This is a movie of considerable merit, though its script and tendency toward emotional manipulation are noticeable drawbacks. For me, the film’s strengths and weaknesses are quite clear-cut. What works in its favor is that it's rooted in a true story and appears to remain largely faithful to actual events. However, it suffers from relying heavily on appeals to emotion, seemingly trying to force viewers into an emotional response. It's not particularly enjoyable having to watch something that almost demands you keep tissues handy throughout. The narrative follows the experiences of a young Indian boy who enjoys playing with his brother near train tracks. Tragically, circumstances lead to Saroo – as he’s called – becoming trapped on a departing train, separating him from his family. Lost and unable to reconnect, he ends up in an orphanage where he's adopted by an Australian couple and raised in comfort. Despite this, he never forgets his mother and eventually decides to return to India to find her. Following the success of “Slumdog Millionaire,” Western cinema seems more receptive to what works well in Bollywood productions. While not Indian itself, this film features actors of Indian descent and has been generally well-received, earning positive reviews and strong box office numbers. It achieved considerable success at Australian film awards and won some BAFTA awards, but missed out on Oscars and was completely overlooked by the Golden Globes. It's difficult to understand why Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman – the lead performers – were nominated for Supporting Actor/Actress Oscars; it seems like a possible effort to keep them from competing with frontrunners such as Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, and Casey Affleck. Ultimately, this film was among those that didn’t win at the Academy Awards. Dev Patel delivers a strong performance, further establishing himself as an international star and securing his place in American cinema if he chooses. He doesn't appear until roughly halfway through, given the story begins with his character’s childhood, but he confidently embraced his role with charisma and talent. Nicole Kidman also provides a well-executed performance. David Wenham and Rooney Mara did what they could with characters that felt somewhat underdeveloped. One of the film's issues lies in its structure: it's essentially divided into two distinct sections – one focusing on the character’s childhood, and the other depicting his adult search for his mother. These halves feel quite different from each other. I won't declare which is superior; that’s a matter of personal preference and says more about the viewer than the film itself. However, I personally found the second half more engaging, even if it felt less cohesive than the first, which was more solid but also more melodramatic. Credit must be given to young Sunny Pawar, whose impressive performance elevates a portion of the film that would otherwise be considerably weaker. Technically, the cinematography is exceptional – clean, sharp, beautifully framed, and featuring vibrant colors. The sets, costumes, and careful selection of filming locations all contribute to a visually appealing experience, particularly noticeable at the beginning of the movie. The soundtrack and sound effects are well-integrated, adding subtle touches of quality.

Source on TMDB