We wouldnt be able to make Slumdog Millionaire: Danny Boyle
Los Angeles, Jun 21 (PTI) Oscar winner Danny Boyle says it's not possible to make "Slumdog Millionaire" now and believes "that's how it should be".
Boyle's directorial "Slumdog Millionaire" released in 2008 and went on to receive 8 Academy Awards at the 81st edition of the festival in 2009.
"We wouldn't be able to make that now. And that's how it should be. It's time to reflect on all that. We have to look at the cultural baggage we carry and the mark that we've left on the world," Boyle told The Guardian in an interview.
Starring Dev Patel and Freida Pinto in the lead roles, the British drama film followed the story of Jamal Malik (Patel), a young man from the slums of Mumbai who appears on a reality game show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire".
Asked if the film was a form of colonialism, the filmmaker said, "No, no… Well, only in the sense that everything is. At the time it felt radical. We made the decision that only a handful of us would go to Mumbai. We'd work with a big Indian crew and try to make a film within the culture. But you're still an outsider. It's still a flawed method."
Boyle added he wouldn't even get the film financed if he were to make it in present.
"That kind of cultural appropriation might be sanctioned at certain times. But at other times it cannot be. I mean, I'm proud of the film, but you wouldn't even contemplate doing something like that today. It wouldn't even get financed. Even if I was involved, I'd be looking for a young Indian filmmaker to shoot it."
"Slumdog Millionaire" also featured Rubina Ali, Anil Kapoor and late actor Irrfan Khan in pivotal roles.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Wire
10 minutes ago
- The Wire
When Marx Returned to Kolkata
Marxian dialectics require two contradictory social or economic phenomena that influence each other. This leads to their development and negation, but that is not the end. The negation creates a new situation that develops and needs negation again. And so it goes on through time. It is quite satisfying, therefore, in a dialectical way, to witness Karl Marx land in contemporary Kolkata in Swapnasandhani's latest play, Marx in Kolkata. Persistent rumours about his death have compelled the founding father of communism to make a comeback. Kolkata is a coincidence, but that his reputation is also at stake in the capital of the Indian state that was ruled by a democratically elected communist party for 34 years is telling. It is a little sad to see a man of Marx's stature trying to prove that he is alive. Self-justification, however, can also be the opportunity of self-searching, and in Kolkata – formerly Calcutta – Marx launches himself into deep introspection as he walks into that perfect example of the new world order: a food court. Here at this site of mass consumption (in more than one sense), where workers are treated as modern-day slaves, Marx begins to talk about himself and his life. Jayant Kripalani as Marx and Srijit Mukherji as Mephistopheles in ''Marx in Kolkata'. Photo: Sandip Kumar Marx in Kolkata is inspired by American historian Howard Zinn's 1999 play, Marx in Soho, which had Marx landing in Soho in contemporary New York instead of the locality in London. Swapnasandhani's play is directed and adapted by Koushik Sen, who keeps it primarily in English, but also uses Bengali and Hindi. Marx speaks especially of his life at his home in Soho, a London neighbourhood, where the German materialist philosopher had eventually taken refuge after being forced to leave his homeland for his radical journalism. In his Soho home, Marx wrote much of Das Kapital in the 1850s. Marx recounts how he wrote, despite everything, in the small Dean Street house in London, surrounded by garbage and squalor outside and crushed by poverty. He was intensely wary of what would happen to his legacy: he was not a Marxist, he asserts, unlike those who would use his ideas for power and profit. Marx and his wife Jenny von Westphalen, a theatre critic and an extraordinary person, saw the death of three of their children in their Soho home. Jenny kept making frequent trips to the pawn shop. Yet their home, with the three daughters who had survived, was full of laughter and joy because love and the hope for a better world held it together, as did Jenny's hard work. Class struggle may be the first contradiction in the Marxian scheme of things, but his writings were possible because of Jenny's labours at home. The admission makes the play a feminist critique of Marx's works. Sen makes two significant departures from the original in his adaptation. In Zinn's play, Marx is the only character. In Sen's adaptation Marx, played by Jayant Kripalani, gets a supporting cast: Jenny, Marx's and Jenny's remarkable precocious daughter Eleanor, a brutal manager and groups of actors, at the food court or at a meeting. Jayant Kripalani as Marx and Srijit Mukherji as Mephistopheles in ''Marx in Kolkata'. Photo: Sandip Kumar The second departure is spectacular. To the ironic echoes of the opening lines of The Communist Manifesto that Marx had written with Friedrich Engels before Das Kapital: 'A spectre is haunting Europe – the spectre of communism', what could have been a trap door opens at the end of the first half of the play, and through the door rises Mephistopheles himself, replete with a wanton creature wriggling at his feet. Two of god's greatest adversaries are meeting in Kolkata. History and myth confront each other. But which is which? Mephisto, represented in literature and art memorably through the ages, is played in Marx in Kolkata by Srijit Mukherji, the film director, and looks more real than ever. He rules the world with money and power. His tools are death and destruction. Mephisto is late capitalism and neo-Fascism, grotesque and lurid, funny and seductive, and looks very, very familiar. With Marx, Mephisto is up to his old trick. He tries to get Marx to sign a contact to sell his soul. What follows is interesting. Dialectics have infinite possibilities. Marx in Kolkata, which has held two shows so far in the city to an enthusiastic response, raises the very relevant question about Marx's absence, or presence, now. Kripalani, as Marx, carries the weight of the play robustly on his shoulders. The veteran actor brings to life an icon, with humour and sensitivity. His portrayal has Marx looking at a world that has displaced him with a vulnerability that is moving. It is quite evident, though, that Marx is still full of life. I am dead and I am not, Marx reminds. That's dialectics for you. Mukherji, who