If you are wondering why “Slumdog” and why not “Slumboy”, there’s a story behind how Danny Boyle’s Golden Globe-winning film got its unusual name.
Turns out screenwriter Simon Beaufoy was wandering around the slums of Mumbai researching the film, when he saw cats and dogs apparently asleep in the alleys.
But they weren’t asleep.
Beaufoy, speaking at a news conference in New Delhi, said he was intrigued to notice their eyes — moving, discerning, watching.
“I thought it was a fantastic metaphor - of somebody who’s apparently not worth anything, is actually looking, eyeing everything and knowing everything — just like the boy in the gameshow knows everything.”
“Slumdog Millionaire” is the rags-to-riches story of a boy from a Mumbai slum competing on the Indian version of the television gameshow “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”.
“I just made up the word really. There was absolutely no sense I wanted to insult anybody,” Beaufoy said. “I just liked the idea.”
The answer didn’t satisfy a journalist, who said it felt like Boyle’s film was referring to Indians as canines.
But co-director Loveleen Tandan came to the rescue, noting that the protagonist is referred to as ’slumdog’ in the film.
“It’s actually the English translation of the way we have spoken and our movies have said that over the years referring to a man from the streets.”
In “Slumdog Millionaire”, a police inspector (played by Irrfan Khan) calls protagonist Jamal a ’slumdog’.
Is “Slumdog Millionaire” a suitable title for the film?
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very good……
- Posted by wowI saw an interview of Danny Boyle and he said the slumdog is referrring to a slum boy who is an underdog. This makes better sense to me.
- Posted by PreetiMetaphor are often used in western countries.. I think the title Slumdog has given a big meaning to the success of the film. Because it also counts to the slums globaly. This is the reason this film got so huge response.
The word slumdog alone attracted many viewers..This is Marketing
Great work Danny and crew. Wish you all much more success in future.
- Posted by PreetyI have seen this movie. and I had seen the slums in mumbai also. I believe there is no other name which will suit to this movie. If it depicts something bad about india . its not danny boyle’s problem . Indians, Its your problem. Danny had the courage to pciture it where you didn’t had that.
- Posted by Basheer– Basheer
If the movie was titled “SlumBoy Millionaire” I doubt it would have received the awards nor the kind of response from western audiences.
- Posted by CyrilWould Danny Boyle do a movie and get awards about homeless in America/UK titled “Homeless Pigs in America” or “Homeless Rags in Hyde Park, London?
Danny Boyle did a terrific job in directing Slumdog Millionaire. Its sad to see such criticizium is being passed for portraying the truth in India. Had Danny Boyle showed the slums in the opposite he would have been criticized for buttering it up too. One is left to ask, had an Indian director directed the film, would such criticizium be passed?
- Posted by SeemaThis movie is spot-on, when it tries to narrates the real challenges faced by slum-dwellers in Mumbai at large. They are confronted with all kinds of challenges during their upbringing - the incomplete schooling, communal rioters, lack of parenting, lack of proper shelter, cruelity and insensitivity of the police, the mafias, the prostitution rackets. They are equally talented given an opportunity. You got to live this life to know what it is to be a slumdog. Gr8 job Danny, you deserve all the awards - 5 star!!!
- Posted by Pradeep EngineerDanny boyle’s job is to portray the truth in India ( and win the oscars if possible). Solving the problems is not his job, but the job of government of India and Indian citizens. So dont blame Danny Boyle for your problems.
- Posted by rajuThe name of the movie doesn’t reflect well how majority of the Indian people treat slum people.
- Posted by MuruganGreat Movie!!
Of course it has made India in Bad light, But good thing is we need to understand that there are many such children doing such little business to take care of their livelihood.
1)First, have to advertise his product
2)identify a prospective customers
3)get an appointment
4)compete with his (BIG)competitors
and so many phases of marketing world…to get an Order.
Interesting thing is that he has to complete all the phases of marketing and get an Order in between very short span of time. What a talent the child has ???
We have heard about many big business men, skilled persons, and very great personalities, the history says many of them started their career in a very simple way. They don’t have any training business schools or colleges or technology providers initially. But in case if they undergone such training in the beginning what would be our countries position now??
Let us help one child per head and change this BAD LIGHT of INDIA. Instead of criticizing this film.
-JaiGanesh
- Posted by JaiGanesh