Rags to riches

As the name suggests, Slumdog Millionaire is the story of the life-changing events that take place in an orphan's life on the streets of Mumbai, India. Based on the novel Q&A by Vikas Swarup and directed by British director Danny Boyle, the movie is the story of a young boy named Jamal who suddenly finds his life transformed after winning the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

In the course of Jamal's story, the lives of thousands of children who live in the slums of Mumbai are depicted, the obstacles, adventures, threats, traumas and experiences they endure to survive in the city.

Winning the pot of gold

Jamal (Dev Patel) is a young orphan who suffers many hardships before appearing on a popular quiz show hosted by veteran Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor. Although a mere chaiwalla (tea boy) — a fact the quiz master doesn't allow him to forget — Jamal answers all the questions correctly despite being questioned and insulted constantly for his knowledge.

The movie constantly moves back and forth between the show and Jamal's poverty-stricken childhood.
Boyle does an incredible job etching the lives of the slum children with scenes such as young Jamal jumping into a pit of faeces just to get an autograph from Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and his acting as a tour guide at the iconic Taj Mahal and conning foreigners to earn some easy money.

Along with Jamal there is his brother Salim and the love of Jamal's life, Latika, who struggle alongside to survive in a difficult world where everything boils down to the survival of the smartest and fastest.

A definite eye-opener

The movie is sure to prompt the audience to indulge in introspection. It is possibly a portrayal of the lives of millions of children who are consciously ignored in India and perhaps worldwide. Although not all of them make it from rags to riches, many do manage to survive by doing all sorts of odd jobs, often at the expense of their self-respect.

Director Boyle has beautifully portrayed the life of an orphan with the moments of glory and bitter sweetness. All in all, Slumdog Millionaire is a definite eye-opener and is a must-watch film that leaves you with plenty to think about and hopefully a better appreciation of your own life.
– The writer is a freelancer based in Dubai