(This article was first published by the author in the summer 2009 edition of Leadership & Life Style Magazine) 

Slumdog Millionaire’s Luck

by Sarah Udoh-Grossfurthner

With the recent success of Slumdog millionaire, an Indian box office mega-blockbuster which succeeded in winning eight Oscars including best picture, director, adapted screenplay, editing, cinematography, sound mixes, score and songs, it has become quite apparent that Hollywood, the US movie industry, is no longer looking only within the Hollywood circle to showcase budding and amazing talents in the movie industry. In the last ten years foreign movies like ‘The Last Samurai,’ ‘Life Is Beautiful – La Vita e Bella,’ ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, ’ ‘Babel,’ ‘Volver’ and ‘Apocalypto, just to mention but a few -.have all been nominated for, and some won, multiple roles in the Grammys. Slumdog Millionaire is the latest addition to these films.

Bollywood is said to be the second largest movie industry in the world – Hollywood being the first – and not quite so long ago, it used to be that the only people who could ‘tolerate’ its movies were the die-hard romantics. Indian movies were mocked as being ‘over flowery’ and it was believed that all you needed to complete its script were loads of Indian songs and gorgeous men and women dancing to the songs - drenched to their skin with pelting tropical rainfall. Another feature that was used to stereotype Indian movies was that of beautiful women who almost always turned mad and then sane, and still somehow, managed to hook prince charming whom every other legible women, often from rich and powerful homes, pined for but could not catch! Well, guess who is laughing to the Grammys (not to mention the bank) now? 

Nollywood, the third of the ‘three musketeers’ of the world’s three largest movie industry, is the Nigerian equivalent of Bollywood and Hollywood. It is professedly the largest movie industry in Africa. With the huge market and business that represents, perhaps it is time that it took careful note of the phenomenal success of Slumdog Millionaire. If Nollywood ever hopes, in the very near future, to come away with an Oscar, or two, it must try to make movies which can compete on the international scene in the quality of its script, its directing and editing as well as its screenplay. With that in mind, here are ten salient points of which the Nigerian Movie Industry should be mindful:- 

1. Storyline - the overall storyline must consist of much more than that of the benighted wife looking for a way to keep her philandering husband at home and having her friend tell her that she knows of one ‘Baba’ or some questionable ‘pastor’ who can solve her problem.

2. Editing - is a very important part of the overall quality of a movie – an accidental hand in front of the shooting camera means just that ‘accidental’ – it must be edited off, not included in the movie.

3. Directing – a director should be extremely aware of even the most minute of details. For example, a movie in which a 25-year-old woman looks the same way after the movie has pasted a ’28 years later’ clause on the screen to indicate another time frame just does not cut it.  Additionally, in a country known for its fashion-consciousness, a pair of earrings and other jewellery still worn by a character ’28 years later’ is a definite no!, no! After all, how many years can a pair of costume jewellery earrings possibly last?

4. Choreography – Please Nollywood stars, you are playing the characters in a movie, not yourselves! Preening for the camera is for when you are collecting ‘that’ award, or attending some gala event, not for when you are playing a role – unless the role calls for preening – even then it must all still be within the frameworks of the character you are playing.

5. It ‘aint’cool to play the Americana when you can hardly utter your line in proper well-formed English. Leave the Americana accent for when you are required to play the role of one just coming from there!...and there’s another thing, if you can’t speak it, stay with your own accent – not all who go to America speak with American accent, nor is it essential that they do. Well-spoken English using your own accent will gain you more respect than fake phonetic!

6. Variety – they say, is the spice of life. Please vary the roles and those who play it! Why must the ‘Igwe’ always be an Igwe? Why can’t he ever play a lesser role? As it stands in most Nigerian movies, character played by at least 99% of the artists is almost always the way – so much so that it seems like a monarchy - handled and played only by those who have done so for years on end!

7. Casting – now this is a part which I find really laughable in some Nigerian movies. How do you cast a lady for the role of a mega- rich man’s daughter and then have her dressed like an ‘unemployed desperate’ youth corper? If you are going to cast someone for that kind of part, then dress them to suit the role. It is quite an eyesore to see the supposed mega-rich man’s daughter’s bedroom floor covered in cheap linoleum and the curtains half on and half off the railings owning to lost curtain knobs! 

