Slumdog Millionaire has gotten nothing but praise so far in the U.S., even taking home multiple awards from SAG and the Golden Globes. But the film is facing a different sort of press in India. And it’s not the good kind.
The Oscar-nominated movie is facing a police investigation in India after authorities received a complaint claiming the film has incited hatred against people who live in slums.
If you haven’t seen or heard about the film, it centers around a boy who grows up in severe poverty, and then goes on to win a gameshow. Now there are several groups in the country who are outraged because of the title.
Campaigners claim the use of the word 'dog' is insulting to people who live in slums similar to those portrayed in the movie. Social activist Nicholas Almeida's complaint stated the Danny Boyle-directed movie was "defamatory" and "completely against society," and accused the film of "creating hatred among poor slum dwellers in the minds of the established and capitalist people."
Mumbai magistrates have issued notices to Boyle, the movie's producer Christian Colson, and distributors Warner Bros. informing them of the investigation, which will try to establish whether the film "hurts the sentiments of slum-dwellers".
Personally, we have to disagree with these claims. Slumdog was just such a smart film, and should be recognized for not only the inspirational storyline, but the amazing writing, and the gritty, real-life filming. If anything, it raises a lot of global questions, and puts things in perspective as far as the state of the world.
We want to hear from you! Did you see the movie? Do you think the film inappropriately portrayed impoverished people from India? Or was it an educational look at that part of the world, and a compelling story about a person who beat the odds and came out on top?
