The White Tiger

Drama. Based on Aravind Adiga’s Booker-prize winning 2008 novel, this is the rags-to-riches story of Balram Halwai (Adarsh Gourav), who grows up in poverty but shows academic promise, earning him the nickname “white tiger” – a rare beast.

When he hears rumours that a wealthy landowner is looking for a chauffeur, Balram borrows money from his grandmother to take driving lessons. He gets the job as chauffeur to the landlord’s youngest son, Ashok (Rajkummar Rao), and his wife, Pinky (Quantico’s Priyanka Chopra Jonas), who’ve just returned from America.

Ashok and Pinky are the only members of the family who don’t abuse Balram. In fact, they sometimes even defend him – leading Balram to worship them. But after an evening out, he’s disillusioned as he realises the lengths to which they’ll go to save their own skins. He rebels against India’s caste system and eventually becomes a boss too – but on his terms.

Though Rao and Chopra Jonas are big Bollywood names, it’s Gourav who’s the star, and there are already predictions that Hollywood will come calling soon.

The White Tiger is an exploration of Hollywood and Bollywood stereotypes of life in modern India, as well as India’s deeply unequal caste system.

The film shines a spotlight on how the upper class treats the lowers classes – and it’s not a pretty picture. It’s a spellbinding movie that will force you to think more deeply about the issues it raises.

But don’t expect something similar to the uplifting Slumdog Millionaire (2008) – this is quite the opposite. – LARA ATSON 2021. 127 MIN. 16LPV.