White Tiger and Slumdog Millionaire

This blog is a part of thinking activity on similarities between The White Tiger and the film Slumdog Millionaire. The film is adoptation of the novel 'Q&A', written by Vikas Swarup.

1. Narrative structure 

The narrative structure in both ,novel and film is same. In the novel Balram saw the poster and remember his past. Same as in movie Jamal have questions on screen in KBC show and for the for the answer he is going to his past. In the film the first scene starts from police station and in novel police are searching for Balram. He narrate the condition that hoe police make mistakes to writing about him. So in both, the situation is working parallel and flashback technical is same.In both poverty , corruption , family , struggle all are presented. Thus narration of novel and film are much similar.

2. Indianness

# Family structure : In both film and novel narration of family life. Balram ' s father and grandmother , cousins all binds him. He have to sacrifice his study for family support. But he breaks the tradition and get freedom by loss of family. Jmal ' s brother slim also departed from him have choose bad way to survive.

#Railway station : train and station narration in both reflects indianness. Balram ' s wanted poster and run away after crime all at the station. Jmal 's quest , love and ending all at the station . Thus station reflects indianness.

#Education system: Balram was not able to complete his education due to poverty. He speaks about education system and how teacher doing corruption. In the film also we can see the real picture of Indian education system.

#Police system: In the novel Balram is doing satire on police system of India. How they are also a followers of rich people and of politician and how they are doing corruption. They make mistake about Balram' s poster . In the movie also the director make satire on it.Another points which are same in both is intuition, two brothers, poetic justice difference between knowledge and understanding etc

3. List of questions asked in the film. If you have to replace or add a few questions, which questions would you like to add. Remember, questions shall be in-tune with the screenplay of the film .

1. Who was the star in the 1973 hit film "Zanzeer"

Ans. Amitabh Bachchan

2. A picture of three lions is seen in the national emblem of India. What is written underneath it?

Ans. The Truth alone triumphs

3. In depiction of God Rama, he is famously holding what in his right hand?

Ans. A bow and arrow

4. The song " Darshan Do Ghanshyam" was written by which famous Indian poet?

Ans. Surdas

5. On the American One Hundred Dollar Bill, there is portrait of which American Statesman?

Ans. Benjamin Franklin

6. Who invented the revolver?

Ans. Samuel Colt

7. Cambridge Circus is in which UK City?

Ans. London

8. Which cricketer has scored the most first class centuries in history?

Ans. Jack Hobbs

9. In Alexander Dumas' book, "The Three Musketeers", two of the musketeers are called Athos and Porthos. What was the name of the third Musketeer?

Ans. Aramis

        All these questions and their answers are connected with the life of Jamal. It shows that how minutely he observed the things and remember it. This all the questions leads him into his past incidents. All the questions are aptly connected with Jamal ' s life. I don't want to add any other question in this.

4. On what grounds can u deconstruct the film with reference to post colonial tools / theories.

   

From postcolonial perspective, the film is very problematic. A westerner, Danny Boyle directed the film, which is not satisfies the Indians. The film described the harsh reality of India, and the white people are so much glad to see it. Because it is their wish that Indians are always remain poor, it is beneficial for them. Director used the reality of India, politics, the real side of police system, child abuse. In the film Latika is the example of that, and how Salim is making fool of foreigners to looting them, which not accepted in the Indian society. So, from the postcolonial perspective the film is very problematic.