Jamal Malik is one question away
from winning 20 million rupees.

How did he do it?

A: He Cheated
B: He's Lucky
C: He's a Genius
D: It is Written

India has her own version of the great Dickens classic Oliver Twist. The difference is that it is on the silver screen and is set in modern day Mumbai. The role of Oliver is played by Jamal Malik a boy from the slums of the city. Artful Dodger and Bill Sikes are condensed into the single character of his brother Salim. While Fagin's role has been divided between Maman and Javed who are rival gangsters. Oh and by the way the movie's title is 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

An adaptation of a novel by an Indian diplomat, Vikas Swarup, the movie was jointly produced by Celador Films and Film 4. It was directed by Danny Boyle and and Loveleen Tandan and the screen play was written by Simon Beaufoy. Music, the quintessential ingredient of Indian culture was given by A.R. Rahman. The cast of the movie include Dev Patel (Jamal Malik), Freida Pinto (Latika), Madhur Mittal (Salim), Anil Kapoor (Prem Kumar), Ankur Vikal (Maman), Mahesh Manjrekar (Javed) and Irfan Khan (the inspector).The movie was released in January 2009.

Tough the plot of the movie is quite different from that of the great Dickens classic, the themes and various characters in the movie have numerous similiarities. The story is about a boy who is left at the mercy of the world at an early age. The events in his life make him witness the diverse and sometimes even bizarre forms of human existense. The double standards of the rich; the plea of the poor; mild mannered gangsters who have an appreciation for art; hope when all is lost and ofcourse love.

Jamal Malik, a poor boy from the slums of Mumbai is left at the whims of the big bad world when he loses his mother in the religio-political riots of the city. After the sorrowful event Jamal his brother, the artful dodger, Salim and Latika try to make a living by picking oakum, which in the movie's case is garbage, before they are lured by Fagin aka Maman to his lair-an apparent orphanage where he trains children to be beggars. All goes well initially and Salim the artful dodger learns the tricks of the trade quickly enough to become on of Maman's right hand disciples. Then one night Maman orders Salim to bring his brother so that his eyes can be mutiliated as blind beggars earn more.

Brotherly love takes the better of Salim's shrewder faculties and he, Jamal and Latika try to escape. This though is where the 'twist' in the story takes place. A twist which eventually will result in Jamal being only one question away from winning 20 million rupees. What happens? Does the trio succeed in their escapade? Do they leave a trail behind or is someone left behind? How can a impoverished little boy end up as a contestant in the Indian version of the program who wants to be a millionaire?

E: I ain't gonna tell ya the whole story, watch the movie yourself.