Kedar Writes..

Just watched Slumdog Millionaire this weekend. I think it was better than I had expected. I am from Mumbai and the movie is based on the side of Mumbai that is ugly. I liked the movie overall, only because they made a good attempt at capturing that life without hyper sensitizing the audience. But apart from that, I guess I partly agree with some of the opinions voiced in India about the movie.

Admittedly, one has to take into account the subject of the movie – so it is about this boy from the slums who grows up to become a Millionaire on the popular “Who Wants To Be a Millionaire” show using his experiences in life – so one has to be ready to see that life in the movie. So no complaints there about why the movie depicts so much poverty and filth. It just got me thinking in general, about the way every country gets stereotyped in any movie industry. Let me explain what I mean…

Stereotyping happens everywhere. Even in Bollywood movies (Indian movies), if they film the movie in New York, they will always show the high rise buildings, the statue of liberty and such, but they will never capture the ugly or poor side of it because that’s the picture of New York everyone in India wants to see. If the movie is shot in Paris, the Eiffel Tower is a must; Switzerland will mean lush green landscapes, beautiful snow capped mountains and so on.. I think audiences demand such stereotyping to identify with the location.

So in a similar manner, for many years, Hollywood / Western Film Industry has been stereotyping India as the land of snake charmers, poor people, dirt, an occasional Maharaja or a Palace, mystical and strange Gods.. Even the Middle Eastern countries, the Africas or some South American Countries have a similar portrayal. While there is indeed some truth in these depictions, one has to realize that some of these countries have progressed well beyond these typical perceptions.

Let me first break a myth here.. When I hear people in America say, I watched a ‘Bollywood movie’, it is almost always one of those parallel movies which only see the light of the day OUTSIDE of India – movies like Monsoon Wedding, Fire, Mississippi Masala, or even Slumdog for that matter, are in no way mainstream Bollywood movies! They are all, in my opinion, made to let the Western Viewers hold onto in their preconceptions about India. The artists in these so called “Bollywood movies”, are NOT the mainstream Bollywood actors and actresses! I say, please, for once,  get rid of this myth from your minds!

I am not quite sure how western viewers find these really average looking actors in these parallel movies - beautiful! Maybe they don’t expect to see glamorous actors or actresses from India, since they have so much glitter in Hollywood already! But seriously, take a look at the main guys and gals folks and you will fall in love with them!

Remember, a typical Bollywood movie is bright and sleek. Gone are the days when Bollywood movies were very difficult to relate to for an outsider. Now they are almost on par with some of the best Hollywood movies around, both content-wise and technically. You can find some of the best acting talents here. The mainstream movies will show you the side of Mumbai and India or the Indian people which is NOT fake, but is not filthy by rule either.

The real Bollywood actors and actresses are brilliant in their looks, shape and style. The award functions are amazing.. and you know what, these actors and actresses are much more than just passive attendees to these award functions. They dance, do stunts and perform on stage like crazy, and make it worth every penny spent by an average person watching the show.

I suggest to my American Friends that they watch one of these mainstream movies. ‘coz I am sure you will see India in all its richness.. and let me say this honestly – that side of India too, represents the real India! Yes, you still find an elephant on the road or snake charmers once in a while during a festival, but hey, you will find Mercedes cars too and iPhones or Laptops or LCD TVs and Air Conditioners or high rise buildings as well.. It’s only unfortunate that the rest of the world has been ignoring the commonalities with the Western world and only concentrating on the things that they do not see around them in their country.

All I am saying is that a movie should not get recognized by the whole world just because it does a good job of portraying your worst imaginations and gives you a “omg! How Horrible!” feeling about a country.. There have been many mainstream bollywood movies which were just as great but did not necessarily focus on any miseries of poor people in India but they did not get noticed by the world community. It would be great if the critics and people in general pay attention to them once in a while, instead of focusing on movies that only confirm to their assumptions….