Slumdog Millionaire

Do you believe “Gitanjali” was best creation of Rabindranath Tagore for which he got Nobel? I think there are quite a few master pieces written by Tagore, but Gitanjali wasn’t the only best.
But, none of us have any doubt about the Legendry Bengali poet, that he worth a Nobel. And he got it, so it is important that his work was recognized.

I think the same way when A. R. Rahman got the Oscar for “Jai Ho” song in “Slumdog Millionaire”. Rahman was exception in many of his creations, like the music in Roja, Bombay, Tu hi re, Dil se, Rang de Basanti, etc where few songs unequivocally enchanted millions of listeners. The combination of traditional and modern, North and South Indian mix, made Rahman a legend much before he has given music for “Jai Ho” lyric by Gulzer, who also grabbed a joint Oscar with Rahman.

Definitely they worth Oscar and they got it. We are proud of them. It’s a great moment for Indian film industry as the Slumdog team got 8 Oscar and 3 for Indians.
But this Oscar is for this year and only for Hollywood, so it is expected that his other songs were not eligible to be nominated, but I have seen many critics who are just criticizing without knowing the boundaries of Academy Award.
THE OSCAR WINNERS for this movie are... Best Picture: Producer Christian Colson for Slumdog Millionaire. “It has been collaboration between hundreds of people. All of us are here to share this moment. This was an extraordinary journey,” says the Slumdog... team.

Best Direction: Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire

Best Original Song: A R Rahman and Gulzar for ‘Jai Ho...’ (Slumdog Millionarie) The Indian music maestro, Rahman wooed the audience with ‘O Saya’ and ‘Jai Ho...’ the nominated songs from ‘Slumdog...’, as the nominees for Best Original Song were being announced.

Best Original Score: A R Rahman for Slumdog Millionaire . “I have nothing but my mother and she is there with me. I thank her for making me coming all this way with her blessings,” said a proud Rahman.

Best Film Editing: Chris Dickens for Slumdog Millionaire

Best Sound Mixing: Ian Tapp, Resul Pookutty and Richard Pryke for Slumdog Millionaire. “This is just not a sound award, but a history being handed over,” said Indian receiver Pookutty.

Best Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle for Slumdog Millionaire

Best Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy for Slumdog Millionaire. “The cast and crew of the film told me so much about India and writing,” said a proud Beaufoy.

By Movie 2009 Oscar Prize
Slumdog Millionaire - 8
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - 3
Milk - 2
The Dark Knight - 2

But now almost in every site, in many blogs I have seen people questioning whether “Slumdog Millionaire” is worth winning 8 Oscar prize. Had it been an Indian production, would it been recognized like that? It achieved the excellence as it is a Hollywood production movie. I guess the critics are doing a big mistake here. Oscar is for Hollywood and apart from Hollywood movies, the only category where the other can compete is the best International Movie.

So, basically its giving a different message that, Bollywood movies are of excellent quality and widely acceptable. If a film like “Slumdog Millionaire” plotted on Mumbai with Indian values can crack so many Oscar, then it would have been miracle every year if all Bollywood movies can compete in all categories in Oscar.

Some critics have the concern of portraying Indian poverty and slums in this movie. But there are real facts. We can’t ignore the millions of common poor destitute who are struggling for both ends meat, working day in and day out to fulfill basic needs. We can’t hide them in the glamour of Bollywood films, neither should we hide it. . I liked the film and enjoyed every moment of it. The editing is excellent as the sequence of actions will never be boring to the viewers. I liked the concept in the film because I am firm believer of destiny.

In few site I have seen Western Goras are calling Deshi Indians as “Slumdog”. It may be because of jealousy or for the superiority complex. But this is also fact. In India we have at least 100(if not more) “Slumdog Millionaire” who started from scratch and now a millionaire, including many industrialists, like Dhirubhai Ambani, Ajim Premji, etc. Well, it may not be the fluke as shown in the movie, but in reality that can be possible.

Apart from Slumdog, Megan Mylan won Oscar for Smile Pinki on Best Documentary Short Subject Category, which is based on Benaras.

What’s goanna happen now? We will see many eminent directors and producers from Hollywood will come to India with some Asian plots. It will give a boost in Indian film industry. I can see another possibility, few Indian production houses will be launched in Hollywood. That will be a golden day for Indian film Industry when we will bag Oscars in all categories by our own production house as I believe films like “Tare Jameen Par” “Rang de Basanti” “Lage Raho Munnabhai” “Dil Chah Ta Hay” are far more better than this year best International Movie “Slumdog Millionaire”.
P.S : Pics are not captured by me :) LOL