Star’s performance drives ‘White Tiger’
Netflix movie entertains while taking on India’s caste system
Even as it meanders a bit, even though it can feel unfocused for some of its roughly two-hour runtime, Netflix’s “The White Tiger” is a wild, thought-provoking ride.
Based on the 2008 novel of the same name by Aravind Adiga, this darkly humorous critique of India’s caste system benefits from a strong performance by star Adarsh Gourav.
He portrays Balram Halwai, whose rags-to-riches story will come with some very rough edges — which he suggests in his opening narration. ( This narration comes in the form of a letter to the leader of China, a gimmick that never really works despite a small payoff at the end.)
Balram comes from an extremely poor family in an extremely poor area. He sees the opportunity for a better life by becoming a servant — primarily as a driver — for Ashok (Rajkummar Rao), who has just returned home to his wealthy, corrupt family from New York with his wife, Pinky (Priyanka Chopra-Jonas).
He must get the money for driving lessons from his demanding grandmother and, after obtaining the job, must send most of what he is paid back home to her.
While Ashok’s father can be a monster — he has no problem kicking the obedient Balram when he isn’t completely focused on his leg-rubbing duties — the learned Ashok is kinder and wants to be part of a better, more-modern India. His American-raised wife has yet a greater distaste for how someone like Balram is treated in India and by the family, and she isn’t afraid to say so, sometimes to Ashok’s fright.
The couple generally treats him relatively well, and while he finds reason to be subtly disrespectful to them now and then, he appreciates his role.
That all changes, though, one night after a major event hinted at in the beginning of “The White Tiger.” It will become abundantly clear to Balram how much all those around him ultimately value his life. That is their mistake, however, as he may just be “the white tiger” — a once-ina-generation animal destined to rule the jungle.
A cool little fact about “The White Tiger” is that it’s directed by Ramin Bahrani, a friend of Adiga and whom the author credits with inspiring him to get working on his novel after Bahrani finished his debut feature, 2005’s “Man Push Cart.” Bahrani also adapted the novel for the screen, and in his hands, the tale is engaging and entertaining. It manages a fun dig at “Slumdog Millionaire,” the 2008 British-Indian film that won the Academy Award for best picture in 2009, while offering more contemplative observations.
“Do we loathe our masters
behind a facade of love?” Balram wonders in his narration during a real low point when he is questioning his own nature. ”Or do we love them behind a facade of loathing?”
Yes, the film could be tighter, but expect to become invested in Balram even as you sometimes don’t like him.
That, again, is a credit to Gourav, a newcomer found in a wide-ranging audition process who, Bahrani says, embodied what he imagined for the role upon walking in the room for his read. The actor has a lively presence on screen, and you never want to take your focus off him.
Sure, it’s a bit messy, but “The White Tiger” is well worth uncaging.