Local Indians give 'Slumdog' mixed reviews

"Slumdog Millionaire," the indie hit that received 10 Oscar nominations, wins praise from many suburban Indians for showcasing the "colorful palate" of their native country, though some are a little embarrassed about the film's spotlight on India's extreme poverty.

Most are proud and excited about the many accolades for the movie, which is second in nominations only to "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," which won 13 nominations for the Academy Awards to be broadcast Feb. 22.

While no one denies that poverty and slums exist in India, some say certain scenes in "Slumdog Millionaire" make conditions appear worse than they actually are.

"The movie is very good," said Ayodhia Salwan, owner of Salwan Trading in Schaumburg. "But some people say it hurt their feelings. It made (India) look bad. It's not really like that."

Dave Patel of Addison said he's heard mixed reviews about the film from his Indian friends.

"People look at it in different ways. It depends how you were raised," Patel said. "You have to face reality, though. It's there. Some people have probably been through that."

Indians here point to several scenes where they believe director Danny Boyle was dramatizing for the sake of the movie, such as one scene showing teenage Jamal (Dev Patel) being hung upside down and tortured by police with electric shocks. Another unrealistic scene is where the leading couple kisses on the railway platform. Such public displays of affection are not socially acceptable in India, local Indians said.

Even the main character himself is a little hard for most Indians to relate to.

"For the kid to grow up and be so 'normal' after undergoing such hardships was surprising. He hardly displayed any anger or resentment toward others," said Jaya Iyer of Buffalo Grove.

Those critiques didn't dim their opinions that "Slumdog Millionaire" is a brilliant movie.

"It's a must-see for people who want to know something about India," said Srini Karwar of Buffalo Grove.

"I don't think there's too much exaggeration in terms of poverty and the slums and how kids are on their own," said Rajinder Singh Mago, a resident of Wayne. "That's the reality. Maybe it's an awakening for the politicians to do something."

Deepika Syal of Deerfield said while the film exposed the harsh realities of poverty, "the colorful palate of India balanced it out." Many of the movie's sights and sounds reminded Syal of her native country, and she praised Boyle's ability to capture the Indian psyche. The final song and dance number was the icing on the cake.

"Any movie that has anything to do with India is inconceivable without music," Syal said.