Exclaim! magazine names SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE #1 Film of 2008


Canada's music magazine, Exclaim! has named Slumdog Millionaire the best film of 2008. The Indo-UK film, directed by Danny Boyle, is one of the favourites at the upcoming Academy Awards after capturing film award after award. Below is the capsule review while Exclaim's full list of the top five films of 2008 is available from their site.

Slumdog Millionaire
This Dickensian tale begins in the slums of Mumbai, India and spans 20 years. We witness the rise of a megalopolis and the maturity of orphan Jamal, who survives street life to grow into a decent young man. However, Jamal's older brother falls into the underworld, while Jamal searches for a beloved orphan girl. This harrowing fairytale is structured around the TV show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, with each question illustrating a specific point in Jamal's life. Dazzling visuals, electrifying bhangra rock and mesmerizing pacing perfectly complement the harrowing tales of these three slum dogs.
by Allan Tong

Lesson #8:
Making A Perfectly Circular Roti
Photos by Dinesh Sachdev ~ Recipe by Mrs. Sachdev ~ Layout by Allan Tong

Step 1:

Put flour into a large bowl. Make a well in the middle then pour a stream of water into the center.

Step 2:

Use one hand to mix the flour and water together in a rotating motion from the center of the bowl outwards

until the dough is moist enough to be gathered into a rough mass.

Step 3:

Wet hands and continue until the mixture cleans the sides of the bowl and has become a non-sticky, kneadable dough, feeling elastic and silky smooth.Test dough by pressing it lightly with your fingertip. If it springs back, the dough is ready to be rested. (Resting is the last step and allows the dough to absorb the water.)

Rest for 30 minutes in warm climates (e.g. India) and 1.5 hours in cold climates (e.g. Canada). Cover with a wet towel so the dough does not dry out.

Step 4:

Divide the dough into plum-size balls.

Step #5:

On a lightly floured surface, flatten one ball of dough with your hand.

Then, using a rolling-pin, roll out the dough into a thin, round patty about 5 inches in diameter.

Step 6:

Roll from the center, turning the patty several times to prevent sticking. Try to make the edges slightly thinner than the centre.

Step 7:

Preheat a cast-iron “tawa” over medium heat.

Place the rolled dough on the palm of one hand and flip it over onto the tawa.

When the colour changes on the top and bubbles appear, turn it over.

When both sides are done, use kitchen tongs (“chimta”) to remove the roti from the tawa.

Step 8:

To puff up rotis press them with a clean kitchen towel after the first flip of each side.

Step 9:

Serve hot, either completely dry or topped with a small amount of “ghee” or butter.

Step 10:

Eat it . . . just like mama made it.

Santa is a Desi:

How DESI are you?
Click on the test:

I Want To Be A Desi 2

documentary
6 minutes ~ 2008/9
Directed and written by Allan Tong
Produced by Allan Tong & Dinesh Sachdev
Edited by Ngardy Conteh
Cinematography by David Eng
Music by DJ A.P.S.

excerpt

This hard-hitting six-minute documentary asks the perennial questions:
What does a non-Desi have to do to become a Desi?
What does the word "Desi" mean to you?


"Desi"
Used colloquially to mean South Asian immigrants and their descendants, carrying a subtext of inclusiveness and unity...

The filmmakers interviewed dozens of people at two South Asian cultural festivals (Masala! Mehndi! Masti! and FILMI South Asian Film Festival) in Toronto in the summer of 2008. Young and old, male and female, Bengali and Sikh alike gave us their heartfelt answers:

What does a non-Desi have to do to become a Desi?


"do Bhangra"


"watch Sholay"


"First of all you don’t stand in a line-up like this.
You stand in line for two minutes then your patience runs out,
then you start pushing the people to get into the thing,
and if that doesn’t happen you start screaming and shouting."


What does the word "Desi" mean to you?

"...if you’re a Canadian you’re a Canuck;
if you’re American you’re a Yankee,
and if you’re 'toned' you’re a Desi.'


"Anything that really reminds me of India,
but not necessarily Indian people."


"In East Africa we did not have 'Deshi.'
We were Indians or there were non-Indians."

SCREENINGS

Just completed, I Want To Be A Desi 2 will do the film festival circuit starting in spring 2009. Screenings will be announced here.
This the pre-sequel to the serious comedic short I Want To Be A Desi
which will be made in 2009.