Thinking activity :The White Tiger and Slumdog Millionaire

Thinking activity :The White Tiger and Slumdog Millionaire

This blog is part of my academic activity given by Prof. Dr.Dilip Barad.

Similarities between The White Tigerí and Slumdog Millionaire  : 

   

1) Narrative structure :

    The Novel and the  film has almost similar and parallel structure. Both the works starts with flashback techniques. In the film used one reality show kbc in which  question and answer session going on. All the questions leads Jamal into his past. While in the novel wanted poster used. By using this poster writer talking about his past.

2) Indianness : 

● Train :

Train is also found in both the works. It shows the Indianness in the work. In the film highly used train. It also a symbol of poverty and crowd. In the novel also discrimination of train can be seen.

● Curruption :

Curruption can be found in both works. In the novel talking about Currupt nature of entrepreneur's drivers. How they can earn little extra cash by sell the patrol ,  repair the car from Currupt mechanics , sell the whisky bottles , turn master's car into a freelance taxi. In the film shows Currupt nature of Jamal 's brother. He was Getting more money from tourist. Also thieves  selling the car parts of foreigners. Anchor of KBC show do cheating by telling answer to Jamal.

● Religion :

       Religion is also important element of Novel and film. In the novel described  the darker side of religion by talking about Ganga as Black mud river ,  Hanuman as example of faithful servant ,  Buddhism. Similar in the film shows the Hindu Muslim riot which creates problem in the Area , depiction of Lord Rama, criticism of  Darshan do Ghanshyam song . It shows that on the name of religion people do wrong things. They even not care about humanity. Religion consider more important than Humanity.

●Education system :

Both the protagonist Jamal ( Film) and Balaram ( Novel ) are uneducated. In the novel shows darker and Currupt side of education system : school teachers are stolen lunch  money, Teachers do nothing in the class, Sales uniform of students , No basic facilities in schools : no chair , no duster , no uniform. It shows the darker side of India which is full of thugs and idiots. Similar way because of poverty Jamal could not able to study. Both the protagonist taking knowledge  by observing the people. 

● Darker side of India  ( Poverty ) :

In the film shows Dharavi the  largest slum area of Asia which located in India. Both the works based on the life of poor people's suffering and struggle.  Both the protagonist came  from poverty. Both works criticised poverty as  the darker side of India. Poverty forced them to do wrong things to get rich. 

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

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

   a) Shah Rukh Khan

   b) Salman Khan

   c) Amitabh Bachhan

   d) Ranbir Kapoor

Answer: (c)

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

Answer: (a)

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

Answer: (a)

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

    a) Surdas

    b) Tulsidas

    c) Mira bai

    d) Kabir

Answer: (a)

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

Answer: (c)

6. Who invented the revolver?

    a) Samuel Colt

    b) Bruce Browning

    c) Dan Wesson

    d) James Revolver

Answer: (a)

7. Cambridge Circus is in which UK City?

    a) Oxford

    b) Leeds

    c) Cambridge

    d) London

Answer: (d)

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

    a) Sachin Tendulkar

    b) Ricky Ponting

    c) Michael Slater

    d) Jack Hobbs

Answer: (d)

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

Answer: (a)

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) 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.

The novel and the Film based on darker side of India. The texture of the film and novel little differs from each other. In the novel the protegonist himself currupt  person. He himslef consider as the example of darker side of india while in the film Jamal was very good person he never do any wrong thing in his life.It shows the all the negative side of India and Indian people. In the novel minutely observed and describe the each and every dark part of India. In the novel poetic justice not happened by punishing the Balram. He  killed his master and do many wrong things yet  not caught by police. While in the film poetic justice happened when salim committed suicide at the end and Jamal became popular and rich. Both the work differs from each other on the Bases of  treatment  given to wrong people.

6) How far do you agree with the India  represented in the novel The White Tiger?

   In the novel Aravind  Adiga represent darker side of India. In the novel Curruption can be found . In the novel talking about Currupt nature of entrepreneur's drivers. How they can earn little extra cash by sell the patrol ,  repair the car from Currupt mechanics , sell the whisky bottles , turn master's car into a freelance taxi.  Also thieves  selling the car parts of foreigners. The novel represent Indian  education system. In the novel shows darker and Currupt side of education system : school teachers are stolen lunch  money, Teachers do nothing in the class, Sales uniform of students , No basic facilities in schools : no chair , no duster , no uniform. It shows the darker side of India which is full of thugs and idiots. In novel shows the Darker side of India  ( Poverty ).In the novel shows  on the life of poor people's suffering and struggle. Balram protagonist came  from poverty. The novel criticised poverty as  the darker side of India. Poverty forced him to do wrong things to get rich. In the novel shows the darker side of religion by representation of Hanuman as slave of Ram and Ganga as dark river of India.

7) Do you believe that Balram's story is the archetype of all stories of 'rags to riches'?

 Yes I believe that Balram's story is the archetype of  all stories of rags to riches.  It is realistic novel. The character like Balaram can be found in real world who do many wrong things yet not caught by police. The novel ends with  poetic justice by punishing Balram. In real world poetic justice not happened everytime. The novel shows the reality of life.