# Movies like Monsoon Wedding **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 9, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411 "2012-05-09T18:24:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/1 "2012-05-09T18:24:18Z")
In the last three days, I’ve watched Monsoon Wedding and Bend It Like Beckham. This has made me curious about other movies about Indian culture. Both movies are focused around weddings and I’m in awe of the spectacle of it all. Are there any must see movies that are similar to these? Being and American and basically ignorant of most things Indian that don’t revolve around curry, I would like to start with movies that would be accessible to westerners. I know Bend It was more of a cheesy western girl power movie, but I could follow what was going on with no trouble. Monsoon Wedding was a little more difficult, but it was a powerful movie and even if some of it was in another language, I understood what was happening. I’ve also seen Slumdog Millionaire, though it wasn’t really my thing. So let’s start easy and go with movies with westerners in mind. That will give me a good jumping off point. I don’t mind period pieces, but I’m more interested in modern day. I also don’t mind if the movies take place in India or if they are about immigrant families in the US or UK or whatever. Thanks for any suggestions. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/2 "2012-05-09T18:50:31Z")
Don’t know if it’s quite what you’re looking for, but Wes Anderson’s “[The Darjeeling Limited](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO1bYukdvLI)” might be up your alley. A lot of gorgeous Indian scenery and interesting looks into the culture as the three white leads make their way through the country on train. ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/3 "2012-05-09T18:59:46Z")
Right! I forgot about that one. It was on my radar at one time. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/4 "2012-05-09T19:21:43Z")
Haven’t seen it myself, but _The Jewel in the Crown_ got good reviews in its day. _Gandhi_ won an Oscar for Ben Kingsley. And this was just recently released here: [The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1412386/) ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/5 "2012-05-09T19:27:17Z")
[Outsourced](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425326/) ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/6 "2012-05-09T19:45:14Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > [Outsourced](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425326/) Came in here just to say this one, so I’m going to second it instead. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/7 "2012-05-09T19:51:59Z")
I like the musical [Bride and Prejudice](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361411/). ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/8 "2012-05-09T20:07:15Z")
Outsourced and bride and prejudice both sound promising. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/9 "2012-05-09T20:26:18Z")
I definitely recommend _Bride and Prejudice_. You might also like some of the Bollywood blockbusters centered around NRI (non-resident Indian, or Indians living abroad) characters. Ones set in the US include _Kal Ho Na Ho_, _Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna_, and _My Name is Khan_, all with Shahrukh Khan (one of my faves). ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/10 "2012-05-09T22:34:13Z")
How about an epic based around land taxes and cricket under the Raj? [Lagaan’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagaan) rated as 95% fresh at Rotten Tomatoes and 8.1 on IMDB. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/11 "2012-05-09T23:27:10Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > [Outsourced](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425326/) Third that one. And for anyone who is thinking of the terrible NBC sitcom, the original movie is way better. ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/12 "2012-05-09T23:41:10Z")
I read about Lagaan. Worth a shot. I overlooked it because cricket doesn’t sound that interesting to me, but then again soccer isn’t terribly interesting to me either and I liked Bend It ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/13 "2012-05-10T01:39:58Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Third that one. And for anyone who is thinking of the terrible NBC sitcom, the original movie is way better. I laughed out loud at both but in different ways. I miss the sitcom, at least it didn’t look or sound like all the other crap out there. Plus my husband and I often wish each other a Happy Vindaloo Day. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/14 "2012-05-10T13:56:59Z")
_[East is East](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Is_East_%28film%29)_ is about a mixed English-Pakistani family in the early 70s in Britain. There’s some wedding/arranged marriage stuff. Also what was, for me, some excellent performances all round. It’s comedy-drama. There’s a sequel but I haven’t seen it. ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/15 "2012-05-10T13:59:22Z")
[Today’s Special](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1153053/) co-written by and starring Aasif Mandvi was found to be enjoyable by both Mrs. Raza and myself. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/16 "2012-05-10T14:16:01Z")
Oh, and for pure silliness, I actually quite enjoyed _[The Guru](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guru_%282002_film%29)_. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/17 "2012-05-10T14:45:00Z")
_Today’s Special_ is available for streaming on Netflix and they have _The Guru_ on DVD. They don’t have _East is East_ or \*Lagaan \*- \*Lagaan \*has been in my Saved queue for years. ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/18 "2012-05-10T15:37:31Z")
Thanks for all the suggestions. I have Bride and Prejudice and Outsourced downloaded. Since its my day off I think I’ll watch them both. Any others you can think of would be much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/19 "2012-05-10T16:32:50Z")
> [@Musky\_Moon](#): > > I read about Lagaan. Worth a shot. I overlooked it because cricket doesn’t sound that interesting to me, but then again soccer isn’t terribly interesting to me either and I liked Bend It I didn’t understand cricket at all, still don’t. But **Lagaan** made it gripping and awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Musky\_Moon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90db22/32.png) [@Musky\_Moon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musky_Moon)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411/20 "2012-05-10T17:27:30Z")
Ok, so I just finished Outsourced. Lived it. It was exactly what I was looking for. Light hearted and sweet. A lot like Bend It. Thanks a lot for suggesting it. The girl who played Asha had the most spectacular eyes. I’m guessing this movie gave rise to the tv show? I was completely unaware there was a movie. Now I’m off to watch Bride and Prejudice. Thanks again. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-like-monsoon-wedding/621411.md?page=2)