[tps_footer]India is so varied it is difficult to emcompass its nature in one single film. One can only delve with a single aspect while many others wait to be found. No wonder even Hollywood decided to have a bit of Indianess in their films. In fact, they sometimes managed to depict an India we have long forgotten. Here is a list of five Indian themed films that inspired everyone.
Monsoon Wedding
Weddings in India have always amazed Hollywood. The humungous preparations, unsolicited cash flow and much masti have often left them wide-eyed. It seems Mira Nair felt the need to show the reality behind this glittering event of our lives. So you have a bride with a secret, a hassled father, a hyperactive event planner and scores of relatives coming together for something they aren’t sure about. It had everything romance, comedy and action.
City Of Joy
How joyful is the City of Joy, Kolkata (Then Calcutta)? Ask Hazari Pal and he will tell you in this true-to-life story of a farmer whose land is snatched away from him. It might come across as yet another tragic story of a villager trying to provide for his family by shifting to a city but it was more. With Patrick Swayze and Om Puri in the cast, City Of Joy was a film par excellence.
A Passage To India
Partition didn’t only divide India and Pakistan geographically but drew a permanent wedge amongst the people residing in both the countries which has turned into a legacy now. Elucidating the turmoils and travails of people during the bloody partition, A Passage To India was factual tale of what happened then. Written and directed by David Lean, the film was perfectly executed, keeping intact the emotion related to Partition. The brilliant acting comes from Judy Davis, Victor Banerjee, Peggy Ashcroft and James Fox in the key roles.
East Is East
This film can perfectly be called a mirror to those who move to England for better prospects but are hellbent on not leaving their staunch Indian values. Om Puri plays the part of the protagonist married to a white woman yet imposing Indian traditions on his kids to the hilt. They say, once an Indian always an Indian and we can’t stop being so anywhere. It puts forth the double standards that we clutch to dearly when on foreign shores.
Namesake
Blending in is a problem we face even in India. When abroad, it only gets worse. Jhumpa Lahiri’s award winning novel Namesake spoke about the same and Mira Nair beautifully depicted in the big screen. But the clincher was getting Irrfan Khan and Tabu to play the roles of parents in the film. It is nothing less than a delight to watch the film. [/tps_footer]
