Slumdog Millionaire, of course is not an Indian movie - it is a thoroughly well done movie in the western tradition - made by the man who directed Trainspotting. But it is a great movie.
It was highly criticised in India (until it won the Oscars - Indians just love American acclaim) for much the same reasons the film 'Australia' was criticised by Australians - we all get terribly precious when it comes to films about our own culture. As with 'Australia', many believed Slumdog Millionaire should have been a documentary, and as such wasn't realistic. Pointing to all those little tedious errors of fact. Then there were those in India who complained because it was too realistic - thus it was accused of being 'poverty porn'. Indians hate anyone looking at their poor classes.
Just like white Australians complained about whether 'Australia' was glorifying or denigrating the Aboriginals - you have whities on both sides arguing tediously over the most absurd inferences in the film, while Marcia Langton, possibly the most prominent Aboriginal woman in Australia, found the film depicted her early life on the missions exactly.
Just fascinating how some cultures get all hot under the collar when someone begins to display stuff that people think is 'their territory'.
Slumdog Millionaire is beautiful story, and so well done - your kids would love it!
But perhaps the best Indian movie to bridge the cultural gap, is Lagaan.
