Slumdog Millionaire-Movie vs. Book

 The Bombay Hindu-Muslim riots played no role in the book, as the ethnic or religious heritage of the main character was uncertain. In the book, the character of Jamal is instead named 'Ram Mohammad Thomas'. He was given a Hindu name, Muslim name and Christian name by the village elders in order to maintain the balance between all the religious communities after his mother abandoned him after birth.

 Unlike the movie, Ram does not have a biological brother, but Salim is instead his best friend in the novel. He grows up in an orphanage and his only 'brothers' are his fellow orphans.

 He never knew his mother. Ram is adopted by a Christian priest as a youth, which is where he learns English, and then is nearly molested by a visiting priest.

 The priest scenes were not included in the script for the movie, and the movie does not explain how Jamal learned fluent English.

 Latika is not his childhood friend in the book but rather a prostitute named Nita that Ram falls in love with in a brothel when he's 18.