Visit our other dedicated websites
Asha Bhonsle Geeta Dutt Hamara Forums Hamara Photos Kishore Kumar Mohd Rafi Nice Songs Shreya Ghoshal
Hamara Forums

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

Is Slumdog Millionaire A Case Of Poverty Porn?

 
4 Pages V  1 2 3 > »   
Reply to this topicStart new topic
> Is Slumdog Millionaire A Case Of Poverty Porn?
parag_sankla
post Feb 21 2009, 05:57 AM
Post #1


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 14260
Joined: 8-May 06
From: SFO Bay Area, US
Member No.: 6005



I have not seen the film yet, but have read many reviews. My conclusion based on them is that the western world (British director - the same people who ruled us for over 150 years) has made an excellent piece of poverty porn out of India. The projection of Mumbai and India as a whole is slum (as if there are no homeless people in the developed countries). Using the word dog (even if some one defends that its a newly coined word = slum + underdog = slumdog) is derogatory.

Views most welcome.

Jai Hind!



Please visit www.geetadutt.com
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
oye_sonu
post Feb 21 2009, 02:01 PM
Post #2


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 2682
Joined: 24-June 05
From: Wahan, jahan pyar mile :-) !
Member No.: 2547



Parag ji mujhe nahin malooom poverty porn ka kya matlab hai........: p haan magar yeah jaroor keh sakta hoon is movie aur Oscars ko lekar kuchh jayada hi halla bolla machaya hua hai.

Even I havent seen the movie but I feel no matter how good the movie may be , its getting attention because it was produced/directed by an foreigner . INDIANs or dusre subcontinient ke artist bhi aise kaafi achhi movies bana saktein hai. magar wo kabhi notice mein nahin ayengi. hum logon ke emotions, feelings, views etc alag hai Western filmmakers/viewers se . so no matter how much good the movie we might make they wont understand and appreciate our films. I fullly agree with few artists like Amitabh etc who echoed similar views.

Same is the story with Indian music artists. It took one Harrision to make them notice our Ravi shankar.
Ab wo Ravi shankar and company ke peechhe hi haath dho ke pad gaye hain. as if no other artist existed.
Ravi shankar is worldl class artist.....but dont we have many more such artists ??
Zakir hussain won both his Grammys for fusion work. so til you please these Westerners with their kind of music. they will appreciate and award you. but I dont think there are many takers of our music.
( check their reactions on HFM songs. they find them funny mix of diff instruments ! WA BS ! )

Zakir said very well in one interview " These awards dont matter much........biggest compliment I got was from my Guru(his Dad) when he praised my work. only two times in my life he praised my work " ( not verbatim)


So apoon ko koi tension nahin hai..oscars jeete ya nahin. Unki duniya alag apni alag !

......... I feel we People from SAARC countries should have one common Films/music awards !



regards

Sonu


forgive me if I miss replying or reading ur post............bit busy :-( !
Duniya ne kitna samjhaya, kaun hai apna kaun paraya
Phir bhi dil ki chot chhupa kar humne aapka dil behalya
Khud hi mar mitne ki ye zid hai hamaari......
sach hai duniya waalon hum hain anari !

......back to basics!!!

My artists :-
Shankar Jaikishan- Composers with magical touch !!

This year we CELEBRATE 60 years of Shankar Jaikishan music . come join the celebrations !
Join the SJ fans group for more information :
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/shankarjaikishan/

Join FACEBOOK shankar jaikishan group

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123537751015751
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Ashraf
post Feb 21 2009, 05:14 PM
Post #3


Regular Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 650
Joined: 8-February 04
From: Bahrain
Member No.: 236



Hi paragji hope you r fine.How is GeetaDutt.com going?

I have seen the movie and I agree with Sonu that this film got attention just because of it's forign hands.But we should not deny that there are slupms,poverty,child labour,starvation in Our country.Let us accept the reality.As citizens of India it is our's responsibility too to contribuite in our own way or to formulate some solutions to the backwardness of our nation.See as a person coming from a village I don't deny that I have seen myself a lot of people struggling to build their lives.As Gandhiji told India's sole lies in villages.As long as lion's share of our rural population is struggling to meet their two ends it is stupid that we call ourself a 'super power' or 'economic power'.(Especially if you visit any Gulf country you can see yourself the plight of the middle class).

dil doondtha hain phir vohi fursat ke raat din
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Marcilo
post Feb 26 2009, 01:08 AM
Post #4


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 7451
Joined: 1-March 04
From: USA
Member No.: 309



QUOTE
Using the word dog (even if some one defends that its a newly coined word = slum + underdog = slumdog) is derogatory.

I do not think that is the case, just my personal opinion. I have not seen the movie however.
Coming to word dog… well..How may times have you heard this "whats up you dawg (dog)".. I guess it's a cultural thing. Lots of African American population uses this word, uses frequently and all the time. Even we use the word … during such and such tournament of hockey, India was underdog. It's still the same word.

