The success of Slumdog Millionaire on the international circuit has brought India on the global agenda once again. It will also dramatically increase the penetration of Bollywood in the international markets and attract the interest of large business groups in the film industry. At least three large Indian business houses have taken their first steps in this direction.

Critics will argue that it is a success built on India’s dark underbelly by glorifying its poverty and slums. I hope the film galvanizes the Indian government into action to address the stark realities of poverty in the slums. The Mumbai Mirror today morning reports that the State government of Maharashtra has been inspired to initiate a probe based on a letter sent by a Briton, Mr. Geoff Chapman, to the Prime Minister of India. [Link]

The letter merely states an open secret – how mafia gangs profit by crippling poor children for begging. It needed a Geoff Chapman who read a report about Slumdog Millionaire in a British tabloid [The Daily Mail] to write to the Prime Minister which then pushed the Maharashtra government to do something.

For me this is a significant positive of Slumdog Millionaire.

The article in The Daily Mail by Andrew Malone titled ‘The real Slumdog Millionaires: Behind the cinema fantasy, mafia gangs are deliberately crippling children for profit’ can be viewed here

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