D: It is Written - A Slumdog Review

1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

In the movie Slumdog Millionaire, an impoverished young man named Jamal Malik, from the slums of Mumbai, becomes a contestant on the Indian version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire.” The film opens with Jamal on the verge of winning 20 million Rupees, and on suspicion of cheating; he is arrested, interrogated and tortured. Throughout his interrogation Jamal shares the story of his journey, and how it has led him to his answers. As his tale unfolds, it is apparent that both destiny and love have led him to this moment.

Jamal’s journey begins with the violent death of his mother, leaving him orphaned along with his older brother, Salim, to survive the slums of Mumbai. A girl named Latika, to whom Jamal forms an inseparable bond, joins them on their journey. Through an unfortunate turn of events, the boys are separated from Latika, who would spend the next several years of her life in bondage to the criminal element in Mumbai. However, Jamal never forgets Latika and is unrelenting in his search for her.

One of the most interesting dynamics in the film is the contrast between the brothers, Jamal and Salim. While they are on a seemingly similar journey, they take vastly different paths. Jamal seems to maintain some semblance of character at each turn of life, while Salim continuously compromises his character by making bad decisions. Jamal’s determination and love for Latika sustains him. Conversely, Salim’s greed, and lust for control and power continues to lead him down a much darker path.

Jamal’s love for Latika and faith in his brother propels the major theme in the film, which is hope. Hope to overcome a life of struggle, hope for a life of purpose driven by love, hope for a happy ending. As it often does, the elements of love, faith, and hope lead to redemption. This is reflected in the triumphant closing song, “Jai Ho,” which is translated from Hindi as “Victory”... Perfect closing for a film that illustrates unfailing love, the triumph of hope and the victory of the underdog.

Want to be inspired? Watch this film.