[Assam] From TOI: Re Boyle

[Krishnendu Chakraborty]

Thanks for pointing to that "real America" JS.  But I believe Boyle included that on purpose ... to earn some brownie points.
 
Also,  the change from African American to white American is surely going to hurt some  --- those who still find it difficult to imagine that a  white can do any wrong.  Colonial hangover , I guess.
 
 
>That is a very nice script -  a blockbuster in waiting.
>I would like to add some changes  -
>The African American replaced by a white American who belongs to broken
>family( parents separated and untraceable ), she becomes a teenage mum (
husband disappears in the ghettos ), mum takes drugs and unable to look
after kid, kid takes to crime... Bacchan hears this story in NDTV and then
decide to come to NY to save America and Americans. Except the rescuing
part, the rest is also part of the "real west" that many in India are
unaware of. It is reality and should not be disparaging for the American
viewers either.
I wouldn't mind sending this to Boyle and see his response ( does anyone
know his email ? )

BTW it is not the poverty in Boyle's movie that stinks but it is his
selective representation.
Can you forget the scene where the car's wheels are taken off.. the boy goes
"This is real India" ...and then the American hands him money and says "This
is real America" ... When did Americans became so benevolent? Do Americans
give out money for free? I think there has been enough discussion on the
other parts - Hindus killing Muslims, the host constantly making fun of the
boy etc etc

I never expect Hollywood to do any movie which shows India in positive. If
anyone hasn't seen "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" .. please do so.
You will know what I am talking about.
Russians banned the screeing of the last Indiana Jones film, China would
never allow any H'wood movie to be shown in China which shows them in poor
light - eg Seven Years in Tibet. Indians still have a colonial hangover and
jump for joy if anything is west certified. Oscar is just an American award
for H'wood movies..nothing much nothing less. Even if SD wins, it is not an
Indian movie, If it was, it would have been in the foreign catergory.
JS



On Mon, Feb 16, 2009 at 12:27 AM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:

> Allow me to suggest an alternative to whining:
>
>        Get Amitabh Bacchan, the true representer of the mighty Indian
> culture and the super-power
>        in waiting, to make a Bollywood film about an enemy  Western
> nation's poverty,
>        discrimination, slavery, drug-culture and all that is bad in it.
> Pick any country, as long as
>        it is Western. Have the plot unravel, in true Bollywood style, with
> some song and dance
>        sequence, playing hide-and-seek, say in some NY ghetto, where the
> African American
>        heroine, roiled in poverty, drugs, sex and violence  will be rescued
> by an NRI-H1B, brought
>        home to Pune and made a true desi Bohu after being duly converted
>  at Tirupati , to live
>                   happily ever after.
>
> After a few Filmfare and other such awards that are the true measures of
> modern cinematic achievements and a refusal to enter in the Oscars and other
> such western, elitist clubs' kangaroo-contests, a massive box-office  hit
> across the hinterland of India and all other lands where Bollywood reigns,
>  it would finally redeem India's honor.
>
> That oughtta teach 'em Boyles a lesson! That would be pulling oneself up by
> the pajama-strings! That would not be begging !!
>
> What do you think :-)?
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> At 9:06 AM -0600 2/15/09, Alpana B. Sarangapani wrote:
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>> No. Beggars have nothing.
>>
>> So, go ahead, make movies, money, fame and whatever you can get. The rich
>> will get some pleasure amongst themselves and be thankful to the Almighty!
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>>  > Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:48:56 -0600> To: assam at assamnet.org> From:
>> cmahanta at charter.net> Subject: Re: [Assam] From TOI: Re Boyle> > *** I
>> have only one question for all those Indians whose > national-prides were
>> violated by Boyle's portrayal of life in the > crown jewel of Indian cities,
>> Mumbai:> > Can beggars be choosers ?> > cm :-)> >
>> _______________________________________________> assam mailing