Is Slumdog a Indian Film?

India claims 'Slumdog' as its own, eyes Oscar success

MUMBAI (AFP) — India is claiming "Slumdog Millionaire" as its own after the film's Golden Globes success and is eagerly awaiting next month's Oscars, amid suggestions that it could prompt a change of direction in Bollywood.

The rags-to-riches love story about a Mumbai slum dweller scooped the best film, best director, best screenplay and best music prizes at Sunday's ceremony, making it a contender for Academy Awards glory.

Indian media coverage of the film has eclipsed even that for the country's official entry for the Oscars -- actor-director Aamir Khan's "Taare Zameen Par" (Stars on Earth) -- and is likely to reach fever pitch in the coming weeks.

But few Indians seem to mind that it took a group of Britons to make "Slumdog": director Danny Boyle, screenplay writer Simon Beaufoy and production company Celador Films.

The cast, co-director Loveleen Tandan, music director A.R. Rahman and the Vikas Swarup's novel "Q and A" on which the film is based are all Indian, as is the location, Mumbai's sprawling Dharavi shantytown.

That -- and a part-Hindi dialogue -- is good enough, they proudly point out.

"The movie is totally Indian," Indu Mirani, entertainment editor at the Mumbai Mirror newspaper, told AFP. "It's really good to know that a film that's so totally Indian can appeal to so many people internationally."

The British angle was also irrelevant, she added, rejecting suggestions that Bollywood directors may be piqued at an outsider making an internationally successful movie about India, in India.

Are we claiming a western film to be Indian flim after it's sucess or is it actually a Indian Film?

It is a British film set in Mumbai, India with mostly local cast and crew.  But the creative genious behnid the film is definitely British or foreign.  Reminds me of how India claimed Dr. Khurana was one of theirs when he received the Noble Prize for the structure of DNA.  Yeh hum hindustaaniyon ki purani aadat hai aur waisey bhi, kehtey hain na - Sucess has many fathers....... Edited by Gauri_3 - 15 years ago

It is cent percent Indian. Hollywood has made several pacts in India in 2008 and millions of dollors are flowing into Mumbai that has begun getting state of the art facilities. With Steven Spielberg agreeing to work with Anil Ambani no less, Disney setting up shop and taking up distribution of tv serials and other collaborations, it's not difficult to think the day is far when western nations will move their studios to India. The production facilities are just getting better and better.

Slumdog is a hop from these features. After all who wants to be a millionaire became kaun banega karorpati. Can that be labelled American? Certainly not. Lets hope the global recognition that the artistes got takes them places.

Originally posted by: jagdu

It is cent percent Indian....... 

Originally posted by: gursharan

Are we claiming a western film to be Indian flim after it's sucess or is it actually a Indian Film?

What is your definition of an Indian film?

If by Indian films you mean the ones made by our Chopras and Maniratnams in India then it is not and if that were the case then it wouldn't have been nominated for Golden Globes or Academy Awards because we only qualify under Foreign category.

The fact that SD was nominated for these awards mean that it is not Indian.

But then why are we cheering for it? Because it is an out and out Indian film in our hearts. It is based on a book by an Indian author with most cast and crew as Indians even the casting and co-director and it is based in heart of India. Other than the fact that the dialogue delivery is in English, it is very much Indian in every way.

For the first time I was happy to see a Brown stage :).

As for TZP, personally I think it is an undeserving entry from India. Just because Aamir Khan hypes a film doesn't mean that people all around the world appreciates it. There have been far better films on same subject in India and in Hollywood.

In true sense the film has doubled the claim of some people abroad as India  = hungry people / poor people very nicely,  might as well take the credit, what an honor?

Are we claiming a western film to be Indian flim after it's sucess or is it actually a Indian Film?

Pretty Much yes is the answer. British film prodcued by Danny Boyle and written by and written by Simon Beaufoy. Ok Has indian actors etc and based on yes on the Book Q and A by some Indian Author but that doesnt mean its a Indian Film.  Just because its based on the book doesnt mean its an indian film - its a british film based on an indian person's story if that makes sense. Films script was written by Simon - not by author.  

 

If book was sucess then that means then yes all credit to indian author - same case British film sucess then credit to British film ppl.   I mean you get lots of books that get turned into films but the film's sucess depends on how well film is produced.  

 

 If Hollywood produced a film then sucess is theirs naaa not bollywoods even if it was about an indian guy lol.   See Gurinda Chada's film Bride and Prejudice just cos it has Ash doesnt make it indian film right?  

 

 Yup agreed as its all located and set in india - heart of film makes it Indian film for people but dialogues and all = english - its not a true indian film therefore. Anyways WHo wants to be a millionaire - Uk was first to start it and its format and all - spread worldwide so kaun banega crorepati just got the rights to make it - so even that game show aint indian its british.😆  

 

Edited by anon - 15 years ago

Originally posted by: Maya_M

What is your definition of an Indian film?

If by Indian films you mean the ones made by our Chopras and Maniratnams in India then it is not and if that were the case then it wouldn't have been nominated for Golden Globes or Academy Awards because we only qualify under Foreign category.

The fact that SD was nominated for these awards mean that it is not Indian.

But then why are we cheering for it? Because it is an out and out Indian film in our hearts. It is based on a book by an Indian author with most cast and crew as Indians even the casting and co-director and it is based in heart of India. Other than the fact that the dialogue delivery is in English, it is very much Indian in every way.

For the first time I was happy to see a Brown stage :).

As for TZP, personally I think it is an undeserving entry from India. Just because Aamir Khan hypes a film doesn't mean that people all around the world appreciates it. There have been far better films on same subject in India and in Hollywood.

I think only the media is cheering for it, because they want to make a big issue out of it, but the public in India probably has no idea about the film, and it hasn't even been released there yet. I don't think it will be successful there once it is released there. 

What makes us proud is that a film on India has won these awards not that the film is Indian. Yea there was Indian actors and Indian music, but that is bound to happen if you are making a film on India. If the directors or the producers were Indian then it would make sense to call the film Indian.

But what other Indian movie would you suggest from India that should go to the Oscars, most Indian films are made for commercial purposes only and hardly hold any meaning to them, but TZP at least had a important message for all of us.

What Gauri said - British film based in India.

If Slumdog Millionaire is to Indian film, as Kal Ho Na Ho is a New York film.

ok that is a bad analogy since KHNH did not star any real New Yorkers.

If Slumdog Millionaire is to Indian film, as Letters to Iwo Jima is a Japanese film. Kind of like computers, make is foreign, heart is all Asian.
Edited by return_to_hades - 15 years ago

for me it is, it has asian actors, its set in india, its got bollywood actors i would say it is,