nana_top
"My father, I leave the palace of your love to become a stranger to you forever." This is a quote from a Punjabi song, which is sung in the movie "Monsoon Wedding". It expresses a daughter's feelings, before she marries into a new family. The feeling of not knowing what the future might show and uncertainty, are common feelings of a girl, who soon will be the bride in an arranged marriage. At the same time, she might feel, that she will become a stranger to her own family, because she will belong to her husband and in-laws after the wedding. These are some of Aditi Verma's feelings.Monsoon Wedding is a touching, romantic comedy film starring Nassaruddin Shah as Lalit Verma, Vasundhara Das as Aditi Verma, Shefali Shetty as Ria Verma, Parvin Dabas as Hermant Rai and Vijay Raaz as P.K. Dubey. The movie is from 2001 and it's directed by Mira Nair, a successful Indian film director, and the first female recipient of the Golden Lion Award at Venice Film Festival. Monsoon Wedding is a movie, which tells the story about Lalit Verma, a family man, that try his best, to organize the perfect wedding for his daughter. His daughter, Aditi Verma, can't let go of an old flame, her already married ex-boss, whom she still has an affair with. Still, she accepts her father's offer to make an arranged marriage with Hermant Rai, an Indian man, who lives in Texas. Aditi does not tell her soon-to-be husband anything about her relationship. Soon she is placed in a risky situation, where the family's reputation is at stake. But this is not the only story. The film is also portrays some other stories, that take place in the busy time of the wedding preparations. Underneath the cheerful atmosphere of the big event something disturbing and unacceptable has happened between Ria Verma, the bride's cousin, and Lalit's brother in law. Ria fears to ruin the families' good relation. She is then forced to keep a big secret from the family. Love is the dominant theme in this movie, as the story is mainly based on the wedding, and the relationships Aditi has. Family matters is also an important theme, as we are introduced to all the family members in this enormous family gathering. We hear about the various conflicts, that occur in the family, and what consequences they might bring. The family roles in the Indian society are quite clear in this movie. The younger family members show a lot of respect to the elderly, which is considered as an important courtesy in India. Aditi is forced to live her life, the way her father wishes it like, as it will be shameful for her father and the family, if she chooses not to. "Monsoon Wedding" is set in the modern India, which creates a clash between the still existing traditional way of thinking and the modern westernized culture. Aditi's father is very fond of the old traditional way of doing things. He is so hostile when it comes to modern things, that he even refuses to get a computer. Instead he chose to do all the accounting from the wedding on paper. This is an example, of how some people at that time, were still skeptical about the modern culture. At last, the film is also portraying the class differences in India. The Verma family is extremely wealthy, meanwhile the people in the town are awfully poor. A relationship develops between the Verma family's maid and the wedding planner P.K. Dubey. The viewer is then introduced to a potential relationship between two different economic and social statuses, which might create trouble for both parties.The film is filled with heart-warming, cheerful and humorous moments, but at the same time it portraits serious conflicts and problems, occurring in an Indian society. The music and the colorful scenery from the Indian Punjabi culture, makes the movie eye-catching, artistic and interesting to watch. The good acting by all the actors, makes the viewer empathize with the characters, and their emotions in the movie. The hand-held camera was the element giving the movie the "final touch". As a viewer, you actually feel like you're present at all the events in busy wedding preparation.This is an excellent movie, that makes its audience feel the atmosphere of the Indian culture close up. It's a film worth 9 stars.
akash_sebastian
It cannot be called a true Bollywood movie, but it's a true Indian movie, rich with human elements which can be felt by any person. Tradition vs Modern ways - it's the underlying element knitting the sub-plots together.Mira Nair's romantic dramedy 'Monsoon Wedding' has genuine likability value, filled with colour and energy. All the comedy, love, commentary on social issues, and drama are blended well with the music, dance and celebration. Mrs. Nair knows well how to delicately but gracefully deal with the human elements depicted in the movie. Declan Quinn's cinematography and Mychael Danna's score help us to be a part of the festivities.The characters are brutally real, relateable and charming. The unsure bride-to-be who still hasn't gotten over her past relationship, the completely occupied father-of-the-bride dealing with debts and responsibilities, the bored but committed mother trying to find meaning, the usually bad-tongued wedding planner trying to find love, the unmarried cousin still in pain from her childhood molestation trauma - all these and many such characters just fill the story with brimming honesty. The actors have done a brilliant job.
Aseem
It's surprising how often the ratings belie the movie or vice versa. This movie is an entertaining collection of love stories which deftly cuts across so many barriers,whether they be cultural, social, class or religion. It is funny in a very real and potent way and the character development has been executed to great details in an effortless fashion. That probably is one of the hallmarks of a really gifted director.The story revolves around the preparations of an Indian arranged marriage. The main characters are the bride,her father and a marriage arrangement contractor. All dealing with their own constraints and still trying to give their hopes wings. What is remarkable is that this movie has characters who show courage when they have a lot to lose and win higher rewards like love,trust and self-respect in the process. Kudos to the Monsoon wedding team!
Framescourer
ossia: It Never Rains Put It Pours. This multi-thread wedding romance is a rich feast of culture and drama, fun and tragedy. Even if the thought of a big Indian party as the basis for a film leaves you cold, you can't help but sucked into the stresses and revelations that such an event inevitably churns up.Mira Nair handles the whole melange expertly. The acting is very good - the one performance I was nonplussed by at the beginning, Vijay Raaz's PK Dubey, turns out to be an affecting comic and romantic heart of the film. Beside him is the decorous housemaid of Tillotama Shome, the bride Aditi (glowing Vasundhara Das) and her parents, two actors who I would not be surprised to discover are Indian acting aristocracy, Naseeruddin Shah and Lillete Dubey. Not sure about eating marigolds though. 8/10
