Slumdog Millionaire 3: Don’t call it a slum

After watching Slumdog Millionaire, I was curious about the slums of Mumbai. What are such places like? How do they fit in the urban geography? I remember some of the scenes where the two brothers are in high rise apartment being constructed, rising from a sea of tin roof shacks. There seemed to be some kind of dynamic process going on in such redevelopment. How was this process happening?

I found a fascinating blog on the notion of “slums” written by urbanists who argue that these urban phenomena should be thought of as villages within a larger metropolis, where the pattern of growth that makes the most sense is what the local dwellers themselves create. There is something organic about the growth of such slums, and this should be celebrated and respected. Who knows better what the local needs are of the neighborhood than the local residents who live and work there. Contrary to the notion that such places have no economic value, these slums are the home to many artisans as wells as employers. Here is a satellite image of the Dharavi slum. And below is a map of the Koliwada neighborhood. You can see a tree and branch pattern of development.

It is similar to a fractal pattern often found in nature.

However, this ideal vision of the organic, alive (or lived-in) city butts up against the cold forces of capitalism and state control. The local government is partnering with real estate financiers on a Dharavi Redevelopment Project to clear the slums and build high-rises, perhaps like those shown in Slumdog Millionaire. The idea is for an orderly development and integrate the swath of land into the commercial activity of the rest of Mumbai. We’ve seen this narrative before in the US. The “slum” is a word used to justify redevelopment projects that ultimately kill neighborhoods. This project is being resisted with aesthetics and grassroots organizing. Ultimately, however, the global financial crisis may halt the project.

So, I was impressed with Danny Boyle’s version of the Mumbai slum. It was colorful, active, and raw. There it was, with hints at some of the very real problems and issues that are going on in the area. It was not used as a Dickensian tale about squalor or the grinding dreariness of urban poverty. On the other hand, it was a lively backdrop about a fantastical tale about some kids.

David Denby was not so impressed.

Boyle has created what looks like a jumpy, hyper-edited commercial for poverty—he uses the squalor and violence touristically, as an aspect of the fabulous.

What do you think?

Slumdog Millionaire 1

Slumdog Millionaire 2