SDM –Downsizing India or objet d'art

As Slum Dog Millionaire is showered with accolades, many are left wondering whether the film is meant to depict India in a poor light in an attempt to stop its super power growth or the film really is a work of art. An analysis by Editor Dr. Neelam Verma.

When Slumdog Millionaire went on to receive award after award, a debate started raging not only in India but amongst Indians round the globe-whether we should be celebrating the win as an Indian film and embrace it as our own or it should be shunned as merely aiming to tickle the Westerners  and win awards. The phrase “poverty porn” was born and spread across Indian media even as the film opened up to audiences in India and abroad.

London Times columnist Alice Miles wrote “As the film revels in the violence, degradation and horror, it invites you, the Westerner, to enjoy it, too…Slumdog Millionaire is poverty porn.” She hammered the writers and critics who've labelled "Slumdog" as a feel-good film when it is filled with "scenes of utter misery and depravity." Dennis Lim, a regular contributor to both the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, scoffed at Boyle's "fairytale vision of squalid poverty," arguing that Boyle is guilty of "aestheticizing poverty."

A recently released documentary “A Warrior’s Religion” has stirred a hornet’s nest. While many have appreciated upcoming film maker Mani Amar’s attempt to once again highlight the issue of gang violence in the community, others have objected to religious connotations used to market the film. An analysis and review of the film by Editor Dr. Neelam Verma

 All of 27 years and already touched with events around him, especially those in his own community. The recently released documentary, “A Warrior’s Religion” has been at the back of his mind for the past three years and now is a reality.

Mani Amar is an upcoming independent film maker, who really believes in independence. Since it was his idea and his own instinct which has been germinating in his mind, he pursued it relentlessly without any support and financial help from anywhere.

Okay, the list to rate the Best Countries for Business by Forbes is out. There is some good news and there is bad news. For many living in Canada and watching avidly as business round them  close, unemployment go up and employees are being laid off left right and centre, this would certainly come as a shock.

 While Denmark has retained its top position for the second straight year, the number one spot went to the US, a country reeling in recession and largely responsible for it. The third spot goes to Canada which went up by four spots with Singapore following close and New Zealand number five. UK was rated 6^th, Sweden (7), Australia (8), Hong Kong (9) and Norway (10) followed.

The year began with a hint to the future not many cared to take. Canadians were too excited to care as they were celebrating the beginning of 5% GST Analysts now remind us that an Ipsos-Reid poll in January 2008, had reported that many feared recession yet as many as 86% of people polled were confident of weathering the storm. The stock market was plummeting but recovered later in the year, once again giving confidence. With crude oil climbing and gold prices rising, a falling US dollar was pushing the prices up.