Why is Slumdog Millionaire so popular in the West?

Slumdog millionaire won 4 golden globes awards, including the best picture. The entire world, particularly the West, seems to love this movie. It currently ranks #35 in IMDB all time top movies list, Roger Ebert gives it the highest rating, it will probably win a few Oscars as well. With the India theme, we Indians seem to be reveling in its popularity.

But it is nothing but a feelgood masala movie, based on an unrealistic premise, and filmed with numerous implausible details. Do you think a KBC host would belittle its guest onscreen the way Anil Kapoor did? Do you think a potential KBC winner will be given electric shocks in police station between the two shows? Do you think a boy going near a movie star, drenched in shit, will not be noticed, or smelled – and will still be granted an autograph? Do you think somebody may not know recognize picture of Mahatma Gandhi on an Indian currency note, but recognizes Benjamin Franklin on a dollar – just because he once got a dollar bill from a foreign tourist?

 We have seen so many such masala films coming out of Bollywood, full of such gaping holes. However, they do not become so popular in the West, as Slumdog did. What could be the reason? For one, the gaping holes may not be noticed if you are from a different culture. You may think a potential quiz show winner being questioned by police, and given third degree is possible after all – who knows what happens in India? Not recognizing Gandhi on an Indian note does not look so shocking to a Western audience – as they lack the context. A TV show host being a bit unprofessional on screen is probably possible. What we think as badly researched will not be perceived as such by a Western audience –  as they are not steeped in the culture and context of India.

Once you overlook those mistakes, this becomes an excellent movie. Unlike a Bollywood production, the editing is superb, the music is racy. There is no typical  song and dance sequence to distract you. It packs in a lot of action within two hours.  It deals with the extremes that characterise India -the facet of India West has always been fascinated by.

And finally, the movie feels good, it gives a message of hope – and one cannot have enough of that in these trying times!