As the director often emphasises, this film is a work of love. We feel her love for the Bollywood film, for her characters, for India, in every scene. True to tradition, this movie has all the components of the genre: comedy, drama, family traditions and conflicts, song and dance, and, obviously, love.
Events revolve around the title wedding, which will be celebrated dangerously close to the monsoon season, and feature the not so blushing bride, who still has a thing for a married man (this is MODERN India, you know), the arranged husband, both their very extensive families, as well as the touching story between the guy who does wedding decorations and catering for a living without ever getting married himself, and one of the servant girls of the house. Things start to complicate themselves as the rains begin and the bride elopes to have a late night tryst with her lover, where they get into a spot of trouble with the police. Also, the family members living in India clash with those living in more "relaxed" environments (such as Australia and the States) over the mandates of tradition, while the father of the bride despairs of the slowness with which the work of the wedding-planner and his associates progresses.
As difficult as things may seem, though, everything turns out well. Mira Nair handles her large cast with affection and insight, and is not afraid of touching a very delicate and taboo-fraught issue on the way with just the right measure of drama. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll realise that Bollywood shows you life as it should be: a celebration, even when it's raining.
Events revolve around the title wedding, which will be celebrated dangerously close to the monsoon season, and feature the not so blushing bride, who still has a thing for a married man (this is MODERN India, you know), the arranged husband, both their very extensive families, as well as the touching story between the guy who does wedding decorations and catering for a living without ever getting married himself, and one of the servant girls of the house. Things start to complicate themselves as the rains begin and the bride elopes to have a late night tryst with her lover, where they get into a spot of trouble with the police. Also, the family members living in India clash with those living in more "relaxed" environments (such as Australia and the States) over the mandates of tradition, while the father of the bride despairs of the slowness with which the work of the wedding-planner and his associates progresses.
As difficult as things may seem, though, everything turns out well. Mira Nair handles her large cast with affection and insight, and is not afraid of touching a very delicate and taboo-fraught issue on the way with just the right measure of drama. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll realise that Bollywood shows you life as it should be: a celebration, even when it's raining.