Allwyn D'Costa
Monsoon Wedding is one of the very very few Indian films for the educated global audience. I had been keeping myself away from watching this film for more than a decade. Thanks to the regular diabetically sweet and intellectually starved Bollywood films. Nevertheless, I am more than glad I finally watched this one.Mira Nair's film presents a voyeuristic view of an ordinary next door type North Indian wedding. The story revolves around not one but many well developed characters brought in together for a wedding on a rainy day invigorating hues of different emotions in the viewer.The film honestly tries to bring out the true dimensions of human relationships in a society where the imperfect things in life are swept under the carpet as if they cease to exist. Along with joy, fun and frolic of a colourful nuptial, the film offers glimpses of issues such as child sexual abuse, homosexuality,incest and infidelity with plausible sensitivity and intelligence.Probably, that is what sets this film apart from any other Indian film. Although India is a minefield of sub-cultures,customs and traditions, I recommend this film to anyone who would really like to have a much fairer comprehension of India and its people.
mpyatetsky
The title of the movie is a refection of the continent of it. The Indian family is getting ready for a big event: the wedding. The marriage is arranged, which is one of the oldest Indian traditions. Still let's not forget that it's going on in modern India and the director is Mira Nair. For me the name of this director is a guarantee that there will be not much simplicity in the movie. After watching only five minutes of this movie I realized that it did not belong in the category of predictable movies. There are quite a few lines which are continuously intertwining together and held my attention till the very end. If I try to go into details I can say that the movie is about a bride who is about to get married but is still in love with a married man, or it's about a father who wants to make a beautiful wedding for his daughter but eventually will find himself torn between the feeling of great debt to one of the members of his family and the fact of revealed child abuse. Another direction of the movie could be about the wedding planer who finally finds someone special for himself. Looking at all these different scenarios made me unable to pinpoint the main one. Also there are many elements of tragedy and comedy going together which makes the movie especially interesting. In addition the movie is beautifully filmed; I liked the action and many colorful elements and details in it. Without any doubt I can say that "Monsoon Wedding" is one of my favorites.
khurram712-1
Apart from a colorful marriage(which every marriage in Indo Pak subcontinent is..and may be more than that).The movie doesn't hold anything else.If you want to see good Indian movie then watch Lagaan or Swades.I guess no one in the West has seen wedding movie like "Hum Apkay hein Kon" who are howling for this movie.Very Good Soundtrack.The additional stories(good ones and thats why i think they should have been given more time) are added and scrapped out just to fill out the time.For example the maid wearing jewelery of the bride and mistaken for stealing it.Now in normal scenario those servants would have told the Bride's Father and the poor maid would have been kicked out.The feeling of Monsoon was the thing i liked a lot .For those who haven't seen Indian marriages,it will be something extraordinary(like My Big Fat Greek Wedding was for me) and not much for those who attend these marriages all the year.
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!
AD
