The Slum Dog Millionaire!!
A good movie is a movie in which you need to take a ‘break’, but you don’t want to!!
Slum Dog Millionaire is a movie which binds you to your seats, and no matter how much you want to move, you won’t budge.
But there was something of the movie which I feel was wrong. And I will discuss it below.
For those who are yet to watch the movie, please refrain from reading this any further as I will discuss the climax.
Everything of the movie was almost ok, baring the few goofs and logics which we didn’t understand. (Yes, many times, my mind looks for logic in the movie also). The story of an underdog winning is always adored by the general public. But as a story, there was something wrong in the climax. I have not read the original book “Q&A” by Mr. Swarup, hence my discussion will be directed only to the movie.
Do you think, Jamal should have won the money?? (i.e. answered the last question correctly??)
From the start of the movie, Jamal had been potrayed as person whose interest in money is limited. He treats money only as a means, not as a purpose. The purpose of many of his actions had been Latika.
Even, the reason for him going onto the show was, has he stated, “She would be watching”. At the last question, he tries to call his brother, but Latika answers the call. The objective of him going onto the show had been successful. So why should he have won the money??
I have always maintained, life is not fair. If you deserve 100%, you will get only 70 or 80% of what you deserve. And of those rare times when life is fair, you will get only what you really wanted and not more than that.
This is just a philosophy, but what are the chances that he would have got the question right with a guess. Jamal’s joy was always with Latika and not in the money, and the ending could have portrayed the two people walking out together starting a new life from scratch, like any ordinary two people.
Showing Jamal walking away with Latika, after loosing all the money he could have won, but still having the same happiness over him as he did when he saw her at the railway station, could have given a more deeper meaning to the story of their love.
I felt, making him answer the last question, wrong, would have been a better ending. I know, many of the people who read this would disagree, for everyone likes a happy ending. But even without the money, I believe Jamal and Latika would be happy. Well that was the whole point (to a greater extend) of the movie.
Why do you think he kissed the scar on latika’s face??
Signing Off!!
Whether he answers the last question right or wrong is not important. He has got what he want – knowing Latika still look at him.