In a letter to a Chinese Premier, Ashok, a Bangalore-based entrepreneur, describes his escape from a rural village to the city of his dreams. Unlike most young and vibrant businessmen who are born with a silver spoon in their mouths and are fortunate to run their family-owned enterprises, Ashok's story is different. His is a tale of struggle and sacrifice, of master and slave, of loyalty and treason, and how they are inevitably intertwined.
"White Tiger," directed by Ramin Bahrani, is a gripping crime drama that unveils the stark disparities between the two extreme classes in India. Balram, a young and ambitious teenager from a rural village, lives with his family in a kutcha house. He dreams of escaping the "rooster cage" he was born into and moves to Delhi to work as a driver for an affluent family. Within days, he becomes the personal driver for Ashok, a kind-hearted man in his early thirties who has just returned to India from the U.S. with his wife, Pinky. Unlike the rest of the family, who show him little respect, Ashok and Pinky treat Balram with decency, attempting to forge a genuine connection.
However, the story takes a dark turn when Pinky, returning home from a party, drunkenly snatches the wheel from Balram and accidentally hits a homeless girl who unexpectedly darts in front of their car. Upon learning of the incident, the family conspires to protect Pinky, coercing Balram into taking the blame for the tragedy. Fortunately, no one reports the accident, sparing him from police involvement. Just when Balram believes he can return to his bleak existence, Pinky approaches him with a desperate plea: she wants to leave her husband's family secretly and begs him to take her to the nearest airport at midnight. As Ashok discovers Pinky's sudden departure the next morning, the narrative spirals into a darker and more complex tale.
Following the mistreatment he endured from the family, Balram gradually loses his loyalty and begins to harbor a deep grudge against them. Meanwhile, Ashok, who had previously treated him with kindness, starts behaving erratically after the unexpected separation from his wife, which only fuels Balram's resentment. Despite his growing animosity, Balram suppresses his emotions and diligently fulfills his duties, as it seems to be his only option.
However, when things appear to be improving between them, Ashok quietly decides to find a replacement for Balram without his knowledge. Upon overhearing this plan, Balram's fury boils over, and he resolves to take a drastic action he has never considered before. One rainy night, while driving Ashok for a business meeting, Balram pulls over the car in an abandoned street and viciously stabs his master with the broken neck of a whisky bottle, stealing a bag filled with a substantial amount of money.
He swiftly flees the scene, leaving his dead master behind. After months of hiding in a cramped compartment, Balram finally makes his way to Bangalore, armed with the capital needed to pursue his dream of becoming an entrepreneur. He launches his own cab service, aptly named "White Tiger Cabs," and adopts the name "Ashok" in a twisted homage to his unfaithful boss. Leaving his past behind, Balram embarks on a new life, successfully employing hundreds of people like himself while never facing the consequences of his actions. The film, a visual adaptation of Aravind Adiga's Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name, has undeniably made a significant impact on its viewers by addressing many concealed issues that remain unspoken in society. The director, along with his bold cast, has worked diligently to portray the harsh realities faced by employees in the informal sector and their vulnerabilities within the existing system.
Adharsh Gourav’s portrayal of Balram is a prime example of perfect casting; he showcases his remarkable acting skills alongside a talented ensemble who equally deserve recognition for their compelling performances. However, there are moments when characters switch between Hindi and English, which may leave some viewers feeling disoriented. Additionally, certain dialogues appear to be directly lifted from the book, which could be seen as a minor drawback for the film overall.
Despite these issues, the adaptation is sure to captivate those who haven't read the book, offering a thrilling experience. So, log in to Netflix and immerse yourself in "The White Tiger."
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