was a stage actor before he became a well-known film director, is the perfect counterpoint as Mephisto to Kripalani. Mukherji's Mephisto is flamboyant, flashy, amusing, trippy, younger and blood-thirsty. Mephisto is now Mammon on steroids, and Mukherji, as this sweet-talking shape-shifting monster, holds the attention of both Marx and the audience steadily. Ditipriya Sarkar as Jenny and Shaili Bhattacharjee as Eleanor are competent. Mrinmoy Chakraborty is well cast as a nasty, screaming manager. Marx in Kolkata is a romp asking a serious question. It is good to see such a burst of energy on the Kolkata stage. The play moves at a good pace, is spectacular and uses lots of movement and more than one language, which may help it to connect with younger audiences. The music, sound and sets add to the liveliness. Special mention must be made of the use of G.D. Birla Sabhaghar, including the use of the revolving stage and the entrance from below. One wonders, though, if it was necessary for Mephisto to travel across space and time and meet Marx, that too in Kolkata. 'But who other than Marx?' asks Mukherji in an off-stage interview. Capitalism and its cronies would like to finish Marx off for ever. What if, however, instead of entering the grand design of Mephistophelian myth and overarching themes, Marx had walked out from the food court into a Kolkata street and looked around? How about finding out some facts about the city? What would he have to say about the ratio of his own statues to the number of cafés in Kolkata now? What is the number of seats that the communist party named after him, which had ruled Bengal, won in the last Lok Sabha elections? What is the percentage increase in the number of temples constructed under large trees in streets in the last five years? If religion is the opium of the masses, what about the classes? A spectre is haunting Bengal, and it is not of communism. Maybe Marx could have taken a closer look? God lies in the detail, goes the idiom. The devil lies in the detail, is its other version. Chandrima S. Bhattacharya lives in Kolkata.
News18
13 minutes ago
- News18
Virat Kohli, Genelia D'Souza's 'Aeroplane Sex' Ad Was Too 'Controversial', Got Banned From TV
Many argued that the portrayal of Virat Kohli and Genelia D'Souza engaging in such behaviour was disrespectful to aviation professionals. Virat Kohli and Genelia D'Souza once starred in an advertisement for a watch brand, which was deemed too suggestive for Indian television. It was banned by the authorities for its 'adult content'. The video featured Genelia as an airhostess, enticing 'pilot' Virat to have sex with her during the course of the flight. 'Pilot' Virat gives in, risking the lives of the passengers. The advertisement suggested that the autopilot mode was introduced by airlines as the crew wanted to indulge in sexual relations. A glimpse of the clip has resurfaced on Reddit, reminding fans about the video. It was shared with the caption, 'The ad of Genelia and Virat was so controversial that it got banned within its release." Have a look here: One person wrote, 'Abhi dekha, ban hone jaisa tha." Another wrote, 'How did Genelia agree to this, considering the family she was about to get married into?" Another person wrote, referring to Ranbir Kapoor's character in Animal, 'Did it earlier than Ranvijay." Someone else added, 'Genelia was such a smoke show. Is still very beautiful." Referring to Virat's recent comment about the Instagram algorithm, another wrote, 'Now I have reached the conclusion that Virat bhau hi aapna Instagram chalate hai." The video was also reportedly banned as it showed people's lives being put at risk for humour. Many argued that the portrayal of a pilot and an airhostess engaging in such behaviour was disrespectful to aviation professionals and sent the wrong message to younger audiences. While the advertisement was banned from being aired on Indian television, it is still available on YouTube. Have a look here: Virat and Genelia featured in a series of provocative ads for the brand. In another video, the duo is seen emerging one after the other from a fitting room, dishevelled and exchanging flirty glances, implying that they had engaged in a sexual encounter inside. The ad hinted at carefree, nonchalant attitudes toward relationships and societal norms. While many viewers found the ad humorous and in line with modern culture, others criticised it for being too risqué for mainstream television. Complaints quickly poured in from viewers who considered the ad indecent and inappropriate, especially for younger audiences. Many argued that the commercial promoted casual sex and undermined Indian cultural values. Despite the backlash, the controversy did little to affect the careers of either Kohli or D'Souza. Kohli continued to grow into a global cricket icon, while Genelia remained a popular actress and public figure. First Published:
India Today
22 minutes ago
- India Today
Kangana Ranaut named brand ambassador for World Para Athletics, expresses pride
The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) has announced that actor and politician Kangana Ranaut has been appointed as the Brand Ambassador for the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics to an official statement from PCI, Kangana's association is expected to bring renewed energy, visibility, and focus to para-athletics in India. In her new role, she will represent and promote the core values of the Championships - resilience, inclusion, and excellence, reported her gratitude, Kangana shared a video from the ceremony. Sharing her thoughts, she said, 'India's para-athletes are redefining what's possible every single day. I am deeply honoured to support them and help amplify awareness about their extraordinary accomplishments. Para sport is not just about competition - it's about courage, and I'm proud to stand behind our champions.' Watch the video here: PCI President and two-time Paralympic gold medallist Devendra Jhajharia welcomed the announcement, stating, 'We are thrilled to have Kangana on board. Her passion, influence, and commitment to India's athletes make her an ideal ambassador for this global event.'The New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships will be held at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium from September 27 to October 5, and is set to host over 1,000 athletes from more than 100 countries. It will mark the 12th edition of the prestigious competition and is poised to be India's largest para-sporting event to this landmark event, the PCI aims to bring para-sports into every Indian home, school, and Reel
