed it is the script writer and not AR.
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What would MFHussain Do?
by ramesh chengappa on 2009-02-07 11:25:17.360153+05:30 So going by Rahmans logic...one should not protest MFHussains nude potrayal of Hindu deities..and instead draw the sacred deities of other religions in the nude?? What twisted logic of coconuts...brown outside..white inside!
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1 The same old axe to grind?
by Jayadevan on 2009-02-09 06:14:32.140259+05:30Were you waiting for this opportunity with your one-track mind? Get a life, man! If you have nothing new to say, silence is an ornament for the wise. Nothing wrong in acting wise once in a while.
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AR's statement is irresponsible
by indian on 2009-02-07 11:12:56.966501+05:30 This is an irresponsible statement from AR.. you cannot film in any way and then claim "you take your own film"..The issue is the damage caused by the film and not about taking films..I oppose AR's statement as irresponsible
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1 reåå
by Murali on 2009-02-08 11:58:13.294285+05:30hey.....what make you think,its after all a film,should it be better to make a film of our own country political people exploted our nation in this way..face the truth dude..isnt it real that their no poverty.may be off course our masala directers have to time to show some on screen kissing and hugging..dont act like smark dude-if cant do it u have no right to speak.
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AR Rehman
by mahesh on 2009-02-07 10:18:34.213669+05:30 its just a load of hogwash from our so called moral havaldars of the society.. wake up guys its real that we have povert written all over the landscape of India.. to criticize ARR is wrong and shmefull..he has done as usual a wonderfull job and he deserves all the kudos.
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Average Dog
by shyam kishore on 2009-02-07 10:12:51.514315+05:30 Slumdog is nothing but an average movie. but marketed well . the music is average as well .
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Slumdog...A Ugly Truth..
by Nirav Oza on 2009-02-07 04:35:11.37786+05:30 I agree with Rehman, there is no doubt that India has come a long way and things are improving but "Slumdog" shows the problems which are still very much present in the society and we can't turn a blind eye to it....People like Amitabh and Amir should come out of their air conditioned bunglows and cars to go see REAL India... they should be out there fighting with these evils not turning a blind eye...
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Even America has poverty n homeless
by les on 2009-02-07 03:49:40.988906+05:30 Ok AR Rehaman is right in a certian way. But I disagree that one could get a way taking the same sort of movie in China. Even America has a slums and homeless, and I can tell you that you cant get away by taking that sort of a movie. In India not only can one take a movie, but also be a foreigner. Infact in India its easier to be a foreigner and take this movie than be an India - where are the nationalists. And ARR, critics are there to critisize and not do the same as what you did.
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Hypocracy
by JAS on 2009-02-07 03:33:14.89851+05:30 The depiction of slum life, outraged the national pride of these self appointed patriots and protectors of Indian culture. But living with realities of slum life does nothing to their sensibilities or souls. Do I have to say more?
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I am protesting against Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham
by Sandeep Menon on 2009-02-07 02:37:53.782772+05:30 I'd like to formally launch a protest against KKKG - it shows Indians as super rich folks, loads of expensive cars, huge bungalows and helicopters. India is not so, near to half of our population is below the poverty line - not just poor - but below the poverty line. Do you understand what that is - they have no hope that they will get to eat the next day. Think of that you SOBs who can only cause problems by creating controversies. Damn you!!! The movie was a decent one, the music was very good - and that's it. Tum log jo bina wajah hulla machathey ho - 'na kaam ka, na kaaj ka, dushman anaaj ka...'
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slumdog
by govi on 2009-02-07 01:46:26.872868+05:30 The run down slums have risen because of bangladeshis creeping from all corners, the jehadis are leaving no corners empty.
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Rehman does lift music it is trend with some of our musicians
by govi on 2009-02-07 01:44:32.625753+05:30 The Americans have not heard the real Indian music. Rehman's music sounds the same, it is not so sweet to the ears but loud and drum beating. The only song I like is the national spirited song the rest is commercial and not catchy. It is sheer luck or possibly came into lime lightby a phirangi otherwise he didn't deserve it. Well if you are getting public money and making for public your take on critics makes no sense.who is making you earn millions the public it is not coming from your father's coffers. Well your music didn't stir us, we have a right to our opinion.
