How conventional is the narrative structure of your chosen texts? 

Slumdog Millionaire follows an unconventional narrative, this is due to it having two separate narratives that eventually meet, by doing this it enables the protagonist Jamal to know the answers to the questions in Who wants to be a millionaire. This is unconventional of a romantic drama which in my opinion is what made the film more appealing, instead of following a basic linear narrative which is what most romantic dramas do. 

Each time Jamal is asked a question an enigma code is released into the film to as whether Jamal knows the answer or not, this enables for the other parallel narrative to begin, that being when Jamal is a child. It could be argued that Slumdog Millionaire does follow a typical linear narrative, this being because of there being three separate narratives running in a chronological order that meet to ultimately draw the narrative to a conclusion, but either way still makes the movie more appealing, as it is still unconventional of a romantic drama.

Even though Slumdog Millionaire is unique in its narrative structure, it still follows classic themes of a romantic drama, like the typical happy ending and the underlining theme of destiny, but even though it is inevitable that these conventions are going to happen, the movie still leaves enigma codes to draw its audience in to continue watching. This is evident in the beginning scene in which Jamal is being tortured, this leaves the audience with an enigma code straight away to as why he's being tortured, which may continue a consumer to carry on watching. 

The scenes in which Jamal is on Who wants to be a millionaire act as an action code to drag the narrative to it's conclusion, this is due to every time Jamal is asked a question the parallel narrative begins to show why Jamal knows the answer to the question. This yet again acts as an enigma code 

as before the parallel narrative begins we are stuck wondering why Jamal knows the answer, which can be reinforced with him being born in the slums. The flash backs help portray the main theme in the film that being destiny, as Jamal knows the answers to the questions purely because of scenarios that have occurred throughout his life, which helps the movie keep it's balance with an unconventional romantic drama and a conventional romantic drama. 

By following a non linear narrative, Slumdog helps develop characters, especially the character of Salim, this is due to us being able to see him grow up throughout the movie and change, whereas Jamal and Latika don't change in personality only physically. This in my opinion makes Salim the most interesting character, as the scenarios him and Jamal encounter evidentially change Salim and we as an audience see his innocence taken away from him, due to him murdering someone, even though in my opinion for the right reason, but then join the Mumbai Mafia, then in the end become the caring almost mentor archetype for Jamal by freeing Latika. 

All in all I think Slumdog Millionaire is a unique romantic drama, despite the unique narrative structure highlighting the conventions of a romantic drama, it still separates itself from other romantic dramas due to the pure grittiness of it, as it uses India as a character as well as the conventional archetypes.