'Slumdog Millionaire' Sued By Slum Dweller For Insulting The Poor

Indian slum dweller, Tapeshwar Vishwakarma, has sued a few Indians associated with the film "Slumdog Millionaire," alleging that it offends his peers. The Times Online reports:

"Vishwakarma requested the court to protect the honour and respect of millions of slum dwellers across India," his lawyer Shruti Singh told the Indo Asian News Service.

"What hurt him was that even Indians associated with the film [did not object to being called] slumdogs," Ms Singh said.

Read more about Slumdog Millionaire here.

In this article, "Slumdog Millionaire" Readies For Indian Release, With Mumbai As Star, the film's writer explains:

"I never thought I was writing a film about poverty," said Simon Beaufoy, who wrote the film's screenplay based on a novel by Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup. "Really, genuinely in my heart, I was writing a film about a people with a massive spirit and a determination to overcome terrible troubles."

Check out Gotham Chopra's interview with Danny Boyle.

Slumdog Millionaire at the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards.

Comments

[SiberianRat]

10:16 PM on 01/21/2009

Hmm. I thought the film did a good job of showing the plight of slum dwellers in India (and rather accurately--I've been to India and seen the slums--quite stunning).

[MagisterLudi]

01:49 PM on 01/22/2009

simple truth--no birth control, no one-child policy like China. Things will only get worse in India.

[GeorgeP922]

02:27 PM on 01/22/2009

Well hopefully with Obama now president our foreign aid won't come with a hot plate of baptist guilt.

The world needs two things, clean and safe drinking water and condoms.

America could afford to provide these two things (especially the water one)

[MagisterLudi]

03:10 PM on 01/21/2009

This is a well known secret the world over. Slums are more profitable than well-maintained dwellings.
In U.S. urban areas, the majority of slums are owned by the rich.

[pinseeker]

03:07 PM on 01/21/2009

Is that Obama's brother ?

[robXdion]

02:48 PM on 01/21/2009

He's trying to get out of the slums so he can call them names!

[Adrienne Williams]

02:23 PM on 01/21/2009

Got to love Capitalism! LOL

[Egalitare]

01:43 PM on 01/21/2009

I bet he would be less offended by depictions of slum life in Karachi.

[plugger]

01:34 PM on 01/21/2009

so the ACLU is international now

[Takae]

07:57 AM on 01/22/2009

I sincerely hope you were kidding when you wrote that.

[LetMeUnderstandThis]

01:18 PM on 01/21/2009

ROFLMAO, you've got to be kidding me! If he so offended by it then get out of the slums (some way).