How do you know when you have watched a GREAT movie?
When you can't stop thinking and reflecting about it.
This is the best movie I watched in recent years.
When you can't stop thinking and reflecting about it.
This is the best movie I watched in recent years.
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I did not read much about it, just knew that it was about a slumboy becoming a millionaire in India. I knew I would like the movie, but I didn't expect myself to love it.
It reminded me of the colourful and contrasting sights, sounds, smell and energy of India.
To me, it was a beautifully crafted documentary about India
- life in the slums, bollywood, the racial tensions, the harshness of reality, beggers, secret societies, different social strata etc..
The story was weaved beautifully.
It has all the elements of an excellent movie - good storyline, humor, romance, kinship, good acting, good cinematography and more importantly, about values (loyalty, honesty, love).
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.
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One of the scenes was riveting in my mind.
The point when Hamal won the 2 crore (20 millions in Indian Rupees) and Salim was killed.
Salim was kinda trading his own life for his brother's happiness.
He asked God's forgiveness for his sins.
- life in the slums, bollywood, the racial tensions, the harshness of reality, beggers, secret societies, different social strata etc..
The story was weaved beautifully.
It has all the elements of an excellent movie - good storyline, humor, romance, kinship, good acting, good cinematography and more importantly, about values (loyalty, honesty, love).
.
.
.
One of the scenes was riveting in my mind.
The point when Hamal won the 2 crore (20 millions in Indian Rupees) and Salim was killed.
Salim was kinda trading his own life for his brother's happiness.
He asked God's forgiveness for his sins.
Both brothers with different beliefs led a different lives.
Since young, Salim wanted to breakaway from poverty by any means and he ended his journey in a bathtub of money. Not sure if it was a dream fulfilled.
As for Hamal, money was always not everything and other aspects of life like love, honesty and loyalty are more important for him.
While everybody was happy for Hamal, I felt really sad for Salim. Life was not easy for him and that was the only way out for him. At least, he did a last good deed before he died like:
http://ahboon80.blogspot.com/2009/01/httpwww.html
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.
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I love it because it strike a chord with me on 2 levels.
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Firstly, it is about the India... and this reminded me of the colorful & diversity of India that I have seen. Watching the life in Slum was interesting and saddening, but I did not venture into a slum while I was traveling (just walking pass it). It reminded me of the street kids I saw in India and I felt sad. There are just too many of them.
http://boon-india07.blogspot.com/2008/01/calcutta-west-bengal.html
In the movie, I felt sad when I saw the blinded kid singing in the underground pass, telling Hamal that he was just lucky. There was a sense of resignation to life. In fact, I believe that there are more atrocities and abuses to the street kids than what was depicted in the movie. While to us, it is just a overwhelming emotion of saddness. To the kids, it is their lives and they have to live with it. I hope I could do something within my means to help them.
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Secondly, somehow, I could relate the movie to Forrest Gump. Yes, it is my all-time favourite movie and I pay pilgrimage to it by watching it every year. I could draw alot of similarities between the two movies. Forrest Gump captured the cold-war period of USA while SlumDog captured a transitional phase in India. Like Forrest Gump, Hamal came from a disadvantage background, both of them traveled around their own countries, separated from their love and reunited eventually, went through shits and emerged as a victor (in their own rights), and more importantly, they have unwavering loyalty and honesty in them.
Since young, Salim wanted to breakaway from poverty by any means and he ended his journey in a bathtub of money. Not sure if it was a dream fulfilled.
As for Hamal, money was always not everything and other aspects of life like love, honesty and loyalty are more important for him.
While everybody was happy for Hamal, I felt really sad for Salim. Life was not easy for him and that was the only way out for him. At least, he did a last good deed before he died like:
http://ahboon80.blogspot.com/2009/01/httpwww.html
.
.
.
I love it because it strike a chord with me on 2 levels.
.
Firstly, it is about the India... and this reminded me of the colorful & diversity of India that I have seen. Watching the life in Slum was interesting and saddening, but I did not venture into a slum while I was traveling (just walking pass it). It reminded me of the street kids I saw in India and I felt sad. There are just too many of them.
http://boon-india07.blogspot.com/2008/01/calcutta-west-bengal.html
In the movie, I felt sad when I saw the blinded kid singing in the underground pass, telling Hamal that he was just lucky. There was a sense of resignation to life. In fact, I believe that there are more atrocities and abuses to the street kids than what was depicted in the movie. While to us, it is just a overwhelming emotion of saddness. To the kids, it is their lives and they have to live with it. I hope I could do something within my means to help them.
.
Secondly, somehow, I could relate the movie to Forrest Gump. Yes, it is my all-time favourite movie and I pay pilgrimage to it by watching it every year. I could draw alot of similarities between the two movies. Forrest Gump captured the cold-war period of USA while SlumDog captured a transitional phase in India. Like Forrest Gump, Hamal came from a disadvantage background, both of them traveled around their own countries, separated from their love and reunited eventually, went through shits and emerged as a victor (in their own rights), and more importantly, they have unwavering loyalty and honesty in them.
There is a feel good factor that the good will triumph eventually.
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On another note:
My German friends - Mona & Simon are in India now. I hope they are okay.
(http://ahboon80.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post.html)
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My German friends - Mona & Simon are in India now. I hope they are okay.
(http://ahboon80.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post.html)
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Taken in Calcutta - Dec 2007. I could still remember the innocence that this boy exudes.
I am not sure what the road lies ahead for him.
Will he be like Hamal or Salim?
Would he be scavenging in the rubbish for the rest of his life?
Would he be kidnapped, tortured and become a handicapped begging on the street?
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