Slumdog Millionare, the celluloid depiction of Mumbai slums and the circumstances the children there in go through, is successful in winning 8 Oscar Awards; additionally, in drawing International attention to Indian slums and poverty.
Certainly, India has been in an ever-increasing focus for its competencies and there by put under check by the developed nations. Is it not an appropriate time for familiarizing slums (only) in India on Oscar stage?
An episode analogous to this: In 1927, Katherine Mayo, an American journalist wrote a book Mother India highlighting the plight of women in India. It described Mayo’s belief that India was not ready for independence either. It became a bestseller. But in India, it created a storm of protest. Around a dozen of books were published with titles like Father India, Sister India, A son of Mother India Answers,………….. all in retort to Mayo’s report. Number of rebuttals floated up focusing western culture. There were protests all over. She was blamed for painting India in a bad light.
I’ve gone through few pages of the book. Definitely, the modern Indian woman can not just digest the then realities of her intimates (if at all those were the facts). But, one can perceive the intentions with which the book was written. Personally, I feel the whole ignominy (though) did some good to Indian women. It was an eye-opener and the minimum age for marriage was raised to 14 for girls and 18 for boys after the release of her book.
Again India is through global lens for some different stories. Times have changed. Now, Indians have grown more broad-minded. They can easily adopt western cultures, yet adapt themselves for revolts too. They definitely can not tolerate interference of Ramsena in their lives and start a campaign against it and can popularize very much. No issues with that campaign. However, I feel this issue also needs another such campaign. Just an idea… to the leaders of that campaign.. I congratulate them on their success.. and request them to take up this issue too… 🙂 But, I wonder how many of them really feel the pain that India is shown in negative light and for the usage of objectionable word in the title?
The film’s screenwriter Simon Beaufoy said in interviews that he just liked the word… ‘Slumdog’; Just like the word? And used the word ‘dog’?
No doubt, our competencies have also been recognized internationally. I certainly congratulate the award-winners.
The other day, as part of my routine I was browsing through net and really taken aback by few realities….
US dumps toxic waste in Indian ports..
For five yrs, this massive toxic oil pile is sitting in a Mumbai port – –
Britain dumps its garbage on Indian soil
India Becomes Dumping Ground along with few other developing nations for UK’s Toxic E-Waste
Who is responsible for all this? Developed nations impose all weird conditions on developing countries like India for their safety, to get over their insecurity, and to continue their supremacy for decades.. if possible for centuries together. Keep your countries very clean, throw the dirt on others, and then make movies and money throwing few dollars/pounds.
Hmmn.. A bit relief: There is an SMS in circulation.. “credit of oscars must go to congress, because without congress, there would not have been slums in India after 62 years of Independence”; and a news too that congress takes the credit for SDM’s success. Think about it… 🙂
BTW, I wish all women, “Happy International Women’s Day 2009!”
Sridevi Rachakonda 