Comments on: Nice Movie To See, but Do I Want to Go There?

By: pen4hire

pen4hire — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:16:15 +0000

Shelley: I read your blog today and think what you are writing about is wonderful. I had read the blog posts you mention before I saw your comments, but hope that others who visit here will follow the threads because you are providing information of great value. Over and over I have read that people who go on the slum tours come out saying that the one thing that struck them was the industriousness of the people. Thanks for your comments. Come back soon.

By: Shelley Seale

Shelley Seale — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:02:56 +0000

Also, you may want to read a post by Deepa Krishnan, who showed me Dharavi. She runs a tour company called Mumbai Magic, and here she does a wonderful job of addressing the good and bad about these “slum tours.”

http://mumbai-magic.blogspot.c.....-i-do.html

By: Shelley Seale

Shelley Seale — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:00:47 +0000

This is a very interesting and insightful post. Many thoughtful questions raised – and ones worth considering. There is a very fine line between visitors to another country conducting voyeuristic, exploitative “tours” and those who are truly trying to learn about the people and the culture behind the things that movies such as Slumdog Millionaire depicted.

In 2007, I visited the very Mumbai slum, Dharavi, that is featured in Slumdog Millionaire. You can read my post about it here: http://weightofsilence.wordpre.....of-mumbai/

What I found surprised me – and I was so thankful that I had gone. I have never seen people work so hard in all my life – and it was not a slum in the way I had imagined – not a ghetto.

I also wrote another post about Slumdog Millionaire and the controversy raised:
http://weightofsilence.wordpre.....ft-behind/

I think that as long as people are actively having these conversations and thoughtfully trying to understand each other, then none of this can be a bad thing. And, as for whether we want to visit a place like or not – the poverty and suffering is still there, whether we choose to look or not.

By: pen4hire

pen4hire — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:12:03 +0000

Thank you for your comment. A variety of opinions is what makes this site interesting, so keep the dialogue going!

By: Arundathi

Arundathi — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:21:10 +0000

Would you not watch a movie just because it shows something in a bad light? That it’s sad? Even though its part of the truth? So do you not watch most documentaries about Africa? Would you not go on a safari in Africa just because it might take you through some poor villages?
People need to see all parts of the picture. I don’t think the movie or the book was a way to promote tourism in India. It was just a glimpse of ONE part of Indian life, and for that it did a remarkable job.

By: pen4hire

pen4hire — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:13:48 +0000

Interesting point you bring up. Sounds as though not only “the poor shall always be with us” but the slum tours will, too. Thanks for your very complete comment.

By: bipolar2

bipolar2 — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:28:00 +0000

Tours were arranged for the slums of London in the 1840’s. From the voyeur and exploiter, “slumming” became a pastime for “higher class” gawkers in horse-drawn omnibuses. Prostitution, including children, exerted its own source of commerce between haves and have-nots. Gin and tincture of opium allowed brief escape from misfortune. “The harlot’s cry from street to street / Shall weave old England’s winding-sheet.” — Blake

By: HOBO(nickname)

HOBO(nickname) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:32:00 +0000

I havent seen the movie Slumdog Millionaire yet but yes, I say visiting slums is good only if positive contribution towards the growth of the slum people is one of the motto.

By: Pamposh Dhar

Pamposh Dhar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:39:02 +0000

I have to agree it’s theatrical — almost operatic! Reminded me a bit of the show Les Miserables — remember that?

By: pen4hire

pen4hire — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:40:06 +0000

Pamposh: I am sorry I didn’t read your post before I wrote my original post. However, I think it is important to note, as you did in your blog, that the book the movie was based on was written by an Indian. Yes, it is a contrived story, but it is the most MOVIE movie that I’ve seen in a long time. Very theatrical in the way it moved, and despite the sad parts, I kind of liked the Bollywood happy ending. However, I didn’t write a review, I just stuck to my job here which is talking about how movies/books influence travel.
Vera