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Way to go AR
by Amritha on 2009-02-07 01:35:42.628379+05:30 Good Job Rehman. Who can stop the inevitable like AR. Its high time he received international acclamation. India has plenty of feel good movies, almost all of them are pompous with big mansions, colorful. They are good. I respect Amitabhji for his great contribution to Indian cinema. Having said that I cant help but add Amitabhji, a man of your caliber should appreciate a movie like slumdog millionaire or I am wondering are you just the screen presence guy? The aura you have today is only your screen presence only?. India has some very poor people living in slums.There is poverty in India thats a hard fact. If you live your life from studio to your mansion.How will you understand the beauty of other things? How can you make movies if you live in a box and think within the box?We needed an outsider as usual to bring that beauty out there.There is nothing wrong in being poor.Nothing wrong in accepting it.What good are ego's?Start helping and then suggest.
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True Lies
by Shivraj Patil on 2009-02-07 00:03:15.497571+05:30 My dear friends, everyone of us know that we have slums in india, there is poverty and imbalance in lifestyle of indian citizens but at the same time we must understand that the same is there in America too. Look at New Orleans after the Ktrina havoc and latest i can say deaths in USA due to power failure due to heavy winter snow storms. I have see beggers and homeless both on the streets of Atlanta first time after New York. Difference is they are less in number and density and american channels movie makers do not make a worldwide show to bag oscars. They win oscars for actual skills of covering subjects that cover very sensitive touch that has left critics spellbound. Hollywood directors filming in america do not intend to win oscar by showing their poor mother.Many indian people do not understand that these highly ambitious people like Richard Broyle and others who came to india and gone back have filmed indian poverty scenes because they found an easy gateway to oscars.
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1 Mediocre Rahman
by C S N Murthy on 2009-02-10 10:26:27.102002+05:30Oscar for mediocre Music!If such a bad composition of A R Rahman can get nominated for Oscar just because it is directed by a British and not due to quality. If A R Rahman gets Oscar for his melodyless music then Naushad, S D Burman, Shankar Jaikishen, O P Nayyar, R D Burman and Ilayaraja should have got many Oscars. You can recall these masters briliant composition with Indian roots and melody. In fact A R Rahman's entry killed melodious music of India and introduced some noises. A R Rahman's music can not be recalled as there is not melody involved only copmputer cut and paste. Most of his compositions are copied from various conutry's music and it is repetitive. All our TV channels projecting him as genious is really nonsence as India has produced great composers and Rahman's contribution is to destroy that beautiful music.Hogaya Melody.C S N Murthy
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There are people who look upon their country as their mother. Others like ARR...
by Anand on 2009-02-06 23:31:16.897276+05:30 It is like saying, "if your mother is shown ugly in the cover page of an international magazine, do not whine about it... just put a good picture of your mother in your local magazine".
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Disheartening view
by Amit on 2009-02-06 22:42:58.715281+05:30 Well, I like music of Rahman a lot and would continue to do that but I disagree with him in saying that "this movie would be consistent with humanitarian goals" it simply portrays India in poor light and unfortunately western countries are still under impression that the land of snake charmers can't really progress using IT and BPO skills. Unfortunately many of our own citizens have borrowed that perspective to which most of India ([probably) don't subscribe to. Rahman has given fantastic music as he always does but this time he would win awards because the underlying theme is abject poverty of India. I have no doubts that with the same score in Swadesh or Lagaan, he won't have even come close to winning any og awards that he has won or is slated to win.
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Make your own film: Rahman tells 'Slumdog' critics
by Rajendra Patel on 2009-02-06 22:42:47.859707+05:30 Mr.Rehman I repect you as a person and as a musician but you got to admit that IF THE SAME MOVIE WITH ANY BIG INDIAN DIRECTOR'S NAME COULD NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO GET ANY ATTENSON FROM OSCAR PEOPLE. AND YOU MIGHT BE AGREE THAT INDIAN DIRECTORS ARE NOT LESS TALENTED. BY THE WAY CONGRATS.
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Rahman and Country
by Hemant on 2009-02-06 22:32:38.002048+05:30 AR Rahman is overrated by all accounts. All his music is same for last 10 years.As always we need west's approval to say he is the best. It is responsibility of all citizens to show country in better standing and that includes you too. Hemant,
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slumdog
by subbu on 2009-02-06 22:25:52.779562+05:30 Wellsaid Rahman. i appreciate you for your very very good comment
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2nd class bollywood movie
by ramesh on 2009-02-06 22:24:35.925466+05:30 Slumdog millionaire looks like a second class bollywood movie. There is nothing in it to see except that editing is good. It looks silly and far from reality when a boy who lost his vision and who begs in walway can identify benjamin franklin on dollar. I have gone through such slums and walkway throughout my life and never came across even one who could come any way near such a boy.
