Mira Nair did an excellent job on this film. The documentary style of filming she did made this something much more personal. That is much of its charm, and that is why the film is close to my heart. I have been to Delhi enough times to recognize some of the sites, such as Dubey’s neighborhood in Old Delhi. It is also close to my heart because I clearly remember my ordeal of an Indian wedding. The shopping, the relatives, and the ceremonies…it makes one tired just like Aditi(the bride)says in the film. I, too, could also only think of sleep.
The story is about a Hindu-Punjabi family living in New Delhi, who are preparing for a wedding. However, it is not so simple. That is just one facet of the story. Aditi is getting married to this “hot” guy who is an engineer in USA, but who studied at IIT. Then there are Aditi’s parents who are struggling to afford the wedding and make it look perfect at the same time. There is unmarried cousin Riah, and Aditi’s younger brother who wants to be(gasp!)a chef. You have the wedding planner, PK Dubey, with his cell phone and business cards, slapping his employees around. There are the relatives from overseas(USA, Australia, Middle East…). There is so much going on in this film all at the same time. True wedding chaos. You have to see the film for yourself, as I do not wish to give away the plot.
At the end of the film, I was in such a good mood, and so were the scores of people in the theater with me. Besides the superficial point if a wedding and a happy ending there are smaller side plots. Mira did a great job with the different relatives coming from other countries. Yes, they are always Indian, but there are subtle differences in their personalities and the upbringing of the children. I also liked the pairing of a Hindu guy marrying a Christian girl at the end. This film is just a small window into a middle class Delhi family.
The acting was very good. Nasseruddin Shah was the anchor. I adore him in any film. The rest of the cast has cameos from various Indian film actors as well as some new faces to make for some interesting chemistry.
I just want the readers who are not from India to realize, these are Punjabis. They are a bit more boisterous than people from other Indian states. Not all Indian weddings are the same, but the chaos is. My husband and I are both Muslim, so we had to do the Nikah before the wedding ceremony. Also, his family is a bit more subdued. No big dancing like with Punjabis. It was interesting none the less. Kudos to Mira making a film that anyone can relate to. Weddings are nuts!