Runner up - The White Tiger

 If you’re captivated by narratives that delve into the tension between the less privileged and the affluent elite (Parasite, Saltburn, The Talented Mr. Ripley), this film should be at the top of your list. Set against the vibrant backdrop of India, it tells the story of Balram, a resourceful and ambitious young man working as a chauffeur for a wealthy family.

Balram seizes his chance when he overhears that the village’s Godfather-style landlord, nicknamed the Stork, is searching for a second driver for his American-returned son, Ashok. Determined to secure the job, Balram sets his sights on becoming indispensable, fueled by the hope of lifting himself and his family out of poverty.

Based on Aravind Adiga’s Booker Prize-winning novel of the same name, the film draws its strength from a screenplay infused with dark humor. It offers a critique of India’s entrenched caste system while skilfully exploring the far-reaching impacts of globalization on the country's economic, social, political, and cultural fabric.

As Balram ingratiates himself with Ashok and his girlfriend, Pinky, their seemingly cordial relationship begins to unravel. The elite's casual acts of kindness, tinged with condescension, only deepen the divide, highlighting how their very existence feels like an affront to someone like Balram. This simmering tension drives Balram to shed his role as a passive servant and embrace villainy as a means to his ultimate goal: money, respect, and power.

While the plot may tread familiar ground, the movie's exploration of these themes never fails to captivate. The transformation of Balram from an underdog to a morally ambiguous antihero is both riveting and unsettling, forcing viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about privilege, opportunity, and survival.