“Slumdog is trashy” – Priyadarshan

Genius Boyle!!!

By: Shams Irfan

Bollywood filmmaker Priyadarshan is upset with Indian public for giving too much importance to Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire”, Reason: movie is a complete trash according to him.

 

His recent outburst against “Slumdog Millionaire” came at a time when his fellow countrymen are busy celebrating the success of Indians associated with the movie. Be it assistant director Loveleen Tondon, music director A.R.Rahman or actor Anil Kapoor and Irfaan Khan, “Slumdog…” features as many Indians as any other Bollywood movie.

 

Than what made Priyadarshan say that “Slumdog Millionaire is nothing but a cheap trashy mediocre version of those commercial films about estranged brothers and childhood sweethearts that Salim-Javed used to write so brilliantly in the 1970s. And please quote me clearly on this. If the Golden Globe and Oscars committees have chosen to honour this trashy film it just shows their ignorance of world cinema.”

 

Is it copy-cat director’s frustration or prejudice towards Hollywood cinema, we don’t know for sure; but we all know how good is Mr. Priyadarshan’s knowledge of cinema!!! His filmmaking career says it all… Priyadarshan career is full of plagiarism or inspirations from Hollywood, films like “Thalavattam” or Kyun ki in Hindi [starring Salman Khan and Kareena] was a poor imitation of Oscar winning One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Malamaal Weekly [Waking Ned Devine], Garam Masala [Boeing Boeing], And the list goes on….

 

Even the best of his movies are lifted straight away from Hollywood, Telegu or Tamil cinema, that too without acknowledging the original director or film.

 

So why such a loose talk about fellow country men getting recognition, what if the director is a British filmmaker and not somebody from India, or someone ‘genius’ like Priyadarshan himself.

 

Or may be it’s because of the fact that Priyadarshan’s only original creation till date Kanjeevaram, which was screened alongside “Slumdog Millionaire” in Toronto Film Festival, failed to get the desired reaction because of Danny’s mighty presence.

 

Is Priyadarshan trying to flatter Amitabh Bachchan who shared somewhat similar thought on his personalized blog recently [which he later retracted]!!! Whatever be the case, Priyadarshan’s vision is as confined as his creative knowledge!!!

Please leave your comments below and let us know what you think about Priyadarshan’s remarks.