To what extent is Slumdog Millionaire typical of it's genre?

Slumdog Millionaire's most typical genre that it would fall under would be romantic drama. The entire film is based around the male protagonist's mission to find his 'true love', the extent he is willing to go to find her, and the obstacles that he overcomes on the way.

Dialogue in the film such as "you came back for me?", "I never forgot" and "It's our destiny", is proof of the love that the pair share. Jamal and Latika have known each-other since children, and as the dialogue they have whilst children focuses on fate and destiny, it becomes clear to the viewer that this love has span over a long period of time. From early on they have easily understood how much each-other means to them, and so it seems only natural that this love will grow the more that they do. In one scene in particular, voyeurism has been used in displaying Latika to us. This happens towards the end of the film whilst she is searching for him in the train-station. This creates somewhat of a feeling that Latika is to be lusted over, possibly that she is also to be admired. However the shot we see appears to be from the eyes of Jamal, and so perhaps we at the same time as him are realising that they have finally found each other after all this time. The setting itself of a train-station has somewhat of a representation as being a romantic backdrop, films such as Brief Encounter being one of the firs to use this. Latika's character herself is also extremely stereotypical of the genre, in that she plays the 'damsel in distress', or 'princess' character. This again portrays the idea that she is to be 'won', which is exactly what Jamal does. This scenario is used often to show the extent that the pair love each-other, and the negatives they are willing to overcome to be reunited with each-other. 

The movie is not simply defined to one genre, as it also offers characteristics of a Bollywood movie. Just some of the themes that a Bollywood film often has, also included in Slumdog include lost love, reversals of fortune and also villains. One of the most iconic characteristics includes a dance sequence, which is shown to us at the end of the film. The movie's famous soundtrack 'Jai Ho' is performed by the entire cast, with Jamal and Latika at the centre. The kiss scene between the two also finishes rather than them actually kissing, but instead freezing when the two come together. This again is typical of the Bollywood genre, as the actual kiss is rarely shown to us.

The film can also be classed as being part of Danny Boyle's auteur work. Themes in this film that support this could include big decisions, money and also somewhat of an 'outcast character'. However the film itself opens itself up to audience perception. Personally I believe that it's main genre is that of Romantic drama, and Boyle simply uses characteristics of Bollywood to give a sense of the culture of the movie's setting.