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Indian children run up to tourists in Delhi. Photo from www.AdoreToExplore.com
Will the Slumdog image hurt India's tourism?
Those who’ve seen the film Slumdog Millionare may be wondering how true to life this depiction of India really is. With riots and disagreements on the day the film was released in India, one has to question the story’s validity. Are some of these negative reactions coming from Indians who are too proud to admit that their country has its share of poverty and corruption, or is the movie fallacious in its depiction of orphans and the lower class’ lives? Could this film hurt India’s tourism industry or intrigue viewers to sport a sari and see it for themselves?
Slumdog Millionaire follows Jamal Malik (played by Dev Patel), a boy who grew up on the streets of Mumbai and gained infinite wisdom through grueling life experiences rather than through organized education. From his escape of being intentionally deformed to coax donations from the rich, to his search for his childhood friend-turned-lost-love, he gains knowledge of the world. These experiences prove practical when competing in the gameshow, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” However, when he is just one question away from winning the top prize, police arrest Jamal on suspicion of cheating.
Although Bollywood’s Hindi indie film won numerous awards, it was not India’s favorite flick as a nation. In fact, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mouthpiece Organiser said, “Slumdog Millionare distorts Indian reality and conceals India’s prosperity.” ThaindianNews reviewed the movie, expressing doubts for increased tourism saying, “And to think every prominent member of the cast and crew went around proclaiming “Slumdog Millionaire” would do wonders for Mumbai’s tourism industry!” Still other Indian viewers declared that they were put off by the movie because it showed the worst of Mumbai, a city which is adorned with some of the most expensive real estate in the world, especially in its Colaba district.
But the movie is not about a well-to-do boy who grows up in a waterside mansion in Mumbai’s best neighborhood, otherwise the filmmaker would have likely shown the multi-million rupee homes that do indeed exist there. Furthermore, if the facts are considered, one will see that over 250 million people in India still live below the poverty line; the country is home to one-third of the world’s poor according to the World Bank’s latest estimate; and the country has been called “one of the most openly corrupt democracies in the world” by numerous writers and researchers from varying countries.
As for India’s tourism industry slowing down, the responsible and caring tourists will always want to see India. Not only for its inner beauty but also to help the country’s impoverished who, like Jamal, have been born into a system with minimal support. This film may motivate viewers to take volunteer vacations through Global Volunteer Network or Globeaware, aiding not only the tourism industry but also the inhabitants.
So for Indians who are worked up over the grimy image portrayed in this film, maybe they will be impelled to lobby, fight corruption and bribery, and raise money for the underdogs of the slums instead of denying their existence. National pride is a great character to possess, but only when used to better one’s country.
Comments
Don't you think that we're not using our 'national pride' to better our country. What you saw in Slumdog Millionaire was a one-sided and ugly swipe at the problems we have in India.
We're not ignoring our problems. We're working on them, and we recognize them. But that doesn't mean someone ought to show only a certain part of India without examining the other part that's working to improve conditions here. That's what slumdog did.
India is surging ahead, and you will see in near years that we will improve our lives, and also enrich the world.
Lots of films only focus on one aspect of something - a country, a nation, an element of culture, and so on. You can't expect every film to encapsulate everything about the place or people it features. Slumdog presumably isn't claiming to depict life in India - more an aspect of life in India. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
>So for Indians who are worked up over the grimy image portrayed in this film, maybe they will now be impelled to lobby, fight corruption and bribery, and raise money for the underdogs of the slums instead of pompously denying their existence. National pride is a great character to possess, but only when used to better one’s country.
ahem. As if it doesn't apply to US. Should the Chinese choose to liquidate their dollars, whole US will be a slum ! Compare your per capita debt - ~$37000 to India's mere ~$140. You're better off worrying about Wall Street gamblers who blow away your 401K, trillion dollar bailouts for failed corrupt corporates, a totally uncalled for & unaffordable war in Iraq, rather than judging a once glorious nation -richest for 17 centuries, victimized by colonialism- making baby steps to solve its problems created by your own ancestors !
To the previous comment from "Indian:" But the movie is not about American problems. It's about India's. The world knows and is not denying the problems in the USA. And just because India has its share, doesn't mean it's a "bad" or worse" nation. But own up to them and improve them instead of denying the ISSUES and pointing to other countries in order to ease the pain.
This movie is Western (specifically British) propaganda. I am amazed at the condescending attitude of some Westerners. You think Indians need some White dude to tell them about Poverty in their country? People are well aware of poverty and corruption in India. Infact India is one of the few developing countries that's Industrializing rapidly enough that life will be significantly better for future generations.
This "caring" British producer pocketed hundreds of millions of dollars and gave a few lousy thousand dollars to the poor actors in this movie. False compassion. Of course he is descended from the British Imperialists who looted Trillions of Dollars worth of wealth from India over 150 years and also caused numerous famine holocausts (the latest one in 1943 which killed 2 million Indians) to de-populate India and fill it with White Brits (Like Australia and North America). Fortunately they failed, and soon Indians will buy up most businesses in the UK (ex Land Rover/Jaguar
Mess with the Indians and we will Stand up, Unite and FIGHT. Remember we have Nuke, We have 1M strong Army, Nuclear Submarines and everything in between. Please cut this crap and eat your fried chicken.
"the responsible and caring tourists will always want to see India"
India doesn't need these losers who look down upon the Brown man, someone ought to remind them that White's are increasingly not the only one's with money.
It's understandable why a movie like "Slumdog" would be made about India. What do you think would make Whitey feel better, that India is Industrializing and people are growing richer or that they will always remain much poorer (& weaker) than White's? (Therefore won't challenge the White master's authority)
although i dont disagree with the message of this article, i feel the need to mention it was in no way a "bollywood" film. it was based on the book "Q&A", and was a western low budget independent film backed by film four, and i think fox searchlight. it was not created for the indian film industry market. it would never have succeeded as a bollywood film as it was made to break moulds not follow them. perhaps im getting needlessly worked up, but the people who are put off by the india shown in slumdog never had a clue about india to begin with. Dharavi is by no means the hateful place it was for the character jamal and his brother, many people are happy living there, but it is a slum. it is built on sewers. there are staggering numbers of orphans who must beg, or trick money out of people or they would starve. it is also the worlds land fill. people who are put off india by slumdog would never have seen the real india anyway from their resorts. jeez what a rant...
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