Slumdog Millionaire, actor Freida Pinto’s debut film, has been declared an instant hit in the US. The film is based on the book Q&A written by Vikas Swarup. Expected to be nominated in several categories at the Oscars, it is slated to be released in India in January next year. Abhilasha Ojha spoke to Pinto about the film, her role and the reaction of audiences.
Did you expect Slumdog Millionaire to be such a big hit?
Honestly, I didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about how the film would do while shooting for it. Slumdog Millionaire is my first film and I was just excited to be a part of it. Danny Boyle is a brilliant director and it was such a great learning process. In fact, the audition for the role of Latika was spread over six months before I was finally selected for it. I’m pleased that my first steps into the film industry have been appreciated. I gave my all and enjoyed every minute of shooting and now I’m enjoying the reactions it is receiving.
Why do you think Slumdog Millionaire received such fantastic reviews? Would you agree that it’s somewhere a cult film?
It’s too early for me to be able to call the film a cult film. I’m still awaiting the film’s release in India which will be special since it’s an Indian story. Time and audiences will decide whether it is a cult film. However, it is an extremely special, honest film that will put a smile on peoples faces.
How would you describe the film in your own words?
In my view, Slumdog Millionaire lets audiences witness human emotions on celluloid. It’s a love story that also takes you on a journey into the underbelly of Mumbai. It’s a beautiful tale of the triumph of an underdog in an otherwise cruel, harsh world. I think Danny Boyle has succeeded in telling the world a very human story that everyone can relate to and that’s where the film has succeeded.
One criticism that the film has received is that lead actor Dev Patel, despite his fabulous acting, has an accent which doesn’t quite fit into the role of a slum dweller. Your comments.
Dev’s character in the film is not just a person from the Mumbai slums. In the film, his character is also shown to work in a call centre. So it’s not so unusual for his accent to differ from how people might expect a slum guy to speak.
What made you agree to doing Slumdog Millionaire? What were the factors that you took into consideration before signing the film?
I couldn’t have possibly dreamt of turning down a film with a director like Danny Boyle and a screenplay writer like Simon Beaufoy. I also wanted to experience working with a cast and crew from different parts of the world. I knew that being a part of it would be an enriching experience.
When was the first time that you actually watched Slumdog Millionaire as a member of an audience?
I watched the film for the first time at the Toronto Film Festival. It was screened at the Ryerson Theatre and had over 1,000 people attending the screening. Since I was seeing it in its entirety for the first time I was extremely nervous. Within the first 15 minutes of the screening, however, we realised we had a hit on our hands. At the end of the screening Slumdog Millionaire received a standing ovation.
