So this is it.
Here’s what it all comes down to.
Do you believe in redemption?
In “Will the REAL Hero Please Stand Up” and “Will the REAL Hero Please Stand Up…The Sequel” I examine two brothers, Jamal and Salim Malik, from “Slumdog Millionaire”. The test was to ascertain which of them might be an authentic hero.
When observing Jamal, it’s obvious. He’s kind, generous, loving, forgiving, loyal, faithful, hardworking and always makes the right choices. Furthermore, it seems to come naturally for him. He makes it all look so easy.
But does his ease negate his journey or make him less of a hero?
Absolutely not!
Jamal is the hero’s hero.
Then what about Salim?
Is he never to be a hero though he’s been courageous, resourceful, protective and…two more VERY big things…but you have to keep reading to find out!
We despise Salim for his evil acts, of which there are many. And yet, he kills the three most dangerous characters in “Slumdog Millionaire”. In doing so he saves lives.
Is he a hero for killing the bad guys or is he a bad guy because he killed at all?
And what about all the praying Salim does?
I know there are those of you out there who don’t remember the scenes in “Slumdog Millionaire” wherein Salim stops to pray. I know this because one of the people I saw the movie with argued about it strongly with me. She did not see this at all even though both myself and our other friend remembered the scenes vividly.
By the time we finished, it was concluded she simply blocked the information from her consciousness because she hated his character. She saw nothing but the atrocities and had no faith that he may turn a moral corner.
My friend didn’t even hope that he would.
Her disdain for Salim obliterated any love whatsoever.
Remember, the journey is as important as the destination.
If, for even the briefest of moments, the villain comes out of the darkness long enough to make a connection with spirit or God then we must have faith in them, hope for them and love them.
That is our hero’s quest.
So, what, then, is the other thing Salim did which might make us change our opinion of him?
Earlier, I reminded you that, for all Salim’s reprehensible acts, he did kill the three most dangerous characters in “Slumdog Millionaire”.
Maman and Javed (two rival gangsters) were, both, shot and killed by Salim. Who was the third?
While Jamal is on his way to winning millions of rupees by answering the final questions on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”, Salim tells Latika to go to Jamal and helps her escape.
Then he positions himself in a bathtub filled with money and waits for the inevitable.
When the door to the bathroom bursts open Salim shoots and kills Javed.
Javed’s henchmen open fire on Salim and the third most dangerous character in the movie is killed as sure as by his own hand.
Salim sacrificed his own life for Jamal and Latika. So they might be happy. So he might be redeemed.
In my post “The Hero’s Journey” I write;
“If, at the beginning of each day, you are willing to continue on with your journey…to strive one more time to be successful in the completion of your Quest…even if you failed the day, the hour or even the minute before…you, my friend ARE a HERO“.
No matter that he stumbled and fell over and over again, Salim did what most of us could never do.
He gave his life for another’s.
And for that, I know Salim Malik to be a REAL hero.
