I came across some amazing videos thanks to my son through the link he sent me - http://www.currybear.com/wordpress/?p=2316#comments.
If interested, anyone can have a look. I took the opportunity however of getting the third one of these videos from Youtube and is putting it up here. Ravi, a boy from one of the slums in Mumbai and a seller of fans made of peackock feathers has picked up not only English but many other languages that include French,Italian,Russian and Arabic from the streets.His English is not that sophisticated, but good enogh for communication. His fluency is amazing. It is not only his language skills but the smartness and ease with which he faces the camera that astonishes me. The boy, now a teenager, remains a seller of handmade fans on the streets of Mumbai. I only hope that these
video clips which are globally viewed will get for this talented boy some help that changes the course of his life. He does not have to be a millionaire, but he surely deserves a better life.
It is most unfortunate that we have failed to create a sysytem which nurtures, nourishes and develops such talents among the teeming millions in this country and its slums. Ravi has been spotted.The person who did so and followed it up deserves to be congratulated.But what about the others like him who trudge through life unnoticed and unsung ? Are they not born to blush unseen and fade away?Do they not get sucked into the underworld as Salim did in the film or try out a different path as in the case of Jamal. It was only a directorial twist that saved Latika from eventual prostitution but many other girls would not have been so lucky, would they?
With all its merits, Slumdog Millionaire suffers from the problem of trying to reach a global audience and please the Indian diaspora at the same time. The english used by the characters is too proper and sophisticated, not like Ravi's, not the street smart type. Though it sounds O.K in the game show, it sounds unreal in some other contexts. Hinglish - a mix of Hindi and English which Indians ( speaking Hindi) do use - would have perhaps done better and satisfied the glaobal audience.Finally, Danny Boyle could not escape the lure of Bollywood and in addition to a fairy tale ending, had to entertain us all with a song and dance routine!
A nice way to looking at the movie.The addition of the link has made the reading more interesting.Slumdog Millionaire is fantasy no doubt.But so was Hirak Rajar Deshe.The fantasy perhaps helped the director to reach more viewers.The major strength of the film,according to me, is excellent acting of even the non-significant actors.At no point of time, I had the reason to feel that I am viewing something beyond reality.
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