Slumdog millionaire has done it!

This film has got luckier than expected even by director Danny Boyle. SM was an obvious winner in Golden Globe, BAFTA and Oscars. But what has it done for Indians, has it really taken us to an international platform? I have been reading about what Indian film professionals think about SM. Some think the film has shown India in awful light by screening its slums and not the development it has undergone over the years. The film's screenplay was an adaptation and therefore the scope for deviating was not huge. However, it was a bit complicated to understand how children raised in Mumbai slums start talking in British accent.

As far as Indian film industry goes, the success of SM may not bring in major changes to the way things happen here. Most good films like Oye Lucky...still go unnoticed in our award functions and instead SRK gets a nomination in best actor category for Rab ne...a film that I have not heard one person appreciating. On the other hand, the west appreciation has never concerned seasoned actors like Om Puri and directors like Shekhar Kapoor. A minor revolution that can be expected is in the treatment of technicians like sound mixers, editors and cinematographers. They are the people who make films and never get appropriate recognition. Resul Pukutty’s win at the Academy awards has opened a new world for our creative technicians.

The only major change that I can see is for slum children Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail who actually got the opportunity to be on the red carpet in Oscars. The west recognition does not matter to them, they are probably not even aware of what they participated in. It felt good to see their innocent and non-business faces amidst publicity seekers. My day was made when Azharuddin after returning to India said in an interview, that they have done something that even Amitabh Bachchan could not do for the country. Now people in slums look upto them and are probably waiting for their turn to be a Latika or a Salim.
:)

Snow of Feb, 2009

First heavy snow of 2009 brought cheer and brightness to the bleak atmosphere. People came out with families and friends to play and make snowmen. I had some fun too, here are the pics that were taken in the backyard and front yard. My favourite are ones of the bench covered with snow. It looked so beautiful in the neighbourhood house that I dint hesitate to peek-a-boo.

Frontyard looked lively with neighbourhood children playing with snow and giggling.
Cauliflowers in the backyard. Is it?It really looks like one.
Footsteps...Feel free to follow at your own risk. Peek-a-boo in neighbour's garden was worth the effort.

A better angle for clearer and wider view.

:)