Slumdog Millionaire Review

Mumbai may have been hitting the headlines of late for all the wrong reasons, but with Pathe's latest release, that should be about to change.

To paraphrase that classic Irish anthem, 'Oh Danny Boy-le, the awards, the awards are calling'. For "Slumdog Millionaire", which splices Bollywood with Hollywood to great effect, is a modern day masterpiece.

Regarded by many as Boyle's finest work since "Trainspotting", "Slumdog Millionaire" is a true rags to riches tale set in the heart of the Indian financial capital. The story follows Jamal Malik from the slums of Mumbai to the summit of India's version of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire'. Mixing a plethora of genres from comedy to crime, and dancing to drama, Boyle's latest is the ultimate tale of the underdog. Jamal is edging towards the top prize on the popular game show - a whopping 20 million rupees - and although the vast majority of the Indian public is behind him, the authorities are not. Game show host Prem Kumar, a man so oily you could stick him in the oven and serve him up with a Sunday roast, is absolutely convinced that a boy from the slums could only cheat to get to that position and asks the police to investigate. The film then brilliantly segues between the police interrogation; Jamal's time on the game show; and the reasons he gives for knowing each answer as explained through a series of flashbacks.

The film has already garnered several awards including the People's Choice at the Toronto Film Festival and the British Independent Film Award for best director, and there are murmurings of bigger things to come. Aside from Boyle's direction, there are also superb central performances from Dev Patel of "Skins" fame as Jamal and the stunning Frieda Pinto as his love interest Latika, as well as Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor as the Chris Tarrant of the subcontinent.

With its fairytale premise and intriguing story, "Slumdog Millionaire" could well defy the odds come awards season and hit the jackpot - well an Oscar at least.