Dev Patel and Freida Pinto in Slumdog Crorepati

 

Slumdog Crorepati — the desi version of Slumdog Millionaire which bagged eight Oscars and made stars out of Mumbai slum dwellers — is the Independence Day film to watch out for today (Set MAX, 8pm). But for an Indian audience used to watching Mother India, Lagaan and Rang De Basanti every August 15, does Slumdog Crorepati deserve a thumbs up or a thumbs down? t2 finds out...

 

 

 

Slumdog crorepati — yes or no?

Luke Kenny, VJ and actor:
Slumdog Millionaire is about hope. It is about battling the odds and rising above your predicament to gain freedom. In that sense, Slumdog Millionaire qualifies, because it is a film about freedom and hope.

 

Prahlad Kakkar, ad guru:
For me, the success story of a slum dweller is the Indian equivalent of the Great American Dream. That’s what makes Slumdog Crorepati a patriotic film and a perfect way to spend Independence Day.

 

Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, director:
It’s a British film that shows the gloomier side of India. It is nota patriotic film at all and I wouldn’t waste my Independence Day evening watching Slumdog Crorepati.

 

Rannvijay, TV host and actor:
Personally, I liked the film, but given that broadcasters haven’t gone beyond screening patriotic films like Mother India, Roja and Lagaan on August 15, Slumdog Crorepati is an interesting choice.

the i-day favourites

	With its cricket-meets-patriotism theme and an Oscar nomination to boot, does it get better than Lagaan on I-Day?
	With a theme focusing on the mother and the motherland, Mehboob Khan’s much-acclaimed 1957 film Mother India starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt and Raaj Kumar has been a consistent favourite on August 15
	August 15 or otherwise, a successful US-based scientist’s decision to come back and settle in his village in Swades always grabs eyeballs
	Whether it is Purab Paschim, Kranti or Upkar, no I-Day film roster is complete without a dhartiputra Manoj Kumar film
	Ever since its release 17 years ago, Mani Ratnam’s Roja, a tale of love against the backdrop of terrorism, has been a firm August 15 favourite