Sunday, May 2, 2010

Globalization of Slumdog Millionaire

Busch 1
Thomas Busch
English 495 ESM Wexler
May 5, 2010
Globalization in Slumdog Millionaire
Without having to leave their country, the people of India have been integrated by regional economies, societies and cultures. By establishing a globe-spanning process of networking, communications and trade or “globalization,” India has received a remarkable amount of international attention because of the film Slumdog Millionaire. “Slumdog Millionaire” is a gritty love story about three orphans who grow up destitute in the slums of Mumbai and they must overcome overwhelming odds that life throws at them. The film underscores the promises and drawbacks of international collaboration that globalization brings for India’s emergence onto the world stage. Ali Jaafar from Variety Magazine describes the historical context of India’s progression in globalization. New York Times writer Frank Rich explicates that India’s advancement in globalization has outsourced their cultural trends worldwide. Slumdog Millionaire depicts a harsh, realistic portrayal of Mumbai’s evolution from India’s intensified social relations in distant regions for the past decades. Slumdog Millionaire is a metaphor of globalization.
Historically, India is a latecomer in globalization due to its dismal past. India has struggled to catch up with the rest of the world by embracing technology and education. The international attention that accompanies Slumdog Millionaire reveals the positive transitions that India has gained after 1947. Between India’s independence from British imperialism and the last six decades, India has only recently become prosperous in science and the film industry. For
Busch 2
example, Bollywood is the growing Hindi cinema that draws the attention of the film’s main characters Jamal and Salim Malik. Like any western moviegoer, these brothers go to incredible lengths to get an autograph from a celebrity Amitabh Bachchan. The film industry was not India’s only prospect after their liberation from Britain.
After 1947, Indian firms had developed into banks, pharmaceuticals and later on, software companies. India’s contribution to world trade and their global ambition has drawn an estimated revenue of “36.7 billion dollars in direct foreign investments” (Jaafar 10). India’s role in the World Bank has maintained the global corruption index by implementing “the anti-graft NGO Transparency International” (Jaafar 10). There has also been a rise in “the ranks of the middle class which has swelled to more than 250 million people” (Jaafar 10). However, there are more troubling aspects brought on by India’s modernization.
From 1947 to 1991, the effect of India’s socialistic government has caused inequality and poverty with little opportunity for change because of their failed policies. For example, the communal tension between the Hindus and Muslims in Bombay is still prevalent after Gandhi’s efforts to stem the quarreling. In the film, Jamal and Salim lose their mother in the Bombay Riots in 1992. The riots were propagated by after a Hindu demolition crew destroyed a Muslim mosque. With such a troubling past, India has no doubt endured a cultural overturn.
In Slumdog Millionaire, Mumbai and India in general is in a constant state of cultural flux that is growing at an exciting yet disturbing rate. Even though India boasts on the eventual establishment of programs like “space exploration or nuclear energy, it struggles to provide electricity, education, sanitation and drinking water” (Rich 7). The film projects the inherent contradictions of India as either an increasingly globalized nation or a corrupt third world
Busch 3
country. India’s international recognition has made its people ambivalent or resentful towards “critical scrutiny that global exposure brings” (Rich 7) especially when the criminal element is apparent in Mumbai. For example, Jamal, Salim and Jamal’s love interest Latika are forced to work for a gangster named Maman. Maman blinds children to make them more sympathetic as singing vagrants who beg for money for him. When Jamal and Salim escape Maman, they are reduced to further criminal activity that continues in present day India.
Another form of criminal activity that occurs in India is the selling of stolen goods, pick pocketing, conning tourists and prostitution. Jamal discovers that Maman has raised Latika only
for her virginity to be sold to highest bidder. When Jamal has a chance to save Latika, Salim along with a rival gangster move in on Maman’s operations and keep Latika for themselves.
Despite the illegal activities that Jamal has endured in Mumbai, the benefits of globalization in India are prevalent in regards to technology and industrialization.
The Western form of industry in India is exemplified by the renovation of its architecture like skyscrapers and its inexpensive workforce. Westerners who fear “losing their jobs to less expensive competitors in India,” (Rich 7) have a valid concern. Yet, westerners who use the services of Citibank, Pepsi, Jaguar, Land Rover, General Electric and Microsoft “routinely deal with customer-service professionals in Gurgaon, Bangalore or Hyderabad, India” (Rich 7). Through globalization on a corporate and macroeconomic scale, Americans have become familiar with Indian trends like yoga or chicken tikka masala. In Slumdog Millionaire, Jamal’s actions reveals the gap between India's cultural perception and its projection of reasonable achievements when compared to Western media.
Busch4
The American game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is “recognizable to audiences in over 50 countries and gives the film its narrative backbone” (Rich 8). Jamal becomes a contestant on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, in order to reach out to Latika who is an avid viewer. He makes it to the final 20,000,000 rupee question but Jamal must use his "Phone-A-Friend" lifeline so he decides to call Salim's cell. Globalization has made India technologically dependent since “Indians buy more cell phones each month than any other race on Earth” (Rich 8). For example, Jamal serves tea to rows of people that are on computers selling cell phone plans and Salim makes amends with Jamal by giving Latika his cell phone so she can finally contact Jamal. Globalization has made India’s technological dependency a success even in the slums.
In conclusion, Slumdog's purpose as a metaphor for globalization may provoke India's national pride but poverty, corruption and crime still remains rampant. Globalization can be a double edged sword for India since its people are being influenced by several cultures apart from their own. Despite their history and economic collaboration, India has the world's attention which will forever advance their cultural trends or outsource it.

Works Cited:
Jaafar, Ali. “Helmers are telling their tales in many tongues.” Variety Magazine 412.5 (September 2008): pg. 10, 1p. Academic Search Elite (Ebsco).
Rich, Frank. “Who Wants to Kick a Millionaire?” New York Times 302.36 (December 2008): pg.7-8, 2p. Academic Search Elite (Ebsco).

2 comments:

  1. I like how you show both sides of globalization. It seems that many of the articles I've read on the subject seem to take one side or the other. In truth, the success and/or failure of India's globalization is infinitely more complex, infinitely more difficult to determine, than most would think. Yes, the outsourcing of American labor (i.e. call centers) have helped Indians gain a stronger foothold, financially speaking. And yes, the wages for Indian workers have near doubled over the past fifteen years. But at what cost? As in America, there is a growing gap between the wealthy and the poor. For all of India's progress, much of their nation still exists in the third world.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Really good start! It helped me understand the concept of globalization better. Outsourcing has definitely helped change India and their financial status.

    ReplyDelete