Even though The White Tiger wasn’t my first review of 2021, it was the initial film I watched that year. I really didn't have any preconceived notions going in. I hadn’t seen anything from any of the actors or from writer-director Ramin Bahrani before. Because I stick to a “no trailers” policy since 2017, my understanding of the story was practically nonexistent. Still, all of this made me quite excited, honestly. Beginning 2021 with a completely fresh viewing experience is an excellent way to start a year that I hope will be better than the last one – which shouldn’t be too difficult. From the beginning, it's clear that Bahrani intends to use his film as a means of educating viewers about India’s social and political divisions (the caste system) and its economic consequences. The viewer follows Adarsh Gourav’s character, Balram, who is trying to escape outdated traditions and become an entrepreneur. I rarely enjoy films centered on politics, even if they try to use satire. Like religion, these are subjects I've tended to avoid discussing my entire life; there are countless reasons—from corruption to wars—that justify my detachment from them. That said, The White Tiger conveys important messages about poor families (those of a lower caste) who must work under incredibly difficult conditions just to survive, particularly in India. It also explores arranged marriage and the deeply ingrained master-servant relationship. These cultural lessons concerning India’s social, political, and economic structure are by far the most compelling aspect of the screenplay, and Bahrani does a great job of communicating this understanding to the audience in an engaging way. With the help of Paolo Carnera (DP), the story is filmed from ground level, placing viewers directly into the dirty, smelly, impoverished streets of various locations across India, creating a realistic atmosphere. Chad Keith’s production design also plays a vital role in establishing that immersive Indian setting. Despite these positive technical aspects, Bahrani’s script suffers from an excessive number of narrative events that don't effectively develop the protagonist or advance the story, especially after the midpoint. Some sequences feel repetitive and ultimately slow down the film without contributing to the plot. It feels like viewers could easily skip a few minutes here and there without missing anything truly important. Therefore, Bahrani’s movie becomes longer than necessary, impacting viewer attention, which might cause some of the critical messages—particularly the economic one—to get lost. Balram’s narration helps somewhat, but Bahrani could have found a more logical reason for this storytelling choice. In addition to this, it's a film that relies on viewers' existing knowledge about India and their desire to learn more. In my case, The White Tiger didn’t present any surprising information—which doesn’t help with the entertainment value—but its visuals did allow me to connect what I already knew to something tangible. I do want to end on a positive note, though. The cast is fantastic, but Adarsh Gourav deserves the most praise for his first lead role. Balram is a well-written character who will likely resonate with many viewers around the world. Gourav demonstrates a wide range of talent, showing comedic timing and funny expressions, as well as an emotional depth that truly elevated some of the film’s best scenes. The White Tiger uses English and Indian languages to educate viewers about India's sociopolitical and socioeconomic system through Adarsh Gourav’s character, who narrates what is described as the largest email ever about his life. Despite a somewhat unusual premise, Ramin Bahrani delivers an enlightening and interesting story with numerous relevant messages concerning India’s culture and the incredibly difficult lives of much of its population. Gourav gives a brilliant performance (marking his debut in a leading role), enhancing a well-written, relatable character who experiences an unbelievable life story, all set within an immersive production design and excellent cinematography that creates a realistic environment. Unfortunately, this Netflix film is weighed down by a ridiculous number of gradually unimportant events, unnecessarily extending the runtime and harming the overall pacing. Due to its repetitiveness, viewer attention decreases, leading to a situation where some essential lessons are lost in their delivery. Overall, I recommend it to viewers interested in learning more about India or those who have lived there or were born there, but if your knowledge of the country is already substantial, it might not be as entertaining or informative as you would expect. Rating: C+

Source on TMDB