Sometimes, I’m delighted to live in a world where we can get Picture This and A Nice Indian Boy, both English-language movies predominantly about the South Asian experience in the West, within a month of each other, and no one bats an eye. If only real life looked as easy. In A Nice Indian Boy, Naveen (Karan Soni) is a not-so-closeted Indian-American who is eager to find love while still being bothered about how the world perceives him. In this context, the nice “Indian boy” happens to be a White man named Jay (Jonathan Groff), who was raised in an Indian household, loves Lord Ganesha, and belts out DDLJ songs in the middle of the street. While Naveen and Jay ultimately want the same thing for themselves, their approach to life is completely different, yet this isn’t a will-they-won’t-they story; it’s a lot more than just that.
We’ve been talking about the resurgence of the rom-com ever since Anyone But You came out, but the discourse on the receiving end has still been quite lukewarm. However, here’s the thing: we as an audience are interested in the rom-com; we want the cheesy and sappy and dramatic to make our days feel better and more vibrant. A Nice Indian Boy fits this bill to the T. It is a nuanced take on the genre not just because it is shot through a queer lens. It reminds us of why we love these movies and what makes the moviegoing experience, even for a basic love story, so darn exciting. But this is not because it’s a dramatic romance that follows your typical tropes. It doesn’t just bring modernity to the fore through its gay romance; it does so with its representation of a people who are often considered the “villains” of said genre.
The parental unit of an Indian-American household is often the most misjudged amongst the diaspora. They’re considered especially close-minded, too rigid in their beliefs, and just unimaginative in the way that they want their kids to end up doctors and engineers only. While this is true for a lot of people, the circumstances we live in today are somewhat different from before. In A Nice Indian Boy, it’s not Naveen’s excitable mum or introverted dad who are the enemy of this story; it’s Naveen’s prejudice against them that really stands as the big “villain.” For the average Indian, family is meant to be the most important thing in the world. It’s meant to be an unbreakable bond, but with the changing world, that’s changed, too. What this story does so beautifully is capture the perspective of the abandoned, not the ones who want to abandon in fear of not being accepted.
In Naveen’s mom, we see a zeal to understand and to be around, but we also see a fear of losing what she’s built in all these years. In his dad, we see a shy introvertedness that’s almost feminine, despite his very powerful “man of the house” presence. There’s a sensitivity in the two of them as characters that many South Asian films and shows miss out on when they’re handling their representation. It’s a very sensitive touch that certainly leaves you bleary-eyed, both feeling a sense of joy and sadness. Some might find solace in this film, while others might find courage, but either way, it’s worth your time for sure.
In an interview I conducted with Roshan (Sethi) and Karan, they said this film isn’t about coming out because we already have a lot of those. It’s about what comes after that. In movies, it’s often seen as the be-all and end-all of a queer story. Except that’s never how it works, and A Nice Indian Boy gives us hope for what comes after in a beautiful way. Karan and Jonathan have great chemistry, and I like that they’re a little bit older for a typically “in your 20s” genre. It adds another level of depth to the story. It also makes you feel like the world doesn’t end at 30, which is great, seeing as anyone born after 2005 thinks being 20 is old.
Sure, there are some bits that’ll make you cringe a little (more than a little, maybe), and there’s that one typically South Asian Bollywood dance number at the end of the film, but all of that is forgiven when the real love from the film comes through. For a rom-com, this movie is more subtly humorous than you’d expect. I mean, seriously, there’s no embarrassing nudity or public humiliation, which I appreciate deeply. I’m not saying this is the best film you’ll ever see. But it certainly captures the viewer like old-school rom-coms did back in the day (you know, in the early 2000s).
In the movie, Jay says to Naveen in a rather uncomfortable moment, “You move through public spaces like your existence is an inconvenience.” I don’t know about you, but as an introverted woman, I felt this sentence in my bones. Of course, in this context, he’s referring to a gay man who is out yet not “out,” but in the way that those words can be relatable to anybody, I think this entire movie has that profound ability, too. It’s almost as if the queer angle isn’t even the main factor in this situation, if you know what I mean. I think anybody who feels like their love is somewhat forbidden or unacceptable will find this story relatable. Yet, even as individuals, you could feel seen by Naveen or his sister Arundhati as characters. Or maybe even their parents, because they’re absolutely misunderstood.
So, if you’re looking to have a good time while also needing to shed a few tears, I’d recommend A Nice Indian Boy. It’s got its heart in the right place and is just a cute movie to enjoy over the weekend. I’d give the film 3.5 out of 5 stars.