8. The Movies themselves – now, I could go on, but let me just say this, when Bruce Willis came out with Die-Hard one, it was a huge success. Then number two Die-Hard came out and it was bearable, still. However, when Die-Hard number three came out people were frankly fed-up; after all, how much ‘harder’ can one person possibly die? You get my drift? Finish a movie in part one, or two, if need be, but please, spare us part three, especially if part two lasted but just one hour!

9. If you assume your movies are for imbeciles with IQ of less than 30, then over- explain the movie! When the Nigerian movie industry does this, it limits itself. Many a time, I have left a Nigerian movie half-way though its showing completely peeved with the lead character ‘remembering’ how she got to the state she found herself. This venture sometimes takes up to 30 minutes and at the end one is left wondering why part two was even remotely necessary.

10. Finally, the ‘Nigerian Image’ is very important. Lest we forget, what we show has a great bearing on what people perceive as our values. I have been asked by so many Africans if the only way we solve our problems is by contacting ‘Baba,’ or if the majority of our pastors are crooks and ‘funny.’ Furthermore, many also believe that Nigerian university girls are basically all prostitutes whose sole aim for going there is to catch rich sugar daddies (rich old men), while the men are believed to lack the most common decency and integrity with regards to the value of relationship.

So, what made this 15 million dollars budget movie that has gone on to gross over 250 million dollars (and still counting) such a success? To all intent and purposes it is still very much an Indian film: the music, the dancing, and the romance, not to mention emphasis on relationship, are all still there: In my opinion, it was simply the spirit of excellence which its director and producer brought to bear on all aspects of its production. They took the usual theme of the culture and values of Indian society, emphasis on the value of relationship, love and commitment, triumph of good over evil – which by the way are quite similar to that of the Nigerian culture - and fitted it around the accepted Hollywood criteria of what makes for a unique and unforgettable movie, and won not only the hearts of those who saw the movie, but also those of the judges of the Grammys. 

I realize that the tone of this article might be considered a tad harsh, but the success of Nollywood in becoming an industry to be reckon with in all of Africa is one of which, as a Nigerian, I am very proud. However, I do believe that the industry can go much further and do much better and my reason for writing this article is to pin-point ways which can aid it to do just that: be the absolute best it can possibly be.

And so with that, I wish Nollywood, our renowned movie industry, the best of the Slumdog Millionaire’s luck. 

Robot  # 1 | 04.07.2009 08:32

With the recent success of Slumdog millionaire, an Indian box office mega-blockbuster which succeeded in winning eight Oscars including best picture, director, adapted screenplay, editing, cinematography, sound mixes, score and songs, it has become quite apparent that Hollywood, the US movie industry, is no longer looking only within the Hollywood circle to showcase budding and amazing talents in the movie industry. In the last ten years foreign movies like ‘The Last Samurai,’ ‘Life Is Beautiful – La Vita e Bella,’ ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, ’‘Babel,’ ‘Volver’ and ‘Apocalypto, just to mention but a few -.have all been nominated for, and some won, multiple roles in the Grammys.Slumdog Millionaire is the latest addition to these films....Read the full article.

okwuchukwu  # 2 | 04.07.2009 17:01

I agree with your submission.Nollywood is one of the best thing to happen to Nigeria.If you have travelled around Africa and other places you would understand the impact of this industry .This is a vital aspect of cultural diplomacy as even kids are well aware of Nigerian culture and mannerism.The government and other stakeholders should build sructures for its sustainability and development.I believe we can benefit from nollywood as the US benefitted from Hollywood .please please please the practioners and others should not allow the industry to die or to suffer.

