Tools of Characterization
Characterization in Slumdog Millionaire
Social Status
Because issues of poverty, wealth, and class are central to the narrative of Slumdog Millionaire, the characters in the film are closely tied to their social status.
Jamal, as the titular "slumdog," is first is dismissed both by the host and audience on Who Wants to be a Millionaire as just a nobody from the lowest dregs of society. The Police Inspector assumes him to be unintelligent, and a cheater, because of his background. (The Police Inspector is a bit of a snob.)
However, as we see throughout the film, Jamal is just the opposite; he is incredibly clever, resourceful, and has noble intentions. Through Jamal's rags-to-riches tale, the narrative explores and subverts this stereotype of the dishonest slum dweller. Who made that stereotype up, anyway? We're guessing it was someone who had never gone into a slum and, you know, actually talked to anyone.
Meanwhile, Jamal's brother Salim, having grown up in similarly challenging circumstances, sees a life of crime as his way out of poverty. Sure enough he goes on to achieve wealth and glory through his morally questionable actions as a gangster. However, Salim's death at the end of the film reminds us that this lifestyle comes with a price… and a heavy conscience.
Finally, we can't overlook characters like game show host Prem Kumar and slumlord Javed Khan, who have scratched and clawed their way to the top of the totem pole, and will not relinquish their status for anything. They cling desperately to their money and power, and are threatened by characters like Jamal, Latika, and eventually Salim, who perhaps are more in touch with their humble origins—and have an ounce of morality.
Speech & Dialogue
Like most movies made in the years following the Silent Era, (no offense to those great silent films of the 1910's and 20's, of course), Slumdog Millionaire relies heavily on speech and dialogue to explore and develop its characters.
Through dialogue, we get a sense of Jamal's quick-thinking ability, whether he's hustling tourists at the Taj Mahal, or giving greedy game show hosts a run for their money.
Meanwhile, from game show host Prem's megalomaniacal monologues, ("Do the right thing in approximately three minutes, and you will be as famous as me. And as rich as me. Almost.") to Salim's moment of redemption ("God is great"), the movie provides no shortage of memorable lines.
Oh yeah— it's also probably worth mentioning that about a third of the movie's dialogue is in Hindi. Thanks to the talents of co-director Loveleen Tandan, Slumdog Millionaire is able to stay true to the linguistic tradition of the region, mixing Hindi—the most common language in India, as well as the go-to tongue for most Bollywood films—with English, which is generally taught in schools as a legacy of Great Britain's colonial involvement in the subcontinent.