Click to play videoAfter the phenomenal success of Slumdog Millionaire, its sweep of the Golden Globes, and a lot of Oscar buzz, CNN-IBN speaks to the man behind the Slumdogstory, Vikas Swarup.
Amrita Tripathi: We're here in the Capital with Vikas Swarup, the best-selling author of Q&A and I have two versions of your book, one before Slumdog Millionaire was released and another version after the movie. How are you reacting really to this global phenomenon that Slumdog has become?
Vikas Swarup: I think it's been extraordinary, this past week since the Golden Globes were announced. Who could have imagined that a book which I wrote in two months in 2003 in my posting in London would go on to become this international phenomena in the form of the film?
Amrita Tripathi: There's a lot of Oscar buzz as well. Do you have your fingers crossed for the film?
Vikas Swarup: Fingers firmly crossed. They say there is a 60 per cent chance of Golden Globe awardees to go on to win an Oscar, so certianly chances are very bright.
Amrita Tripathi: Having said that a movie does adapt from the book, a lot that's in the movie is not in your book and vice versa?
Vikas Swarup: It was not a big shock. I was consulted on the screenplay. The film was faithful to the original framing device of the book.
Amrita Tripathi: It's been all over the media as well, some controversy, some sections of society talking about how India has been de-glamourised, projected as the poverty capital, India grimy - what are your thoughts?
Vikas Swarup: I don't think there is anything wrong in showing slum life as long as it has a human element. And I think that is the strength of the film. My book is about hope, optimism and triumph of the human spirit. The film also is about survival, hope and triumph of the human spirit. From that point of view, I see nothing objectionable.
When I set out to write my book, there was no intention that I have to write about the seamier side of India, that I have to write about the underbelly of India. No. I wanted to show that street knowledge can be as important as book knowledge. That's why I chose as my contestant, an 18-year-old waiter living in Asia's biggest slum, Dharavi.
Amrita Tripathi: Lastly, your second book is out. Any plans to make it a movie?
Vikas Swarup: Yes. In fact as we speak, BBC have already auctioned it for a film.
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