Great Movie Slumdog Millionaire Has New M.I.A. Song
I know it might be a bit much to say Slumdog's a "Great Movie" in a music blog post title because I am not a film critic (yet). But last night I got into a long conversation with Lindsay about it and she agrees, so I'm just gonna say it's the Best Movie and you should see it ASAP. I made a forced reference to the Danny Boyle-directed heartwarmer when talking about Sigur Rós and how "Hoppípolla" is in the film trailer, but that was before I realized Maya's got a new song called "O Saya," with soundtrack composer A.R. Rahman, that turns up in the film. MTV praises Rahman's work on the OST for "mixing the disparate worlds of Bollywood and hip hop," which is true, but as you'll hear it's a more integrated and creative fusion than previous Hindi-hop exercises. Here's "O Saya":
A.R. Rahman & M.I.A. - "O... Saya"
Last night Scott asked me why I enjoyed the movie so much, and to make the case for a non-Indian (surprise, Scott's a non-Indian). I haven't been to India in a decade, so I was maybe disproportionately moved by the movie's allusions to that country's breakneck socioeconomic development. But that's part of what drives it all, this improbable central love story set against an honest, vibrant cultural backdrop. The narrative device is clever, the cinematography debilitating, the themes -- family, class disparity, and of course, Big Love -- universal. It's wonderfully cast. Yeah "Paper Planes" is in it, but that Sigur Rós track is more apropos: Millionaire's a teary joy ride. It's a good one to see with the fam over the holiday. I'll leave the rest to the real critics, you rewatch the trailer.
"O Saya" appears on the Slumdog Millionaire OST, which is out now via iTunes, and in stores on 12/23. Here's a tracklist:
01 "O... Saya" Performed by A R Rahman & M.I.A.
02 "Riots" by A R Rahman
03 "Mausam & Escape" by A R Rahman
04 "Paper Planes" Performed by M.I.A.
05 "Paper Planes" DFA REMIX Performed by M.I.A.
06 "Ringa Ringa" by A R Rahman featuring Alka Yagnik & Ila Arun
07 "Liquid Dance" by A R Rahman featuring Palakkad Sriram & Madhumitha
08 "Latika's Theme" by A R Rahman featuring Suzanne
09 "Aaj Ki Raat" Performed by Sonu Nigam, Mahalaxmi Lyer & Alisha Chinoi
10 "Millionaire" by A R Rahman featuring Madhumitha
11 "Gangsta Blues" by A R Rahman featuring BlaaZe & Tanvi Shah
12 "Dreams on Fire" by A R Rahman featuring Suzzanne
13. "Jai Ho" by A R Rahman featuring Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah & Mahalaxmi Iyer
Posted at 5:01 PM by amrit
Tags: A.R. Rahman | M.I.A. | Slumdog Millionaire
the movie is pretty bad, and i'm surprised more people aren't saying so. it basically gives a pass to people who normally wouldn't go near a movie like this. its full of cliches and convenient plot devices, but its alright cos it, like, takes place in india. culture, y'know?
Score = -29
Mike, go shove a stack of naan bread up your ass you triplicate posting retard. Slumdog is wonderful.
Score = 19
Hahah, Indian-spiced insults, nice one McNolte! I wanna try.... hey Mike, go rub your balls in curry and fuck yourself with a sitar you Mumbaisshole!
Anyway, the movie is brilliant, I loved it. It will win some Oscars. However, M.I.A.'s music is seriously out of place in it. The rest of the music is appropriate Indian music, and when you watch it in 5 years M.I.A.'s songs are going to be soooo dated. Kind of like when I watch my VHS of "Disorderlies" starring the Fat Boys.
Furthermore M.I.A.'s cameo scene where she's in the Indian bazaar and asks a merchant for "cave aged Gruyere" is just tacky.
Score = 5
I don't understand why everyone is making such a big deal about it being in India. Didn't you racists ever watch GANDHI? It won a few hundred Oscars. Not all Indian movies are stereotypical Bollywood. You should check out Deepa Mehta's trilogy of films "Fire," "Water" and "Earth." Wes Anderson's "The Darjeeling Limited" was brilliant as well.
Score = -2
d. it is written
at least that's what the version that screened at the denver film festival said. i loved the film; this preview makes it look way schmaltzy, yes? the actual film was a lot grittier and fairly brutal. excellent film.
i also saw the new joaquin phoenix/gwyneth paltrow film at the film fest here in denver and it was also a lot darker and sadder, more stark than i expected.
Score = 1
No it's not a GREAT film but it's still effective. (God... that creep with his coca-cola.) Hurry up...somebody do the the movie about the Japanese "Deal or No Deal"...
Score = -1
this movie is hella good
Score = 1
saw this movie last night, and i have to say go see it. probably the best i saw all year.
Score = 1
This film is poignant and riveting. It had me at the edge of my seat (literally). I hope it wins an Oscar and most importantly the Gummy award for best movie.
Score = 2
I'm upset I cast my gummy ballot before I saw it because Slumdog Millionaire is definitely the best movie of the year.
Score = 2
Slumdog Millionaire is as acerbic as it is clear-eyed about the brutal power dynamics in modern-day Mumbai. But, at the same time, what makes it so warming and what has been inspiring audiences all across the world to cheer at its rousing ending.
Score = 0