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Comments by AR Rahman
by Lakshmi Alagappan on 2009-02-06 21:52:52.796397+05:30 I totally agree with AR Rahman's comments.Slumdog Millionaire is a feel good movie and projects India in such a positive light.It is a wonderful film which shows that shows anyone can make it in life with effort.As an Indian I felt so proud to watch the movie in USA.Everybody loved it and AR Rahman's music was superb.We should be proud of him for getting us International recognition.
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rahman
by true indian on 2009-02-06 21:44:10.424845+05:30 There is no doubt that rahman is great musician,but there is no doubt that this slumdog movie has tried to exploit the poverty in slums to win awards,,i am not saying its bad to show the truth, but its bad to exploit the truth for personal gains,,and rahman is part of that exploitation as well..
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East is east and west is west and never the twain shall meet
by B.V.IYER on 2009-02-06 21:38:47.491787+05:30 The film Slumdog Millionaire depicts the story of a youth in rags from purely a western point of view and naturally highlights the abject poverty of a slum dweller,the high handedness of the police and the people's zeal to achieve something despite the heavy odds.An Indian would probably have seen the story as just a poor young man's determined fight to reach his sweet heart.When Gandhi was asked by an englishman what he thought about the english culture he replied that it was a good idea.As Mr Rahman rightly says if you want an Indian interpretation of the novel let an indian make a film of it.The truth is Boyle's film has been highly acclaimed by the westerners and some like minded Indians. Why not just make an attempt to understand and appreciate why the film has received so many awards and has been nominated to receive so many Oscars.
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THIS GUY THINKS INDIA IS ONE BIG SLUM?
by THIS GUY THINKS INDIA IS ONE BIG SLUM? on 2009-02-06 21:15:01.427212+05:30 So this guy thinks India is one huge slum and challenges anybody to prove otherwise?! What a shame!!
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Indian film in the eyes of Western people
by Jatin on 2009-02-06 21:08:16.774266+05:30 It gives a sense of pleasure to western audience and critics-judges of such “international” awards like Golden Globe, Academy etc to take pride and perverted sense of satisfaction watching the all round corruption, crime, total failure of justice and heart wrenching poverty in India. Yes, it’s all true for India. But such a picture of India gives them the satisfaction and sense of superiority as a race. Majority of such critics and judges are white, western people with very narrow frame of mind. They may be very good in judging a film on western society, but surely not so good in judging a film on Indian society.
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Slumdog Millionaire
by chandrasekharan on 2009-02-06 20:56:39.375607+05:30 I believe Mr.Rahman is right.I saw the film and I kiked the way it was filmed.There is nothing objectionable there in the movie.After all ,what is shown in the movie is not an exgaggeration.Fortunately a British Director handled the story penned by an Indian author.Had it been filmed by any Indian director ,the story would have been messed up.
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Hypocrites
by SKM on 2009-02-06 20:31:21.894048+05:30 Most hypocrites hate the hypocrites...in india we will see this very common in both common and famous people. Amitab Bachan is showing his hidden hypocrisy..When other films in which rape, voilence, immorale (60yrs guy love young lady in cheeni kam), Amitab never felt its beyond morale...all this guys acts bull shit and reamain that in life too while speaking. Just leave the point get back work to what make more better for us.
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Slumdog....a reality check
by Anand on 2009-02-06 20:31:04.481836+05:30 It being a good or bad movie is not as much an issue as the hypocricy of bollywood celebrities. Instead of insulting a foreign director for his portrayal of indian slums, they should get down from their castles and do something to help the poor. Stashing away millions by avoiding taxes is not exactly helping the poor is it? As an Indian I must admit this is a form of reverse racism. Try beating the west by doing better than them and not word beating them. Guys its below the belt. DOnt do this...face the reality... there are millions of poor people in India. We need films like these to remind ourselves that we are not doing anything for them. Put your jealousy aside and work towards modernising India so that in 10 years time no westerner can come to India and make a sequel to Slumdog millionaire.
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Lagaan, taare Zamin??
by alvida on 2009-02-06 20:30:48.682408+05:30 Well, people like Jay also mentioned that Ashoka was a great movie and sent it to Oscars. That was a shame. These guys are like a frog in the well. They will tag on to the Bolywood B grade actors to get some masaala.
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Make your own film: Rahman tells 'Slumdog' critics
by beljamine on 2009-02-06 20:05:22.344462+05:30 well done. indian fils always glamourise everything and now they're jealous that someone has shown the slums but one where there is hope - let them keep on fooling themselves with their glamour and their dirty dancing and erotic immoral scenes. go slumdog millionaire!
