****A fairytale or fable it may be, but 'Slumdog Millionaire' bubbles over with cold, harsh reality belying it's "Feel Good Film of the Decade" tag line.
Jamal Malik finds himself a single correct answer away from the ultimate prize in the now internationally recognised quiz show "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" (It's bizarre to see this staple of Saturday night TV utilised as the basis for a feature film - I wonder what Chris Tarrant makes of its Indian incarnation?)
At the crucial moment, the horn blows to signal the end of the show and Jamal, a chai waller born from the slums of Mumbai, is carted of to be interrogated and tortured under suspicion of fraud.
As he explains how the experiences of his youth have led to his unexpected knowledge, we are treated to a sometimes uncomfortable insight into the poverty and corruption rife in the urban shanty towns and ghettos of inner city Mumbai. Children are exploited, the mob rule and young innocents such as Jamal's brother Salim are corrupted by their unforgiving environment.
Ultimately, despite the love interest (throughout Jamal attempts to rescue his beloved Latika from the clutches of various low-life's including his brother) and the rags to riches storyline, this film is predominantly fascinating for its unprecedented insight into Indian culture, it's social poverty and the seedy underbelly masked by the country's new found economic prowess - You can imagine Midge Ure seeing this movie and practically having an apoplexy.
Kudos therefore to Danny Boyle, who has made a film about a foreign land which appeals to its native audience whilst still shedding light on that nations numerous inequities.
It's not a patch on 'Trainspotting' and I'm not sure that Dev Patel's performance warrants the praise it's receiving but unequivocally, this is a film to be praised. Perhaps just for different reasons to those currently proclaimed.
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