Starring: Sophia Ali, Manisha Koirala, Rish Shah, Adil Hussain, Deepti Gupta, Ved Sapru
Distributor: Rialto Films
Runtime: 101 mins. Reviewed in Feb 2022
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc
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Among the groups migrating to the US are Indians who settle in comfortable fashion in a New Jersey neighbourhood. They prosper. But, beneath the success are crises, secrets and lies. A drama with a light touch but also a serious look at life in double standards.
More than probably some reviewer or blogger has said this is a Crazy Wannabe Rich Indians, via New Jersey. Most of the characters, especially those born in India and migrating to the United States have put a great deal of effort into keeping up appearances. So, one of the movie’s underlying themes is secrets and lies. (Just checked, the first blogger on the IMDb made the connection, but was less caught up in the plot – a pity – but more on the gorgeous costumes!)
While the film is an American enterprise, the writer-director and the star have Indian backgrounds. Many of the supporting cast have the same although the mother character Sheila Kapur (Koirala), is from Nepal and Bhairavi Dutta (Gupta) is from Pakistan.
While the title would seem to indicate that this is a ‘foodie’ film, and though there are a number of parties, and some more than passing glances at some of the food being served, it is not a focus of the movie. Rather, this is the story of Alia Kapur (played engagingly by Ali), who is American born, comfortable in American style and culture and respectful of the Indian traditions. However, when she comes home for the summer break from UCLA, she finds the traditions somewhat oppressive. While respectful of her father, she is rather alienated from her snobbish mother who seems to embody the haughtiness of the Indian tradition and preserving appearances.
There is a complication when Alia goes down to the popular Indian supermarket where everybody shops, but the women would not be seen socially with the owners. Alia notices Varun Dutta (Shah), the owner’s son working during the holidays. The love story elements set at once – although, the community has expectations for Alia and the son of a prominent family, Rahul (Sapru). Impulsively, Alia invites the Dutta family to her family’s party.
And, then the plot changes unexpectedly and dramatically, becoming more challenging and satisfying. It means a shift of attention from Alia’s father to her mother, on unmasking, so to speak, revelation of secrets and lies as well as an admirable history of feminism in Delhi in the past decades.
So, not exactly comic. Rather, a delving beyond the appearances, and unmasking of the hypocrisies that the somewhat closed community are determined to preserve. But, unmasking, removing the mask, seeing the real face and the humanity becomes liberating. As it does for Sheila. As it does for Alia.
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