Do you already have your prejudices? Please keep them! Apparently, that's what director Gurinder Chadha wants to say in her second creation- a cute, stereotypical drama- that adheres to all prejudices that Indian have about the goras, and vice versa. Welcome to the era of international matchmaking,blurring of lines between East and West,and also blurring perhaps, the lines of the very novel on which it is based.
Poor Jane Austen! Turning in her grave, bawling that someone has fried her masterpiece,Pride and Prejudice, in desi ghee, and worse, the world seems to be enjoying lapping it up more now than ever before! Although it's hard to find the common thread with the original, the film presents an interesting, althout at many places conventional and run of the mill look at the East West divide.
Lights, camera, story!!
The Bakshi household, headed by Chaman Bakshi (Anupam Kher) and his wife (Nadira Babbar), is blessed with 4 daughters- Lalita (Aishwarya Rai), Jaya (Namrata Shirodkar), Lakhi (Peeya Rai Chaudhari) and the gone-case female whose name I forgot. Much to Mrs. Bakshi's delight, in walks a prospective groom, Balraj, accompanied by American friend and hotel tycoon, William Darcy (Martin Henderson). Somehow, through all the lavish and traditional wedding extravaganza, eyes meet. Jaya blushes at Balraj, Darcy is going weak in the knees for Lalita. With a resounding clank, prejudices are forged. Lalita instantly passes judgment on the stuttering Darcy as typical, arrogant American.
NO WAY! How can heroine hate hero! Furious, Director-Madam transports Jaya, Balraj, and apne hero-heroine to Goa, back to Amritsar, off to London, thence to Los Angeles, back to London, and once again to Amritsar! After several ?I hate yous? and ?I love yous?, the couples (Darcy and Lalita, as well as Jaya and Balraj) are together and happily married? and the Bakshis are shedding dollops of stored-up tears. Fresh? Exciting? If that was all the movie had to offer, GOODNIGHT! But Thank Waaheguru and Jesus for the alsorans and subplots- the life of the tale!
The entire screenplay seems to be tailored to simply facilitate Lalita and Darcy?s getting together ? so what if it takes hopping across three continents? In between, to break the monotony are thrown in many fun bits and sub-plots, and it is in these that the life of the film is contained.
In fact, But the pace is tortoise-like. The first half if extremely slow, though it does pick up in the latter halfI was sleeping within 15 minutes! Editing could have done with some work.
Another note-would you believe that in the film, India is being marketed to international audiences as some product? It is depicted as a land where women go singing in the streets- suddenly Haddeepa! a 101 sardarjis going Balle Balle burst in- as if some Gabbar had threatened them to dance for their lives? and a parade of eunuchs cavorting in front of flower sellers. All the exuberance, all the colour, put up on a display case for viewing by phorens! The screenplay seems to be trying to show the world is what India?s all about, presenting us to them, the way they know us to be.
I bet the Brits ahad a wonderful time watching exotic Indian Bhangra nd dances- but to Indians, it'll be an overdose! India?s identity is blown way out of proportion- it?s been made to look like a circus- the land of weddings and turbanned snake charmers !
That reminds me (God knows how)... On the positive side there?s a bit of innovation- lots of it! For example,
1) The literal translation of Hindi numbers into English is hilarious.
2) The crazy ?Kohli? who laughs like, and is, a donkey.
3) Against convention, it's a man and not a woman who emerges out of the sea.
4)Johnny Wickham?s past and Lakhi?s chirping about provide quite a bit of entertainment.
5) Even photography of the Golden Temple, London?s cityscape and Los Angeles? streets is exotically done.
6) Though there are far too many songs, 'No Life Without Wife',and 'Take me to Love' are memorable.
The crown, however, goes to (if she pauses to receive it) the twirling Meghna Kothaare (the gonecase female, remember?) Her snake dance is the piece de resistance if the film- prepare to roll on the floor like her when you see it!
But despite all this mirch-masala, you need inspiring cast performances to carry of a movie of this scope with panache. Please do not believe all the blasting Aishwarya has received for her performance. Forgive me if I've become biased (haay haay she was lookin so prettyyyy) but she did present her role to her fullest ability. The suave Martin Henderson as Darcy too, plays his role of the underplayed millionaire to perfection. Namrata Shirodkar, the other sisters, and Darcy's mother did a good job. The icing on the cake, though is Nadira Babbar and Anupam Kher's show. Babbar as the quintessential hatti-kati, plz-marry-meri-beti mom is well chalked out. Though his role is sketchier, Kher too plays the Go-for-it-gals Dad brilliantly. One can't hepl but feel a strong sense of deja vu of these 2 with the parents of Jess in Bend It like Beckham... Nevertheless, on the whole, a good cast, cast into conventional moulds, and casting off the viewers into the story with their e
On the whole this film is basically a crazy Indo-US-fest with a love-story thrown in, and with here-and-theres for support. If you expect another masterpiece like Bend it Like Beckham, you'll be disappointed. Chadha's efforts to engage the viewer do seem half-baked, but only because we enjoying munching on her well cooked up previous recipes. One also wished there were a stronger force that kept the story moving than a late bloomer romance. But either way it's a fun expereince if you head for the cinemas with no expectations (difficult, but possible)
So do I recommend it? I guess I do. Though this fusion-confusion concoction has its long list of drawbacks, it'd be a shame to miss such a pot-pourri. After all where do you get Garbas, Goan dancers, the Arizona Desert, Hindi films in London cinemas, the Golden Temple and about 5 internatonal flights all packed into one? You've got to see Pride and Prejudice Just remember, have no prejudices of your own. Don't expect that Aishwarya will be a bimbo, that the story will be akin to the novel(cause it's fried now), that Gurinder Chadha always presents fresh topics in a new light (except changing Pride to Bride!), and that Los Angeles to Delhi air tickets air will be expensive. Do all this, and I guarantee one hell of an enjoyable and thrilling ride.
So Goodnight, Shubhrathri and take care of yourself!
P.S Are you going to the cinema by air or on elephant back?
