Ayush Mahesh Khedekar as young Jamal

Slumdog Millionaire
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: Dev Patel, Madhur Mittal, Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor
Released by: Icon

There’s a prescient sense of timing with the release of the new film from Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, The Beach, 28 Days Later). India is on the cusp of sharing world domination with China, and this vivid modern fable of the underdog triumphing over adversity is almost an allegory for the sub-continent’s scrappy ascension.

The conceit, from ex-diplomat Vikas Swarup’s acclaimed debut novel Q&A, is watertight: former slum urchin Jamal Malik (Dev Patel, best known from the UK series Skins) finds himself on India’s version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and every question leads to an apt flashback from his troubled life.

Boyle keeps the action cracking throughout, not shying away from some of the horrors of a life spent orphaned, begging, prostituting, thieving, subject to violence and oppression from all sides (not least Jamal’s most recent job as a humble call centre tea-boy). Even in the most harrowing episodes, the scenery teems with life and filth and energy, ably assisted by the Bollywood-meets-sampler soundtrack . Boyle’s electric pacing only stumbles when the audience has worked out the direction and is waiting for the next Millionaire question to expedite the plot.

Coupling the tension of the hit TV show with the often tragic, sometime hilarious, trials Jamal overcomes is inspired and makes for a resounding crowd pleaser of a film. Yet it’s occasionally let down by risible dialogue to simplify the themes of destiny and love and family and aspiration. It’s particularly jarring when attackers descend on the slum wielding that particularly Indian weapon - the stick - and the occasional subtitles inform us of the leader yelling something to the effect of “Get them; they’re Muslims!” Did some of the mob miss the meeting?

Patel and Kapoor go 50-50

Jamal’s story is propelled by the competing forces of his ne’er-do-well brother Salim (Mittal) and the love of his life Latika (a stunning Freida Pinto). The young actors are loveable scamps and the older versions of the characters are necessarily conflicted as to their roles in an ever-changing life in a rapidly-accelerating India. Anil Kapoor is deliciously oily as the Millionaire host Prem Kumar, a widescreen villain immensely satisfying to loathe.

Slumdog Millionaire is a sly epic with a brilliant concept. Ignoring the occasional triteness of some quips and stereotypes, it’s sure to become an all-time favourite with the Sav Blanc Socialists. It might just make the leap to minor hit if enough people can be persuaded to watch a film about an Indian slum-dweller using his innate decency to break the cycle. Be persuaded, it’ll leave you grinning despite yourself.