“Slumdog Millionaire”, the British production, partly subtitled and with no stars known in the West, has become a smash hit at the London Film Festival which closed on October 30.

The two-hour comedy drama by Danny Boyle was voted the best by festival audiences. It tells the story of an illiterate Indian youngster who becomes a contestant on a local version of ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’

It stars Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor, splendid as Prem, the TV show’s quiz master. Other famous actor in the film is Irfan Khan, who plays the role of an Inspector.

Shot on location in Mumbai, the film features a British newcomer, Dev Patel, playing the lead role of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai. Jamal happens to be one question away from winning an astounding 20 million rupees on the ‘Millionaire’ show.

The police arrest him on suspicion of cheating to reach thus far on the show. To prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life, adventures and encounters with goons, in the slum where he and his brother grew up. He also talks of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show’s questions.

Jamal returns to answer the final question, with the Inspector and sixty million viewers watching with bated breath!

Based on Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup’s award winning novel Q & A, the film, though considered an unlikely prospect, has already picked up ‘The People Choice Award’ at Toronto Film Festival on Saturday, September 13.