Aokusman  # 3 | 04.07.2009 18:31

Your article is very interesting, however I want to point out some errors you have made. First of, you classified the movie Apocolypto as a foreign or non Hollywood movie. Apocolypto was actually directed by Mel Gibson, an American. Secondly you refered to the movie Slum Dog Millionaire as an Indian movie. Slum Dog Millionaire is actually a British movies directed by Danny Boyle. *

nijalaw  # 4 | 05.07.2009 08:11

=Aokusman;369130>Your article is very interesting, however I want to point out some errors you have made. First of, you classified the movie Apocolypto as a foreign or non Hollywood movie. Apocolypto was actually directed by Mel Gibson, an American. Secondly you refered to the movie Slum Dog Millionaire as an Indian movie. Slum Dog Millionaire is actually a British movies directed by Danny Boyle. * You are quite right. Maybe when we get an English or American director to do a film on the Nigerian experience then we could be in contention unless our own Nollywood practitioners wake up & make good quality movies with acceptance beyond the continent of Africa. The Movies themselves – now, I could go on, but let me just say this, when Bruce Willis came out with Die-Hard one, it was a huge success. Then number two Die-Hard came out and it was bearable, still. However, when Die-Hard number three came out people were frankly fed-up; after all, how much ‘harder’ can one person possibly die? You get my drift? Finish a movie in part one, or two, if need be, but please, spare us part three, especially if part two lasted but just one hour! On this I will disagree, remember the recent success of Die Hard 4.0, Rambo 4, Indiana Jones 4, what about the Spiderman franchise; all 3 movies grossed over $300M each domestically in the USA. What about Star Wars & it's six episodes, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Carribean & many more. The most important aspect for regular success of any movie franchise is good acting, good directing, good plot lines, great special fx, editing etc & good timing to boot.

Eace  # 5 | 05.07.2009 11:39

No. Nollywood is not ready for the Oscars.

The Poet  # 6 | 05.07.2009 15:36

I am aware that Slumdog was directed by a British man. However, that still does not make it a British film. The theme, as well as the actors, are still very much Indian. If a Danny Boyle were to direct a Nigerian movie tomorrow, would that make the movie British?

Igboamaeze  # 7 | 05.07.2009 15:49

=okwuchukwu;369125>I agree with your submission.Nollywood is one of the best thing to happen to Nigeria.If you have travelled around Africa and other places you would understand the impact of this industry .This is a vital aspect of cultural diplomacy as even kids are well aware of Nigerian culture and mannerism.The government and other stakeholders should build sructures for its sustainability and development.I believe we can benefit from nollywood as the US benefitted from Hollywood .please please please the practioners and others should not allow the industry to die or to suffer. ------------------ Mba nu. No Sir, not this time. I was enjoying your post till I got there! Mba nu. How can you invite government? Don't you know that whenever Nigerian government intervenes in any endeavor, it brings pain and misery? Government building structures for sustainable...wetin? Mba nu...

The Poet  # 8 | 05.07.2009 15:50

I respect your views. However, do you remember >Bended like Beckam>?...It was very much an Indian film and quite a hit it was too. What made it so? Spirit of excellence in its production and directing. Bollywood has wisened up..enough to learn to lean where the wind blows. My point is that Nollywood should be wise enough to do same. Unless it vision is to be known in Africa alone. It's all about vision and purpose!

The Poet  # 9 | 05.07.2009 15:59

Thank you for your comment. However, we cannot really compare the basis under which Hollywood extends its movies from part one, two, three, ad infinitum...with that of its Nigerian counterpart, can we? With Hollywood, it follows a logical sequence. Nigerian version, on the other hand, is done for the sole purpose of making more money..not because the movies need NEED to be extended.

Akpu-Nku  # 10 | 05.07.2009 23:30

=The Poet;369277>I respect your views. However, do you remember >Bended like Beckam>?...It was very much an Indian film and quite a hit it was too. What made it so? Spirit of excellence in its production and directing. Bollywood has wisened up..enough to learn to lean where the wind blows. My point is that Nollywood should be wise enough to do same. Unless it vision is to be known in Africa alone. It's all about vision and purpose! Bend It Like Beckam is a British film. People should get their facts right if they are going to pontificate. To you chaps nothing good comes out of Africa espacially when opinions are deeply biased and ethnicised.

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