Representation of India in Slumdog Millionaire

The representation of India throughout Slumdog plays a huge part, with the city of Mumbai itself often acting like an extra character in the movie.

India is portrayed as being a place heavy with poverty, the first opening scene reveal the conditions in which young children are required to live in, with dirty sewers and feral dogs. Extreme wide shots have been used to show the vastness of the country, and to show juts the millions of people in fact living in the conditions. One scene in particular that uses this shot is to show a shanty-town, again reinforcing just how much of a vital part poverty in Mumbai actually is.

Iconography has also been used to allow the viewer to recognize famous Indian landmarks. Probably the most recognizable would be the Taj Mahal, and this has been used to create humour; when the two young boys act as tourist guides for the Western tourists. This also helps to physically show the difference between two different styles of living, when an American family offer the young children money.

India is also shown as a place full of culture and happiness. The movie plays on key Bollywood features, to allow the viewer to feel as though they too are experiencing the real India. Bright colours and exotic patterns have been used not only in the movie but also as parts of the advertising, thus indicating this movie will focus heavily on Indian traditions.

One scene that will prove humorous to a British audience is the call-centre, in which typically Indian workers are the people who deal with customers from the UK. Playing on this, the customers are even told to use typical British sayings and iconography, including the Loch Ness and Ewan McGreggor.

The overall narrative of the film, this being ‘from rags to riches’, is a storyline highly relatable to an Indian audience. As many of them are deprived of proper opportunities and even basic necessities, an underdog whom succeeds and wins millions would offer as an incredible sense of escapism for many.

The film ends with an obvious nod to Bollywood conventions through the performance of 'Jai Ho'. This pays homage to India's happier and more positive representations, as well as it's traditional routes through the arts of performance and dance.