Agreed movie is made by someone who is not Indian, so do we not smack others with comments? Guess what sholay would have been outright banned for racial slur… aab tera kaya hoga "kaalia". Dang on it…. that famous dialogue would have gone down the drain in no time. Even though Kaalia (pundits) is a caste in India but hey … this can go as racial slur here in west. In any case Kaalia of sholey was named for his "color".

But come to think of it, huge mega hit.. "kaalia", yet another dang… mangel pandy had lots of racial overtones but that was ok since it did happen, its part of histroy. Well, so did "dharavi", one of largest slums in India or Asia may be? These are parts of India, we like it or not. We cannot force any one to show walkways of rashtra-pati bhavan.

Try watching a movie called "Party" (peter sellers - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063415/ ), it was banned in India. I never found that movie to be offensive, like I did not find green card fever (milk please @ MacDonalds laugh.gif laugh.gif ) offensive. Had someone from bollywood played role of hrundi, we would have been ok.




- Just another gummy bear fan
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Marcilo
post Feb 26 2009, 01:11 AM
Post #5


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 7451
Joined: 1-March 04
From: USA
Member No.: 309



Oh I forgot our very own Dharam paaji, honorary member of parliament, god knows how many times he used "abe .. kutte mai tera khoon pe jaoonga" laugh.gif on our very own "Indian Janta"

This post has been edited by Marcilo: Feb 26 2009, 01:12 AM

- Just another gummy bear fan
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Marcilo
post Feb 26 2009, 01:24 AM
Post #6


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 7451
Joined: 1-March 04
From: USA
Member No.: 309



QUOTE
INDIANs or dusre subcontinient ke artist bhi aise kaafi achhi movies bana saktein hai.

Sure why not, Film fare mai hi award lo na fir....


Read few lines below from wiki

QUOTE
The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)[1] to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers

QUOTE

The notion of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) began with Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). He wanted to create an organization that would mediate labor disputes and improve the industry’s image. So, on a Sunday evening, Mayer and three other studio big-wigs - actor Conrad Nagel, director Fred Niblo, and the head of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, Fred Beetson - sat down and discussed these matters. The idea of this elite club having an annual banquet was tossed around, but there was no mention of awards just yet. They also established that a membership into the organization would only be open to people involved in one of the five branches of the industry: actors, directors, writers, technicians, and producers.[1]
After their brief meeting, Mayer gathered up a group of thirty-six people involved in the film industry and invited them to a formal banquet at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on January 11, 1927. [2] That evening Mayer presented to those guests what he called the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and it was open to those who had contributed to the motion picture industry. Everyone in the room that evening became a founder of the Academy. It wasn’t until later, when Mayer’s lawyers wrote up the charter, did the name change to "Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences".

Unke awards hai…. unhone start kiyee.. hum kayoon chaudhry ban rahe hai?


- Just another gummy bear fan
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
parag_sankla
post Feb 26 2009, 01:50 AM
Post #7


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 14260
Joined: 8-May 06
From: SFO Bay Area, US
Member No.: 6005



Marcilo bhai

Ok, let us forget the word "underdog" here. I am not concerned about the Awards either, so let us keep the Oscars aside.

My simple question is : Does only India have slums? And is slums everything in India?

My honest answer is No for both. Then we have a reason to object when a foreigner comes and portrays India as a slum.



Please visit www.geetadutt.com
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Marcilo
post Feb 26 2009, 01:59 AM
Post #8


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 7451
Joined: 1-March 04
From: USA
Member No.: 309



QUOTE(parag_sankla @ Feb 25 2009, 03:20 PM) *

Marcilo bhai

Ok, let us forget the word "underdog" here. I am not concerned about the Awards either, so let us keep the Oscars aside.

My simple question is : Does only India have slums? And is slums everything in India?

My honest answer is No for both. Then we have a reason to object when a foreigner comes and portrays India as a slum.


Answer is NO and NO.

You can tell freelance photographer what to shoot, independent film maker what movie to make or someone from Fourth Estate what to write. That is not it, we do not live behind iron curtains. Truth is even people behind those curtains are objecting to that.

He wanted to make a movie based on his opinion and he did. Not sure if that was money or some other factor.
Let's not forget it was Richard Attenborough, a brit, who showered laurels on father of the nation when he made Gandhi.


- Just another gummy bear fan
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
HumTum
post Feb 26 2009, 07:29 AM
Post #9


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 9387
Joined: 6-December 06
Member No.: 8009



Parag bhai let us not see things with a negative view point. Let us face the reality. Despite having the richest people of the world living here in India slums are a reality, underworld activities are a reality, child labour, child abuse is a reality and many of our own film makers have made movies on slums and depressive side of the life.. How can you forget movies like Chakra and many such movies? Fine they were not nominated for Oscars or any of our own awards, does that mean only movies of Karan Johar kinds should be made by other country filmmakers? That would sux big time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! cry.gif

SDM has been given way too much hype. It is an average movie, but I liked the positive move to the movie. We do have many slum-dwelled-turned millionaires in our own country. The stars of the movie were actually the kids!

