Slumdog Millionaire hero “Bardi” Arfi Lamba to Echorouk: “Poor distribution reduces chances of Algerian cinema”

Indian movie star Arfi Lamba expressed surprise and astonishment because of the absence of Algerian cinema in Asian and American countries, as it is the only Arab country that won the Golden Palm. Hero of Slumdog Millionaire, which won eight Oscars, spoke, in this exclusive interview to Echorouk, about his experience with the British director Danny Boyle; “It is amazing to work with such a director”.

 

• Echorouk: Let us talk about your experience with the British director Danny Boyle in Slumdog Millionaire.
•  
• Arfi Lamba: Slumdog Millionaire is my first work of Cinema. I personally consider it one of the largest film productions in the world. I did not expect to participate in a movie that won more than 64 international awards, especially as it was my first experience before cameras. I was very scared of this experience, but my family and friends encouraged me to do it with the amazing British director Danny Boyle, who opened doors of fame.
•  
• Echorouk: What can you say about Slumdog Millionaire?
•  
• Arfi Lamba: Simply…it is a global movie, because it belongs to the largest business works that address the humans’ spirits and shake them violently. Viewers become very shocked when they watch such a work.
• Echorouk: Bollywood is one of the largest Cinemas in the world, however; its presence was bashful in Cannes International Festival. How could you explain this phenomenon, and do you think Cannes management deliberately excluded Hindi movies?
•  
• Arfi Lamba: Indeed, Hindi participation in Cannes was bashful and limited this year on a certain idea, although participation in many international festivals including American. We also won most of international awards, because Bollywood is one of the largest movie producers. I think that our absence in Cannes was due to the music used by Hindi directors, as many festivals described Hindi movies as commercial, and perhaps the French festival had the same point of view.
•  
• Echorouk: In the other hand, we noticed this year, the intensive presence of Bollywood stars on the red carpet. How could you explain this? In addition, do you think Cannes festival needed such a glamorous presence?
•  
• Arfi Lamba: Laughs… Bollywood stars like Cannes festival and I do not think the festival needed them because any star in the world dreams of walking on Cannes red carpet.
•  
•  
• Echorouk: What are expectations for Bollywood future?
•  
• Arfi Lamba: Bollywood will notice much success due to the importance that moviemakers give to this movement in order to realize large international movies that would compete with Hollywood cinema.
•  
• Echorouk: What do you know about Algerian cinema?
•  

• Arfi Lamba: I really do not hear much about Algerian cinema. I do not know Algerian directors because Hindi market does not give much importance about it. All I know it that it is the only Arab cinema that won Cannes Golden Palm, but I promise I will watch Algerian movies in the future in order to have an idea about it.