Slumdog Millionaire: Will the Real Hero Please Stand Up?
Wow! Wow! WOW!
That’s all I could say when I saw Slumdog Millionaire and I’m still saying it now.
WOW!
For anyone whose seen the movie, you’ll know why I’ve turned monosyllabic.
Every single thing about Slumdog Millionaire is fantastic. There are so many layers of the storyline I’ve spent for reliving every delicious moment.
For me, the movie’s extra meaningful because of the theme of my third book, The Quest to Have it All: Finding the path to purpose and peace and this year’s theme of the same for my radio show, The Quest to Have it All.
Slumdog Millionaire is one heck of a case study in heroes!
It occurs to me most think of a hero as an intrinsically good person who goes on a journey quest…meets a bunch of seemingly insurmountable obstacles…almost fails (several times)…emerges the victor and…voila’…a hero is born.
In Slumdog Millionaire this is Jamal Malik.
Born in the Dharavi slums (India), Jamal’s mother is murdered during the 1993 anti-Muslim attacks, leaving he and his older brother, Salim Malik, orphaned and living on the streets.
Thus starts the hero’s journey.
Though the exact ages of the brothers is never revealed it could easily be assumed they are in the eight to ten year old range.
How to survive on the streets at such young ages is a double entendre when you think about it. Certainly survival means finding ways to take care of basic needs…food, water, clothing…sustaining physical life.
But there’s another kind of survival.
Survival of the spirit.
What kind of survival skills does it take to keep your soul intact when you’re an eight or nine year old child whose every waking moment is spent trying to stay alive.
And…you’re a child…what or who preys on you in the moments you’re not awake?
There are tons of places you can scrounge for food and water. But where can anyone…especially a child…scrounge for safety and love?
Slumdog Millionaire opens with eighteen year old Jamal being tortured and interrogated by a police inspector in Mumbai, India (where Jamal lives).
He is accused of cheating as a contestant on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”.
Through a series of childhood flashbacks we see how he came to know the answer to all but two questions. Through those childhood flashbacks of beatings, betrayals, murder, kidnapping, prostitution and rape Jamal never falters in keeping faith, hope and love alive in his spirit.
Audiences love him.
I love him.
A hero from the start, eight year old Jamal comes to the rescue of another village orphan, Latika. One night, Jamal and Salim have found a place to sleep and stay relatively dry during a raging storm. They, both, see a little girl staring at them from outside in the deluge.
Though you can’t see her face, the effect of her, so tiny, standing perfectly still and completely silent while battered by wind and stinging rain is heartbreaking.
Of course Jamal wants to offer her shelter. Salim refuses. Since Salim is the older brother and self-proclaimed boss, Jamal struggles between defiance of his sibling and doing what he knows to be right.
Unable to do anything but what’s right, he waits until he thinks his brother is asleep and brings Latika inside.
No great hero’s journey is complete without the presence of great romance. Slumdog Millionaire is no exception.
As the story unfolds, Jamal comes to know Latika as his destiny. No matter how many times he looses her or how, he finds the way back. Even when she’s contemptuous of his declared love and throws him away, the next step Jamal takes is the one he hopes will bring him back to “her”.
The usual hero/great love of the ages story usually involves a chiseled, muscle bound hot guy and super model in distress. At the pinnacle of the saga, the music swells and said hot hero sweeps said super model into his arms, plants a big one on her and the credits roll.
Uh, uh. Not this time.
Weeelll…mostly “uh, uh not this time”…the woman who plays the adult Latika is, in fact, a super model.
Earlier in the movie, Jamal’s own brother Salim cuts Latika’s face when she tries to run away from the crime lord who has purchased and enslaved her.
When Jamal…with no discernable chiseling or muscles…gets to the pinnacle of Slumdog Millionaire he does, indeed, take Latika in his arms…and very gently kisses… the disfiguring scar running the length of her beautiful face. Then he stares into her eyes and does not kiss her on the lips until she asks him to do so.
For those incredibly tender moments, some of the most romantic moments I’ve ever seen, anybody that had anything whatsoever to do with the making of Slumdog Millionaire is a hero!
How many of us lose hope over less?
How many of us lose faith over more?
How many of us speak, act or think without the presence of love over nothing?
The point is, no matter how large or small the obstacle…how long the journey…the hero inside all of us can keep the faith, hope and love alive in our spirit (The Hero’s Journey).
