Rushdie slams Slumdog Millionaire

Rushdie slams Slumdog Millionaire
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 11:33 IST
By Santa Banta News Network
India-born "Satanic Verses" author Salman Rushdie is not impressed by the triumph of Slumdog Millionaire at the 81st Academy Awards and says the movie "piles impossibility on impossibility".

In a speech at Atlanta's Emory University, Rushdie called the book and movie nothing more than "feel-good".

He also complained about various portions of the narrative, from how characters manage to acquire a gun in India to how they mysteriously wind up at the Taj Mahal, 1,000 miles away from the previous scene.

This isn't the first time that "Slumdog Millionaire" has felt the lash of Rushdie's tongue, Examiner.com said, noting that in January he told the New York Times: "I'm not a very big fan of 'Slumdog Millionaire'."

"I think it's visually brilliant. But I have problems with the storyline. I find the storyline unconvincing. It just couldn't happen. I'm not adverse to magic realism but there has to be a level of plausibility, and I felt there were three or four moments in the film where the storyline breached that rule," he said.

"The Reader" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - other movies that bagged Oscar trophies - didn't fare any better with Rushdie.

In his Sunday night speech, he called "The Reader" "a leaden, lifeless movie killed by respectability", and said that "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" "doesn't finally have anything to say".

"Is Rushdie simply suffering from an unacknowledged book-to-film aversion?" the publication asked and suggested: "Actually, no. In 2004 he was a vocal supporter of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and he adored 'The Dark Knight'."

"Hurrah to Mr. Rushdie for holding fast to his literary and film principles. However, the ultimate test is yet to come," The Examiner said, noting that Rushdie's award-winning "Midnight's Children" is in the process of being made into a movie by director Deepa Mehta.
Shraddha Kapoor Reveals the Reason Behind Her Reduced Social Media Activity!

Bollywood actress Shraddha Kapoor has finally opened up about why she has been less active on social media

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Nandamuri Balakrishna's 'Daaku Maharaaj' Hindi Release Date Announced!

After conquering Tollywood, Daaku Maharaaj is now set to make a grand entry into the Hindi-speaking market

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Farhan Akhtar Hints at 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2' to Sister Zoya Akhtar!

Bollywood multi-hyphenate Farhan Akhtar is eager for his filmmaker sister Zoya Akhtar to consider

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Sooraj Pancholi, Suniel Shetty, and Vivek Oberoi Unite for 'Kesari Veer: Legend Of Somnath'!

The much-anticipated biopic Kesari Veer: Legend Of Somnath is officially in the works, featuring Sooraj

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Priyanka Chopra Seeks Blessings at Chilkur Balaji Temple!

Bollywood superstar Priyanka Chopra is in India for a short visit and recently took blessings at the Chilkur

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT