White Tiger: First Impressions of the Movie

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 There's a line in this film where Priyanka Chopra, an NRI, is describing how unimportant her husband, Rajkumar Rao, is to his own family. She says, "You are unnecessary to them, like skimmed milk." That's a very apt description of Rajkumar Rao's performance, his role, and the insipid nature of the NRI hypocrisy that he displays. He and his simpering wife, Priyanka Chopra. 

Rajkumar's and Priyanka's roles essay precisely what I dislike about NRIs, especially those living in the US...the high-handedness they display when encountering social inequities - all in the garb of 'discussion' - but take advantage of the system when it suits them. Why the hell was she driving when she was drunk? And that other coward who looks away and doesn't make eye contact with his driver when the story takes a turn for the worse. Maybe these people behave that way because of what they are called 'Non-resident Indians'. Maybe it would be better to just call them Americans. Maybe then their behavior would be palatable. I mean, if you call someone 'Non-resident Indian', what kind of self-worth would that person have anyway? Their entire identity is what they are not. They are not.Indian. Idiots. 

I realize I am sounding harsh. It could be the effect of the movie. Not all American NRIs are condescending. (Very tough to meet one, though.) I didn't like White Tiger as much as everyone else. (It could be because of the strange, uneven accept of Rao and some areas that felt too contrived.) But Rao's and Chopra's characters really made me furious. They became the reason a man would break ties from his family, his roots...And not just him, his nephew too. 

So much loss for so little. Felt really bad about that.


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