“The White Tiger” Review

Story posted January 25, 2021 in Arts & Entertainment by Emily McGlynn.

One by one, a rooster is taken by its neck and is slaughtered into many pieces. The other roosters in their coop watch, as they are unable and unwilling to rebel and escape the coop. However, they know if they attempt to break free, they will never be free.

“The White Tiger” is an extraordinary and insightful Netflix movie that was released Friday. Ramin Bahrani, director and screenwriter for this film, took Aravind Adiga’s novel to the big screen. Adiga won the 2008 Man Booker Prize for his debut novel “The White Tiger.” Just 13 years later, it became a movie adaptation.

The analogy mentioned above is a parable synopsis of the film. A man, by the name of Balram Halwai, lives in an impoverished town in modern-day India.

He had a bright mind and had potential to do something with it. After the death of his father, he was forced to work and give up his education to help support his family.

He soon realizes the only way to get back what is his, is to become the richest man in the town’s driver.

The movie follows Balram and his adventures of manipulating the rich and achieving his dreams. Watchers can see what Balram is thinking as well as see what is going on around him with a back-and-forth perspective.

Many talented actors are in this film. Adarsh Gourav plays the witty Balram, Priyanka Chopra plays the awakening Pinky Madam, and Rajikummar Rao is the manipulative master.

You can tell through a screen that these actors put their blood, sweat, and tears into this production. Their passion is noticed and the challenging work payed off.

Recently, few movies like this have been made and it is great to see movies like this getting more exposure. Viewers can watch to see what it is like to rise to the top during the digital age in a third world country.

No one will be bored out of their mind while watching. The film is two hours long, but each scene has intention.
After watching the whole thing, many symbols and foreshadowing's are pieced together and that is what makes the movie so great. The plot slowly falls into your lap.

Like the award winning 2019 film “Parasite,” the majority of the movie is spoken in Hindi. If you do not speak Hindi, subtitles are necessary. The director, Bong Joon-Ho, of “Parasite” said, “once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”

The amazing yet devastating scenery make the film more important. Many problems, not just in India, are presented.

Poverty, revenge, and sexism are the few themes looped together. No matter where you come from or who you are, everyone experiences the similar hardships.

At the end of the day, it is about how you react and heal from those hardships.

This movie was profoundly made, and it is must-see. From the cinematography, to the acting, to the script, this was an excellent and eye-opening experience.

Rating: 5/5 

 

Emily McGlynn is a freshman majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact her, email at esm5378@psu.edu