I think that setting the film in India adds to the richness of the viewing experience, but I agree that the film’s storyline could very easily be transplanted to the slums of Miami, or almost anywhere else. The Indian aspect is a big part of the feel of the film, but it doesn’t have too much to do with the actual plot. Like CSI, maybe they’ll start coming out with different “Slumdog” movies that are set in different places around the world?

The movie is so insanely unrealistic and feel-good (how can every experience in this boy’s life relate to a question on the show?) that it reminds me of “Life is Beautiful” in that respect. However, I think the director did a great job of balancing “feel good cheese,” with realism. The mother is brutally murdered. People are raped, stabbed, shot, blinded. It’s feel-good, but not sugar-coated.