Representation of Youth Slumdog Millionaire

Youth is represented in Slumdog Millionaire when we see a young, blind boy singing in a tunnel. We know the boy is singing for money as he is controlled by Maman who uses the kids to get money. In order to get more money, he blinds them which we learn earlier on in the film. This young boy represents the innocence of youth due to them being manipulated and controlled by these men for money that wont benefit them. It also represents the lack of ambition in the youth of the slums, because they tend to resort to begging to help them survive. This scene could also represent Jamal as caring, which is not something we have yet seen in the film. I would say this because he seems to be empathetic towards to the young boy because he understands his circumstances, so he offers him $100.

Another scene in the film that represents youth as careless and innocent, is near the beginning when we see a group of children running through the slums from we can assume are the police. It represents youth this way because it shows their reckless and trouble making nature, rather than worrying about problems that maybe those who are older do such as money and corruption which is a recurring theme in the film.

Salim and Jamal can both represent two different sides to youth in slums. For example, in the scene where Salim sells Jamals autograph from Amitabh Bachah we can see the innocence and vulnerbailty of youth demostrated by Jalam as we can see hoe angry he is that Salim has taken his autograph which he valued and cared for. Salim on the other hand shows the themes of money and corruption which clearly starts at early age due to the way they have been brought up, due to his lack of empathy towards his brother by selling something he cared for.