Because Jamal was able to do so he is the protagonist’s protagonist. The quintessential hero. He is an intrinsic and undeniable great seed.
But what about someone who’s intrinsically and undeniably a bad seed?
Is it possible to have bestowed upon them the title of hero?
Find out in “Will the REAL Hero Please Stand Up”
The Sequel…
(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading ...
I too absolutely love this movie. I could not get enough when i first saw it and just caught it again about a week ago. One great movie!
HAVENT SEEN THE MOVIE BUT WILL NOW THANKS
I live in South Africa, much like India we experience a great deal of poverty. We are aware of the millions of street children who survive on the streets of South Africa. Much like Jamal I guess. Your comments and this movie, which I have seen and found fascinating encourages me to find out more about the lives of these children. Perhaps there are some wonderful stories out there waiting to be told.
It was an awesome movie!! Interesting how both brothers had the same experience but chose (?) to deal with them differently. And talk about learning from your lifes lessons.
Truly a movie made with meaning and potential to change the lives of many.
[...] “Will the REAL Hero Please Stand Up” I examined the hero Jamal Malik from “Slumdog [...]
Leave your response!
Tao Quotes
Guest authors:
Archives
Tag Cloud
Daily Stars with Shelley von Strunckel
www.shelleyvonstrunckel.comObviously you'd rather make decisions on your own than have to bow to the questionable views of others. However unsure you are about the wisdom of their plans, they're actually far more knowledgeable than you imagine. Ask them for explanations. The resulting discussions will be as informative as they are reassuring. By Shelley von Strunckel
Now that Neptune has joined your ruler Venus in the visionary sign of Pisces, you'll find that suddenly your intuition is amazingly clear. While this may not last forever, explore the resulting feelings and perceptions. The resulting insights will come in handy, especially when dealing with impossible people or situations. By Shelley von Strunckel
Often issues are best discussed frankly and openly, and as soon as possible after they arise. However, many pivotal facts are either unknown or misunderstood. That being the case, take it slowly. Say what you must but no more. And remain silent until all the necessary information comes to light. By Shelley von Strunckel
Every once in a while it's important to review what you do with your time and to consider what and who you put first in your life. While you might think you've got your priorities right, give some thought to these matters and you'll realise you're short-changing some and wasting considerable time on others. By Shelley von Strunckel
Sometimes challenging situations involving already rather uptight individuals are best approached with a light touch. While you may think there's nothing funny or humorous to be found, the actual process will cast the proceedings in a fresh perspective. You might even stop taking things quite so seriously, which alone is an achievement. By Shelley von Strunckel
Don't mistake the suggestions made by others that certain once important ventures might need to come to a conclusion as criticism. The fact is, you've been thinking exactly the same yourself, but have been unwilling to acknowledge it. The real problem is your own pride. Tackle that and everything else will be easy. By Shelley von Strunckel
Arrangements you've struggled to organise are falling apart. You can't help but feel that if they matter, you should battle for them. Take a look at the changes going on around you and, as a result, in your own life. These make it inevitable that some of those long-standing arrangements must go. By Shelley von Strunckel
One of the most challenging things for you to admit is that you've been outsmarted. It makes no difference whether the situation in question involves certain individuals or it's the circumstances you're dealing with. Still, not only must you admit that's the case, you're urged to let go of the reins entirely. By Shelley von Strunckel
Being a fire sign, you're superb at surmounting the kind of obstacles many regard as overwhelming. However, one particular situation has thrown even you. Frustrating as this is in the short term, what you learn from the actual process of figuring out ways around these will serve you well in the future. By Shelley von Strunckel
Yet again you've made the mistake of trusting somebody else to do a job for you. Actually, that isn't the problem. They did what was necessary, but not with the care or thoroughness you'd have employed. Which is why you didn't mention it. You unwisely assumed they would be as conscientious as you are. By Shelley von Strunckel
As an Aquarius, although you don't notice it, you're far more interested in what others are both thinking and doing than most. This means that often you understand them better than they do themselves. Bear this in mind now, as you discuss sensitive matters and you'll realise why they seem so lacking in self-awareness. By Shelley von Strunckel
At times progress is marked by new experiences, exciting encounters or achievements. However, the kind of progress you're making could just as well involve recognising that you really must say farewell to certain alliances, activities or even goals. This may seem unfair, but they part of the past and would be a real distraction. By Shelley von Strunckel
© 2009 Shelley von Strunckel
Recent Posts
Most Commented
Most Viewed