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Danny Boyle tackles 'Slum Dog Millionaire'

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Danny Boyle tackles 'Slum Dog Millionaire'

Exclusive: The 'Sunshine' helmer tells us all about his next project.

Apr 5 2007

I spoke to the always affable Danny Boyle yesterday for our 'Sunshine' podcast, and when the subject turned to his next film, it seems I had my facts wrong. Rather than making South African-set thriller 'Ponte Tower' (as previously reported), Boyle is about to start work on a very different sort of film, as he himself explained.

'It's called 'Slum Dog Millionaire', it's based on a true story, and it's about a kid from the slums of Mumbai, who has nothing – he's ill educated, he's illiterate – and he goes on the Hindi version of 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' and wins it. And they can't believe that he's done it. They think he's cheated. They think he's getting signals from embedded chips in his body, or that there are people coughing in the audience, but he won it.

'What's clever about the film is that the structure shows you how he knows the answers. Certain things have happened to him in his life and they happen to ask questions about those things. But the real reason he's on the show is to get in touch with the girl he loves but has lost in the chaos of Mumbai, and all he knows is that she watches the show religiously. So he's not even there to win the money, but that's when you win I suppose, when you're not even trying.'

Simon Beaufoy ('The Full Monty') has written the script, with filming set to start on location in Mumbai soon. And as for 'Ponte Tower', that film is still very much on Boyle's horizon, with Michael Thomas currently working on the script.

User comments on this story

SANJAY PITURI said...

THERE IS A DEEP ROUTED MEANING OF SONG JAI HO INDIAN PSEUDO LEADERS SHOULD SHOULD LERN SOMETHING FROM THAT. Posted on Jul 27 2009 11:48

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NEIL said...

SOME DAY ALL THIS SISTEM OF INJUSTICE WILL END AND WITH IT HIS MASTERS AND COLABORATORS THEY WILL BE FORCE TO DISAPEAR FROM THIS BEUTIFULL PLANET,THERE WIL BE NOT GOBERMENTS AND NO KINDOMS FROM HUMANS,LIKE THE ONES WE HAVE NOW,THERE IS THE TIME WIIL BE NO MORE ABUSED KIDS ,AND JUSTICE WIIL FLORISH FOR MILENIOS,THE MISERY WIIL END ,THAT TIME IS NEAR MY FRIENDS,THE ABUSE OF HUMANS TO OTHER HUMANS IS INCREDIBLE AND ALL IN THE NAME OF MONEY,AND THE LORD OF MONEY WILBE FINISH. Posted on May 18 2009 13:45

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MICHELLE said...

DANNY BOYLE, YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF. HOW COULD YOU NOT DO FOR THEM CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. YOU SUCK BIG TIME. Posted on May 18 2009 11:31

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NEIL said...

i think that you may have to sue BBC, AND MANY OTHER NEWS PROGRAMS TO FOR SHOWING THE THRUT WORLD AND I THINK MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE AGAINST THIS CAIND OF TRETAMENT FOR THE KIDS,THIS IS SOMETINK USUAL IN THE WORLD KIDS PLAYING IN THE RUBISH WHEN GOBERMENTS ARE SENDING ROCKETS TO THE MOON, WHAT A WORLD OF MONKYS WE ARE. A DON T SUE D MY PLEASE IM IN CRISIS ALL READY JAAJAAJAAJA. Posted on May 17 2009 23:32

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roser said...

Hi Neil.
You can write in Spanish if you wish and I'll translate it for you. The problem is not your spelling; the problem id that I don't think you know what you're talking about. Do you know abot the contracts of these Indian kids? You could be sued for difamation. Posted on May 17 2009 23:01

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christian neil said...

poor ,humans like you hu thinks on speling when the point is been taked, inteligense dosnt grow in univercitis or college ,were the real monkys used to play klever,insted the grow every were .THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HU ARE HAPPY WITH THE TREATAMENT IS GIVEND TO THIS POOR CHILDS ARE MILLIONS,BUT ANY WAY,LET IT BE.BY THE WAY I SPEACK INGLISH AS MY SECOND LENGUAGE,MY MOTHER THONGE IS SPANISH AND I CAN SPEAK ITALIAN AND I UNDERSTAN COCKNY . SO I HAVE TO SOPORT PIRATS MUVIES UNTIL THIS IS SORTED? Posted on May 15 2009 14:57

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AMUSED said...

CHRISTIAN NEIL,
DON'T BLAME THE MIRROR FOR REFLECTING UGLINESS.
BY THE WAY, IF YOU KNEW HOW TO SPELL ENGLISH CORRECTLY, PERHAPS YOU WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE "MAUVIE"
DONKEY! Posted on May 15 2009 02:23

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SANJAY PITURI said...

