Welcome to Balle Balle Amritsar where four pretty girls coaxed by their fat old Mom are out in search of Suitable Boys. If they are rich NRI’s it will be like icing-on-the-rasmalai. A well settled Indian Munda isn’t all that undesirable either.
Girls are like a burden and it is better that they are done with. Better sooner than later. Well, madam Chadha your British Asian point-of-view about India as a land of snake charmers where people move around on elephants is completely out-of-place. And condescending, to say the least.
The moment one experiences the huge sound of Anu Malik’s ’inspired’ Dhols and designer ghagra cholis of impish girls, I stop thinking about Jane Austen’s timeless Pride and Prejudice. For me, it is a long-distance marriage between Yash Chopra and Karan Johar. And the over-hyped marriage is crumbling in the beginning itself.
The song-n-dance is ordinary, the narration is listless and one finds no resemblance between the intelligent Elizabeth Bennet and Aishwarya ’Lalitha’ Rai. The beautiful-n-suave Lalitha takes care of her doting dad’s farming accounts. Her mother is a garullous woman who is all out to grab hold of high-class matches for her pretty daughters.
In a friend’s wedding reception, Lalitha meets the American hotel baron William Darcy alongwith his NRI friend Balraj. Elder sister Jaya and Balraj fall for each other, while Darcy tries to strike a conversation with Lalitha.
He never expected her to be smart, self respecting and least of all offensive towards Americans of all people. They are packed off to Goa for a brief vacation where Darcy planned to buy a hotel. The rift grows even further due to Wil Darcy’s prejudices towards India and Indians.
Back in Amritsar, her mom awaits the arrival of Mr. Kohli from LA (Los Angeles), an accountant in need of a ’traditional’ Indian wife. The best part of this movie undoubtedly, Mr. Kohli brings a much delayed smile on your face.
The story moves forward thereafter to London and LA. After few more meetings, the inevitable was bound to happen. And as I came out of the cinema hall, I felt cheated of the money that we spent on buying tickets for a lousy film like this. I don’t mind the Indianisation of an English classic. But what I do mind is gross misrepresentation of Indians. The snake dance, the elephant rides, the sick Indian jokes about water, food etc. is holier than thou.
Aishwarya Rai in her usual arrogant, I-am-better-than-all attitude is a put off. A Kajol would have given a whole new dimension to a role like this. Namrata Shirodkar is ok. Nadira Babbar as the cantankerous mom is fun while Anupam Kher has a real small role.
Martin Henderson is average while Nitin (Mr. Kohli) is a treat. The only saving grace. Anu Malik’s music score is ordinary with No life, without wife the only gem that glitters. Gurinder Chadha is a big disappointment after that eponymous Bend it like Becham.
Bride and Prejudice, wipes off your smile.......