British director Danny Boyle recently shared that he wouldn’t direct “Slumdog Millionaire” if it were made today, citing concerns about “cultural appropriation.” Instead, he believes it would be better suited for young Indian filmmakers to take on such a project.
Boyle stated, “We can’t make it now. It’s how it should be. We need to reflect on our cultural baggage and the impacts we’ve had on the world… it felt quite radical.” This perspective was shared in an interview with The Guardian.
The film, which is set in India, follows the story of Jamal, a young man from the slums who participates in the local version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” in hopes of finding his childhood love, Latica. His life experiences are depicted through flashbacks that aid him in answering the quiz questions.
Upon its release in 2008, “Slumdog Millionaire” struck a chord with both audiences and critics, earning about $380 million against a $15 million budget and winning eight Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Boyle.
While the film achieved commercial success, it drew criticism for its portrayal of Indian culture and the risk of reinforcing stereotypes from a Western viewpoint. Some Indian critics appreciated the film, but others felt that it was laden with clichéd images of India.
Boyle reflected on the time the movie was made over 15 years ago and acknowledged the ethical concerns about producing the film as an outsider. “We decided that only a handful would go to Mumbai. We collaborated with a large Indian crew to create a film that resonated with the culture. But, you know, you’re still an outsider. And that’s a flawed approach,” he elaborated.
Notably, Boyle is known for other successful films like “Trainspotting,” “Steve Jobs,” “127 Hours,” and the “28 Days Later” series, with his latest project, “28 Years Later,” released recently.
His representatives have not commented further on the matter.
