Mumbai bowled me over, says Danny Boyle

- Planet Bollywood Special Correspondant           Let us know what you think about this story

Slumdog Millionaire, adapted by screenplay writer Simon Beaufoy from a book by diplomat-author Vikas Swarup, India's current ambassador to South Africa, is the rousing story of an 18-year-old uneducated slum dweller who goes on to win the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire and, in the bargain, reconnects with his lost love.

Boyle's first first-hand experience of Mumbai has floored him for life. "The city, with its contradictions and disparities, would be a truly wonderful setting for a thriller," he said in response to a question.

Boyle, whose father was in Bombay as a rookie soldier when the Allied forces were gearing up to attack Japan during World War II, grew up on an unending stream of stories about the city. "My dad would go on and on about Bombay. Those amazing stories stuck in my mind," he said.

"India is a place where you shouldn't try to reorganise things from the western perspective. You must simply go with the flow. You have to just throw yourself into the cauldron and hope to hit the right notes. I am happy we did just that," he said.

Boyle is all praise for Bollywood star Anil Kapoor, who plays the egoistic game show host in Slumdog Millionaire.

"He is a huge star. He knows the system inside out. Anil helped me steer my way through," he said.

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