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Slumdog Millionaire

Updated: 12/16/2025, 9:13:00 PM Wikipedia source

Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British drama film that is a loose adaptation of the novel Q & A (2005) by Indian author Vikas Swarup. It narrates the story of 18-year-old Jamal Malik from the Juhu slums of Mumbai. Starring Dev Patel in his film debut as Jamal, and filmed in India, it was directed by Danny Boyle, written by Simon Beaufoy, and produced by Christian Colson, with Loveleen Tandan credited as co-director. As a contestant on Kaun Banega Crorepati, a Hindi Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Jamal surprises everyone by answering every question correctly so far, winning ₹1 crore ($USD210,000, equivalent to around $300,000 in 2023), and he is one question away from winning the grand prize of ₹2 crore ($USD420,000, equivalent to around $590,000 in 2023). Accused of cheating, he recounts his life story to the police, illustrating how he was able to answer each question. After its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and later screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival and the London Film Festival, Slumdog Millionaire had a nationwide release in United Kingdom on 9 January 2009, in India on 23 January 2009, and in the United States on 25 January 2009. Regarded as a sleeper hit, Slumdog Millionaire was widely acclaimed, praised for its plot, soundtrack, cinematography, editing, direction, and performances (especially Patel's). It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards in 2009 and won 8—the most of any 2008 film—including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. It won seven BAFTA Awards including Best Film, five Critics' Choice Awards and four Golden Globes. However, reception in India and among Indian diaspora was mixed, and the film was the subject of controversy over its depiction of poverty in India and other issues. The Hindustan Times called it "an assault on Indian self-esteem".

Infobox

Directed by
Danny Boyle
Screenplay by
Simon Beaufoy
Based on
Q & Aby Vikas Swarup
Produced by
Christian Colson
Starring
mw- Dev Patel Freida Pinto Madhur Mittal Anil Kapoor Irrfan Khan
Cinematography
Anthony Dod Mantle
Edited by
Chris Dickens
Music by
A. R. Rahman
Productioncompanies
Celador Films Film4
Distributed by
mw- [iii]
Release dates
30 August 2008 (2008-08-30) (Telluride) 9 January 2009 (2009-01-09) (United Kingdom)
Running time
120 minutes
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
Budget
$15 million
Box office
$378 million

Tables

81st Academy Awards · Accolades
2. Best Director, Danny Boyle
2. Best Director, Danny Boyle
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
2. Best Director, Danny Boyle
3. Best Adapted Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy
3. Best Adapted Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
3. Best Adapted Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy
4. Best Cinematography, Anthony Dod Mantle
4. Best Cinematography, Anthony Dod Mantle
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
4. Best Cinematography, Anthony Dod Mantle
5. Best Film Editing, Chris Dickens
5. Best Film Editing, Chris Dickens
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
5. Best Film Editing, Chris Dickens
6. Best Original Score, A. R. Rahman
6. Best Original Score, A. R. Rahman
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
6. Best Original Score, A. R. Rahman
7. Best Original Song – "Jai Ho", music by A. R. Rahman, lyric by Gulzar (lyricist)
7. Best Original Song – "Jai Ho", music by A. R. Rahman, lyric by Gulzar (lyricist)
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
7. Best Original Song – "Jai Ho", music by A. R. Rahman, lyric by Gulzar (lyricist)
8. Best Sound Mixing, Resul Pookutty, Richard Pryke, and Ian Tapp
8. Best Sound Mixing, Resul Pookutty, Richard Pryke, and Ian Tapp
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
8. Best Sound Mixing, Resul Pookutty, Richard Pryke, and Ian Tapp
62nd British Academy Film Awards
62nd British Academy Film Awards
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
62nd British Academy Film Awards
1. Best Film, Christian Colson
1. Best Film, Christian Colson
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
1. Best Film, Christian Colson
2. Best Director, Danny Boyle
2. Best Director, Danny Boyle
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
2. Best Director, Danny Boyle
3. Best Adapted Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy
3. Best Adapted Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
3. Best Adapted Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy
4. Best Cinematography, Anthony Dod Mantle
4. Best Cinematography, Anthony Dod Mantle
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
4. Best Cinematography, Anthony Dod Mantle
5. Best Film Music, A. R. Rahman
5. Best Film Music, A. R. Rahman
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
5. Best Film Music, A. R. Rahman
6. Best Editing, Chris Dickens
6. Best Editing, Chris Dickens
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
6. Best Editing, Chris Dickens
7. Best Sound, Glenn Freemantle, Resul Pookutty, Richard Pyke, Tom Sayers, Ian Tapp
7. Best Sound, Glenn Freemantle, Resul Pookutty, Richard Pyke, Tom Sayers, Ian Tapp
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
7. Best Sound, Glenn Freemantle, Resul Pookutty, Richard Pyke, Tom Sayers, Ian Tapp
66th Golden Globe Awards
66th Golden Globe Awards
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
66th Golden Globe Awards
1. Best Picture – Drama
1. Best Picture – Drama
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
1. Best Picture – Drama
2. Best Director, Danny Boyle
2. Best Director, Danny Boyle
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
2. Best Director, Danny Boyle
3. Best Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy
3. Best Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
3. Best Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy
4. Best Original Score, A. R. Rahman
4. Best Original Score, A. R. Rahman
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
4. Best Original Score, A. R. Rahman
24th Goya Awards
24th Goya Awards
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
24th Goya Awards
1. Best European Film
1. Best European Film
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
1. Best European Film
1. Best Picture, Christian Colson
2. Best Director, Danny Boyle
3. Best Adapted Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy
4. Best Cinematography, Anthony Dod Mantle
5. Best Film Editing, Chris Dickens
6. Best Original Score, A. R. Rahman
7. Best Original Song – "Jai Ho", music by A. R. Rahman, lyric by Gulzar (lyricist)
8. Best Sound Mixing, Resul Pookutty, Richard Pryke, and Ian Tapp
62nd British Academy Film Awards
1. Best Film, Christian Colson
2. Best Director, Danny Boyle
3. Best Adapted Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy
4. Best Cinematography, Anthony Dod Mantle
5. Best Film Music, A. R. Rahman
6. Best Editing, Chris Dickens
7. Best Sound, Glenn Freemantle, Resul Pookutty, Richard Pyke, Tom Sayers, Ian Tapp
66th Golden Globe Awards
1. Best Picture – Drama
2. Best Director, Danny Boyle
3. Best Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy
4. Best Original Score, A. R. Rahman
24th Goya Awards
1. Best European Film

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