Thinking Activity : The White Tiger and Slumdog Millionaire

Thinking activity :The White Tiger and Slumdog Millionaire

Similarities between The White Tiger and Slumdog Millionaire :

1) Narrative structure :

    The Novel and the  film has almost similar structure. Both 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.The narrative structure was first person narrative.

2. Indianness

In both narration there is a satire on India , that no basic necessities even fulfilled like , water , electricity , public transportation , discipline or punctuality. Cricket , voting patterns , intuition all reflects 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.

Two brothers : two brothers lost and found is archytype also reflects Indianness in both narration. Slim ' s departure and meeting shows that thing.

Police system : In The White Tiger Balram bribes police and start New business . In Slumdog millionaire also police is corrupted. Thus it reflects Indianness.

Education : Balram and Jmal both were uneducated but still have intelligence and talent to understand the world. They have enough knowledge how  to survive in world.

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

1. Who was the star in the 1973 hit film "Zanzeer"
2. A picture of three lions is seen in the national emblem of India. What is written underneath?
3. In depiction of God Rama, he is famously holding what in his right hand?
4. The song " Darshan Do Ghanshyam" was written by which famous Indian poet?
5. On the American One Hundred Dollar Bill, there is portrait of which American Statesman?
6. Who invented the revolver?
7. Cambridge Circus is in which UK City?
8. Which cricketer has scored the most first class centuries in history ?
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?
   

            All these questions and their answers are connected with the life of Jamal.With the help of these question-answer we get knowlege about Jamal's brain power.He connected all the questions with his life amd get answered.After these questions I also want to add questions about trains because Jamal spend many time surrounded by train.

4. Deconstruction of film from post colonial perspective.

In narration of  the novel we find they treated Indian as very inferior people comparing to them. By showing slim as bad boy , and as chitter with them , then  good reaction of  Americans towards them. That shows their mentality towards India. They visited Indian place it also part of it. By portraying Indian as poor and corrupted they make themselves superior.

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 ....