The White Tiger & Slumdog Millionaire...

The White Tiger and Slumdog Millionaire

This blog is a part of thinking activity given by my Prof. Dilip Barad

Similarities between The White Tiger and Slumdog Millionaire

The film is adoptation of the novel 'Q&A', written by Vikas Swarup.

Brief information about Slumdog Millionaire.

1) Narrative structure - Wanted Poster # KBC show:-

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 answer he is going to his past.  Flashback technique is used respectively in recalling the past events.

2)  Indianness:-

In the movie and novel the picture of India is presented. Many things in both are same about India.

#Family structure:-

In the novel Balram explain Indian family and their problems, people have dozen of children in India and they all are living together. In movie also there is a picture of Indian family. It present the idea of "वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्".

# 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. Both the protagonist Jamal ( Film) and Balaram ( Novel ) are uneducated.  

#Corruption :-

Corruption can be found in both works. In the novel talking about Currupt nature of entrepreneur's drivers. In the film shows Currupt nature of Jamal 's brother. He was getting more money from tourist.Anchor of KBC show do cheating by telling answer to Jamal.Nowadays Curruption also part of India.This way we see Indianness in these works.

#Poverty:-

The film shows the largest slum area of Asia, called Dharavi. which is located in India. In the film we can find the real condition of poor people who lives on slum area. They have not the basic and necessary things for living the life. Both the works based on the life of poor peoples struggle. Both works criticised poverty as the darker side of India.Both protagonists believes that if you want to become rich you must do wrong things.

3) List of the questions asked in the film 'Slumdog Millionaire'...

Most of the questions are related to his past like he was big fan of Amitabh Bachchan and he was asked about his famous movie Zanzeer, so he was definitely known about that film. As it is he was not learnt from the school but from the life. All twists and turns are helpful to him in every question.

1. Who was the star in the 1973 hit film "Zanzeer"
   a) Shah Rukh Khan
   b) Salman Khan
   c) Amitabh Bachhan
   d) Ranbir Kapoor

*Ans. Amitabh Bachchan

2. A picture of three lions is seen in the national emblem of India. What is written underneath it?
    a) The Truth alone triumphs
    b) Lies alone triumphs
    c) Fashion alone triumphs
    d) Money alone triumphs

*Ans. The Truth alone triumphs

3. In depiction of God Rama, he is famously holding what in his right hand?
    a) A bow and arrow
    b) A sword
    c) A child
    d) A flower

*Ans.  A bow and arrow

4. The song " Darshan Do Ghanshyam" was written by which famous Indian poet?
    a) Surdas
    b) Tulsidas
    c) Mira bai
    d) Kabir

*Ans. Surdas

5. On the American One Hundred Dollar Bill, there is portrait of which American Statesman?
    a) George Washington
    b) Franklin Roosevelt
    c) Benjamin Franklin
    d) Abraham Lincoln

*Ans. Benjamin Franklin

6. Who invented the revolver?
    a) Samuel Colt
    b) Bruce Browning
    c) Dan Wesson
    d) James Revolver

*Ans. Samuel Colt

7. Cambridge Circus is in which UK City?
    a) Oxford
    b) Leeds
    c) Cambridge
    d) London

*Ans. London

8. Which cricketer has scored the most first class centuries in history?
    a) Sachin Tendulkar
    b) Ricky Ponting
    c) Michael Slater
    d) Jack Hobbs

*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?
    a) Aramis
    b) Cardinal Richetieu
    c) D' Artagnan
    d) Planchet

*Ans. Aramis

4)Deconstruction of film from post colonial perspective...

The Slumdog millionaire can be seen  from post colonial perspective. This film was directed by English director Danny Boyle.

In the film white people portrayed as good and gentle fellow. In India many foreigners came to visit the famous places of India.

In the scene of  the film when the foreign people came to visit Taj Mahal. At that time Salim charged  more money from them , some thief stolen the car parts of foreigners and sold it.

At that time Jamal was suspeced to responsible for this crime. He was  beaten by one Indian and  foreigners shows mercy upon him and gave him some money.

So by this director portrayed white people as good , civilised  sofisticated and humble people. While on the other hand Indian portrayed as Poor, dirty, uncivilised, corrupt, uneducated people. The term it self based on the power dynamics. It shows the superiority of white on the Indian people.

5)Compare with Texture and treatment of subject content in film and novel...

Texture in both narration is about India as corrupt and poor country. Villages, landlords, education all represents the darkness of  India. Slum area and poverty is also reflects it. Rich heritage and spirituality, family/orphans all are texture of both. Both have own ways to achieve goals by good or bad things. So, treatment is light, humorous and sometimes comic and dark.

Thank You...