A Nice Indian Boy (dir. Roshan Sethi)
By: Adam Freed
Everyone deserves a fairytale romance. Although this seems less likely for introverted single doctor Naveen, who feels desperately trapped by the confines of his traditional Indian family and a culture that has not been historically open minded when it comes to the idea of gay relationships. A Nice Indian Boy begins as a serviceable and light hearted romantic comedy, and cautiously morphs into a memorable emotional lesson about the vital roles of culture, the evolution of family tradition, and true love. Director Roshan Sethi patiently walks audiences through romcom predictability as Naveen meets attractive and outgoing photographer Jay, only to learn that Jay, despite being white, was raised in an Indian household and adheres to many of the same cultural traditions as Naveen. The unconventional nature of their initial coupling is only compounded by Naveen’s family, and in particular his father Archit (Harish Patel), who says all of the right things, but has a very difficult time opening himself up to the idea of being emotionally available to his son. Despite its initial reliance on foreseeable genre tropes, A Nice Indian Boy methodically blooms into a memorably buoyant romance.
Roshan Sethi (7 Days) doesn’t shy away from the religious and cultural elements of the Gavaskar family, which paints A Nice Indian Boy in a much needed world of color. Naveen, played modestly by Karan Soni (Deadpool, Deadpool & Wolverine) is an easy character for whom to root. He is a dutiful son, who despite his loyalty, finds that his desire to become more open with his parents is slowed by the cultural tradition deferring to one’s elders. This is where his budding relationship with Jay (Jonathan Groff) becomes a meaningful opportunity to break out of his shell, as Jay is an outgoing artist who unapologetically presents himself to the world. The opposites attract nature of their romance makes total sense until it forces Naveen to confront the hard truth that he has been traveling along the path of least resistance for far too long.
Where A Nice Indian Boy truly springs to life is in its second act as Naveen’s mother Megha, played with scene stealing delight by Zarna Garg, demonstrates that a mother’s love doesn’t always come by way of words, but at times by her mere presence. When words are finally required, Megha delivers a memorable speech that encompasses everything that a mother could ever want to say to a son, and also transforms Sethi’s film into something special. Although the film is supposed to center on the romantic bond between Naveen and Jay, it is Garg’s role as the family matriarch that packs the most devastating punch. Adding to the wonderfully complex Gavaskar family dynamic is Naveen’s sister Arundhathi, who at first presents as standoffish and unsupportive of her brother’s burgeoning relationship, only to reveal that the true nature of her hurt is found in some of the culturally infused scars of her own. The frictional nature of Arundhathi’s relationship with her brother slowly gives way to a meaningful demonstration of compassion and support that only adult siblings can understand. A Nice Indian Boy is a meaningful romantic comedy, but it is also a valuable reminder that romance can grow in many places, but must first begin with the ability to find love from within.
Target Score 8/10 - What initially appears to be a paint by numbers romcom, quickly evolves into a memorable and heartfelt demonstration of the power of true love. Featuring outstanding performances from Karan Soni, Jonathan Groff and Zarna Garg, A Nice Indian Boy is an emotionally charged family comedy that is not to be missed.