I Don?t know what bit Gurinder Chadda to feel that Bride & Prejudice is a movie that would appeal to the International Audiences. Ha ! It barely appeals to the National audiences in the first place. How can GC come up with this jerk of a movie after a Bend it like Beckham. Its sad to see this coming out of the Gurinder Chadda factory.
Well, I saw the Balle Balle, Amritsar to LA version of this movie. And although it was a DVD, it had quality worse than a video, forcing me to presume that the DVD was but a pirated copy of the Movie.
Story is that of a mother with four mentally retarded daughters. Obviously she is trying to get rid of all of them by marrying them off. And coming to that, she has eyes only for rich Indian NRI?s to set her daughters with. And keeps running around places, looking for the ?Dulhas?.
Right from the first frame it is very clear that this is a Aishwarya Rai movie. She is actually the Hero of this movie, Unless you want to call Martin, who has a perpetual confused & what-the-hell-am-I-doing-here look through the movie (mind you the look continues even while he is in London & LA, therefore I feel it has nothing to do with the acting bit).
However Aish couldn?t make much of this opportunity. Her acting was merely an extension of what she was doing in Kyun ho gaya naa (which was itself pathetic in the first place). She looked good (Dandiya saree was very cheap though & her hair too limp in a few places). When she was angry she rolled her eyes. When distressed she rolled her eyes, when just talking rolled her eyes. When happy rolled her eyes & giggled & put her hands together for a clap like a school girl.
At one point in time I abandoned the movie & started counting the innumerous rolls of eyes. This was a character of a strong-willed, intelligent, beautiful young woman. What we got instead is a dumb, beautiful, girl-woman. Khair, Aish you are such a disappointment, but at least you are consistent, you never ever have failed till date to disappoint me. After seeing so many of your movies I feel now you should give up.
Nadira Babbar is good as a greedy mom. She looks her part of the greedy, NRI hunting mommy. Anupam Kher was not even required in the movie. Of the sisters Namrata was either sick when the movie was shot or she was deliberately de-glamorized. She was so dull looking & lifeless thru the movie. The other 2 are, well, unmentionables. They-who-must-not-be-named. Cobra dance performed by one of them was in really bad taste. GC said it was a tribute to Sridevi. Well I feel they had some Khandaani dushmani to have offered such tribute.
Martin Henderson, felt relieved at the end of the movie, so much that he took up dhol playing to show his appreciation. The NRI bhai behen were boring. Very clichéd. Mr. Kohli did some good comedy. His streches on terrace/balcony were funny. But I thing the best comedian of the movie was Sonali Kulkarni. Watch her dance man ! she is absolutely hilarious.
Songs again are boring. Not one worth mentioning. What exactly was GC trying to do ? She made something which is like Dhobi ka Kutta. Na ghar ka Na ghat ka. Spending even $2 on the DVD was a complete waste.