Marcilo bhai thanks for reminding us about Gandhi!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
parag_sankla
post Feb 26 2009, 09:36 AM
Post #10


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 14260
Joined: 8-May 06
From: SFO Bay Area, US
Member No.: 6005



I wanted to be away from this topic, but this news item was too good to miss.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.a...me=m3GntEw72ik=

There was no need to use the 50:50 option or phone a friend, as the issue was locked from the beginning, ever since Slumdog Millionaire was nominated for the Oscars. We all knew Danny Boyle would get the award, having portrayed India negatively, projecting the slums and drains of Bharat, the inhuman behaviour of the police and highlighting the brothels of Mumbai.

With goons flourishing in the slums of Mumbai, engaged in making big money and the mafia plucking out eyes of children, the film had the right mix of ingredients to make it to the top at the Oscar awards ceremony.

After all, it’s this aspect of India that’s been adored by phirangs in the past, who term India as the country of snake-charmers and elephants, refusing to believe that it is at par today with any other country in the areas of IT, science and technology, fashion and beauty care as well.

In the film sector, especially, we have been at the forefront always, having produced classics like Mother India, Mughal-e-Azam, Bandini, Barsaat, Awara, Mera Naam Joker and, more recently, Sholay, Lagaan, etc, but no one had any doubt that our films would never make it to the Oscars.

What if our songs Awara hun (Awara) and Pyar hua ikraar hua (Shri 420) are popular the world over and our cine stars, from Raj Kapoor, Nargis Dutt to the more recent ones like Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai are loved and chased by everyone everywhere, Indian films were never considered for the Oscars.

Indeed, Danny Boyle deserves praise for showcasing our great Indian talent before the world. We had no doubt that Gulzar was a great lyricist and that A R Rahman has a great future. The gems of our film industry, however, would not have made it to the top, the Oscars, if a Britisher or an American had not produced a film called Slumdog Millionaire.

Is it not an irony that for greater exposure of the already known talent of our films, we needed Slumdog? Couldn’t we have managed it without exhibiting the negative-side of our story? The answer is “NO”.

So, when we are celebrating the laurels of our achievers, we should also ponder the negativity of the film.

Those who saw the film would think of India as a country of dirt and filth, ridden with poverty, where violence and deceit are the key to success and where girls are often taken to brothels.

For the recognition of a very few in the outside world, we have allowed outsiders to portray, not the other side, but the wrong side of Bharat.

So, there is nothing to celebrate if US President Barack Obama is expected to see the movie, and empathise with the plight of Indians.

Similarly, if the producer of Slumdog Millionaire, Christian Colson, is planning to stage a musical show with all the kids, it is basically to keep themselves in the limelight and to get as much attention as possible. This, any way, won’t be possible if the kids are not around. As for charity, it is for the Indian government to take the call on the plight of slumdwellers.

A senior officer of the tourism ministry confided that India has been shown as a country where youngsters are so crazy that they would not give a second thought in jumping into a pit of night soil just to see Amitabh.

“No, I don’t agree, with this idea,” he stated. Similarly, one comes across so many people who reject this image of India. Interestingly, every person in the movie, with the exception of Irfan Khan, is shown in a negative role, including Anil Kapoor, who mocks at the hero, Dev Patel.

No, this is not India. Interestingly, many of those who are singing paeans to the film have not seen it themselves.

These include the Congress and BJP spokespersons, who sang hosannas for the movie. I heard someone suggesting that Danny Boyle should be rewarded by India. Why? If not punished, at least, he should not be honoured.

He was projecting India as he wanted to. Similarly, we need not bow to a filmmaker, just because he made it possible. The credit goes to our technicians, musician and lyricist, who helped Boyle to the award. Had there been no inputs from them, Boyle would not have made a perfect film.

So, the Thank Yous should come from Boyle to our artistes and not the other way round.




Please visit www.geetadutt.com
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
oye_sonu
post Feb 26 2009, 11:03 AM
Post #11


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 2682
Joined: 24-June 05
From: Wahan, jahan pyar mile :-) !
Member No.: 2547



QUOTE(Marcilo @ Feb 26 2009, 01:24 AM) *

QUOTE
INDIANs or dusre subcontinient ke artist bhi aise kaafi achhi movies bana saktein hai.

Sure why not, Film fare mai hi award lo na fir....


Unke awards hai…. unhone start kiyee.. hum kayoon chaudhry ban rahe hai?


