There has been a lot of negative publicity about Slumdog Millionare. Usually they come from the neo-rich class in India. This class of people feels uncomfortable being exposed to the ugly underbelly that 90 percent of India lives in.

They love to see and read stories about the great Indian boom. At best, they will sit in a cinema full of Bollywood mind-bending, fantasy movies and come out happy.

Anything as long as it is not reality, only good news and fantastical fantasy are acceptable. Does Slumdog deserve Oscars and whatever awards it can win? Yes, it deserves them. The reason is the movie is almost true to life. The misery and the spirit are real and genuine.

The movie is not about slums, it is about the special Indian spirit that says I will win despite all odds. That is the story of India. There is another reason the Indian upper class is upset at the movie.

From a very neutral point of view, Indians have an emotional language which in most cases does not connect with Western audiences.

Your comments:

You say the percentage of Indians living below the poverty line is 90 percent, India's Planning Commission puts the figure at 27.5 percent and United Nations' sources have different figures, closer to the 27.5 percent mark.

I have seen in many Western and non-Indian newspapers 70 percent or 80 percent, or some random number that comes to the writer's mind, so I ask you to make sure of your facts before writing an article about India's poverty.

I think Slumdog was a very good movie. Whether it deserved Oscars or not, who cares?

Oscars are American awards and they have every right to choose who they think deserves them.

However, I am getting sick of people saying India is poor and, just as you agree that India is not rich as it has poverty, you must also agree that India is marching ahead and soon it will prove its worth (It is only 60 years since the British left, it may take some time.)

Aham

The inherent problem is the story not staying true to its facts - all Mumbaikars know that the city is teeming with slums - the problem is not the depiction of the slums.

The problem is the story of Jamal being linked with each and every horrible thing happening to him, and each of these incidents inexplicably linked with Mumbai or India.

Gangsters, prostitution, slums, corrupt police - all these factors do exist but the movie exaggerates these greatly.

As for your comments about Bollywood, it certainly produces worthwhile films - in fact films like Satya show a more accurate, gritty portrayal of how the underworld really works rather than the ridiculous story line of Slumdog in which a gangster employs a 13-year-old boy.

As for the element of fantasy, I haven't seen a greater fantasy than in Slumdog - a blind boy knowing that a 100 dollar note has Benjamin Franklin on it.

RM

I have many Indian friends here in Malaysia, mostly through my work. I have enjoyed invitations to Deepavali celebrations and other religious and traditional Indian family events. I have taken a real interest in their culture (and food!). I am a country-bred Australian.

Where I stumble is these Bollywood musical movies. They are so long - up to four hours or more. The singing is all girly falsettos by the women or dodgy karaoke quality from the men. The group dancing makes a Janet Jackson music video look like high culture.

The plot is always a cheesy romance. Forgive me if most heroines are very white for Indian lasses.

Slumdog Millionaire, along with Monsoon Wedding and Water are a chance for real Indian dramatic actors to shine without the usual Bollywood schmaltz. If the nouveau riche of India squirms, I couldn't care less!

Jim

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