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Bride
& Prejudice Review - Is it cos I is Punjabi? 11/10
Where to start
- was it the wedding bhangra scene that did it for me,
or was it the Amritsar bazaar scene, or the fact that
yet again Gurinder Chadha has grasped that Punjabi essence
yet again and portrayed it in its wholesome and natural
way?
As I left the
Odeon West End I thought to myself, is it cos I is Punjabi?
I saw my Mum,
my Aunts, Rang Mahal (a bazaar in Lahore, Pakistan)
in the Amritsar bazaar - with dancing turbaned men -
(yes, many a time has there been a dholak playing on
the opposite side of Dil-e Darwaza with shoulders pumping
- slightly, ever so slightly!). I've never been to the
Indian Punjab - but from what I could see, this could've
easily have been Lahore (the Pakistani Punjab capital).
I saw my cousins
in the dancing competitions at weddings, and the flirting
that goes with it…. Bride and Prejudice related
more to my life than I thought possible in a film. What
I didn't think I was was Kiran, the British Asian sister
of Balraj who seemed to despise all Indian girls from
India.
If my Dad had
still been alive - we would have been transported back
to the Punjab, running the family farm - much like Aishwarya
and her Dad, my Mum would have tried to marry me back
off to a western Asian - as she would've missed London
so much herself… and she would also have complained
about having to look after a farm (coming from a middle
class Lahori family she would!)
Reading this -
I suppose I am completely biased in saying that I loved
the film! Aishwarya acting was still Indian, even though
her fluent English was exceptional, especially when
she showed distaste for something, the raised nose to
an angle says it all. I have to say, I was one of the
people who found Bombay Dreams a little corny, the whole
English dialogue etc but Asian acting - but Bride &
Prejudice was exceptional - no corniness - just right!
Considering this wasn't even the final cut, I was already
planning to buy the DVD.
The story in a
nutshell - arrogant American gorgeous rich (white) boy
comes to India, meets gorgeous arrogant Indian girl,
they don't get on and all go back to their normal lives
- then arrogant Indian girl happens to be popping over
to LA and happens to bump into arrogant rich boy (Darcy)
… finally love blossoms - not over saris and trees,
but helicopters and the grand canyon… oh it's a
tangle web we weave!
There are many
mini stories, comedy and songs to keep one entertained
- I certainly thought the film could be longer (and
this is from someone whose last cinema film was Mohabatein!)
The dialogue,
the setting, the clothes and most importantly the attitude
- just right, almost too accurate for comfort! WATCH
IT, book your cinema tickets NOW don't wait for the
DVD - but put an order down for that as well though!!!!!!
My only complaint
- why wasn't there a cool bhangra dancing scene at the
end?????? Maybe you can make your mind up - is it cos
I is Punjabi??? ;o)
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