The book chronicles the lives of residents in Annawadi, a slum near the Mumbai airport, offering an intimate portrait of poverty, inequality, and resilience in modern India.

[3] Other prominent figures include Asha, a politically ambitious woman seeking to climb the social ladder by exploiting government programs, and her daughter Manju, who aspires to become Annawadi's first college graduate.

[4] Key events in the narrative include Abdul's arrest and trial, the collapse of Annawadi's sewage lake, and the suicide of a scavenger named Kalu, whose death underscores the precariousness of life in the slum.

[5] Behind the Beautiful Forevers explores several overarching themes: The book vividly portrays extreme poverty in Annawadi, where residents struggle to meet basic needs amid growing wealth disparities in Mumbai.

"[12] The Washington Post commended Boo’s "empathy and precision," calling the book "a tour de force of social justice writing.

Directed by Rufus Norris, the production received positive reviews for its faithful adaptation of Boo's work and its portrayal of the complexities of life in Annawadi.