Slum residents in India protest against 'Slumdog's' name

by Sanjay Jha | January 26, 2009 at 09:18 pm

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Globally acclaimed film Slumdog Millionaire opened in Indian theatres on Friday amidst jubilation and protest.

Slum dwellers in different parts of India continued to protest against Oscar-nominated film 'Slumdog Millionaire', demanding the film's makers remove the word dog from the title.

The protesters said their sensibilities had been offended by the title, which they said was abusive of people who live in slums. The protests continued for the second day, even as Republic Day was being celebrated.

In Mumbai, slum residents organized a protest against Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire,” claiming that the movie’s title was insulting to them. A group of slum dwellers protested against the showing of the film at Ashok cinema theatre in the Patna capital of eastern state of Bihar. The protesters tore down posters and banners of the film.

One of India's iconic Hindi film heroes, Amitabh Bachchan criticized the film for portraying a poverty-stricken India. Big B, as he is known in India, wrote in his blog that if the movie projects India as Third World, dirty under belly developing nation and causes pain and disgust among nationalists and patriots, let it be known that a murky under belly exists and thrives even in the most developed nations.

Several dozen Mumbai slum residents protested the award-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire" on Thursday, calling the film's title insulting.

The protest came amid mounting excitement in India — where the movie is set and home to many of its actors — ahead of Academy Award nominations later Thursday.

The film, a rags-to-riches romance set in Mumbai's notorious slums, has been tapped a favorite for several Oscar nominations after it swept its four categories at the Golden Globes, including the prize for best drama.

But not all of Mumbai's slum residents were happy.

"I am poor, but don't call me slumdog," said Rekha Dhamji, 18, one of about two dozen slum residents who protested outside the home of one of the movie's actors, Anil Kapoor.

"I don't want to be referred to as a dog," she said.

Other protesters held up banners reading "Poverty For Sale," and "I am not a dog." One of them carried a puppy.

Nicholas Almeida, a social activist who organized the protest, said he planned to file a lawsuit on Friday to get the name changed.

The film, which tells the story of Jamal Malik, a poor youth who becomes the champion of India's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" television program as he searches for his lost love, has also been criticized for focusing on India's poverty.

On Wednesday the cast and director spoke to the media in New Delhi about the film, and the controversy it has sparked.

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rumana husain

at 21:30 on January 26th, 2009

'give a dog a bad name and hang him'!

Sanjay Jha

at 21:34 on January 26th, 2009

Hi Rumana, Thanks very much for your reading and commenting. I really appreciate it. Thanks

harringtola

at 21:59 on January 26th, 2009

The name is not important if it is raising the visibility to the aspects of Indian life that could benefit from exposure to the sun. It has such an endearing quality I think it can only have a positive impact on image.

Amitjha

at 04:15 on January 27th, 2009

The tragedy of economic divide is a reality, not accepting it and accusing the name of the film is not going to help anyone.

RichardPorterPhotography

at 10:37 on January 27th, 2009

I took this photo on a tour around Mumbai's poorer areas where I whitnessed street kids living under bridges and begging for money from tourists like myself. The photo I took here is typical of conditions in these areas.

RichardPorterPhotography has contributed a photo to this story.

marakshia

at 03:24 on January 28th, 2009

i took this picture in my first day in India. the mix among residencial areas and slums enchanted me:
the empy , impersonal aspect of big modern building opposite to the very busy , full of life slum atmosphere.
i realized how things can change is you to stop to see them for more than a while...sometimes reality is much better than appearence. nice to be surprised

marakshia has contributed a photo to this story.

droidmedia

at 04:27 on January 28th, 2009

I loved Mumbai on the visits I've had there. Extreme's and opposites. The city buzzes with life and energy. I do not claim to know about full time life there but would spend more time there given the chance. Anyone flying into Mumbai for the first time can see the reality from the air.
Maybe the name 'Slumdog' in the title of the film is more of a harsh reality of the way the slum dwellers of India are viewed, as shown in the film. India of course is not unique in this division of class and caste...

droidmedia has contributed a photo to this story.

tallison

at 07:43 on January 28th, 2009

In this country of 800 million hungry and nakeds you dont have dearth of empty hand crooks always looking for mischief - big and small from bi-lanes to political arenas. when main stream respectable politicians believe in the motto: Politics is done on dead bodies. Does anybody need any proof.

tallison

at 07:51 on January 28th, 2009

Jha please what is your opinion.

dezineaxis

at 03:50 on January 29th, 2009

I donot mind sharing my photograph here. But I really see no ISSUE too in this whole campaign as well. World has gone mad... when will we start looking at things in a positive way? rather then complaining about each and every thing and making an issue out of it .... Is there really a cause or its just another publicity stunt?
I havent seen the film nor I know if its out but after seeing the trailors I felt its a good topic and I really see NO SHAME attached to its name. Rather its a TAUNT on elite who see these slum dwellers less than HUMANS!!!

dezineaxis has contributed a photo to this story.