We’ve had quite a run of great films during our multi-monthly screenings in the Main Street Landing Film House this year. But after 11 screenings of nine pretty heavy movies, we’ve heard many of our members asking if, say, a comedy might be a possibility.
Good news. That comedy is here!
A Nice Indian Boy is a warm-hearted romantic comedy centered on young doctor Naveen (Karan Soni) and his search for love. He finds it with Jay (Broadway star Jonathan Groff), a very charming white man who was adopted and raised by Indian parents. But finding love is just half the battle; the other half comes when Naveen brings Jay home to meet his traditional Indian family, and they must contend with accepting his white-orphan-artist boyfriend and helping them plan the Indian wedding of their dreams.
Written by Eric Randall (and based on Madhuri Shekar’s play), A Nice Indian Boy “is all about subverting stereotypes about Indian culture, both within and outside of the community” (IndieWire).
The very real chemistry between Soni (“whose wit and vulnerability make him a natural rom-com lead,” according to the New York Times) and Groff anchors the film, but the supporting cast offers a lot of the laughs, particularly the scene-stealing comedian Zarna Garg as Naveen’s hilarious mother, who dominates every scene she’s in. Hindi film veteran Harish Patel offers gravitas and quiet surprises as Naveen’s father.
The New York Times said, “In this vibrant addition to cinema’s romantic landscape, love isn’t the only winner: cultural understanding and the freedom to choose your own path triumph as well.”