Slumdog begins with the audience witnessing a brutal interrogation. Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), a former poverty-stricken boy whose luck skyrockets after entering the Who Wants to be a Millionaire show in Mumbai, India, is accused of cheating in the game. Because Malik is potentially a “slumdog,” his knowledge in the show is seen as highly suspicious. It becomes clear, however, that the Millionaire questions posed upon Malik encompassed events and objects in Malik’s childhood experiences. As the police inspector peruses the contents of the night’s events, Malik explains in turn how he knew the answers to each question.

While the Millionaire show gives the overall picture of Malik’s current situation, the underlying plot focuses on the gritty details that give the movie its flavor. For each Millionaire question, Malik recounts certain aspects of his life: from the murder of his mother and the consequences of his brother’s choices to, finally, the first meeting of and the constant search for his seemingly doomed love interest, Latika (Freida Pinto).

Various aspects of Slumdog deserve high praise. The dramatic storyline, based on Vikas Swarup’s novel Q and A, is elegantly written and very well tied together. I am not a big fan of constant broken flashbacks, but the film smoothly provides most of the story through the detached pieces of Malik’s past. The film depicts the beautiful, scenic places that are well-loved in India, as well as slum neighborhoods where children played in the mud. Though the Taj Mahal is displayed in full regalia at a scene in the movie, it is clear that Slumdog does not cater to audiences in a touristy manner. In fact, we find Malik and his brother stealing visitors’ shoes for the most part.

Even though the main actors include the fresh new breakthrough faces of Patel and Pinto, their performances as Malik and Latika, respectively, have both earned them BAFTA nominations (Best Lead Actor and Best Supporting Actress), and for good reason. Though chosen for his “average Joe”-type appearance, Patel is to be reckoned with, while leading lady Pinto’s Latika charms the audience with her unswerving loyalty to Malik. By the end of the movie, the film viewers are led to cheering along with the Millionaire audience as the “boy from the slums” gets his final chance to win it all.

The best aspect of the movie, however, is found in the musical score. A fusion of modern and old India, the soundtrack alone encompasses the feel of the film itself. There is a certain energy emitted by the characters in Slumdog, all of which is enhanced with the accompanying, upbeat music.