How does a film garner 10 Oscar nominations despite almost being dropped by Warner Brothers?

A.) a potent newcomer cast

B.) an invigorating, socially conscious storyline

C.) a vibrant setting and soundtrack

D.) all of the above.

Set against the gritty mosaic of India, “Slumdog Millionaire” shines like a rare gem.

Jamal (Dev Patel) is an impoverished teen from Mumbai who is one question away from winning the Indian version of, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” Unwilling to believe a mere street urchin could know all the answers without cheating, the show’s producers have Jamal arrested and tortured.

In a series of flashbacks from the interrogation, we see how Jamal learned the answers to each question while growing up with his brother, Salim, in the slums. Through his tales, the audience becomes privy to a life marred by religious conflict, abject poverty and the social woes of rapid urbanization and industrialization.

In spite of the heavy context, at the heart of the film beats a romance that traverses all obstacles. Jamal goes on the show in order to reach a lost childhood love, a girl named Latika, played in adult form by Freida Pinto.

“Slumdog” writers Simon Beaufoy and Vikas Swarup have crafted a “Great Expectations”-style screenplay broad in its social scope and deft in its execution.

Featuring a virtually unknown cast and filmed half in Hindi, director Danny Boyle (“28 Days Later”) fashions a visual tour de force through attentive use of raw, shaky camera handiwork that matches the chaotic, pulsating locale.

Bolstered by such strong direction, a few nit-picky issues seem trivial. Switching out actors three times to represent different time periods in Jamal, Salim and Latika’s lives is a bit off-putting, especially when the older versions barely resemble the younger selves.

It is a small quibble though, compared to the talent exhibited in each set of child actors.

The emotional brunt of the film is spearheaded by the chemistry between Dev Patel and Freida Pinto. Patel, in his portrayal of an ever-vigilante Romeo, hits very melancholic, lovelorn note with pained finesse. The striking beauty of Pinto is expounded by a haunting vocal theme that accompanies her scenes.

Powered by a lively soundtrack from A.R. Rahman and featuring songs from M.I.A., the film’s fast-paced momentum leaves you gasping for air either from exhilaration or heartbreak.