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We expect a "good “movie to get the prize, not any movie that highlights poverty in India
by Jay on 2009-02-06 19:55:34.902308+05:30 “Slumdog Millionaire” is just an average movie in bollywood standard. Movies like Lagan, Taare Jameen par, even Swades etc are much, much better movie. But that may be our (“Indian” point of view). The movie “Slumdog millionaire” becomes as good as useless if you read the exceptionally good, original novel by Vikash Swarup. The movie did not do any justice to either the novel or real story of Indian society and slum people. It seems that western media and critics there are obsessed with the idea that India is and ill remain a land of poverty, corruption and crime. I am not denying that and anyone is more than welcome to highlight that part of Indian society. But to judge a film, we expect an uniform standard from the judges, else the whole process and institutions involved will loose its importance one day.
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1 tried their best to remain "politically correct"
by jay on 2009-02-06 21:11:38.329609+05:30Director and crews of the movie probably tried to stay clear of any controversy and tried their best to remain "politically correct". In fact the name of the main character (Ram Mohammad Thomas) was one of the main essences in the novel, which is totally changed in the movie (like many other aspects).
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Just an average bollywood movie
by Jay on 2009-02-06 19:51:06.051604+05:30 Slumdog Millionaire is just an average movie in bollywood standard. Movies like Lagan, Taare Jameen par, even Swades etc are much, much better movie. But that may be our (Indian point of view). Slumdog millionaire movie becomes as good as useless if you read the exceptionally good, original novel by Vikash Swarup. It seems that western media and critics there are obsessed with the idea that India is and ill remain a land of poverty, corruption and crime. I am not denying that and anyone is more than welcome to highlight that part of Indian society. But to judge a film, we expect an uniform standard from the judges, else the whole process and institutions involved will loose its importance one day.
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OUR THANKS TO BOYLE!
by A.Kader on 2009-02-06 19:41:22.610157+05:30 A.R.Rahman is totally right.Boyle made a fantastic film too.The poverty of India is a truth,slumdwellers are a truth.Boyle just depicts the truth.Who is afraid of the truth ?The rich ones who have exploited the poor for centuries, the false patriots and the envious ones want to hide the Indian reality.They are the ones who believe in lies rather than the truth destroy the dignity of India together with our corrupt politicians.Why blame Boyle?He has done a great service to India, the India of the poor and the Indian artists.No film made in India has got so much praise and attention.Let us Indians be proud that our artists are finally getting rewarded for their talents.Boyle did that miracle for India and Indian artists.The film is an artistic masterwork.Instead of being envious under the pretext of Indian dignity and false patriotism , let the critics do something good for India uplifting the poor.
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Make your own film: Rahman tells 'Slumdog' critics
by Rachna Josan on 2009-02-06 19:16:26.837064+05:30 Way to go Mr. Rehman, way to go. And even though what is shown in the movie is part of India's reality why are we ashamed to acknowledge it? And those who are so ashamed, why aren't they doing anything about it? Make a movie, make a hit movie and donate all the revenue generated in building colonies for slum dwellers, in setting up funds for their education instead of opcketing all the money and bringing in imported goods worth lakhs without declaring them. Hike your price and donate some of it to your entourage that looks after all your needs etc. Why slam a few people who have done good work and are being rewarded for it! JEALOUSY? Most certainly. It cannot be anything else!
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AR is a genius
by Brad Solomon on 2009-02-06 19:09:00.053618+05:30 AR is a gift which Gods have bestowed on India. He is the one who gave us the most inspiring musical version of Vande Mataram
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Indian channels
by Vikram Shenoy on 2009-02-06 18:41:51.717522+05:30 The main thing here is that most indeed all of our news channels and movies concentrate either on pompous self boasting of the country or covering useless political and regional propagandas to have more viewers. What they lack is to show to Indians thier real India, which has ever growing poverty, hunger and a dozen of other vices. and unfortunately people from outside India have to come to show all these to Indians and the world. I wonder how BBC show more such programme about India than Indian channels! Indians should accept these facst and try to imrpove it rather than spend thier valuable time in some kind of mere blame game.
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Some people Don'tlike all Bollywood Product
by Jayanti Patel on 2009-02-06 18:21:53.973911+05:30 Many of the Indian films even rougher stories. I agrees with A.R.Rehman,If you have talent to show better side of India Why not show your talent. By the way why did the people lawsuit against Anil and AR ? . Don't think you it is a biased lawsuit?
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You hit the nail on its head, buddy!!
by Enigma on 2009-02-06 17:53:36.026814+05:30 AR you have really put things in the right perpective. People whining about the movie should prove their point and that to Mr Bachchan too. India should be proud of sons like you .
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Rahman refused to comment on a defamation lawsuit filed against him.