WANT TO MEET DANNY BOYLE FOR POSITIVE THOUGHTS Posted on Mar 29 2009 20:59

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debaba said...

Great site Posted on Mar 28 2009 21:04

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Rajesh said...

I have not seen the movie and will surely do so sometime soon but I can already tell you that this movie is not only about a lovestory but also a message to the Indian government and its elite population to be ashamed of the fact that they do very little to nothing to alleviate poverty and help better their country. I am an Indian living abroad because my seeds were planted in Europe but whenever I visit India, I feel it is my moral duty to help the poor in whatever wya I can. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about my rich family members...selfish pigs that they are! Posted on Mar 22 2009 22:04

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Jeff said...

great film. Indians very sensitive to any comment just as they are to cricket but very nice people. Relax & enjoy film for what it portrays.. truth & the dream that few poor people will ever realise! Posted on Mar 21 2009 00:17

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Ronke Atunde said...

Well.......i watched d film and it was rili nice......i liked d story line, how d film started and ended....i actually thot he was playin d game cos of d money at first but later got to know twaz cos he wanted to find the girl he loved.....rili liked d fact dat u cnt predict d end of d film or wot is gonna happen next....I learnt from d film dat no matter wot happens, ur experience counts, u dont know what is waitin 4u out there.... Posted on Mar 15 2009 19:52

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for Roy said...

I always knew that your opinions aired here were not likely based on having seen the movie SDM. Now that you have, your words indicate you have evolved. Maybe the movie taught you something too! I am sure it did.
LOL. You say Jai Hind. I say Jai humility.
LOL
your buddy FORMER Indian. Posted on Mar 13 2009 01:40

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Arena said...

Paul Ritcie co-producer of SDM is now working in Liverpool,on a bio-pic of John Lennon's childhood, entitled 'Nowhere Boy'
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1266029/fullcredits#cast Posted on Mar 12 2009 12:28

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Freida said...

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The Full Monty
Sunshine
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Simon Beaufoy
Michael Thomas
Danny Boyle
Danny Boyle tackles 'Slum Dog Millionaire'
Exclusive: The 'Sunshine' helmer tells us all about his next project.
Apr 5 2007
I spoke to the always affable Danny Boyle yesterday for our 'Sunshine' podcast, and when the subject turned to his next film, it seems I had my facts wrong. Rather than making South African-set thriller 'Ponte Tower' (as previously reported), Boyle is about to start work on a very different sort of film, as he himself explained.
'It's called 'Slum Dog Millionaire', it's based on a true story, and it's about a kid from the slums of Mumbai, who has nothing – he's ill educated, he's illiterate – and he goes on the Hindi version of 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' and wins it. And they can't believe that he's done it. They think he's cheated. They think he's getting signals from embedded chips in his body, or that there are people coughing in the audience, but he won it.
'What's clever about the film is that the structure shows you how he knows the answers. Certain things have happened to him in his life and they happen to ask questions about those things. But the real reason he's on the show is to get in touch with the girl he loves but has lost in the chaos of Mumbai, and all he knows is that she watches the show religiously. So he's not even there to win the money, but that's when you win I suppose, when you're not even trying.'
Simon Beaufoy ('The Full Monty') has written the script, with filming set to start on location in Mumbai soon. And as for 'Ponte Tower', that film is still very much on Boyle's horizon, with Michael Thomas currently working on the script.

User comments on this story
Muskandair said...
This movie only prove to the entire human race that indians deserve to be acknowledge else where...They can be best among the best....Way to Indians!!! All the best!
Posted on Mar 06 2009 07:41

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Roy said...
Freida : All Humans are equal and has divine potential. So are you. So, your conclusion on Indians are so and so, is an impaired judgement rooted deeply in your predisposed thoughts.
If you are not at peace with yourself, how can you be at peace with the world.
Do not let your mind ( =ego) becomes an impairment to your true awareness.
If coming here in this forum, and name calling is a blissful experience to you, then we expect you will be able to sustain this behaviour of yours for days and months to come, to say the least.
The people on this board have demoonized me becasue I did not like the simpleminded flick. The indian underclass is treated as sub-human, and people are raving about spirituality and beauty. I did like parts of the movie for it's artistic merits, such as when the young girl was standing in the rain. But, on the whole it turned westerners into caricatures of themselves and vilified everyone excepting the poor. When you have such a delineated class system everyone is a victim of it, not just the poor. That is the lesson for India, and for an Englishman to make this film is ironic since they were the ones who instilled the class warfare when India was one of it;s colonies. The movie stunk, that is my opinion and I have a right to it. Posted on Mar 07 2009 13:31

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