Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle

I went to see the film and evaluate its appeal for our fellows of the Football Team. However I come back disturbed by the journey.

Mr Boyle takes us into the shadows of the ‘underworld’ – a world of nightmares, of unspoken realities that exist simultaneously with our ‘upperworld’. A world of orphans, maimed into a life of beggardom, of young girls prepped into prostitution, of communal hate, police torture of a minor with a car battery – the list is deep.

This journey into the living hell brings out into the open all the pathology of our society. Its malice is found in societies across the globe, but Mumbai is the chosen as the canvas for this macabre drama. At every turn, Boyle’s cynicism of our paradoxical society is subtly shown. It’s pungent and hurts like the scene in which Lalita puts red chilly powder on little Jamal’s groin in jest.

What social purpose does the film serve for a local audience must be pondered. For a western audience, this is the image of India they hold and now is reinforced. Great to bring tears and create dogma. The producers and the publicist are having a field day with the Oscar nominations. But who will soothe the wounds of such children, that the film makes no restraint in opening up, with an attitude of voyeurism. Almost everybody is speaking about the film, but most probably the ball stops there. Dharavi will now certainly be on the list of the eco-tourist.

Now when people ask me about my work, they will easily draw the image of the actors as images of the marginalised youth. ‘Oh! It is so great that you work with street children’. Excuse me, these are two different worlds ! My fellows of the football team and the 100 odd juniors of the specialised football team are smiling, resilient and poor children. They love football; they laugh and play with their coaches. They have families which support them. , it is written that they will take their rightful place in society as per their destiny, but not by winning a million or two in a quiz contest. They will work hard, lead a good life and build a community.

Sure, who knows what pathos lurks in the shadows of their life, but we will discover together the spring of their well being, rather than the deep well of their pathos.

Mr Boyle, you chose dark and satanic colours to paint our lives. Where is the red of kumkum, the saffron of dawn, the silver of the our stars, the green in that spade of grass…

You wrote a song, which chokes me and leaves me gasping for breathe.