"D. It is written."

-Slumdog Millionaire

I wasn't even interested in the movie, when it was released in the USA. Everyone talked about the Indian stars in it, and I thought, "There you go! Another mafia -type movie. Why does Hollywood come to the Indian Film Industry only for that?" Of course, after having observed the rage that this movie created, and having seen the movie myself, I am forced to apologise in the humblest way I can.

This entry, is not only a review of the movie, but also, one of the many answers to Mr. Bacchan's blog entry that created an uproar in India. First and foremost, it is only a director of Danny Boyle's expertise that can make such a layered film. There is a strange rhythmn that the movie has, which it maintains throughout, a slightly lyrical quality to the way the story has been handled. A story is always converted into a movie, and surely, it is never as good as the book. This movie differs in that very aspect. This is the best adaptation I have watched in recent times. And that includes movies like Harry Potter, Lord Of the Rings, Pride and Prejudice. The movies look like they had been adaptations of the books. Slumdog simply didn't.

All in all, its a simple story of love, interspersed with a life of the slum of Dharavi, and the stark reality of what they are made of. For all those who feel that showing a child first being taught to sing bhajans extremely well, and then being made blind to beg, is an extreme, I ask, " Isn't this what does happen in our streets?" The movie has not portrayed anything in an exaggerated way. It has shown everything, just the way it is.

We know, India is not only about the slums. But we also know that India is about the slums. These areas form such an integral part of our land, you can't ignore them. This movie is a potrayal of a young lad , and his journey of life. What he does for love, the lenghts that he goes to, unwilling to accept that his love can be taken away from him. What Jamal says to the Inspector sims it all up. " I went on the Show because I thought she'd be watching." That is all that it was to him. To catch the eye of the girl he had loved since they were children ; the girl, to find whom, he came back to the city that held the horrors of his childhood.

It is by luck, that he gets questions he can answer, by luck, that the one question he doesn't know the answer to, he guesses right. But, the story isn't about the Show, or the knowledge that Jamal has. It is a story about love, about a journey that begins in Mumbai, and ends there too.

As beautiful as the movie is, Dev Patel's portrayal of the character of Jamal is explicit. It will be hard to look at him in any other role now. Danny Boyle has found the perfect actors for every part, every character. The best of the lot are the children from the slums. The ease with which they play their parts is very shocking and awe-inspiring.

A R Rahman remains himself when it comes to the music. He has always been a terrific music composer. The music sounds just like a trademark AR Rahman music. It blends perfectly with the story.

Slumdog Millionaire deserves every ounce of admiration it has got. Every 'human' should watch this movie at least once. You'll come out a different person, without even knowing it.