Johnson Thomas
A gently persuasive romcom
Film: A Nice Indian Boy
Cast: Karan Soni, Jonathan Groff, Sunita Mani, Zarna Garg, Harish Patel
Director: Roshan Sethi
Rating: * * * 1/2
Runtime: 96 m
‘A Nice Indian Boy,’ based on a play by Madhuri Shekar and directed by Roshan Sethi, is a romcom that ekes out genuine sentiment, while delineating a gay love story between an introverted American Indian and a extroverted white man adopted by Indian parents. Karan Soni who became known for being Deadpool’s regular taxi driver plays Naveen, a doctor who hesitates to take the first step in a relationship for fear that his parents would disapprove. He is conflicted and inarticulate and needs to be nudged into expressing himself. His first meeting with Jay (Jonathan Groff), his polar opposite in personality, a queer freelance photographer, happens in a Ganesh temple. The next time they meet is when Jay is appointed the official staff photographer for the hospital. It takes a while for Naveen to warm up but eventually they click and end up in a live-in.
Jay’s adoptive parents, the Kondurkars, now deceased, were Indian and so he has a sympathetic cultural background; his favourite film, as is Naveen’s, is Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) and he has a working knowledge of Hindi. So the cultural differences are minimal. It’s Naveen’s conflicted parents that become the problem when it’s time for them to express their wishes to get married. Naveen’s mother Megha (Zarna Garg) is well-meaning but a little overbearing, while his father Archit (Harish Patel) still finds it difficult to fully accept having fathered a Gay son. Naveen’s sister Arundhati (Sunita Mani), who had to go through an arranged marriage is also having relationship issues and is vexed when her parents seem to go out of the way to accept her brother’s choice when they were unwilling to do the same for her.
The film is divided into five neatly assembled chapters. The writing is crisp and to the point. Eric Randall’s script, adapted from Madhuri Shekar’s play of the same name, is both heartening and comedic. The romance plays out with genuine affectation. Naveen’s awkwardness, Jay’s acceptance of that, the gentle nudging from friends that get their relationship going, the differences in each one’s approach, the way they evolve into being a couple and the final reckoning, play out with a sincerity and authenticity that is hard to find. The journey to their joyous marriage feels legitimate and credible. It is also deeply affecting. Each of the characters are developed well enough to make them count.
The riff on DDLJ is charming. The references to Indian pop-culture doesn’t come across as forced. Like in DDLJ the groom wants the acceptance of Naveen’s family. When Jay bursts into song in public singing ‘Tujhe Dekha tho yeh Jaana Sanam,’ the socially awkward Naveen is embarassed but secretly likes the fact that DDLJ is their meeting ground. As their romance progresses, Naveen starts opening up but when it counts he is still found wanting. Naveen gradually develops the courage to acknowledge his desires and convince his parents about the suitability of his choice. Their romance evolves at a natural pace. Nothing is rushed. The narrative showcases the family learning how to appreciate each other, accept the inevitable and gradually renew their bonding with each other.
Jonathan Groff is easy on the eye and eases into the role of the gay charmer splendidly. Karan Soni’s journey as Naveen is much more deeper and heartfelt. As the overbearing mother Garg basically mirrors her own comedy style. Patel and Mani also leave a strong impact in their brief but luminous roles. Director Roshan Sethi handles things with innate sensitivity and grace, allowing tender moments to resonate while keeping the narrative moving at a brisk pace.
A Nice Indian Boy is a bewitching mix of comedy and deeply felt romance. The subtle and nuanced nature of the romance enriches the experience. It portrays relationships with empathy and compassion. The Director skillfully threads through challenges that cultural differences throw up, conflicting world views and the yawning gap between generations. The film celebrates love and shows us that it has a way of balancing everything out. It is both profoundly illuminating, insightful and charming. It’s certainly among the best Asian based movie one has seen in a long time.
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