Random Muse -Sachitra Mahendra:

Who doesn’t want to be a millionaire?

Of many what has been written on ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and its novelist I was captivated by what Deepika Shetty has written for ‘Straits Times’. She tells you a lot about Vikas Swarrup, who is Deputy High Commissioner for South Africa, and his own thoughts about his novel and movie.

Well, the movie’s popularity has gone down according to ratings. But still the book seems quite awesome for its simplicity of writing style and plot twist. It’s simply amazing because diplomats do not necessarily require creativity in their writing, which is mostly correspondence. I could read chunks from the book, but could not own since it was priced far beyond my budget. This sure has made Swarrup a millionaire.

Covetous

For a career diplomat like Swarrup, the recent achievements are simply marvellous when he could have the attention of two most covetous awards: Booker and Oscar.

Wonder whether it’s a good or bad news to hear that Swarrup is working on his third novel. When writers get a great deal of publicity and fame, they need to come out with more and more works, but mostly end up being not so thriving enough.

Young Jamal enjoying the sight of Amitabh Bachchan’s arrival by air.

He forgets the mobile on purpose to enjoy the Academy glamour, he likes the film adaptation unlike many novelists and when he read the first copy the audience counted lesser than 100.

‘Slumdog Millionaire’ is an elegant reel work, out of the question, but I have doubts whether it actually deserves that number of Oscars. Technical aspects and the plot are superb, but still it doesn’t turn out a masterpiece for me. Well, I may be wrong in that opinion! For those who think Hollywood juries always give prominence to the films that speak bad of the third world countries, ‘Slumdog’ is not so.

Amid the slum areas, the movie speaks out many social issues in India. How the economy shapes the family bondages; Jamal’s brother Salim takes over his almost-sweetheart by force and uses her for his financial purposes. But Salim does not get stuck in that whirlwind, he lets Latika, Jamal’s childhood friend, free, to get rid of his own guilt.

Hypocrisy is another interesting feature. I was captivated by Anil Kapoor’s brilliant performance of the two-faced personality: his personal and public handling of Jamal Malik. Kapoor’s expertise is amazing but is no wonder, in fact. Come to think about the plot! A slum boy having to spell out how he outsmarted all the rich kids.

It reminds us of the eastern philosophy that knowledge does not come to rich easily. Rather it should be earned. Every answer in the movie has an aesthetically different background making plain how Jamal knows answer to each and every question. And the final question on Dumas’ ‘Three Musketeers’ is the superbest of all. Three musketeers in Jamal’s life are himself, Latika and his brother.

Bizarre

It’s quite instinctive and natural of Jamal to see the answer as a piece of cake. But he keeps silent, for the question brings him back the good old days with the other two. Latika’s entry into the quiz show at this point may seem either funny or bizarre, but this coup de theatre has its own creative essence.

Young Jamal is left with no option when his mate locked up the latrine door, save jumping into the latrine pit and stomp off towards Bachchan soaked with human waste. It’s why Jamal tells the inspector:

“you don’t have to be a genius to know that answer. He is the most famous man in India.” This memory is particular enough for him to have a photographic reminiscence of India’s most famous man.

In short, this is the cadence the rest of the scenes follow offering props to Swarrup’s rhythmic storyline.

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