What do we really know about the culture of India?
More often than not, our knowledge does not go beyond the beaches of Goa, yoga, Taj Mahal, curries, and saris. There are also fans of the novel "Shantaram" who have an idea of the mafia culture of Bombay in the 80s. Those who dig a little deeper understand the caste system and varnas, the problem of Hindu nationalists. At the same time, one can learn about the modern and multi-layered culture of India from such a source as cinema. And if earlier Indian films were spiced with dances and stories of beautiful love marriages, then modern films reveal a completely different world in which corruption, caste inequality, and crime reign.
Deep-minded Indian cinema is not a new phenomenon, it is just that earlier such films had fewer viewers and distribution options. They were more expensive to shoot, and India's Central Film Certification Board severely censored controversial scenes. With the advent of streaming services to the country, it became easier for talented directors to find a platform for non-standard cinema and an audience around the world. This is exactly what happened with the "White Tiger".
The film, based on the novel by Booker Prize winner Aravinda Adigi, does not look like the beautiful fairy tale "Slumdog Millionaire", where the hero unexpectedly wins a super game. In "White Tiger" there is no hint of such a random lucky ticket to life. There is an evil satire on modern society and relations in a pair of "master-servant".
Balram, a resident of a small village in the north of the country. One day, a school teacher notices his progress and compares him to a very rare species of white tigers that are born once in a generation. Balram receives a scholarship and studies in a big city, but his grandmother, the head of the family, takes him from school to help with the household. The boy is forced to work in a tea shop to pay off his father's debt to a local landowner.
But the hero does not give up hope of getting out of caste and poverty. He enters the richest family in the area as a driver. Balram becomes the main driver and irreplaceable servant for the youngest son Ashok and his wife Pinky until the tragic event crosses out their life together.
Balram's dark path to success, respect, and dignity is the plot of The White Tiger. In the film, there is no place for dancing on the lawn, but there is room for indignation and despair on the very green grass. You can't expect many decisions from the quiet and smiling protagonist. The viewer very quickly realizes that behind the external humiliation and humility of Balram, there are many contradictions, a sharp mind, and ambition.
In addition, the "White Tiger" in a fascinating format will acquaint with the Indian social structure and life, show portraits, albeit grotesque, of the inhabitants of a small village: the head of the family, servants, and owners, oligarchs, and politicians. Many of the faces that you will see in the film are ordinary Indians, not actors: the director discreetly filmed some scenes on the bustling streets of Delhi with a hand-held camera.
The film is somewhat reminiscent of "Parasite", revealing a monstrous gap between the classes. "India of Darkness" is visually separated from "India of Light" - the rich live in towers and have fun in clubs, while their servants huddle on the floor of gloomy basements, next to cockroaches. Religious intolerance towards Muslims is also shown in the film.
A 2019 poll found that one in two police officers in India believes Muslims are probably "naturally predisposed to crime." During the pandemic, the situation reached the point that some right-wing nationalists from the ruling BJP party accused Muslims of "spreading the infection" and contaminating food with a dangerous virus.
The reaction to the "White Tiger" in India is mixed. Some are happy for the worldwide recognition and Oscar nominations, Bafta. Especially for Indian moviegoers, it is important that the leading actor, whom few knew about, stood on a par with the world's superstars.
Some Indians criticize the film for its "harmful moral message." In their comments indignation sounds: “Is this how we should represent our country to the world? What will they think of India? " “The owners were kind to Balram. Why was he so ungrateful? " The painting allegedly caters to Western audiences and reinforces stereotypes about the class struggle in India.
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