Slumdog Millionaire: Bringing home glory and fame
 

"Slumdog Millionaire" was the mega winner of 8 Oscars.

Destiny turner "Slumdog Millionaire" was declared mega winner of 8 Oscars out of 10 nominations, doing the nation much proud. The film directed by British Director Danny Boyle has changed fortunes from Reel to Real with AR Rahman bringing home 2 Oscars for Best Original Soundtrack and for Best Original Song. In his speech Rahman thanked his mother and god with the famous line “Mere paas Maa Hai (I have my mother by my side). Boyle also becomes the first British winner of best director since Sam Mendes was honoured in 2000 for "American Beauty".

Story of the young Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) risen from the slums of Mumbai plays the lead in the film. His whole life struggle, incidences and experiences are seen as flashback while he competes in the Indian version of the reality TV show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” The questions and answers relate to his own life. 

At one end is the high profile lifestyle of Mumbai people in the city of Bollywood, richness, stardom and glamour. A look into Jamal’s life reflects the poverty, brutality and difficulties of being born in Mumbai (Dharavi slums) as a no one. From being a tea stall owner to winning the show, his life is totally transformed.

This Movie and the win if seen as a tribute to Mumbai and the people, shall surely out shadow the terror attacks of 2008 bringing hope and light in Mumbai and globally in times to come. It has already brought much happiness throughout by getting India noticed, appreciated and loved once again for producing great artists and music. India gets on a global arena for the right reasons with Bollywood stars making their presence felt and walking the red carpet. Other winners at the Academy Awards where Bollywood met Hollywood were - Kate Winslet (Best Actress) for "The Reader", Sean Penn (Best Actor) for "Milk", Spanish Actress Penelope Cruz bagging the first on screen Academy Award for Vicky Cristina Barcelona in the supporting role. 

Although there is no rigid formula for a winning presentation of characters on screen, one can say that good cinema is surely a combination of appealing music, a sensible storyline, dialogues, bits of reality that are revealed and bits that are concealed and but ofcourse a special Midas touch to make the audience cry/laugh and experience emotions which obviously ticked "Slumdog Millionaire" as a winner. Indian Cinema surely has a long way to go!

Slumdog does it again:

Best Picture
Best Director (Danny Boyle)
Best Adapted Screenplay (Simon Beaufoy)
Best Original Score
Best Original Song (Jai Ho – A.R. Rahman)
Best Sound Mixing (Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke, Resul Pookutty)
Best Film Editing (Christ Dickens)
Best Cinematography (Anthony Dod Mantle)