Slumdog Millionaire

By winning eight Oscars, Slumdog Millionaire provided proof, if that was needed, that the film industries of India and United States need to look at each other as partners because there is money to be made.

I have always maintained that the Indian film industry has inherent ability to grow into global markets. This was the basis of my persuading my friend, Michael Clark, at the time of President Clinton's visit to India in 2000 to propose a Knowledge Trade Initiative. That did not go far but the ensuing exchange and dialog between the two of the world's largest film industries did progress.

Coming from someone who has at the helm of NASSCOM (1989-91), this seemed odd. How can a completely disorganized industry like the Indian film industry be a global player? It didn't make sense.

[Before I go any further, let me express my distaste for the term "bollywood". It simply does not make sense to me. I believe Amitabh Bachchan had similar views.]

To me it did. Maybe it was an act of faith (and wishful thinking) because of my association with cinema since my school days. I will try to put down here my rationale:

• Indian film industry has a strong domestic market and is the main source of popular culture.
• It has an informal system of training and bringing up new talents with an almost no barrier to entry except willingness to submit to travails of being an assistant to someone who is willing to teach you the trade and, unwittingly, share his/her network.
• Many masters of the craft had no or little formal education but what they learnt on the job gave them the means to climb to the top. Mehboob Khan is a grand example but there are many. This is not to belitte the Pune institute, and many who came in its wake, but to speak of the "guru-sishya parampara" a tradition which is well and alive in the Indian film industry. 
• It often lured the people who failed to make grade in the traditional system of education or were too distracted to pursue their studies. Whatever were the reasons, if they were willing to rough it out, find a mentor, and work with him/her, one day they will get a chance to try their hand. Most with any perseverance did.
• It didn't distinguish people on basis of class, caste, color of their skin or religion. There is no denying that sons and daughters of established people in the industry do get a chance without having to struggle as hard as Mr or Ms. Nobody but many people with no connection continue to succeed.

Often the film industry in India has embraced and propagated liberal ideas. Often in too simplistic terms jumbled up in romance. The IPTA people who infiltrated the film world came to make a living as well as get their ideas of hope and change into the minds of millions. It was often about hope of a new age, the archetypal fascination with Naya Daur—and socially relevant message of popular cinema.