Conflict (Slumdog Millionaire)
In the film ‘Slum dog Millionaire’ directed by Danny Boyle, one important conflict was the conflict between Jamal Malik the slum dog and Prem Kumar the show host.
The conflict starts when Prem Kumar states that Jamal Malik is a chaiwalla. Jamal had no response and was calm and showed no signs of anger or nervousness. Jamal Malik starts to earn money by getting the answers on the game show ‘who wants to be a millionaire’. In response to Jamal’s constant wins, Prem Kumar was provoked that Jamal had the knowledge to ensure his victory of the 20,000,000 rupees grand prize. He showed this by feeding Jamal with the wrong answers. But even though he did Jamal still got the right answer. Prem also tried to get Jamal more nervous by saying that Jamal will get the next question wrong. He also tried failed at that. As a result Prem ends up calling the cops as a last resort and has them interrogate him persuading the police that there is a conspiracy that Jamal is cheating.
One technique that the director used was the use of cinematography. For example Danny Boyle used an overhead shot. The overhead shot makes an impression that Jamal and Prem are in a gladiator arena or a boxing ring and gives you that feeling that they a rivals fighting it out. Another technique Danny Boyle uses is the close-up. The close-up shot on Prem and Jamal faces helps us understand the tension between both Jamal and Prem. This is shown by their facial expression which is one of the upsides of the close-up shot. It can show us the smallest detail in their faces to help us understand the situation they are in and the way they are feeling at that moment. The last technique he uses was the mid-shot on both Jamal and Prem. The effect of this shot is that it creates and environment in which Jamal and Prem face off in a duel. Which also adds makes more tension in the film. All these techniques help reinforce the idea of the conflict that Jamal and Prem are in.
Danny Boyle also used dialogue as a technique and acting style. In the beginning of the film when Jamal was introduced with Prem, he was welcomed to the game show in a kind friendly matter. But the minute he was called a ‘chaiwalla’, Jamal knew that Prem Kumar was not the person he thought he was. His facial expressions showed me that he was calm and relaxed and didn’t really show any immediate reactions to all the insults that Prem was saying to him. He was calm and relaxed through out the whole time he was on the game show. His acting style and dialogue helped me clarify Prem and Jamal characteristics and the ways they feel about each other. This also helps me understand the conflict between them more.
The last technique that Danny Boyle uses was the music and sound FX. This technique helped us viewers understand the situation that happens at the beginning of the film. It also helped influence the ideas of conflict being portrayed by Jamal and Prem. For example Danny used the ‘tick tock’ sound to increase the tensity between Prem and Jamal also used the audiences applause to show just how much pressure there is all on Jamal. This creates an atmosphere of tension.
This conflict between Jamal and Prem helped me understand the main idea that love will overcome all. There are two sides to the main idea. One about love and the other one about overcoming poverty. The conflict between Jamal and Prem conveys the message of how Jamal overcomes poverty through the use of flashbacks. The flashbacks were triggered every time Jamal was asked a question on the show ‘who wants to be a millionaire. The flashbacks showed us how Jamal knew the answers through recent events that had happen during his days of childhood and onward. Like when he was asked ‘which American president was on the $100 dollar note’ Jamal knew it was Benjamin Franklin because of an event that occurred in his flashback.
The conflict between Jamal and Prem also helped me understand Jamal’s love for Latika. It is clear that Jamal did not go on the show ‘who wants to be a millionaire’ for the money, he quotes ‘it’s not about the money’. This quote helped me realise that Jamal didn’t care if he had lost or won but went on because he knew that Latika would be watching. In the film he calls his brothers cell phone using his last lifeline during his game on the last question for the grand prize. The moment he realised that Latika picked up he just didn’t give a damn on the game show and after talking he just took very big risk and guessed the very last question. It showed me just how much love Jamal had for Latika.
The conflict starts when Prem Kumar states that Jamal Malik is a chaiwalla. Jamal had no response and was calm and showed no signs of anger or nervousness. Jamal Malik starts to earn money by getting the answers on the game show ‘who wants to be a millionaire’. In response to Jamal’s constant wins, Prem Kumar was provoked that Jamal had the knowledge to ensure his victory of the 20,000,000 rupees grand prize. He showed this by feeding Jamal with the wrong answers. But even though he did Jamal still got the right answer. Prem also tried to get Jamal more nervous by saying that Jamal will get the next question wrong. He also tried failed at that. As a result Prem ends up calling the cops as a last resort and has them interrogate him persuading the police that there is a conspiracy that Jamal is cheating.
One technique that the director used was the use of cinematography. For example Danny Boyle used an overhead shot. The overhead shot makes an impression that Jamal and Prem are in a gladiator arena or a boxing ring and gives you that feeling that they a rivals fighting it out. Another technique Danny Boyle uses is the close-up. The close-up shot on Prem and Jamal faces helps us understand the tension between both Jamal and Prem. This is shown by their facial expression which is one of the upsides of the close-up shot. It can show us the smallest detail in their faces to help us understand the situation they are in and the way they are feeling at that moment. The last technique he uses was the mid-shot on both Jamal and Prem. The effect of this shot is that it creates and environment in which Jamal and Prem face off in a duel. Which also adds makes more tension in the film. All these techniques help reinforce the idea of the conflict that Jamal and Prem are in.
Danny Boyle also used dialogue as a technique and acting style. In the beginning of the film when Jamal was introduced with Prem, he was welcomed to the game show in a kind friendly matter. But the minute he was called a ‘chaiwalla’, Jamal knew that Prem Kumar was not the person he thought he was. His facial expressions showed me that he was calm and relaxed and didn’t really show any immediate reactions to all the insults that Prem was saying to him. He was calm and relaxed through out the whole time he was on the game show. His acting style and dialogue helped me clarify Prem and Jamal characteristics and the ways they feel about each other. This also helps me understand the conflict between them more.
The last technique that Danny Boyle uses was the music and sound FX. This technique helped us viewers understand the situation that happens at the beginning of the film. It also helped influence the ideas of conflict being portrayed by Jamal and Prem. For example Danny used the ‘tick tock’ sound to increase the tensity between Prem and Jamal also used the audiences applause to show just how much pressure there is all on Jamal. This creates an atmosphere of tension.
This conflict between Jamal and Prem helped me understand the main idea that love will overcome all. There are two sides to the main idea. One about love and the other one about overcoming poverty. The conflict between Jamal and Prem conveys the message of how Jamal overcomes poverty through the use of flashbacks. The flashbacks were triggered every time Jamal was asked a question on the show ‘who wants to be a millionaire. The flashbacks showed us how Jamal knew the answers through recent events that had happen during his days of childhood and onward. Like when he was asked ‘which American president was on the $100 dollar note’ Jamal knew it was Benjamin Franklin because of an event that occurred in his flashback.
The conflict between Jamal and Prem also helped me understand Jamal’s love for Latika. It is clear that Jamal did not go on the show ‘who wants to be a millionaire’ for the money, he quotes ‘it’s not about the money’. This quote helped me realise that Jamal didn’t care if he had lost or won but went on because he knew that Latika would be watching. In the film he calls his brothers cell phone using his last lifeline during his game on the last question for the grand prize. The moment he realised that Latika picked up he just didn’t give a damn on the game show and after talking he just took very big risk and guessed the very last question. It showed me just how much love Jamal had for Latika.
