Globalization, Urbanization, and Slums: A Study of the ‘Slumdog Millionaire’

Abstract

Slums and Urbanization are the two extreme ends of the concept called Capitalist Globalization in the context of urban progress. The two are not in dialogic mode; the prior being unaware of the self-centric motives of the latter, continues rolling in its pathetically dragging status quo, whereas the latter whirs far above feeling secured in flying away from the prior. The deliberate slighting of the slums by the agents of urbanization-cum-globalization gives rise to numerous social issues such as poverty, illiteracy, exploitation of labour, child abuse, disrespect of human dignity, and crime. The said sorry state of things is depicted by Daniel Boyle through his movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. By bringing forth the various social issues in the context of urbanization and globalization the filmmaker; Daniel Boyle tries to drive a point home for his viewers that the urban social issues have been created by exploitative capitalist globalization. Through his attempt he questions the ends of capitalist globalization and appeals its stake holders to seriously reconsider it.