The White Tiger: There is so much to love about this film

Movie Review: The White Tiger (2021) on Netflix

The White Tiger is a sleeper, a great movie with huge potential that's getting little attention. Don't let that stop you from seeing it.

The white tiger is the eager opportunist who knows when to spring into action and make the most of the right moment. Balram Halwai wants to be a white tiger and make something of himself, despite being a young male in his matriarchal family in small-town India. But things aren't panning out, until one day he comes up with a plan to impress a very rich man to become his personal driver. 

Balram packs up his few meager belongings and walks the long distance to the big city and imposes himself on the rich man. It appears to be a hopeless cause, until the man's son appears. He's just returned from America with his new wife and their modern western ideas, and they want to give Balram a chance. So Balram is hired--but, as their number-two driver. 

An eager achiever, Balram connives his way into the number-one spot, pleasing his bosses but also creating adversaries and enemies. His decisions and drive for success threaten to lead to his downfall, while his creativity and eagerness to overcome roadblocks offer to lead to his salvation. But this isn't just about one man's strive to succeed.

India is still a culture intrenched its aged caste system, and that is part of Balram's problem. He was born near the bottom of the system; he strives to rise above it. Those trying to help him can only help so far. It's by sheer determination, and a bit of underhandedness, that he moves beyond it, often at the disadvantage of others. Yet in the end, that's how he ultimately triumphs. Knowing what you come to know watching him struggle, you can't help root for him.

There is so much to love about this film. Its energy, its diverse settings, its characters, its cast, and in many ways, its simple and honest vision. The White Tiger buzzes with enthusiasm, due much to its lead actor, Adarsh Gourav who portrays Balram. And there is plenty of humor in this film to get you past the some of the depressing parts about his poverty and his place in the caste system. 

Likely, The White Tiger isn't for everyone. But it's worth a try. India has a bustling film industry that offers some amazing storytelling, and this is one of them. I rate it A^ for Above Average.