"Inspired by a True Story"
Slumdog Millionaire: Two Radically Different Events, One New Story
Slumdog Millionaire was a sleeper hit from the get go. Whether it is from the novel by Vikas Swarup entitled Q&A or the film adaptation by Danny Boyle, the story was never a hit from the start. It murmured and then took off, becoming a best seller, winning the Best Picture awards.
The story, in short, according to IMDb.com: "A Mumbai teen who grew up in the slums, becomes a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" He is arrested under suspicion of cheating, and while being interrogated, events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers." (Source) What's interesting about this story, outside of its unique concept, is where it came from. |
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The Inspiration Aspect: Not a True Story At All
Vikas Swarup got his inspiration for Q&A from two sources: the Charles Ingram Scandal and an article about a project called "Hole in the Wall," in which children of poor districts were utilizing internet connection. Both are recollected from an interview with the Times which can be viewed here.
The key factor: neither of these stories resemble in any way the story of Slumdog Millionaire. In fact, another section similar to fact vs. fiction could be created, only this time reverting back to the age old difference between film and novel (for one quick example - the love story that is the basis of Slumdog Millionaire? Not even present in Q&A).
The deciding source for Swarup can be summed up in one quote: "If a British army major can be accused of cheating, then an ignorant tiffin boy from the world's biggest slum can definitely be accused of cheating."
The key factor: neither of these stories resemble in any way the story of Slumdog Millionaire. In fact, another section similar to fact vs. fiction could be created, only this time reverting back to the age old difference between film and novel (for one quick example - the love story that is the basis of Slumdog Millionaire? Not even present in Q&A).
The deciding source for Swarup can be summed up in one quote: "If a British army major can be accused of cheating, then an ignorant tiffin boy from the world's biggest slum can definitely be accused of cheating."
The Bottom Line
Slumdog Millionaire is not based on a true story in any way. It does not label itself as so. In fact, it does not even label itself as an "Inspired By A True Story" because none of it actually happened. Two separate events happened and a brand new story was born.
Here is where we end up in that weird gray zone of fiction and adaptation of nonfiction. All fiction is inspired by something, an event, maybe two, and often times, it is entirely different than what actually happened.
Bottom line: Slumdog Millionaire fits the test of "Inspired By a True Story" in the remotest way, but even that movie are skeptical of using that label.
Here is where we end up in that weird gray zone of fiction and adaptation of nonfiction. All fiction is inspired by something, an event, maybe two, and often times, it is entirely different than what actually happened.
Bottom line: Slumdog Millionaire fits the test of "Inspired By a True Story" in the remotest way, but even that movie are skeptical of using that label.