"It’s still a flawed method."
Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire (2008) was a blockbuster when it was released.
Set in Mumbai, India, the film marked the acting debut of Dev Patel.
It told the story of Jamal Malik (Dev), who rises from the slums of Mumbai and achieves amazing prowess on the television game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.
He also seeks to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart, Latika (Freida Pinto).
While the film achieved widespread acclaim, Danny recently confessed that he wouldn’t consider making the film again.
He explained: “We wouldn’t be able to make that now. At the time, it felt radical.
“We made the decision that only a handful of us would go to Mumbai.
“We’d work with a big Indian crew and try to make a film within the culture.
“You’re still an outsider. It’s still a flawed method. That kind of cultural appropriation might be sanctioned at certain times.
“But at other times it cannot be.
“You wouldn’t even contemplate doing something like that today.
“And that’s how it should be. It’s time to reflect on all that.
“We have to look at the cultural baggage we carry and the mark that we’ve left on the world.”
On a previous occasion, the director also revealed that while making the film, he did not understand India completely.
He had said: “I know nothing of it, really.
“You get a tiny little glimpse, and maybe if we’ve done it well, there’s a bit of it that’s convincing, for the time being, until somebody makes something better.
“You absolutely have to humble yourself in front of it.”
Even at the time of its release, not everyone reacted positively to Slumdog Millionaire.
During an interview on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, Aamir Khan said the film’s representation of India was incorrect.
He revealed: “I can see why the film did well. I’m a big fan of Danny, and I was so happy for him and the entire team that the film did really well.
“I think for me, as someone who has lived his entire life in India, it didn’t ring true on a lot of levels.”
“The fact is that I have strong points of reference.
“So, when the cops in the police station speak in English, it doesn’t seem correct to me.
“Or when the slum kid speaks in English, and in a British accent.”
Meanwhile, Slumdog Millioniare won eight Academy Awards in 2009, including ‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Director’ for Danny.
The music composer, AR Rahman, also won two Oscars for his work on the film.
Slumdog Millionaire also starred Madhur Mittal, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, and Saurabh Shukla.
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