Workshop/ Slumdog Millionaire
The Assignment: You should watch the film in class, (or to see it again.) You should be watching it,
not for entertainment purposes (although I do hope you enjoy it), but for signs of Indian culture – but
especially to underscore the plight of the slum dwellers.
Summary
This story takes place in India, more specifically the slums of Mumbai. It is from the slums of
Mumbai that the main character, Jamal Malik, will begin to live out his dream. Jamal was fortunate
enough to not only land a spot on India's version of the game show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire,"
but also win the 20 million rupees! However, his success and happiness also comes with a price.
You see, since Jamal is from the slums, the people behind the game show immediately suspect
Jamal cheated his way through the game show. During the last break of the show Jamal is then
arrested and tortured in jail in hopes he will confess he cheated on the game show. Jamal is willing
to do anything to prove his innocence, so he begins to tell the officers the story of his life, which in
fact also reveals how he knew all the answers on the game show. Each chapter in Jamal's rough
life growing up leads him to the answer on each question of the game show. Jamal tells all on his
troubled life, his brother, violence, and most importantly about the love of his life, Latika. It is then
made known that Jamal doesn't even care about the money he is about to win, but more so about
Latika the love of his life that he had lost. In a desperate attempt to do anything to find Latika, it is
through the game show that Jamal believes he will find her again because he believes she will be
watching. This movie tells a wonderful tale of hard life growing up in the slums of Mumbai, more
violence than any child should ever have to witness, and along the way all of the hard things that
made Jamal the man he is today. But the most underlying theme of this movie is of love, and how
one man is willing to give his all to get back the love he once lost, and how destiny played the most
important role in finding his true love again.
Characters
Jamal Malik: Jamal Malik is from the slums of Mumbai, India and also the main character of
the movie. He lived a rough childhood growing up in the slums, and this movie is a
tale of his life, and how he became the man he is today. He lost his mother at a
young age, and his older brother Salim was then responsible for Jamal. Jamal
followed his brother Salim through a great part of the movie, especially while they
were growing up. Jamal's brother Salim was very assertive and made
Salim Malik: Salim Malik is one of the main characters of the movie “Slumdog
Millionaire”. Salim is Jamal’s older brother. Salim’s mom died when they were little and
from there on Salim was the leader of the family. When Salim and Jamal were kids they both
started begging for money for an older guy named Maman. When they decided to run away from
him Salim went to the gangster of the town, Javed Khan. From there on Salim started working for
him. Salim would do anything that Javed would ask. Salim was now involved with the mafia and all
the gangsters in India. He gave Latika her freedom then he confronted Javed himself at the climax
of the movie.
Latika is an orphan from the Juhu Slums. She is first seen playing in the rain late
at night by Jamal and Salim. Jamal invites her to join the two brothers in a shelter
they are sleeping in, after an initial disagreement from Salim. Jamal always
referred to his brother and himself as two of the three musketeers and when
Latika joins them he says he’s found their third musketeer.
Javed Javed is a rival crimelord who Salim works for after killing
Maman. Javed is a mean character, for he ends up marrying Latika
near the end of the film, and treats her badly. Javed even slashes
Latika's cheak in her attempt to run away from him. In the end Salim
kills Javedtoo.
Maman is introduced early in the film and is the leader of an "orphanage" where he takes street
children from the slums and ultimately train them how to beg for money. He gives Salim the most
responsibility, and asks him to bring Salim's brother Jamal to him in hopes to make him blind,
since blind kids get more money. When Salim learns of his ill intentions, he flees with his brother
Jamal. Later in the film Salim kills Maman.
Prem Kumar: Prem is introduced in the film as the well known game show host of the popular
television series "Who Wants to be a Millionaire". He's a well dressed and well spoken Indian
man with an intimidating glance and an extremely sarcastic, if not contemptuous, commentary
style. This contrasts with Jamal's humble and soft spoken demeanor and the two lightheartedly
exchange words throughout the film. Prem reveals to a discouraged Jamal that he also grew up
with very little means and now owns his own game show. Whether or not this is the truth is unclear,
as Prem attempts to deceive Jamal into giving the wrong answer to an essential question on the
show. It is later revealed that Prem had Jamal falsely arrested on the grounds that Jamal some how
cheated his way to the top.
Homework – Slumdog Millionaire Questions
Answer the following ten questions based on part
1 of Slumdog Millionaire.
1 ) What is the main problem in the movie?
2 ) What is Jamal’s explanation for how he knows
the answers to the questions?
3 ) What are your impressions about the way characters in the movie speak?
4 ) Based on the movie, how is India the different as what you assumed it would be like?
5 ) Based on the movie, how is India the same as what you assumed it would be like?
6 ) How do the people of the slum react when the movie star arrives in their town?
7 ) Describe the relationship between Jamal and Salim.
8 ) How does Jamal and Salim’s mother die in the movie?
9 ) How would you describe the childhood of Jamal and Salim?