CAUGHT ON FILM: INDIA `NOT SHINING by Arundhati Roy The night before the Oscars, in India, we were re-enacting the last few scenes of Slumdog Millionaire. The ones in which vast crowds of people poor people who have nothing to do with the game show,gather in the thousands in their slums and shanty towns to see if Jamal Malik will win. Oh, and he did. He did So now everyone,including the Congress Party, is taking credit for the Oscars that the film won!The party claims that instead of India Shining it has presided over India Achieving Achieving what?
In the case of Slumdog, India greatest contribution, certainly our political parties greatest contribution is providing an authentic,magnificent backdrop of epic poverty, brutality and violence for an Oscar-winning film to be shot in. So now that too has become an achievement? Something to be celebrated? Something for us all to feel good about? Honestly,beyond farce.And here s the rub: Slumdog Millionaire allows real-life villains to take credit for its cinematic achievements because it lets them off the hook. It points no fingers, it holds nobody responsible.
Everyone can feel good. And that what I feel bad about. So that about whats not in the film. About whats in it: I thought it was nicely shot. But beyond that, what can I say other than that it is a wonderful illustration of the old adage, `theres a lot of money in poverty The debate around the film has been framed and this helps the film in its multi-million-dollar promotion drive in absurd terms. On the one hand we have the old patriots parroting the line that doesnt show India in a Proper Light(by now, even theyve been won over thanks to the Viagra of success). On the other hand, there are those who say that Slumdog is a brave film that is not scared to plum the depths of India not-shining.
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