Mere comment Oscars ko lekar huwa jo create kara ja raha tha usper tha. wo log jo pasand karte hian jaroori nahin wo achha ho. wo audience alag hai yahaan ki duniya alag.

QUOTE
"Unke awards hai…. unhone start kiyee.. hum kayoon "chaudhry " ban rahe hai?"


laugh.gif laugh.gif koi Choudhary nahin ban raha. bas dosrein logon ko keh rahe hain ki oscars ko lekar jayda uchhlo mat. when we work in their movies. we get awards. and if we dont we never and our work is never recognised. so their awards should not be taken as criteria for judging our talent !

in lil hurry !

Sonu

forgive me if I miss replying or reading ur post............bit busy :-( !
Duniya ne kitna samjhaya, kaun hai apna kaun paraya
Phir bhi dil ki chot chhupa kar humne aapka dil behalya
Khud hi mar mitne ki ye zid hai hamaari......
sach hai duniya waalon hum hain anari !

......back to basics!!!

My artists :-
Shankar Jaikishan- Composers with magical touch !!

This year we CELEBRATE 60 years of Shankar Jaikishan music . come join the celebrations !
Join the SJ fans group for more information :
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/shankarjaikishan/

Join FACEBOOK shankar jaikishan group

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123537751015751
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Marcilo
post Feb 26 2009, 11:17 PM
Post #12


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 7451
Joined: 1-March 04
From: USA
Member No.: 309



QUOTE
when we work in their movies. we get awards. and if we dont we never and our work is never recognised
Those are their awards. How many film fares have you seen going to Hollywood movies?

QUOTE
. so their awards should not be taken as criteria for judging our talent !

Why even go there. we can't even judge our talent properly. Why do you think Aamir khan quit participating in these awards in India? laugh.gif


- Just another gummy bear fan
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
parag_sankla
post Feb 26 2009, 11:22 PM
Post #13


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 14260
Joined: 8-May 06
From: SFO Bay Area, US
Member No.: 6005



QUOTE(parag_sankla @ Feb 25 2009, 08:06 PM) *


http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.a...me=m3GntEw72ik=

There was no need to use the 50:50 option or phone a friend, as the issue was locked from the beginning, ever since Slumdog Millionaire was nominated for the Oscars. We all knew Danny Boyle would get the award, having portrayed India negatively, projecting the slums and drains of Bharat, the inhuman behaviour of the police and highlighting the brothels of Mumbai.

With goons flourishing in the slums of Mumbai, engaged in making big money and the mafia plucking out eyes of children, the film had the right mix of ingredients to make it to the top at the Oscar awards ceremony.

After all, it’s this aspect of India that’s been adored by phirangs in the past, who term India as the country of snake-charmers and elephants, refusing to believe that it is at par today with any other country in the areas of IT, science and technology, fashion and beauty care as well.

In the film sector, especially, we have been at the forefront always, having produced classics like Mother India, Mughal-e-Azam, Bandini, Barsaat, Awara, Mera Naam Joker and, more recently, Sholay, Lagaan, etc, but no one had any doubt that our films would never make it to the Oscars.

Those who saw the film would think of India as a country of dirt and filth, ridden with poverty, where violence and deceit are the key to success and where girls are often taken to brothels.

For the recognition of a very few in the outside world, we have allowed outsiders to portray, not the other side, but the wrong side of Bharat.




Sonu, Marcilo

Kind request. Let us keep the Oscars aside. How about the points highlighted above?

Parag


Please visit www.geetadutt.com
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Marcilo
post Feb 26 2009, 11:31 PM
Post #14


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 7451
Joined: 1-March 04
From: USA
Member No.: 309



Ok leaving Oscars aside

QUOTE
Those who saw the film would think of India as a country of dirt and filth, ridden with poverty, where violence and deceit are the key to success and where girls are often taken to brothels.

Does this not happen in India? Why there wasn't much of hue and cry when madhur bhandarkar made movie called traffic signal? I do not know who the writer of this article is but that person sure lives in ancient times. Walk along in USA and tell you are from India, they will ask, are you a doctor or an engineer. That is the reality and so are slums.

QUOTE
the inhuman behaviour of the police

Wasn't ardhya satya and Maachis all about that?


- Just another gummy bear fan
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
parag_sankla
post Feb 26 2009, 11:34 PM
Post #15


Dedicated Member
Group Icon

Group: Members
Posts: 14260
Joined: 8-May 06
From: SFO Bay Area, US
Member No.: 6005



There is no denial about existence of these issues, it is just that the film portrays only this side of India. That is exactly "Poverty Porn" IMHO.



Please visit www.geetadutt.com
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post

4 Pages V  1 2 3 > » 
Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:


 



- Lo-Fi Version | Disclaimer | HF Guidelines | Be An Angel Time is now: 28th March 2024 - 11:28 PM