This under-the-radar ‘fusion’ film is the one everyone should be talking about-Asyia Iftikhar-Entertainment – Metro

A Nice Indian Boy, starring Jonathan Groff and Karan Soni, is a rom-com triumph (Picture: Levantine Films)

Jonathan Groff and Karan Soni’s undeniable chemistry in A Nice Indian Boy is the cherry on top of this whirlwind Hollywood-Bollywood fusion romantic comedy.

After capturing hearts as Rogue in Doctor Who and his Tony-winning turn in Broadway’s Merrily We Roll Along, Jonathan has scored a hattrick in his latest role as Jay Kurudkar – an earnest photographer raised by two Indian parents looking for that epic romance you find in Shah Rukh Khan films.

It’s no surprise the 39-year-old actor is effortlessly able to inject his on-screen charisma into A Nice Indian Boy (directed by The Resident’s Roshan Sethi and produced by It Ends With Us star Justin Baldoni).

And his performance is bolstered by Karan who matches his calibre beat-for-beat, whether during their not one, but two, electric meet-cutes, their grin-inducing first date or the devastating emotional beats that come into play later down the line.

The film follows the chronically single Naveen (Karan) who has fallen foul of the pitfalls of modern dating, while grappling with a family and community who are not yet the cheerleaders he is hoping for as a gay man.

It has all the ingredients for your typical romance: a gay bestie (delightfully portrayed by Peter S. Kim), a first date that is just awkward enough to make you root for the couple, and brewing troubles that we know our trusty duo will eventually figure out.

There is an undeniable charm to this surprisingly layered film (Picture: Levantine Films)

Perhaps the moment that convinced me this film was a gem was when Jay was serenading Naveen with a Bollywood song in public for slightly too long for comfort.

Or when Naveen delivers a love confession so heartwarming in its simplicity you can’t help but tear up. Or when we are treated to a complicated sibling dynamic that shows all the ways a dysfunctional family can mess you up.

But don’t be fooled. What is disguised as a charming, surface-level queer gay love story (with characters and stories still achingly rare in cinema) is actually hiding hidden depths.

What truly shines through is Naveen’s difficult, but ultimately hopeful journey with his family that just strikes the right balance between the authentic struggle for acceptance and an optimistic tale that non-white queer people deserve to see on screen as well.

There’s one scene towards the end in which Naveen’s mother, Megha, makes a heartfelt speech that would melt even the coldest of hearts. It offers a surprisingly raw perspective of the immigrant experience, and the generational divide, for what is ultimately meant to be a light-hearted romp.

More generally, the film’s exploration of family dynamics within Naveen’s community (a complex sort of love that comes with baggage and well-meaning mistakes) is tender, moving and nuanced.

The family drama elevates this much-needed watch (Picture: Levantine Films)

Of course, the audience is fed with a healthy dose of cheesy love confessions along the way to remind us of the film’s beating heart.

Throughout all the family drama, Jay and Naveen’s love acts as an anchor, easily gliding us through the disorder and putting up a convincing case that love does, in fact, conquer all.

Naturally, it is not perfect. At times the movie’s pacing is slightly jarring, and its occasionally unrealistic portrayal of love can take you out of the film, even for just a moment.

And the subject matter does err into being overambitious at times for a snappy feature. But its naivety is part of its allure, and for a romantic comedy trying to make its mark in an oversaturated market, it hits the mark.

What’s more, the full-circle nature of the movie (inevitable from the start) is delightful and fun to watch in all the right ways – adding much-needed Bollywood veneer to the whole production.

Ultimately, A Nice Indian Boy is a story about love in all its forms – romantic, platonic, familial and self-empowerment – all mixed together for an explosively good time.

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