--- title: "The White Tiger: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-white-tiger/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-white-tiger" critics_score: 73 critics_reviews: 21 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The White Tiger (2021): what the critics said Critics' score 73 from 21 reviews: 16 positive, 5 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics find The White Tiger an absorbing, angry satire of class and inequality, with 16 positive reviews and five mixed responses. Praise centres on Adarsh Gourav, whose performance gives Balram charm, calculation and moral complexity without making him easy to like. The reviews also value the film’s depiction of enforced obedience and the psychological hold of servitude. Cinematography, music and the energy of the storytelling draw praise, though agreement on the pace is less secure. Reservations cluster around a meandering middle, explanatory narration and closing passages that some find rushed or less forceful. The spread runs from enthusiastic approval to disappointment, with no wholly negative verdicts. The AV Club finds the adaptation too dutiful and emotionally distant, despite its sharp observations of condescending employers. Paste is the least persuaded, finding both satire and drama muddled, while still crediting the camerawork and the soundtrack’s expression of Balram’s ambition. ## The i Paper — Francesca Steele Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 21 January 2021. The critic finds the adaptation vibrant, propulsive and morally complex, praising its sharp examination of inequality and corrupt politics. Adarsh Gourav’s kinetic, darkly comic performance is singled out as the film’s standout. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/the-white-tiger-review-a-vibrant-propulsive-and-morally-complex-adaptation-839199) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 4/5. 20 January 2021. O’Sullivan finds the film angry, smart and dark, and says Bahrani is back on form. She praises Gourav’s nuanced lead performance and the poetic cinematography, though the middle section is overly knotty. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/netflix-the-white-tiger-review-b700369.html) ## Radio Times — Stephen Applebaum Rating 4/5. The critic finds the film an incendiary, provocative satire that burns with anger. They praise Adarsh Gourav’s intriguing, multifaceted performance at the center of its rags-to-riches story. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-y864es/the-white-tiger/) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 4/5. 20 January 2021. The review presents the film as an energetic portrait of modern India that stands apart from ‘Slumdog’ comparisons. It praises the film’s rich, vivid tapestry of contemporary India. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-white-tiger) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 January 2021. Ebiri finds the adaptation increasingly powerful, with a style that shifts from energetic to grim as Balram’s story darkens. He especially praises Adarsh Gourav’s performance, which makes Balram both cherubic and deadly. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/film-review-netflixs-the-white-tiger-with-priyanka-chopra.html) ## Empire — Hanna Flint Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 18 January 2021. Flint finds the film a timely, kinetic and textured satire of caste and inequality, anchored by an immensely watchable lead performance. She particularly praises its sharp framing, music and pace for bringing its world vividly to life. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-white-tiger/) ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Rating B. 5 January 2021. Ehrlich finds the adaptation forceful and compelling, though its late stretch loses momentum and softens the story’s ugliest implications. He particularly praises Adarsh Gourav’s shifty, absorbing performance as Balram. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-white-tiger-review-netflix-1234607623/) ## RogerEbert.com — Sheila O'Malley Rating 3/4. 13 January 2021. O'Malley finds the film engaging but imperfect. She particularly praises Adarsh Gourav's performance as Balram. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-white-tiger-movie-review-2021) ## Slant Magazine — Chris Barsanti Rating 3/4. 6 January 2021. The critic finds the film an audacious, class-conscious melodrama whose directness and contempt for the ruling class make it compelling. He especially praises its sharp narration and the chilling sequence explaining why the poor rarely resist. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-white-tiger-review-ramin-bahrani/) ## The Guardian — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 23 January 2021. Wendy Ide finds the adaptation gripping and compulsively watchable, despite its hard, cynical approach. She praises the skittish cinematography for adding texture and depth to the characters. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jan/23/the-white-tiger-review-ramin-bahrani-aravind-adiga) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 January 2021. The review finds the film engaging despite its overlong, meandering middle and overstuffed story. It singles out the magnetic performances, especially Adarsh Gourav’s charming, cunning lead, for praise. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-white-tiger-film-review-4109715/) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 January 2021. The critic finds the film absorbing and engaging, while noting that its rags-to-riches arc ultimately feels more symbolic than convincing. He especially praises Adarsh Gourav’s quietly charismatic performance and the film’s depiction of servitude’s psychological grip. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/the-white-tiger-review-ramin-bahrani-priyanka-chopra-1234875962/) ## Sight and Sound Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 22 January 2021. The review finds the film an immersive, sharply cynical social satire, though its framing device and pacing weaken it. It particularly praises Adarsh Gourav’s vivid performance as Balram. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/white-tiger-ramin-bahrani-satire-indian-caste-system-aravind-adiga-adaptation) ## Screen Daily — Fionnuala Halligan Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 5 January 2021. The review’s verdict is unavailable in the visible page text. No specific praise or complaint can be identified from the accessible excerpt. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-white-tiger-review/5156001.article) ## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger Rating C+. 12 January 2021. Hassenger finds the adaptation competent but overly dutiful, calling it more yesterday than tomorrow. He praises its sharp observations of the employers’ condescending kindness, while faulting its distant tone and explanatory narration. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-white-tiger-plays-like-netflix-prestige-cliffsnotes-1846040116) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 21 January 2021. Chang finds the film engrossing and entertaining, but says its dark cynicism and truncated closing passages keep it from fully sustaining its story. He particularly praises Adarsh Gourav’s dexterous performance, which conveys both Balram’s sincerity and his sly calculation. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-01-21/the-white-tiger-review-netflix-ramin-bahrani) ## NME Rating ★★★★. 21 January 2021. The review finds the film gripping and an effective spotlight on India’s class system. It particularly praises Adarsh Gourav’s breakout performance, which keeps Balram compelling despite his sharp shifts in character. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/the-white-tiger-review-netflix-2863023) ## Consequence — Lauren Coates Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 22 January 2021. The critic finds the film an artfully crafted, thematically sharp story of ambition and greed, though its pacing blunts its impact. Adarsh Gourav’s performance is singled out for bringing intensity and moral ambiguity to Balram. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2021/01/film-review-the-white-tiger/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 22 January 2021. The critic finds the film a caustic, audacious satire that applauds Balram’s determination rather than moralizing about his extreme choices. Adarsh Gourav’s empathetic, charismatic performance is singled out for making Balram’s struggle compelling. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-white-tiger-film-review-ramin-bahrani-priyanka-chopra-jonas/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 January 2021. Wilkinson finds the film a compelling account of Balram’s escape from poverty, while noting that the screenplay is baggy in places. She particularly praises Adarsh Gourav’s portrayal of Balram’s struggle against a lifetime of enforced obedience. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-white-tiger-2021-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## Paste — Jacob Oller Rating 6.1. 5 January 2021. Oller finds the adaptation muddled and ultimately unfulfilling as both satire and drama. He praises its solid camerawork and singles out the rap-filled soundtrack as an especially effective reflection of Balram’s ambition. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/netflix/the-white-tiger-review) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-white-tiger.md