City of fan clubs awaits slumdog
23 Jan 2009, 0325 hrs IST, Bhama Devi Ravi, TNN
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CHENNAI: They celebrate new releases of their heroes as if it were a
festival, and rarely welcome other
films<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/City_of_fan_clubs_awaits_slumdog/articleshow/4019143.cms#>with
a unified front. However, fans of Ajith,
Vijay, Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan are getting into a feverish excitement
over Slumdog Millionaire,' a foreign' film based on a slum kid striking it
rich in a game show. While the common attraction of the movie is A R
Rahman's Golden Globe-winning
music<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/City_of_fan_clubs_awaits_slumdog/articleshow/4019143.cms#>,
different people are looking forward to the release for different reasons.
"In a region where game shows and reality shows on satellite channels have
taken longer to attract eye-balls, the excitement is an indication that
rags-to-riches-stories will always sell," said Kavithalaya Krishnan, a
television actor. "Look how well Padaiyappa' and Annamalai' worked," he
added. "Eight years ago, not many could tune into a television show where
someone else walked off with a lot of money. But that has changed recently,"
he added. Intelligence and talent are not measured by academics alone
anymore, said R Govindarajan, a professor. "Films like Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi'
worked with the younger generation even in places like Chennai because the
film showcases a young, married woman could compete in a reality show. here
has been a gradual shift in the way we acknowledge hardwork in alternate
careers" he added.
It is all about aspiration meeting luck, a familiar companion to most
people. "Today no one settles for what they have. Everyone wants to move up
and do better. Even those in tenements dream of going to the US for higher
studies," said Rashmi Kumar, a final year student of journalism in a city
college. " Slumdog sounds like it mirrors our thoughts and hopes, " she
added. Dr Gayathri Srikanth, who answered a record 750 questions in
two-and-a-half hours in 2007 to qualify from Chennai for Kaun Banega
Crorepati' show is another person eager to watch a show that she missed
appearing on by 0.96 seconds.
"You are considered intelligent if you are seen on a quiz show, there is no
doubt about that. What adds
drama<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/City_of_fan_clubs_awaits_slumdog/articleshow/4019143.cms#>and
emotion to such shows is the fact that luck plays a major role in
winning or losing. ""There is a lot of hard work behind the 15 minutes of
fame, but television shows make you feel it is achievable" said Raghav, and
Preetha, the actor couple who have been runners-up on shows such as Jodi No
1' and Maanada Mayilada'
Actor Khushboo, who has been hosting game shows on television since 2000 is
however waiting to watch Slumdog for a different reason altogether. "I want
to know if the West is portraying India as a down trodden, dirty, place with
cities full of slums," she added. And everyone wants to listen to A R
Rahman's music.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/City_of_fan_clubs_awaits_slumdog/articleshow/4019143.cms
--
regards,
Vithur
