Slumdog slumping in India

Posted By Joshua Keating Monday, January 26, 2009 - 12:28 PM Share

Slumdog Millionaire might be raking in the awards stateside, but Indian audiences weren't too impressed during the film's opening weekend:

On Friday, a day after Slumdog Millionaire was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, the movie filled just 25% of the seats for its debut in theaters across India, the country of its setting.... Theaters showing the movie averaged 50% of capacity on Saturday, which was an improvement over the opening day but hardly a 21-gun salute.

Some Indian moviegoers might have agreed with Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan that the British-directed film's depiction of India's urban poverty verged on voyeurism, though the film has gotten mostly positive reviews from Indian critics. A more likely culprit may be that the film's leads, the British actor Dev Patel and model Frieda Pinto, are essentially unknown to the Indian public.

EXPLORE:SOUTH ASIA, CULTURE, INDIA

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11:40 PM ET

January 26, 2009

Another take

I think a major factor contributing to low occupancy rates in Indian theatres is the films late release in India. People would have already caught a pirated DVD and watched the movie when it hit the limelight, and would not be willing to spend to watch the movie again.

I dont think many people watch a movie (or in this case not watch a movie) because it might paint india in a way other than what they believe it is. It is not a factor affecting the movie going decision for the common urban indian.

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