This overview was initially printed on March 15, 2024, as part of our SXSW Movie & TV Pageant protection.
There are numerous romantic comedies launched which can be neither romantic or humorous. It’s a tough stability to keep up, with the comedy typically overpowering any real romance, as filmmakers go for flimsy or superficial pairings. I had that on my thoughts after I walked into A Nice Indian Boy, a movie that completely blends romance and comedy and throws in tradition and an entire lot of coronary heart to go together with it. Karan Soni and Hamilton’s Jonathan Groff are pitch-perfect collectively, and the obstacles they face — inner and family-related — are dealt with with care and love.
Directed by Roshan Sethi, who’s working off a screenplay by Eric Randall, A Good Indian Boy has the whole lot you can need from a rom-com: Lead actors with chemistry, touching moments, a plot that isn’t contrived, and household involvement that’s extra genuine than foolish. It follows Naveen (Soni), a health care provider who meets Jay (Groff), a photographer, at an Indian temple. Once they start so far, Naveen is hesitant, nonetheless uncomfortable with the quantity of affection and emotion Jay shows. That is primarily as a result of his dad and mom (Harish Patel and Zarna Garg) know he’s homosexual, however don’t precisely know tips on how to act or be supportive.
A Good Indian Boy’s Household Dynamic Enriches The Story
The movie is break up into 4 chapters that inform Naveen and Jay’s love story, resulting in Jay assembly Naveen’s household. A lot of the battle arises from Naveen’s dad and mom feeling distant from him, whereas Naveen has purposefully created that distance to guard himself from their discomfort. Naveen’s relationship with Jay opens up the doorways of communication and love, leaving Naveen with greater than his earlier assumptions. The household dynamic is well-developed, emotionally deep and deeply humorous on the similar time.
The rom-com brings love and humor to the desk whereas tackling a narrative with tenderness, sporting its coronary heart on its sleeve with out disgrace.
Naveen’s household, together with sister Arundhathi (Sunita Mani), is not merely there to be his help system; they’ve their very own complexities and points to take care of. A Good Indian Boy, which relies on the play by Madhuri Shekar, shouldn’t be about contriving drama for drama’s sake. Somewhat, it’s a layered story that’s true to the characters, with their emotional journeys driving the narrative ahead and making the movie all of the richer for it. The cultural specificity of the movie can be fairly beautiful, grounding the story whereas maintaining it centered, with the supporting characters including which means to the narrative.
Along with Naveen’s relationship together with his household, the romance on the heart of the movie is superbly crafted and will get to the center of its characters. Even the drama Naveen and Jay face helps them develop nearer collectively, particularly as Naveen realizes that his household can’t be averted. Neither the writing nor directing is afraid to get sentimental, and the massive moments are each shifting and infused with some hilarity. A contact of Bollywood, courtesy of the traditional Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, elevates an already exceptional rom-com and reminds us why we love this style to start with.
Karan Soni & Jonathan Groff Are Unbelievable Collectively
After all, a rom-com could be nothing with out the romantic chemistry between its leads, and Soni and Groff ship above and past on that entrance. Groff’s piercing stares are crammed with love and warmth, and he manages to deliver heat and lovely corniness to a job that might have simply been disingenuously tacky. Soni, however, leans into the hesitance and discomfort of his character, although the actor makes certain to showcase the need and love brimming beneath the floor.
It’s with Soni’s character, particularly, that A Good Indian Boy underscores how disgrace and concern can stay in somebody’s physique, at the same time as he tries to struggle it and open up each step of the way in which. In some ways, Naveen’s relationship gave him the house to fall in love with Jay, however with himself, too, particularly as he begins to shed the concern of wanting the very issues he’d closed the door on earlier than. The rom-com is greater than only a romantic love story — it’s additionally one among familial and self-love.
Gorgeously advised, A Good Indian Boy shouldn’t be solely elevated by a incredible solid with nice comedic timing, however by a superb rating and tight storytelling. Its themes are sturdy, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome, fastidiously weaving collectively a multilayered narrative that has strong chapters that come collectively in an emotional ending that left me overwhelmed with its sincerity. All advised, the rom-com brings love and humor to the desk whereas tackling a narrative with tenderness, sporting its coronary heart on its sleeve with out disgrace.
A Good Indian Boy premiered on the 2024 SXSW Movie & TV Pageant and is taking part in in theaters on April 4.
