Slumdog Millionaire | Teen Ink

Slumdog Millionaire MAG

January 10, 2009
By Anonymous

When acclaimed director Danny Boyle wandered into the slums of Mumbai, ­India, with a relatively unknown group of actors, it was hard to imagine what the ­filmmaker was doing so far from home. However, with the release of “Slumdog Millionaire,” it’s apparent that Boyle doesn’t need to be on familiar ground to make excellent movies.

A film like “Slumdog ­Millionaire” doesn’t come along very often. But when it does, we end up falling in love. Initially the plot appears formulaic: a teen from the slums of Mumbai ­rises from rags to ­riches by ­appearing on a popular gameshow. But rest assured, “formulaic” definitely has no place amidst the numerous ­adjectives that can be used to describe this film.

“Slumdog Millionaire” is so realistic and moving that you find yourself gripped by the artistry with which it was made. The cinematography has a rawness that creates a ­visually spectacular film, and Boyle’s team captures on camera, with a success shared by perhaps no other foreign director, the sights and sounds of the Indian subcontinent.

What truly sets “Slumdog Millionaire” apart, however, is the plot. Protagonist Jamal ­Malik (played by talented ­newcomer Dev Patel) is an 18-year-old chai-walla (tea seller) from the slums who ­appears on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” with the hope that the love of his life, Latika (played by the stunning Freida Pinto), will be watching. What results is a story that grabs us and preaches the beauty of destiny and love.

“Slumdog Millionaire” is rounded out by a strong supporting cast and soundtrack by famed Indian music director A.R. Rahman. The soundtrack is almost impossible to ignore, integrating Western music and tunes familiar to Bollywood lovers into a film that is very different from either mainstream convention.

With our busy lives, it’s hard to sit back and genuinely appreciate a film. But in the midst of all that madness, if I were to point to one movie that will move you and force you to think, it would be “Slumdog Millionaire.”


The author's comments:
Srinath Reddy is seventeen and already an avid cinephile.

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This article has 22 comments.


on Oct. 31 2017 at 2:45 pm
BenParker3737 DIAMOND, South Burlington, Vermont
91 articles 5 photos 16 comments
I saw the movie and while I did like it, I found some parts to be very disturbing (as well as my dad, who couldn't even sit through the whole thing). It was very well-done though, so I'll have to watch it when I'm older and see if I understand it more then.

yeatts said...
on Oct. 27 2011 at 1:37 pm
This article was complety honest and I felt and describes the plot rely well without ranting.

on Nov. 30 2010 at 10:20 pm
FootprintsInTheSnow GOLD, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
10 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
"No." -Rosa Parks

This was a great movie! both of my parents are indian and I have actually observed these people (definitely not as...harsh as this situation) but I can relate a lot!

on Nov. 7 2010 at 6:58 am
writingrocks GOLD, Brooklyn, New York
16 articles 23 photos 145 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You have to learn to love yourself before you learn to love others."

I looooved this movie soooooooooooooo much! I totally agree with you! Do you watch other Hindi movies> You would write great reviews about My Name is Khan or Ghajini!

MaggiHair said...
on Sep. 24 2010 at 11:42 am
MaggiHair, Gangtok, Other
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
I love this movie. ~_~ ... Ahh.. GREAT!!

MayDay SILVER said...
on Sep. 3 2010 at 3:40 pm
MayDay SILVER, Bloomington, Indiana
6 articles 14 photos 88 comments

Favorite Quote:
I don't jugde if you don't jugde.

I loved this movie!!!!!!!

on Aug. 12 2010 at 11:52 am
rosycheeked BRONZE, New York City, New York
2 articles 2 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
"paint the walls of your mind with many beautiful pictures" - william lyon phelps

great article- but dev patel wasn't exactly newcoming, not with a hit british television series under his belt.

on Jun. 20 2010 at 6:19 pm
jbutterfly10 GOLD, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
12 articles 0 photos 47 comments

Favorite Quote:
There is a time for everything under the sun:~

I loved that movie! It rockedddddd!

on Mar. 30 2010 at 5:10 pm
AnneOnnimous BRONZE, Peterborough Ontario, Other
3 articles 0 photos 146 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Saying 'I notice you're a nerd' is like saying, 'Hey, I notice that you'd rather be intelligent than be stupid, that you'd rather be thoughtful than be vapid, that you believe that there are things that matter more than the arrest record of Lindsay Lohan. Why is that?' In fact, it seems to me that most contemporary insults are pretty lame. Even 'lame' is kind of lame. Saying 'You're lame' is like saying 'You walk with a limp.' Yeah, whatever, so does 50 Cent, and he's done all right for himself."
— John Green

that was an amazing movie

on Mar. 24 2010 at 5:09 pm
dreamer759 SILVER, San Ramon, California
5 articles 0 photos 21 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I know, right?"
(you know you say it)

i totally loved this movie!!!!! it was the best movie ever and even though it was really depressing(in that way only good movies can pull off) it was funny too. you really captured that in this review. awesome!!!!

İdil S. said...
on Jan. 20 2010 at 3:09 am
It is a fascinating movie , it also reflects the real life perfectly. Also good review I totally agree with you :)

blaague said...
on Jan. 9 2010 at 1:29 pm
I LOVE SLUMDOG!!!

Cammeleon said...
on Dec. 9 2009 at 7:00 pm
Hello,

For more information, pictures and cool stuff about our favorite actress, Freida Pinto visit:

freidapinto.co.uk

on Nov. 12 2009 at 6:24 pm
4everluvjc BRONZE, Plantation, Florida
3 articles 0 photos 44 comments

Favorite Quote:
nothing is impossible with God! Try him and you'll see :)

I love indian movies...I sure am gonna check out this movie.

Kavishg BRONZE said...
on Nov. 9 2009 at 6:14 am
Kavishg BRONZE, Newton, Massachusetts
2 articles 0 photos 39 comments
Great Movie and great review!!! I will be sure to read the book.

on Jul. 8 2009 at 2:59 am
miranda_n BRONZE, Anchorage, Alaska
3 articles 2 photos 17 comments
I also loved this movie, and agree that this is the kind of movie that will show you, and make you think about, a differnt side of life.

on Jun. 24 2009 at 6:18 am
GreenDayFan SILVER, Phoenix, Arizona
7 articles 3 photos 134 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Every story has an end, but in life, every ending is just a new beginning."
-Uptown Girls

awesome review and the movie i heard was good i have to see it

on Jun. 16 2009 at 5:12 pm
Emma Ouellette, Rockport, Massachusetts
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
This was a very good review, and this comment is not against the reviewer. However, the movie is really quite a change from the book - and not the best change either. I would recommend that if you liked the movie you read the book - it's really different and excellent, and in my opinion it was much better.

The movie is good, though - they just changed a lot.

mimi:) said...
on May. 24 2009 at 8:20 pm
this movie is the best movie evurrrr!!!!!! it has a good plot and a great ending!!

Lewie said...
on May. 11 2009 at 7:02 pm
This shows a very good side to the feel-good factor of the film,im sitting hre now doing my school media piece and im jotting down some ideas you icluded in your reveiw. One point of help, you could try to create a contrast between the "feel-good" and the opposite, kind of like another sie to the plot.



Movie was very good