Slumdog Millionaire: Ten Images from the Film

Slumdog Millionaire is without question one of the best films of the last few years. It succeeds by telling a gritty story with a happy ending, perhaps the only story anyone wants to hear in these tough times. It also brings the cultural ideas of India to viewers all around the world in a way that helps people understand just a little bit more about a country they may have not known much about. The film succeeds in bringing us closer to a place that seems a world away. It is a spiritual experience to watch and really provokes thought on India itself and on more abstract ideas such as destiny and true love. Each image is a window into another culture through the eyes of a "slumdog" and his struggle to rise above the prejudices of days past. Below are some of these images that present themselves in classical Indian art and that can be seen throughout Slumdog Millionaire. With a cultural explanation of each, we can learn a little more about the film's message. Be warned, however, that this includes spoilers for those who have not seen the film.

1. When Jamal and Salim's slum is attacked, a child is dressed as Rama, painted in blue and holding a bow and arrow. Rama is the hero of the Ramayana and a symbol of the Hindu faith (Jamal and Salim are Muslim). This is also one of the questions Jamal is asked on Millionaire.

2. On Millionaire, Jamal is asked about the phrase beneath India's national emblem, the three lions. The three lions appear on flags and statues throughout India as a symbol of unity.

3. Once Jamal and Salim are thrown from the train, they stumble upon the Taj Mahal, where they pose as tour guides. The Taj Mahal is a symbol of Muslim architecture in India. Contrary to popular belief, it is not representative of the nation's general population, which is Hindu.

4. When Latika and Jamal are laying in the hotel room, she practices mudra hand gestures, making shadows against the wall. Mudra is a concept originated in Buddhism to express ideas through bodily motion. Latika's express happiness.

5. Jamal is asked a question about the song Darshan do Ghanshyam written by Indian poet Surdas. A darshan is a devotional to a deity in the Hindu faith.

6. When Jamal and Salim find Latika she is heavily decorated in jewelry, representing the decorated female and ideal of Indian beauty, an image dating from as far back as Harrappa.

7. The director, Danny Boyle, uses faster film stock during moments of high tension and high emotion, creating an image that appears hazy and dreamlike. This creates a certain symbolism that is reflective of Indian art. (e.g. When Jamal kisses Latika's scar or when Salim shoots Mamman)

8. The image of Jamal kissing Latika's scar is, in a way, a rejection of the ideas of the Ramayana. Rama cannot be with his wife because she has lived with another man. Jamal ignores Latika's past and loves her anyway in the name of destiny. It is fitting that he should deny this idea since his mother was killed in the name of Rama.

9. The references to the Three Musketeers are possible symbols for the Hindu Trimurti- the three gods Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma. Jamal represents Vishnu; he stands for and represents everyone as is seen when the entire country sits down to watch him win on Millionaire. Salim is Shiva, a force of destruction. He kills Mamman and constantly breaks Jamal's dreams (selling the autograph, stealing Latika etc). Latika is Brahma; she symbolizes the creation of a new life, and the fulfillment of destiny.

10. The ending of the film is done in a traditional Bollywood style, an image of modern India and a visual representation of the elation of a happy ending.

Slumdog is a film intended for Western audiences, but beneath the surface, there are plenty of images to examine given a cultural knowledge of Indian artistry and ideas. This may be a great way to learn more about a country which, until fairly recently, has been ignored by art historians and critics. One is guaranteed more enjoyment from the film at the very least and, hopefully, a greater sense of its message. This year's winner for Best Picture is not only a wonderful, "feel-good" movie, but a fantastic jumping-off point for learning across cultures.