Earlier this year Slumdog Millionaire claimed eight Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography and Best Editing. Beloved Bollywood composer A.R. Rahman also collected two Academy Awards for his work on the film, including Best Score and Best Original Song.
However, the Mumbai-set fairytale of true love was not always success-bound. The picture was originally developed by Warner Independent Pictures, a subdivision of Warner Bros. Just as filming on Slumdog wrapped, Warner shut down WIP and attempted to sell off its remaining assets. With no bidders for Slumdog Millionaire, it was set to debut straight on DVD. However, indie distributor extraordinaire Fox Searchlight came to the rescue and set Slumdog on the course to become a winner.
Slumdog Millionaire's $268 million worldwide gross currently places it fourth on the list of highest grossing independent films. In first place is Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, which earned a miraculous $611 worldwide. 2008 megahit Twilight sits in second place, having collected $372 million across the world. In third place sits My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the ultimate indie wunderkind. Filmed on a budget of $5 million, MBFGW went on to gross $368 worldwide.
Fox Searchlight's productions have been no slouch in the box office stakes despite its indie clout. The hit indie comedy Juno grossed $231 million worldwide based on a budget of $9 million. The picture also picked up an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, while also grabbing Best Picture, Director and Actress nominations. Also grabbing a Best Picture nomination in 2004 was Alexander Payne's critically acclaimed Sideways. The Searchlight production grossed $109 million worldwide, on a budget of $16 million.
The definition of 'indie' film continues to be blurred in this modern cinematic era. Independent films are now box-office blockbusters; they dominate the Academy Awards and are huge successes on DVD. Slumdog Millionaire will be no different when it debuts 1st of May. Jai Ho!
